Pepe the Perfectionist brings an interesting issue to the board. While I agree what Pepe writes “vintage bikes or caferacers in our category ………, that the line from seat and tank is always straight and parallel to the line of the axles.”
The “line” on the Thruxton should be examined more, before others decide to begin carving into the Rubber Tank Mounts to achieve what Pepe descibes, as the “line” may in fact already be there, and the modification made needlessly.
The Stock Bonneville, for one, is a poor example. With a 19” Front Rim, 29 or 28degree / 117 or 100mm Rake & Trail, depending on year of manufacture, and Rear Shocks that are 20mm shorter that the Thruxton, the Bonneville fresh out of the factory certainly isn’t a Café, and more like the Cruiser (or Chopper) it looks like.
The Thruxton, does fit the Café Bill and I would contend that the ‘Line’ on the Thruxton is level. The front rim at 18” is much closer to the rear’s 17”, the Rake & Trail is much shorter than the Bonneville at 27 degrees / 97mm, and nearly an inch taller rear shock than the Bonnie.
Finally, take a picture or measure a horizontal line as Pepe did, but with the bike on a centerstand, or with a seated operator. More importantly, and to my point, with an operator sitting on the bike with the weight appropriately distributed, the level line, that Pepe eludes to, appears ‘Café’ correct.
Also, if you’re a perfectionist and really want to adjust the level or ‘pitch’ precisely, without irreversibly carving up parts, it would probably be a better idea to adjust with rubber spacers placed at the rear tank mount bolts under the front of the seat, to raise the rear and adjust the pitch that way.
The Triumph Thruxton (as well as the Bonneville) has a beautiful tank, with wonderful curves like no other motorcycle. The Thruxton does hold true to the Café Spirit, and I would say the line is level.
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