Triumphrat

venator1226 · 11-17-2009, 12:58 AM

I currently own a Honda Shadow 750cc shaft drive and I'm strongly considering trading it in on a Triumph...my question is this...is the America enough of a jump in size, power and handling? I know this is very subjective but I have not even ridden a triumph only sat on them ....I am also strongly considering the Thunderbird which I know would be much more of a bike for me but writing out a much bigger check is stopping me....any thoughts?

Woolly Bugger · 11-17-2009, 01:20 AM

Best piece of advice anyone gave me once when I was looking for a set of golf clubs - make sure you like to look of them. If you don't you wil never play well with them. Weird, but I use this for most things I purchase! Not only does it have to be functional, it has to look good - to me (don't care much about anyone else - generally).

This is equally true for bikes. I loved the look of the Speedmaster when I first saw it. Second step is to test ride, for no matter how much anyone (either on this forum or elsewhere) tells you how great they are, it boils down to a personal preference. Only *you* wiill be able to judge in the long term what is best for you.

Get out and test ride it (and / or the Tbird) and compare to your current ride. While specs will mean one thing, again, only you can be the judge of what is good for you.

Best of luck choosing and have some fun while you are at it

Thatch · 11-17-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolly Bugger

Get out and test ride it (and / or the Tbird) and compare to your current ride.

Absolutely. Bikes are much more about the qualitative than they are the quantitative. One bike might have better or worse numbers than another but if in the end you like one better than another, what do any of the figures actually mean.

Ride em both then buy what suits you.

skromfols · 11-21-2009, 10:31 AM

I agree with what's already been said. My philosophy in bikes is to have one (or 2) that make you smile every time you see them. My touring bike was a new Harley Roadglide. I bought it because my friends had Harleys. It was OK, but it never made me smile. I sold it and bought a 98 Valkyrie, and you can't wipe the smile off my face every time I see it.

I also had an 84 V-65 Magna, which was my fun in the foothills bike. It also made me smile every time I approached it, but it was getting old and developing electrical glitches, etc., so I sold it. I wanted a good replacement, so looked at all of the Japanese bikes, looked at BMW's, then looked at Triumphs.

I liked he looks of the Thruxton and the Bonnies, but when I saw the America I knew it was the bike for me. As others have said, when you stop somewhere people will walk right past the Jap bikes and come over to look at my Triumph. Older riders will talk about the Triumph that they used to own, or wished they had, and even Harley riders will come over to check it out.

But again I'll say it should make you smile. You should look forward to riding it, maintaining it and modifying it to suit you completely. You'll find that the parallel twin is easy to work on, and it responds well to minor modifications.

Good luck in making your decision, and in finding the right bike for yourself.

OddballZ23 · 11-21-2009, 10:37 AM

Skromfols, enjoyed reading your post and hearing about your "smiles!" Makes me feel better about my habit of standing in my garage and staring at my bonnie like a teenager with a crush! And before anyone says get out and ride (!!), rest assured I am just waiting for the road to dry today here in Hartford Conn!!

skromfols · 11-21-2009, 11:11 AM

I've always thought that Hondas were great because they were almost maintenance free, but I really do enjoy doing the maintenance on my America. And doing the maintenance and making minor modifications has provided hours of enjoyment and helped me get to know the bike better. Or as I've heard some people say "whatever floats your boat" is good.

Normandy · 11-21-2009, 02:20 PM

To answer your question regarding the america power vs the honda 750. I don't think you will be impressed but ride one and see.

robertrichhart · 11-21-2009, 02:39 PM

Just for the record.... I went from the America to the new Thunderbird this summer. My advice would be to save a little while longer, or do whatever it takes to step up to the TBird when you can..... For the difference in money it is incredibly stronger and a much better handling bike! And I actually loved riding the America.......

Paul50 · 11-21-2009, 03:19 PM

I agree with most of the above but over the years I have gone up and down with power and it dosn't realy matter in the end. That also means that when I buy an under powered bike there is no real wish to get more power out of it, just engoy it. When I went for a test ride on my America I had only traveled about 100 meters and the answer was yes because the bike was so comfotable (and looked Good). Be happy with a bike don't just buy horse power.

KingOfFleece · 11-21-2009, 06:20 PM

The America will feel much more solid than the Honda-better brakes by a wide margin, better in the twisties, and the motor will feel much better on the top end even though it's not much bigger. It'll feel like a more 'finished" bike and not as much like a bigger starter bike.
When I had my America I rode the dickins out of it-12000 miles in a season just on that bike. What a blast!