Triumphrat

vonbonds · 04-23-2004, 10:37 PM

Hi all. Just curious if anyone bought one version of the Thunderbird and decided the other might be better off for them? I am having evil thoughts of swapping my bike for a TBS. I have a bike for longer runs in the Sprint Executive and so far I haven't been able to find a comfortable spot on my standard Tbird for more than an hour. Soooooooo....I am thinking why not get a bike I can cafe out (I am in the minor leagues with mechanical ability compared to Mick and others like him) a TBS which would be much easier than fiddling with my bike. I could have a classicly styled sport bike (I don't need an inline 4 to feel sporty) that I can enjoy for day rides with my friends in the twisties.

Just curious if anyone has been confronted with thoughts like I am having now.

Thanks...

Tom

04-23-2004, 10:59 PM

Von-

Don't tell my TB, but, yes, I have those thoughts.

I would like to have 17" wheels to make tire selection wider. Two front discs would be nice. Finally, I'm starting to touch down on my silencers when I get my whip on.

The only problem is I couldn't let it go, even to get a TBS.

I've got the bars like I like them, the Staintunes sound nice and I just put a solo seat on. It looks and feels too good to let go of now.

If you don't mind my pointing something out, you have an even bigger problem. If you trade your TB for a TBS, you'll have to get rid of that matching Ram as well. :-D

Love the one you're with.

Cheers,
RR

tbsrider2000 · 04-24-2004, 12:25 AM

When I bought my TBS I was set on buying a 2000/2001 Adventurer. I've had my TBS for four years and 28,00miles now and I love it alot. I see alot of people on the forums and in here trying to essentially make their Legend or T-Bird a T-Bird Sport. I have a good buddy with a '98 T-Bird and we ride together alot. I find my TBS more comfortable than his T-Bird though.

I wouldn't trade my TBS for a regular T-Bird, but I would still consider a trade for a 2000/2001 Adventurer.. I love that black and orange combo and it really brought out what the Adventurer should have looked like all along..

bborzell · 04-24-2004, 01:57 AM

Hmmm...

I just returned to riding after a 13 year break. Over the last 45 years, I think I have ridden just about everything on two wheels (Ariel, Benelli, BMW, BSA, Bultaco, Bridgestone, CZ, DKW, Ducati, Enfield, Gilera, Greeves, Harley, Husky, Honda, Indian, Jawa, Kawasaki, KTM, Laverda, Lilac, Maico, Matchless, Montessa, Moto-Beta, MV Agusta, MZ, Norton, NSU, Ossa, Parilla, Panther, Puch (remember the Sears bike in the catalog?), Sachs, Suzuki, Triumph, Ural, Velocette, Victory, Villiars, Yamaha, and Zundapp, to name a few. OK, I didn't actually ride the Ural, but I did sit on one.

The reason I wandered down memory lane is to point out that finding a single motorcycle that fills the bill after having ridden just about every variation on any theme that has been cobbed together is a pretty tough thing to do. Enter the '04 TBS...

I really thought I'd get one bike and that bike had to do a lot including keep my attention, feel comfortable and safe for my wife on sporatic weekend jaunts ranging from a few miles to 100 or so. It had to have solid essentials. Strong motor with torque to match its weight, enough horsepower to get me through transitions when needed, exceptional brakes that allow me to determine the manner and degree of stopping I want the bike and me to do, and above all, it had to have the best balanced and adjustable suspension that anyone has the right to expect from a production bike; all of which translates into solid and predictable handling under all conditions. My first ride on the TBS made it clear that this bike does all the above and more.

The reality that has developed is the fact that my wife will never be as comfortable on the TBS as she would on a bike that has been designed with passenger comfort as a high priority. For that reason, I am now looking at two very different bikes, each of which fills the all important bill of letting my wife fall asleep on the back (figure of speech). Tomorrow we test ride a BMW 1150RT and compare that to the Victory Kingpin with the touring package that we rode last week.

So, to wander back around to the original question... yes I bought a TBS and now I want something else. However, this want is not an "instead" kind of thing by any stretch of my imagination. I might end up with a BMW or a Victory, but the TBS ain't going anywhere because, if I was to stay with the "one bike" rule, it would be the Thunderbird Sport.

...Bob

jp99tbirdnm · 04-24-2004, 02:35 AM

I saw a Thunderbird for the first time in Tucson Az in 1996. I knew that was the motorcycle I had to have.
I had chances at buying Legends and a TBS but in my heart it was the T-Bird I wanted. So in 2001 for my birthday I went to LA to pick up my T-Bird after a long search for it. :-D

Jerry :razz:

Jodel · 04-24-2004, 05:20 AM

First time I rode a T-Bird I loved it and still think its the best looking of all the Triumphs. I deliberately did not want something as fast as a sports bike, nor as wobbly as a cruiser.

In the UK, the TBS was actually cheaper than the T-Bird when it was first introduced - even now you can still get either machine here for virtually the same price. The fact that I've just bought another T-Bird shows where my loyalties lie.

I agree with many of the guys who want better suspension, tyre choice, brakes. However, I wouldn't swap the looks, riding position and pure 'feel good' factor that I get with my T-Bird. Some of the apparent deficiencies are actually part of the charm for me.

Many of the guys I ride with have been down the big Japanese sport bike route and after many years, several have now switched back to machines like the classics or BMW roadsters. You pays your money......

cafetbird · 04-24-2004, 09:28 AM

Nah - the problem with the TBS has always been that color schemes and accessories suck. Also, the performance of the TBS is not much better than the T-Bird - they needed to put Speed 3 guts in it.

I love the colors of the early T-Birds. All of the other stuff available on the TBS that I would want is easy to add. Plus, in the process of making my bike into a cafe has been too much fun!

Scot

Ballacraine · 04-24-2004, 12:33 PM

Quote:

On 2004-04-23 22:25, tbsrider2000 wrote:
I see alot of people on the forums and in here trying to essentially make their Legend or T-Bird a T-Bird Sport.

Yep...You can count me on that. I didn't like the TBS seat height, styling or the price compared to the Legend.

I liked the uprated suspension & twin disc set up so I swapped the front end for a TBS one.

Nige.

Wombat · 04-24-2004, 01:56 PM

In my 30+ years of riding, I too have owned or ridden all and more of the marques listed in Bobs posting above.

Over dinner the other night, I had the hypothetical question posed to me,
"If money was no option, what ONE bike would you own?"

Now I had to think long and hard of another bike that would do all the things that I need a bike to do, given that I commute daily, live on a small island and that I had to pick just one bike.

There are lots of bikes that for various reasons I would like to own, but to narrow it down to one bike, my answer was.............."I already own it"

My TBS does it all for me and looks drop dead gorgeous to boot.

I wouldnt swap my TBS for quids

Slinky · 04-24-2004, 02:38 PM

That's a tough one.. If I had to choose again it would be a difficult decision.

In all honesty, I don't feel like I'm missing out with a standard T-bird. The thing with adjustable suspension is, after a while you get bored with fiddling with it and leave it where it is.

A better choice of rubber would be nice. And the ergos on the TBS appeal to me.