Triumphrat

scooterdoodler

Just wondering out loud...are there less Japanese/Asian parts used on a Thunderbird than a say.....a Harley?

What's the best guess on the 'outsourced' percentage?

triple3john

Tbird has a lot of British parts.Certainly engine,metalwork and wheels. My 95 has Bosch electronics and wiring loom,later models have other makes.Also has Japanese and Italian parts. Of course new Triumphs have a lot of parts made in Thailand which is the laws of economics I suppose,as they are competing on price with Japanese. Personally I think the early Tbirds are very high quality.My bike has 36000 miles and looks immaculate,mind youit is well looked after.

scooterdoodler

That's something I like to hear about a bike that I may be buying soon.."36,000 miles"!!!

By 'Early Tbirds" would you be meaning the 5 speed models?

If I may ask, what are the significant differences between an 'Early' Tbird and a 'later' Tbird...besides that one extra cog-in-the-box?

As soon as I sell my Burgman 650, I'll likely be shopping for a Thunderbird, and have a few things to learn about the bike, hopefully first-hand from those who ride them.

BigAl8295

I believe the factory in Thailand opened up after Triumph was done producing the Classic Triples. The key components were made right in the Hinckley plant.

My wheels are stamped "Made in Italy".

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Woody1911a1

the early t-birds had starter sprag issues (a very expensive repair ) make sure any bike you buy has had this addressed .

the early bikes also had mikuni carbs which had a problem with needle wear . a not so expensive repair as long as you can do it yourself . the keihin's on the later bikes are in many's opinion a better carb .


read the known issues stickey at the top of this forum

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scooterdoodler

Thanks, I don't know how I missed that (Doh!)......but now after looking through most of the posts I'm now reluctant to buy a Thunderbird.

I'm alright at replacing tires, chains, oil changes, and a few other minor maintenance items, but with the closest Triumph service 300 miles to the north of me, and the T-Bird a discontinued model, I'm going to pass on this beautiful looking motorcycle.

If I was still living in a larger urban area with a lot of MC resources I would go for one, but I'm in 'the sticks' and mostly on my own if things go screwy. My town used to have a Triumph dealership, but it's been gone for about five years now, and as far as I can tell, there's not much hope of one in the forseeable future.

I'm a bit disappointed really.....But! I suppose I'll try to console myself with a nice, 'zippy' ZRX1200 Kawasaki or a frugal-yet-fun 650 V-Strom, my 2nd and 3rd choices after the T-Bird.

Thanks to all for the input and information offered...if by some chance I still find myself with a Triumph machine, I'll come back and join the party.

MarkBartels

Hey scooterdoodler! I live in the upper midwest as you do and am quite a distance from any Triumph dealership. There is a good dealership in Fargo (Ma's Cycles) and they can get whatever you need if you purchase a Thunderbird. I have a 96 model year and do not let the know issues turn you away as mine has been just as reliable as the Honda. The bike is loaded with character and the Harley boys have no idea what to think of it!

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scooterdoodler

Fargo is 534 miles to my northeast. In checking the Triumph website, it shows two dealerships in or near Denver, 400 miles south of Rapid City, and what turns out to be the nearest is in Jackson Hole, Wyoming..'only' 300 miles west of me.

Almost anything else (except Italian bikes) can be serviced within five miles of my house, with BMW the one furthest at thirty miles (Sturgis).

Not good.

triple3john

I get my Tbird serviced by a mobile mechanic and he has no problems ordering parts so I wouldn't let that put you off. The sprag clutch is commented on a lot.The main thing is to make sure the battery is strong.I've had no problems with mine at all.The earliest Tbirds have alloy engine casings which look great when polished up but need a lot of care to keep them pristine.They also have Akront alloy rims. Later Tbirds have chrome casings and wheel rims.Later ones also have a different swinging arm and other detail changes.

denny

1. Yes

2. Early ones have Akront Alloy Rims, Akront went out of business. Later ones have Chrome steel

Early ones have Polished Aluminum Engine covers, and the engine is not powder coated. Later ones have chromed engine covers, and the entire engine is powder coated.

Later ones have a different rear sub frame, same as legend. That gives a little bit lower seat height. The seat on early ones is attached with a key operated latch, later ones use two bolts at the back of the seat. There was a change in the igniter module, somewhere in the model run. Early one had a pigtail, later one has connector as part of the module. The later ones have Kehin Carbs with unrestricted carb to head rubbers. The early ones have Mikuni Carbs with Restricted carb to head rubbers.

That's about all I can remember off the top of my head.

I prefer the looks of the early ones, because I like the look of polished Aluminium much better than Chrome.

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