How much of a Hinckley T-Bird is not British? - Triumph Forum: Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums
Motorcycle.com Classifieds!
» Main Menu

Discussion Forums
 » Twins
 » Tiger
 » General
 » RAT

Features
 » Blogs

Motorcycle.com Links

Contribute
 » Photo

Motorcycle Forums
» Insurance
» Sponsors

Hinckley Classic Triples 885cc Classic Styled T3's: Legend, Thunderbird, Thunderbird Sport & Adventurer.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-03-2008, 02:05 PM   #1 (permalink)
Member
Grand Prix 250
Favourite Bike: 1999 Honda Valkyire
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Posts: 80
Other Motorcycle: 2002 Bonneville T100
Extra Motorcycle: 2009 Kaw Concours 1400
How much of a Hinckley T-Bird is not British?

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?
scooterdoodler is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 
Old 05-03-2008, 03:02 PM   #2 (permalink)
Senior Member
Powerbike
Favourite Bike: Speed Triple
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Cheshire,UK
Posts: 375
Other Motorcycle: Tiger 1050
Extra Motorcycle: '95T'bird,'75 T150V
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.
triple3john is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 06:50 PM   #3 (permalink)
Member
Grand Prix 250
Favourite Bike: 1999 Honda Valkyire
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Posts: 80
Other Motorcycle: 2002 Bonneville T100
Extra Motorcycle: 2009 Kaw Concours 1400
Quote:
Originally Posted by triple3john View Post
Personally I think the early Tbirds are very high quality.My bike has 36000 miles and looks immaculate,mind youit is well looked after.
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.
scooterdoodler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 06:58 PM   #4 (permalink)
Senior Member
Moto Grand Prix
Favourite Bike: '99 Legend / '98 TBS
 
BigAl8295's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: York, PA
Posts: 2,826
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".
__________________
FCR-39 Carbs, Sprint Cams, British Customs Predator Exhaust, K&N Pod Filters, Nology Coils, Ignitech Ignitor, Progressive Fork Springs, ZX-6R shock, and one bad ass Horn Cover!
Charm City Mods vs Rockers Rally
BigAl8295 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 07:08 PM   #5 (permalink)
Senior Member
SuperSport
Favourite Bike: 2000 Adventurer
 
Woody1911a1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Marblehead , Mass USA
Posts: 1,038
Other Motorcycle: 67 T100C
Extra Motorcycle: Buell Blast
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
__________________
If you love it , let it go . If it comes back to you , you've highsided ;-)

Last edited by Woody1911a1; 05-03-2008 at 07:13 PM.
Woody1911a1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 10:27 PM   #6 (permalink)
Member
Grand Prix 250
Favourite Bike: 1999 Honda Valkyire
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Posts: 80
Other Motorcycle: 2002 Bonneville T100
Extra Motorcycle: 2009 Kaw Concours 1400
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woody1911a1 View Post
read the known issues stickey at the top of this forum
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.

Last edited by scooterdoodler; 05-03-2008 at 10:31 PM.
scooterdoodler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2008, 01:43 AM   #7 (permalink)
Senior Member
Formula Extreme
Favourite Bike: 1996 Thunderbird
 
BRG-BIRD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sartell, Minnesota
Posts: 601
Other Motorcycle: 2000 Sprint ST
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!
__________________
"You are either on something or onto something"........The Common Man
BRG-BIRD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2008, 02:48 AM   #8 (permalink)
Member
Grand Prix 250
Favourite Bike: 1999 Honda Valkyire
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Posts: 80
Other Motorcycle: 2002 Bonneville T100
Extra Motorcycle: 2009 Kaw Concours 1400
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.

Last edited by scooterdoodler; 05-04-2008 at 02:59 AM.
scooterdoodler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2008, 12:56 PM   #9 (permalink)
Senior Member
Powerbike
Favourite Bike: Speed Triple
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Cheshire,UK
Posts: 375
Other Motorcycle: Tiger 1050
Extra Motorcycle: '95T'bird,'75 T150V
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.
triple3john is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2008, 03:58 PM   #10 (permalink)
Lifetime Premium
Site Supporter
Moto Grand Prix
Favourite Bike: '98 Thunderbird Sport
 
denny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 2,585
Other Motorcycle: '06 Husqvarna TE 610
Extra Motorcycle: '95 TBird - Project
Quote:
Originally Posted by scooterdoodler View Post
1. By 'Early Tbirds" would you be meaning the 5 speed models?

2. 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?
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.
__________________
Cheers,Denny
denny is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Hinckley tri955i Daytona Deliberations 5 08-30-2007 06:36 PM
T-Bird Sport Pipes on a Standard T-Bird Readyt Hinckley Classic Triples 3 05-14-2007 09:54 AM
Will 95 thru 97 stock T-Bird seat fit on 98 T-Bird? Jeff02 Hinckley Classic Triples 3 11-30-2005 05:47 PM
Thanks Hinckley!!! Turin Daytona Deliberations 0 09-09-2005 02:36 AM
T-Bird vs T-bird Sport seat Interchangeable? chadoll Hinckley Classic Triples 3 08-01-2004 03:34 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:02 PM.



Motorcycle News, Videos and Reviews
Kawasaki Forum Ducati Forum Harley Davidson Yamaha R1 BMW S1000RR Forum
Vulcan Forums Ducati Monster V-Rod Forum Yamaha R6 Kawasaki Z1000
Kawasaki ZX Forum Honda 600RR Harley Forum YZF-R6 Forum Sportbike Forum
Kawasaki ZX-10R Honda 1000RR Suzuki SV Yamaha FZ8 Can Am Spyder
Kawasaki KLR 650 Honda RC51 Suzuki V-Strom Star Motorcycles Aprilia Forum
Kawasaki Versys Honda Fury Suzuki GSXR Triumph Forum KTM Forum
Kawasaki EX-500 Honda Goldwing GSX-R Forum Triumph 675 Victory Forums

Garage Plus vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.3.2