Triumphrat

DiscoStew

For a lot of motorcycle enthusiasts there’s something romantic about bikes from the “good ol’ days.” Generations of riders grew up with names like Norton, BSA, Indian, Ariel, BMW, Harley-Davidson, and a whole lot more. Many of these brands bring back memories of simpler times.

Machines like the Commando, Gold Star, Square Four or the R90S, weren’t cluttered with complicated wiring harnesses or layers of bodywork. Constant-velocity or slide carbs, points ignition systems and a kick-start were about all it took. To be fair, though, much of that simplicity found in the old stuff came at the cost of oil leaks, crappy electrics or hydro-locked cylinders courtesy of faulty petcocks. Nowadays we just refer to those bothersome issues as “character.”

As for the Universal Japanese Motorcycles, bike makers from the Land of the Rising Sun chose to march forward to the beat of Technology’s drum and didn’t bother resting cozily in nostalgia. And, quite frankly, the motorcycle world-at-large is much better for it.

Some of the old brands have done well, whether by retaining much of their original heritage year after year or by creating models that recall traits and qualities that helped put the company name on the map. A few years ago Ducati turned to its own history for inspiration and created a line of air-cooled, 2-valve, 992cc 90-degree Twins called the SportClassics. These stretched-out, airy bikes borrow modestly from Paul Smart’s 1972 750 Imola Desmo, a bike that took him to victory in the ’72 Imola 200. Yet they enjoy modern conveniences of fuel injection, digital ignition and plush suspension

Triumph, on the other hand, has been at this game of returning to roots even longer.

In 1990 Englishman John Bloor resurrected Triumph from its 1983 death, and in 2000 the brand saw the return of one of the most recognizable models in motorcycling: the Bonneville. This venerable bike anchors what Triumph refers to as its Modern Classics line-up. We learned in our recent ride on the 2009 Bonneville SE that all five models (Bonneville, Bonneville SE, T100, Thruxton and Scrambler) in the line finally did away with carburetion in favor of fuel injection. Now riders can enjoy classic looks with the benefit of trusty fueling.

More: 2009 Triumph Thruxton Review on Motorcycle.com

panda

Think someone is looking through jaundiced glasses. I have never heard of a bike being hydraulic locked. I dont doubt it is possible but was a very rare event. Much rarer than the 'infallible' electrics of today leaving you completely stranded. If the new bikes are so superior, why do they lose value so quickly?? It has been proven often that running a sixties type bike is more cost effective than running a modern one. Truth is bikes today are 'white goods appliances' overburdened with technolgy to disguise the owners lack of knowledge. The typical modern bike is less fuel efficient despite having a big percentage of the expensive technology there in an attempt to be 'green', or to play the numbers game.

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PeteH

Unfortunately the British industry didnt here the wake up call, or it heard it too late.
The Japanees didnt do anything radical, they just did things a bit smarter, except for the finnish to their bikes - steel that rusted while you looked at it and ally that fell apart at the mere sniff of salt.
Well thats what happened to my 74 Suz

gregoreau

If you look at the Japanese custom builders they are so old school, preferring kickstart harleys and trumpys... It just shows that there is definitely something going for mechanical vs electronics even in the land of the rising sun!

MES

We have a fueling problem? Hmm, I never noticed.
am I to infer then that Triumph has been selling their classic line with
untrutworthy fuel systems?
Rejetting must be really hard. Wonder if it is any easier getting a really good sport tune for a new Thrux?


OH, I see. So the new Thrux is the nearly the same (ergos) as a pre FI Bonnie. Even went to 1" bars. That's not an update that is milking every last pence by simplifiying the suppy stream.

sorry pitcher, you can throw me a curve ball but you can't make me swing.
I'll take my base on a walk. Thanks.

How about sometime along the lines of:
The new Thruxton continues its' gentrification as it attempts to comply with stricter pollution standards.
We eagerly await a True modern SPORT classic from Triumph.

Tbirdnz

I get 19km/litre out of my '05 CB1300 (stock) and 16km/litre out of my '98 885cc Thunderbird (heavily modded used to be 19km/litre) and 14km/litre out of my '62 650cc AJS.

Maybe I could get more out of my AJS if I wasn't so hard on the throttle but the bike is positively thirsty, I get 10.5km/litre out of my 4WD diesel LandCruiser in comparison !


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Ride on !

Jamo

It seems to me that more of the old could have been retained without sacrificing reliability, mileage or emissions especially on a retro bike like a Bonneville. The Bonneville does a good job, but could go farther.

In general though, things like minimal body work, minimal complication, lighter balance shafts (I'd love just a little of that old Bonnie vibration) straight bench seating, classic lines (without gas tank seems) lighter frames (stiff enough even if not quite so stiff as a racer needs) and even, dare I say it, the alternative of a kick start, so as to save the weight and draw and complication of the starter.

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panda

I have to say it, despite loving all three of my old Triumphs, to my mind the WS650 is a better Bonneville. Sadly neither included any provision for a RH gearshift Which seems stupid for a retro bike aimed partly at old returning riders. Last Thursday I bought myself an Enfield, having sold my LH shift BMW after five years of arguing with the pedals. So although Triumphs re-introduction of the Bonneville did rekindle my interest in biking, they do not produce a bike I want. Triumph have stated that they are not the old Triumph company, and I can't argue with that.

__________________
A wise man learns from his mistakes..
A genius learns from other peoples mistakes.

MES

[quote]neither included any provision for a RH gearshift Which seems stupid for a retro bike aimed partly at old returning riders.[/QUOTEI
llegal in the states.
I've ridden a W650. definately more retro. It should be, orignal tooling.
I think a Bonnie is a better bike. A little heavy.
I agree about the frame and counter balancers. 400+/- would be good.

Have fun and enjoy it. They really are a blast for the rider who's in the right frame of mind. Tons of after market stuff too.

CommandoRdster

Yes,until the fuel pump flies south for the winter(and they will).The fuel pump for my friends BMW was $450.00.The pump for my brothers Victory was nearly $800.00.I can't imagine Triumphs being a whole lot less.Do yourself a favor,if you ride a FI bike.Don't let it get low on gas.The fuel helps cool the pump,and it's heat that kills them.

I couldn't agree more,with both statements.I've had a dozen"magic black boxes"fry on various motorcycles,and automobiles over the years,but I've never had a set of points leave me stranded.Always been able to scrape them,or bend them,or whatever,to open and close enough to facilitate a spark.And,if I had been paying attention to very simple and cheap maintenance,I'd never have had a problem anyway.

Absolutely.Those of us old enough to have owned,and maintained, both Japanese,and Euro bikes from the '60s and '70s remember that although the Japanese bikes had great electrics and carburetion,they came with a whole different set of problems.Like crappy paint and chrome,horrendous tyres and suspension components,cheesy metallurgy,and dodgy handling,just to name a few.

I made a lot of money,back in the '70s,fixing broken down Japanese bikes.I think most peoples impression of bikes of that era stem from a fuzzy memory of one friends clapped out 64 BSA versus another friends brand new 1973 CB750.

I'd love to have a kick starter on my Scrambler,but if they did away with the elecric starter to save weight and complication,they'd never sell the things(well,maybe they'd sell 'em to you and me).


You know,it's actually not illegal.That law was never passed.The declaration that it would become law was enough to make the factories all retool for left side shifting,and then the law itself became moot.

I'm curious about your statement about the W650,as far as original tooling making it more retro.Original tooling for what?

And I thoroughly agree with your comments about the Bonnie and the Enfield.

Cheers!
Bruce

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