Triumphrat

Slinky

I have been waiting a long, long time for this beast to emerge. I am in the market for an upgrade to my tbird and there is nothing else in production that floats my boat.

I could live with the looks providing that the power and weight are right- I'm not even sure it looks a whol lot like a harley, more of a generic cruiser. Besides, Harley styling is getting pretty freaky lately, this thing is far more conservative and dare i say it, traditional.

Of course, we don't know yet that this is what the production vehicle will look like.

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"You can't fly with the eagles if you keep scratching with the turkeys."

grayghost

It will be interesting to see. The engine looks chunky and the wheels remind me the wheels used on early 80's Yamaha Sec's and Virago's. I'm neutral on it at this point.

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" No.....your other left" (Memories to when I was a Motorcycle Instructor)

Malibu

I think that that's the size they are missing. I'm sure the bike released won't look like that one. I like the idea. Americas and Speedmasters are too small IMO and the Rocket, I think is too big. We'll see.

jd_t100

Triumph dealers are supposed to be having their big conference this month to see the 2009 line up. Has anyone in the know seen one in the flesh?

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2007 Bonneville T100, Chromed Cam Covers, Chain Guard, Headlight bracket, Brake Fluid cap, Front mud guard. Stayintune Pipes. AI removed. Centre Stand

Diego

It's safe to say anyone really in the know certainly won't be allowed to talk about it yet. Three weeks... that's when we'll all know for sure.

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John

Malibu

Other companies making Harley clones aren't like Triumph. Triumph has an iconic name, and it isn't Japanese. That is going to be a huge help in the US market. Harley owners (and those that fancy them) are typically biased towards Japanese motorcycles. This bias is as old as the motorcycles themselves. I'm not saying that Triumph can beat Harley at it's own game, but their bike won't come across as quite an impostor—no matter what. No matter what kind of cruiser Yamaha, Kawasaki build, no matter how good it is, it still lacks that classic motorcycle look and the "Made in America" BS that cruiser buyers want. Triumph won't have a hard time with this, their name doesn't evoke "impostor". I say the only thing that holds the America and Speedmaster back here in the States is the size. Harley owners gush over my Scrambler, you'd never see them do that over a Boulevard or Vulcan (not where anyone could see them do it anyway). I can't say I blame em. I can plainly see the difference between a Dyna and a VStar. Frankly I wouldn't buy either (for my own silly reasons), but I do plan on buying a big Triumph Twin next. I wish they'd hurry up and make it.

Grumbler

Am of the opinion that the Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic FI has comparable
classic looks to the Harley-Davidson Shovelheads (stripped garbage wagons).
That's the FLH1200, and I used to own one.

BTW, Kawasaki is selling tons of those Vulcan 900 Customs/Classics/LTs as
they have the look, features, and price that customers want.

Not everyone wants the so-called Lifestyle Baggage associated with Harley.

Seriously now, I don't focus on what brand/model people ride while out on
my road trips. It's more about who they are than what they ride.

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Grumbler
Boise, Idaho
www.tvrides.com

tridentt150v

My dealer is going, reckons that the big twin will be unveiled. He is pretty sure it will be a cruiser and not a classic, unfortunately. But knowing him, he will be in their ear about upping the power of the classic Bonnie. He believes [like me] that he could sell truckloads of them if they were > 1 litre.

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tridentt150v,
Great Southern Land.
(Where women blow and men chunder).

buz

This weeks M.C.N.has pictures,they say,is a new cruiser to be launched 2009.

Femural

Just seen this on Triumphs website the new bike will be 1600cc and called the Thunderbird

http://www.triumph.co.uk/uk/News_10720.aspx

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Triples rule!

Nothing sounds or feels like a triple