I was at the Boston MA motorcycle show yesterday! Talking with the triumph people there, one of the owners of the largest Triumph dealer in MA, He states the new bike is going to be badged a Thunderbird and is 1600CC water cooled, belt driven and aimed right at HD

I don't get it. You want a H-D look just buy H-D. I'd like to see Triumph go the opposite direction, how about a re-issue of a T120/140, maybe start racing dirt track again, really putting some R&D into their standard bikes. If you take a look at some of the H-D bikes, it seems like they're imitating Triumph with some of the design queues on their Sporties which has been a huge seller for them. Are new riders really considering these huge 'custom' harley's? Go your own way Triumph and stay British in style.

Originally Posted by yonder

I think there is a market for people like me who want a classic bike from a western manufacturer with a strong heritage, but maybe not the social baggage that goes with a Harley.

"Social baggage" is exactly why I bought a Speedmaster instead of a Harley. And I'm glad I did. I really like the Speedy, however the stock pipes are emasculating and need to be replaced with some aftermarket ones, e.g., BUB, post haste! I've grown tired of downshifting to get around some slower cars on the highways. I'd like to have the torque to roll the throttle back and get around that way. Almost doubling the cc's would do the trick.

I would consider selling my 865cc Speedy for a water cooled, fuel injected, 1500 - 1700cc, parallel twin IF it looked right. The spy shot just doesn't do it for me, although I do like the rear fender and the radiator is between the downtubes vertically nicely, unlike the R3's.

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2005 Speedmaster - Light Bar, Kuryakyn Grantour Bag

I like my Bonnie a lot, but I'd have to test out a beast like that. I just hope the ergos won't be too much like a cruiser. I'd much prefer to have more like a Bonnie.

Make a tourer with bags, a boulevard cruiser, and a Thruxton-esque cafe racer all with this engine, and you may well have the best marketing plan Trumpet's cruiser line has seen in quite some time. The gap needed fillin, at least here in the states (with notoriously fat ppl.. lol). I do agree with the detractors on 2 points... the stying's too American (much like the new R3) and the engines a bit dull. Part of the beauty of the brand is the Brit-ness of em... different to the point of obnoxious. Its made the Speed Triple a legend... and could at least give this a fightin chance.

i would love to ride one just to see how good they go,i guess it would be very torquey

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TAKE NO PRISONERS

Triumph looked over the edge of the cliff with the America/Speedmaster series. Do they really think jumping with this whale on their backs will make a difference? Are America/Speedmaster buyers going to want to step up and are there enough other folks to be attracted to a giant vertical twin psuedo-chopper? This machine is the answer to a question nobody asked. Plus the styling appears to be as insipid as all the Japanese Harley clones if not moreso.

More CC's yes... take on HD no. I hope someone from Triumph marketing reads these posts. You want a 1500+ hd clone cruiser get a V Star or a Vulcan. Triumph has a hit with the retro cool...and IMHO beautiful Bonnie and Scrambler. The reason I got a Bonnie is because it's different. Nothing against the bikes but I didn't want this whole bizarre lifestyle thing with a bunch of lawyers and insurance salesmen playing dress up. Give us a supped up variation of a British classic...now that's going your own way!

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Leave the gun, take the cannoli.

Originally Posted by louzilla

More CC's yes... take on HD no. I hope someone from Triumph marketing reads these posts. You want a 1500+ hd clone cruiser get a V Star or a Vulcan. Triumph has a hit with the retro cool...and IMHO beautiful Bonnie and Scrambler. The reason I got a Bonnie is because it's different. Nothing against the bikes but I didn't want this whole bizarre lifestyle thing with a bunch of lawyers and insurance salesmen playing dress up. Give us a supped up variation of a British classic...now that's going your own way!

Agreed, and I sometimes think that a hard revving sportier 1200 Bonnie would be better than a slow 1700 [with a higher reciprocating mass].

The formula is simple: big parallel twin [no stupid z crank sound], liquid cooled, fuel injected, twin disc brake front, 300km+ fuel tank range, standard Bonneville. Now I'd buy that!!!

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