Triumphrat

Leonidas

Hey guys,

Im a sprint st owner, but i am very interested in the T-Bird.

The one thing that im unsure of is the handlebar position.

It looks a little low to me. When sitting on it, are your arms straight out forward, or a little lower? If you are familiar with the Yamaha Warrior , Kawa Meanstreak, etc., those bars are lower, thats what im wondering. I think the Honda VTX bars a little lower also. As far as cruisers go, the best handlebare position for me, is the H-D Lowrider. They are straight forward.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thatch

Gotta get on one. Relative hand position is going to be completely up to the ergonomics of the rider. Not only is size going to play a part but so is your preferred seating position, some slump a bit, some sit up straight, some lean into the bars some lean away.

All that said, I think the riding position on the bird is very natural. I don't feel as though I'm reaching down at all. Of course one of the easiest things to change about a bike is the handlebars. If the stock setup doesn't suit you can always modify things. Hope on one, take a ride and if you do buy, live with the stock for a bit to get a real feel for what will work for you.

Good luck

Leonidas

Well said. Thanks for the reply :-)

Ben79

http://www.thunderbird1600.com/csp/t...night&InPage=1


http://www.fasteddysports.com/?page_id=3&product_id=750

engage

+1 on the advice Thatch gave, but I also want to state that I find the bike very, very comfortable. In fact, I knew after the first mile that the bike was going to be a good fit.

I put 4,000 on my 'bird last summer, including two trips from Grand Rapids, MI to La Crosse, WI. I never had any issues at all - I can ride this bike all day.

och2pot

Hi Leonidas
(and apologies to all real T-bird owners)

I haven't bought a T-bird yet- (but have had 3 test rides ) but i do have a sprint ST (955) and although the bars were fine for me (at 5-11) it was the footrests that spoiled the comfort-too far forward and too soon to deck out. When you get a ride see how your legs feel- I found the forward footrests pushed my lower back into the front of the pillion pad over sudden bumps /potholes in the road , lots of those around here! You can't take any body weight on your feet when you see a hole coming up fast, so you get a thump in the back. Maybe there's a difference in UK bikes set up though.

I think better rear shocks is the answer, with softer compression damping, but the T-bird's a step backwards in the suspension dept. over the ST imho. I checked the pre-load on all 3 bikes and all were set at 1 or 2 (softest) .I also don't see how the footrests can be moved to where I want them to be.So the ST is still in my garage and I'm waiting for a ride on an R3 Roadster in a week or two. Monster that it is, but I have to try one over the same roads as the T-bird and the ST.
Try a T-bird for yourself as I loved the engine,the handling, the brakes and don't want to put you off!

Thatch

Och2pot, different strokes for different folks I suppose but just so you know there are options on the pegs. Raask has a set of rear sets as well as pulled back forward controls.(near mids). You can find them here. http://www.raask.se/ind-eng.htm

Personally I find the forward controls to be not very forward at all. But then I know other people that have trouble reaching the kickstand. Two different people are going to experience the same bike in two different ways.

Leonidas

Thanks for the link. Its funny that some are using Deuce risers. I would have to say that for me, the HD Deuce was the most comfortable seat-peg-bar position out of any bike I have ever sat on. As I mentioned in my first post, as for current production, the Lowrider comes close, but felt the forward controls (accessory) were a bit too forward and too low. The Deuce was perfect. I didint buy one while they were still making them ( I think 2007 was the last year) because at the time, I wasnt prepared to drop 16-17k. As for now, Ive had a HD Sporster, so I got the Harley thing out of my system. Another bike that was very close to the perfect seat-peg-bar position is the Yamaha Raider. I sat on one at the Triumph dealer where I bought my Sprint this past May.

I am seriously considering making a switch from the ST to the T-Bird. I do love my sprint, but I am having neck and back issues, and i can only assume its from the riding position.

I have had cruisers before. The last being a 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC. Big bruiser of a bike, comfy, but boring.

I must say, the T-Bird is definately a great looking bike, and I love Triumphs. I just seem to always want a cruiser when I have a sport bike, and a sport bike when I have a cruiser. No...having both isnt in the budget. This time, I think my neck and back are telling me maybe I need to make the switch.

traveler501

ahhh...but is the Tbird really a cruiser with the heart of a Sport bike? I think so personally...and moreso with every ride.

John

daddyroaddog

I have a Sprint, usually drive sport tourers and don't much like cruisers (too much noise, not much power and no handling). I test rode a T-bird and all I can say is; Holy Cow Batman, this bike actually handles. I rode T-birds with both handlebar positions and I like the standard position better than the pulled back bars. I don't much like the feet forward riding position, but I think I could probably get used to it.
My wife will kill me if I get another bike, but if I can sell my scooter I might actually consider buying one.

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2006 Triumph Sprint ST
2007 Triumph Speed Triple
2007 Suzuki Burgman 400
2004 Honda ST 1300