Triumphrat

zelatore · 11-23-2012, 12:40 PM

I took your initial point to be 'why is it almost every cruiser on the market has the same basic style?'. In answer, I would say because that particular style is what defines a cruiser for most people. Step outside that formula at your own risk. Triumph is well know for parallel twins so they changed the formula a little in an attempt to set themselves apart and it seems to have worked, but over-all they didn't vary widely from the standard. An enthusiast can understand the differences, but if you parked a T-bird next to an HD FXGYDVSC next to a Star whatever Joe Average probably wouldn't really notice the differences.

When somebody does vary widely from the standard formula you get things like the Ducati, which is SO far outside the formula it's questionable as to if it's a cruiser at all. I guess what I'm saying can be boiled down to why do all cruisers look the same? Because they look like cruisers.

dazco · 11-23-2012, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelatore

I guess what I'm saying can be boiled down to why do all cruisers look the same? Because they look like cruisers.

Thats part of it. But the other part, and what i feel is even the bigger part and the #1 part is the engine. That being it's the exact opposite of most other bikes. A bike like a speed triple for example is all HP at the high end of the RPM range, and the RPM range is up around 10k and up to 14k on some sporties. Torque plays 2nd fiddle and is usually much lower than a cruiser and peaks at a much higher RPM, usually up around 8 or 9k. Cruisers generally have more torque than HP and both peak much lower, torque often as low as 2500. The engines are nite and day different with cruisers designed to pull like a freight train from a stop with hardly any throttle. The regular and sport bikes have nothing down low till you rev the heck out of them. The engines are IMO the #1 thing that makes a cruiser a cruiser and a SB a SB. Thats not to say ergos and styling aren't huge of course. But they certainly they are only part of the story.

Lantesh · 11-23-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazco

Thats part of it. But the other part, and what i feel is even the bigger part and the #1 part is the engine. That being it's the exact opposite of most other bikes. A bike like a speed triple for example is all HP at the high end of the RPM range, and the RPM range is up around 10k and up to 14k on some sporties. Torque plays 2nd fiddle and is usually much lower than a cruiser and peaks at a much higher RPM, usually up around 8 or 9k. Cruisers generally have more torque than HP and both peak much lower, torque often as low as 2500. The engines are nite and day different with cruisers designed to pull like a freight train from a stop with hardly any throttle. The regular and sport bikes have nothing down low till you rev the heck out of them. The engines are IMO the #1 thing that makes a cruiser a cruiser and a SB a SB. Thats not to say ergos and styling aren't huge of course. But they certainly they are only part of the story.

I agree 100%.

RC65 · 11-23-2012, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigGuy82

Regarding the Diavel, to my eyes, that thing is fugly even though it is likely a great machine performance wise.

Agreed, though the Thunderbird blue-with-white-stipe treatment they've given the model for '13 helps...a little:

It also comes in a red-with-white-stripe.

georgied · 11-23-2012, 11:02 PM

I loved the Triumph's of the sixties. I thought hey were the coolest bikes back then. They were fast back then too. Now I think the TBird extends that image. Oh, if there were were no more Triumphs, I'd ride a V-Twin. Happily there are Triumphs, however, so I don't have to make that choice. It's just what I like better that anything else. As, I got back into motoring, I wavered a bit althought the Triumph was the bike I immediately went for. After, I wondered if it was the right decision. I wondered if I would move to HD or Victory. I waited and now I don't think I ever will leave Triumph. As you can see from my profile, my wife rides a Sporty. I did all I could to get her on a Triumph but she just felt comfortable on the Sporty and that's important. I'm sure it was a fine decision for her. For me, I don't think I will ever leave Triumph.