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End of the road for the Thunderbird line?

86K views 354 replies 65 participants last post by  steve59 
#1 · (Edited)
While I was hanging out waiting for my new tires to be installed, I chatted up the Sales Mgr. He essentially said it was the end of the line for the Thunderbird. Not that it won't be reincarnated in some manner down the road but he said he expects the TBird line to go away for a while since none in the pipeline for 2017. He stated the Storm was the most popular Bird for their shop, but the Commander and LT were not good sellers. Keep in mind he was not dogging the TBird, just saying not a great seller in his region and Corporate emphasis is on the modern classics.

Interestingly enough, he said the new T120 and Thrux were flying off the floor but not so much the Street Twin. He's been dealer trading Street Twins for T120s.
 
#229 · (Edited)
I’ve ordered a few pieces for my Storm from the Triumph website since I anticipate the TBird line going away soon. Thinking the OEM accessories may get a little scarce and most are marked down right now.

A 1200 Speedmaster with ABS, cruise, and ride modes would be very appealing to me. But I’m hanging on to my Storm for a while too. And my carbed Thruxton.


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#237 ·
It certainly seems a serious effort in the sector of the market that HD is increasingly focusing on. Looking at it I'd be surprised if we don't see a revised Tbird with the fly by wire throttle and cruise at some stage. I still think its a shame Triumph doesn't have the marketing and dealer network to do justice to the models they have, particularly in the cruiser range, I have no doubt this new Speedmaster would give the opposition a run for their money if given a chance. With the current set up the Speedmaster is in danger of being like the TBird, the best motorcycle that almost no one has ever heard of, let alone bought. Those going to Triumph for a Bonneville or Cafe Racer replica will likely pass it buy because of its cruiser styling, while those in the market for a cruiser will likely never consider going to a Triumph dealership. I'd like to see some truly objective road tests done by the motorcycle press where they can have open enough minds to not just dismiss the bikes that aren't Harley or Indian, some good reviews would raise the profile.
 
#238 · (Edited)
Disappointed we didn't see the Ride By Wire in the T-Bird line from day one. Hall effect transducers are not new technology, we used them 20 years ago to position pneumatic cylinders where repeatability was essential. The technology that has changed is the rapid advance of electronics used in transducers. Still see new LT's and Commanders sitting unsold in dealerships at greatly reduced prices. Why buy a Road King at 23k (minus freight, dealer prep and taxes) when a more powerful better riding LT can be had for 10k less? My thoughts as well on the "Speedmaster is in danger of being like the T-Bird". Comparison testing, honest, independent and unbiased reviewing would definitely raise the bar. This is where Triumph needs to focus in addition to some really intelligent aggressive marketing....and I firmly believe it can be done without copying the HD business model.....be independent. Invent your own. Polaris shot themselves in the foot putting their own motorcycle line out of business and Indian follows/copies things well.

Every time I run across an interested motorcyclist looking at the bike they inevitably make the comment "I had one of these when I was young." What I don't hear is I owned an AMF
 
#239 ·
I don't see it as a replacement for the tbird since it would suck as a long distance cruiser, i'm also disappointed triumph didn't take advantage of building some performance into the new LIQUID COOLED engine, not knocking it, never rode it, but, why not bring out an engine that at 1200 c.c. makes average power? It frustrates me when triumph tries to 'out harley' harley.
 
#242 ·
I don't think he meant that the motor wouldn't be big enough for a long distance cruiser. I'm assuming he's talking about size. My old Speedmaster got blown all over hell on the highway and I hated it. The first time I got the Storm up on the highway it was a revelation. My Speedmaster was a great city bike but I would never have toured on it. My friend has a Vstar 1300 and we ride together a lot. His bike is heavier than my old Speedie was by about 100 pounds. It makes a big difference on the highway. And it's more stretched out than the Speedmaster was. Granted this was an older Speedmaster but if this is built off the Bobber frame then it's going to be light and it's going to be small. Two things that don't lend themselves to long miles at 70+ mph. Awesome for cornering and acceleration but not for getting blown around by semis. I don't fit on the Bobber so I'm assuming I'm unlikely to fit on this bike either. I'm anxious to see it in person but I wouldn't consider it in any way a one to one replacement for a Thunderbird or Vstar or any larger bike. It's not about the engine size it's about the frame and ergonomics. But I hope they sell a ton of them.
 
#244 ·
The new Speedmaster looks good and has a top spec but with a 12 litre tank it doesn't look like a long distance tourer.

It's about the same weight as my old America I think and I did 14,000 miles in two years with most of it on motorways so I can't see that would be an issue. In fact I rather like the idea of a lighter bike (the Commander can be a handful when parking or trying to move it around on any kind of slope) but I don't like the idea of going back to a chain.

I'd like to take one out for a day to see what the reality of a 2.6 gallon tank actually is and just how comfortable that seat might be.
 
#248 · (Edited)
Finding the Balance

The new Speedmaster looks good and has a top spec but with a 12 litre tank it doesn't look like a long distance tourer.

In fact I rather like the idea of a lighter bike (the Commander can be a handful when parking or trying to move it around on any kind of slope) but I don't like the idea of going back to a chain.

I'd like to take one out for a day to see what the reality of a 2.6 gallon tank actually is and just how comfortable that seat might be.
These are good points that Dickenbacker. and others have made. I love my T-Bird once I get it going, but parking it and moving it around in small spaces can be challenging. I learned that the hard way, dropping it while moving it on a slope... that wouldn't have have been an issue with my previous 525pound T-Bird triple. That said, a lighter bike would still need to be comfortable, highway stable, and have a long enough range to do some touring on. And, it would need to be stable enough to battle wind elements on the highway. I think this new bike is 575lbs... but I'm not sure if that is dry or wet weight. If it comes in at 600 wet, along with other accessories, that's a pretty good weight for the road. I'd want to keep the belt drive and not return to a chain, but this bike also has cruise control, TC, and riding modes and a tach that make touring easier and maybe safer. There's always going to be a compromise in some way.

I'll have to do a demo when it comes out... take it on the highway and ideally ride it for more than a 15 minute demo to see how the seat and ergos work

One last point... to me the new Speedmaster is a pretty bike and the engine is sweet, but it doesn't quite hit that cruiser-looking sweetspot like the Storm, Commander, and T-Bird LT do. But that's just me.
 
#247 ·
Looks like you guys worked it out. It seems like there's 25 mph crosswinds on hwy's on even the calmest days and a heavier bike takes a lot of the work out of hwy riding. I managed 14,000 miles in a year on my storm going to atl city from chicago a couple times in relative comfort. I had my speed triple for nearly twice as long and managed 1/2 the the miles and my longest hwy trip was 75 miles. Besides the weight of the t-bird in 6th the engine is running lower rpm, the forward pegs can go either way. Obviously the speed 3 and speedy are very different bikes but of similar weight there's no comparison so maybe the new speedmaster will offer wind protection it still will be fatiguing on cross country rides compared to the thunderbird.
 
#249 ·
Here's my wish list for a touring cruiser;

1. 85 HP min, 40 MPG HWY
2. Hard bags
3. Drive by wire and all it implies (traction control, cruise control a must)
4. Comfortable cruiser-style seating position - not too high.
5. On-board GPS or USB ports for your own electronics.
6. Wind screen/fairing
7. Floorboards
8. Dresser bars or at least mount points for dresser bars.
9. 6 gallon tank

In other words, an updated T-Bird.
 
#251 ·
I think having got this far it would be very easy for Triumph to update the TBird and add hard bags etc. There's really little wrong with the overall design. Fitting cruise control is surely in hand in as much as they have it on the Speedmaster. They surely must have the engine noises/piston slap thing under control by now too, even though they won't admit the issue exists. I guess it will come down to whether they can inject some enthusiasm into the sector and garner the interest in the bike to make it worth moving forward given all the old stock remaining. If they can, it would cost them little to move to the next stage as they already have a top notch platform. While I have some frustrations with my LT, the fact is if I remain in the cruiser segment there is nothing else I find myself hankering after.
 
#250 ·
+1 on that. Exact same wish list I have for a next bike. I would change #6 to be fairing though. My windscreen on my Storm works but I'd like something more. My Storm would be perfect with a fairing, hard bags and cruise. I realize I can add all of those after market to the Storm but I haven't seen any hard bags that I think integrate well and the other two are very expensive to add. But I love my Storm and will be hanging on to it for several more years.
 
#263 ·
Anyone know if Triumph has ever shown ANY interest in a Thunderbird bagger ? I must admit to being more of a cruiser than a tour rider but the new Moto Guzzi MGX21 is a fantastic bike yet really not in the same league as a typical bagger. I call it a Sport Bagger. Leaner, better handling, better looking. Something the Thunderbird chassis would do well as....if the styling were right.
 
#264 ·
It seems to me that the the LT was Triumph's take on a bagger. It's a pity they never developed it further with more of a fairing, proper hard bags, cruise control and other "modern" tech.

I've no idea if they ever considered it though. The dealer I used seemed to think it would get updates but never did.

That Guzzi looks interesting. I had Guzzis for years and really liked them. I'd like a ride on the MGX but it is £20,000 over here and there are only a few dealers.

Maybe one for the future.
 
#265 ·
I rode the Flying Fortress last year. It’s surprisingly quick, nimble. I REALLY wanted to find reasons to move to it, but build quality, and issues with riding in weather (fogging display etc), along with no matching top box option kept me from spending the $25k-$30k.

Dealer told me flat out, MG is someone’s 3rd or 4th bike, not their only bike, typically.
 
#270 ·
It’s a bagger fairing, not a touring fairing. Big difference when the screen is non-existent, basically. I THINK I remember seeing they offered a taller screen blade as an accessory. Dealer will have a complete list of accys, mine has emailed me one at one point.

Look at Goldwing / F6B, new BMW K1600GT vs 1600B setups for comparison (or the Road Glide Touring vs chopped screens)

The bike was absolutely fine with the fairing to 50 (when I looked down & thought I was doing 30 in a 25 & realized how quick & smooth the bike really was). However at highway you could tell it would offer only marginal protection upper chest / head.
 
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