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New Thunderbird LT Owner Saying Hi :)

5K views 28 replies 9 participants last post by  redhawk4 
#1 · (Edited)
I've been a forum member for some time with my 73 Triumph Tiger 750, but finally had to come to terms with the fact that at 6' 4" and not getting any younger, none of the bikes I owned were really suitable for long distance anymore. My knees riding my BMW just started to say "no" to being bent up after an hour. It's one thing your butt getting sore, but another when your legs have problems co-operating when you want to dismount. I looked at just about everything you can think of in the motorcycle market place, I've never been a cruiser bike fan and so I did everything possible to find an alternative. The adventure style bikes had some appeal and I looked at the sport cruisers including the Trophy, but in reality were not so different from my existing BMW. Finally I found Triumph could come to my rescue as I didn't want a Harley or the sort of bike that makes it look like you wanted a Harley, but couldn't afford one.

I really like the way the Thunderbird goes in it's own direction with the parallel twin and so on. It really is a great bike to ride. I'm impressed with the comfort, including the space it has for my non average size and also the handling is just beyond words for such a big machine. It seems to go the through the bends effortlessly and really hold it's lines, I was was worried having ridden with many people who were on cruiser bikes that I'd have to come to a virtual halt and wobble round the corners as most of them seemed to do (I did suspect their riding skills contributed massively to the problem). Obviously there are some lean angle restraints, but so far I've not hit them and it seems for the type of bike and use the clearance is fine. You can go fast enough to enjoy the twisty bits and given that I will usually have my wife on the back and luggage etc. I have no desire to push it like a sports bike. I have a few other bikes including my BMW so if I want to do that sort of thing I still can. I still need to work on toughening my rear up as even with the wonderful seat I start to get some discomfort in that area, the great thing was after 75 minutes in the saddle the other day in the most horrendous windy conditions and on a bumpy road, even though I started to feel some discomfort in my rear, my legs were still feeling and working fine, which really validated the whole purpose of the change of motorcycle type.

I bought the bike with only 170 miles from a mature owner who'd had a change of plans, the weather hasn't been too co-operative so I only have 350 miles or so on it, but so far it keeps getting better, the motor seems to be even smoother and is feeling a little more "revvy" and the gear shift is lighter and neutral is easier to find. I have my 500 service on Thursday, so I can't wait to hit the open road after that with fresh oil etc. and start to pick up the pace. I have a couple of longer rides planned one for mid May and mid June, plus a college friend is here for 2 weeks in June to ride and see the scenery. I have a feeling that by the time I get a few thousand on it I will like it even more.

Thanks to all those that take the time to post here, I find all the information so useful when making purchase decisions, modifications and the odd repair or adjustment. While I'm hoping I'll need much less "information" than with my 73 Tiger :) I will be keeping a close eye on the forum to see how every one is doing and for anything that's new.
 
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#2 ·
Glad you are enjoying the Thunderbird. Had mine since February, it's 2014 with 14,000 kms on it. Runs great, love the precise tracking in corners, Avon Cobras are a very good tire. You read all the complaints about grinding the boards but if you ride it like a cruiser, even fast corners are no problem. Torque will pull hard in any gear. Need to work on slow speed skills not be intimidated in parking lots and tight traffic.

Get lots of admiring comments from true Harley riders that love any good bike and know triumph make a great ride. The Thunderbird does all that a Harley does but with a refined precision and no fuss. Looking forward to getting many miles on it this year. Post a picture of your 'Bird.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
#4 · (Edited)
Thanks for the replies. I get to ride mine about 150 miles tomorrow have to run somewhere for work and it's a sunny day, so I can get the miles on in time for the 500 service on Thursday.

The suspension adjusting tool had gone walk about from my bike, and so I was waiting for one to come in the mail. I couldn't see what the suspension was set on with the bags on. Anyway to my surprise, when I got into it this afternoon it was on 1 - even more amazing that I would be so impressed when the suspension was so badly set. Putting it up to 3 solo and 5 two up, seemed to make a huge improvement on a quick test round the bumpy roads in my neighborhood. It definitely gives me more travel and actually a more compliant ride. I'm keen to see how it will be on my ride tomorrow, I think it will give me better seat comfort too, with the thick seat I may have not been noticing the suspension threatening to bottom out, my wife did say she got some jarring the other day on some bumpy roads so perhaps it's more noticeable riding pillion. She said she noticed a marked improvement on setting 5,even though until then she had been praising it's plush ride.

I was almost put off the Tbird by the road tester's complaining about the floor boards touching down, but with my suspension adjustments I definitely feel you would be having to push it overly hard, for the type of bike, to be regularly touching down, as they complained. It makes me wonder if they had adjusted the suspension properly and besides that most riders doing tests now seem to be all sportsbike riders who ride everything much harder than the average user who has paid for the bike and has some respect for it.

I honestly feel the Thunderbird is the best cruiser available having reviewed the market place if you want the qualities that were important to me, a refined vibration free engine, lots of torque, comfort for a tall rider and handling that is still sharp and entertaining for those who want to corner fast enough to feel they are having fun and haven't completely gone to "the darkside" If you add in the fact that I got such a screaming deal on mine there's nothing to touch it IMO. For what I paid I'd be looking at a 2008 with what I consider high miles in some brands, not a 2015 with under 200 miles. I definitely don't believe any almost 10 year old bike can compete with a 2015 Tbird - technology has moved on a lot in that time.
 

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#5 · (Edited)
I, too, moved from the sportier realm into the realm more relaxed when I purchased my LT a year and a half ago. Your post recalls how surprised and delighted I was with the change.

Here were my initial impressions (and some pix) of the LT after three months, and those positive impressions have not changed:

http://thechurchoftheopenroad.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-triumph-thunderbird-three-months-in.html

I hope you will continued to be satisfied with your T-Bird. It is a marvelous bike...
 
#7 ·
It seems we are living in parallel universes, both coming from BMW's, having the same reservations, but ultimately both finding the same qualities in the Thunderbird :smile2: Your nice write up really mirrors what I have discovered over the last week. Your TBird in blue and white reminds me of my 73 Tiger that is finished in virtually the same colors. I like the little touches on mine that remind me of the Triumphs of old, even though they are obviously very different machines. Who would ever have thought in the late 70's when I was growing up in England where even 500 cc seemed big to me and Tigers and Bonnevilles were 750cc, we'd ever see, let alone own, a 1700cc Triumph?
 
#6 ·
On Wednesday I rode a 150 mile round trip for my work which got me over the 500 mile mark for the first service on Thursday, it was a fantastic ride with perfect weather and temperatures. It went to confirm all my initial impressions of the bike as it involved a varied route of freeway and roads with some sweeping corners and fairly steep gradients. Once you get into 6th gear at about 60 you are just up and gone, up hill down hill, cornering even overtaking it's just effortless. I was cruising in the 70 -80 range nearly the whole way and still managed 45 mpg. The service went without a hitch, although the less said about the cost the better, I'm thinking of it as an investment should warranty work be needed. Up to 600 miles today, the engine sounded notably different after the service, I'm guessing the new oil's part of it, but it seemed to me like they had reprogrammed the ECU or similar the exhaust note sounded different and the bike also had different feel. The engine continues to get smoother with a few more miles and revs more freely, I've been trying to gradually increase rpm's but that's not so easy to do in the sense that there is no need to rev the engine, in fact quite the opposite to still make rapid, easy and smooth progress. I will say however that a reasonable handful of throttle will really get you away from a standstill at a stoplight, a short shift from 1st to second and then without even approaching full throttle 70 mph appears awfully quickly. I had a couple of cars try to race me off the line today, once you open up in 2nd gear they are left for dead without even trying. The gear shift continues to lighten up, the different oil made a noticeable difference and neutral is getting easier to find. Really no need for the heel shifter.

I'm really looking forward to my ride with some friends this time next week, I can't wait to get on the open road with a few hundred miles ahead. I'm hoping the engine and gear shift will just continue to improve as they have been over the next 500 miles or so, in which case it is going to be unbelievably good by the time I get back. The sissy barrack and engine dresser bars are on route and should be here in good time before I leave. I just have to decide between whether I'm going with a top case or leather sissy bar type bag for when I'm touring,I have both available and while I want practical extra storage, I want to maintain the the beautiful lines of the machine, so there will be some vanity involved in the final decision.
 
#8 ·
The T-Bird is with out a doubt a great machine. Did a lot of research and test rides coming off a Stratoliner. Good bike,small tank with production stopping in 2014. Tested BMW R1200....not able to flat foot it, even with low seat. Uncomfortable to me, but then I'm a cruiser guy. Nothing negative intended....take a demo ride on a Road King...you will see why the T-Bird was a better choice IMHO. Had 28K on my 02 Road King
 
#9 · (Edited)
Glad you are enjoying your LT redhawk4 as much as I do mine. I bought my '15 LT new moving up from an '08 865 America. Being a now 60 year old man that has been dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis since 1998 I was a bit worried whether I was going to be able to handle the extra weight but was pleasantly surprised. It amazed me how well it handles, even better than the America I had it seems to me.
In fact I was so comfortable with it, my son, who has the '14 T-Bird Commander, and I did an awesome 3,740 mile trip from PA out west to South Dakota and Wyoming area and back in July of last year. Both bikes performed flawlessly, even cruising around in 112 degree temps in the Badlands. It is so nice having the liquid cooled engine and no chain to maintain. I am well satisfied with the comfy seat the T-Bird LT comes with and even though I have very little cushion built in on my posterior I did the whole trip with no problems doing anywhere from 400 to over 600 miles one day getting there. Cruising along on the Interstate in Wyoming where the speed limit is 80 MPH the bike was just cruising along in 6th gear with no need to down shift to pass.
It is a beautiful bike and with the Vance & Hynes mufflers that we both put on ours they have a nice deep tone now too, but not overwhelming screaming loud.
Enjoy!!!
 

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#10 · (Edited)
That looks like a fun trip. I'm off on about a 500 mile round trip tomorrow, that should be a good shake down for the bike and equipment before we head out on some longer rides in June. Spent a few hours fitting a top case to day for some extra lockable space and fitted an HD lockset to my saddle bags a few days ago in readiness. The top case took a while to get to my satisfaction and around the obstacles I always seem to hit with universal fit stuff where there's always that "Oh bugger" moment when you realize it won't fit as intended and isn't going to be that easy. Still it keeps the old gray matter working coming up with solutions.

I'm not a big fan of top cases in the visual sense, but they do serve a purpose, like keeping my wife happy. This was the least offensive looking one I could find and it looks pretty decent on the bike and my wife is content.
 

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#11 ·
That top case doesn't look bad at all! Being a widower since 2006 my pillion seat is always open so that's where I put the Nelson Rigg bag that we use for the big trips we have taken. That has served me satisfactorily but lockable storage would give one more piece of mind I guess, although I've never had any problems around here with anyone messing with my stuff.
 
#12 ·
I'm back from my weekend trip, loved the practicality of my top case, the looks have grown on me too.

We rode about 450 miles, which was a decent workout for our first run on the TBird. My mileage is now over 1100 miles, so I've almost put a thousand miles on since buying it 3 weeks ago. It seems to get smoother with every mile so far. While stuck in line entering a National Park I was very pleased with how the gear shift has lightened up and how easy neutral is to find compared to day one. The engine seems to get smoother also. Coming back yesterday morning with the roads clear, perfect temperatures and some curves to negotiate was definitely the best ride I've had so far, these bikes can really cruise effortlessly and smoothly, steep gradients presenting no challenge whatsoever. The ride comfort, handling and power all continue to impress me. My only dislikes are no Tachometer, in windy condition, with ear plugs you can barely hear the engine and with no gear indicator and the power the bike still has in 6th, I'm still finding it hard to tell if I'm in 6th or 5th. I still don't like the tank mounted instruments, I'm more used to them now and they are definitely better on the open road where the needle is usually closer to the 12 o'clock position than when riding through town in a 30 mph limit being followed by a Police Car :( I'd also prefer the ignition key to be up front near the steering head too. I'm still impressed with the fuel mileage and range. One of my friends has a Suzuki C50 800cc which he carefully chose because he has a thing about fuel mileage. I noticed every time we filled up we were the same amount of fuel within a 10th of a gallon.
 
#13 ·
. only dislikes are no Tachometer, in windy condition, with ear plugs you can barely hear the engine and with no gear indicator and the power the bike still has in 6th, I'm still finding it hard to tell if I'm in 6th or 5th.
I put a tacho (baron) & gear indicator (gipro x-type) on mine. I use the gear indicator all the time for just the reasons you describe. I don't really recommend the tacho.
 
#14 ·
I think I way well look at a Gipro gear indicator, if I don't soon get used to being able to tell which gear I'm in just from the feel. I'm fairly certain I rode 40 miles or so in 5th at the weekend thinking I was in 6th and have had to resort to trying to change up to check I'm in 6th over and over to be sure. The huge torque, close ratios and low rpm's make it much harder to know what gear you are in than any other bike I've ever owned, with higher revving engines you can hear you need to change up from the engine note, once past 4th on the TBird you don't hear or feel much to give you a heads up. The day I picked by TBird up it was blowing a hurricane with snowflakes whipping around and that's been how it's been every day since, strong winds which combined with the less than perfect windshield have led to a lot of noise and buffeting at any sort of speed, meaning I cannot really hear the engine note only feel the engine. Being so smooth you do not get much rpm feel. I'm looking at a different windshield and hoping for better weather before deciding if I really need a gear indicator. What did you not like about your Tach, and where did you mount the gear indicator?
 
#15 ·
I have the big windscreen and made oversize lowers out of scrap acrylic. Buffeting is virtually gone. Only prob is the screen acts like a sail in strong side winds.

The baron tacho is not perfectly smooth at all revs. It's a common problem with the baron which needs a single fire adaptor with the T'bird. Fortunately it's fine between 2-4k revs which is most of the time.

The GI is mounted on that chrome plate with Triumph embossing where the bars are bolted. The red numeric version is best for bright conditions. Note that you'll also need to mount a sensor. I chose the rear wheel axle mount so it could scan off the abs wheel.
 
#16 ·
I went off the gear position indicator when I read about how you have to use a wheel sensor etc. I'll see how I get on with less windy conditions etc. before looking at a tachometer which could tell me if I'm in 6th or 5th if I still can't get used to it. What screen did you go with?
 
#17 ·
I mounted the sensor on the bit where you adjust the wheel alignment. Very easy. The only tricky bit in the installation was finding the crank case sensor wire which is hidden in the ECU loom. Once you know where it is it is easy but I was flying blind (being an early adopter in the exercise so the manufacturer couldn't help me).

I got the big Triumph quick release screen. The key to decreasing buffeting is to add lowers. I made a set that were 50% bigger than the Triumph ones. They work really well.
 
#18 · (Edited)
I've got a 22" inch Cee Bailey on order, we'll see how it works, it's 2" wider and and goes an inch lower than the Triumph Roadster screen, my stock screen is 16.54" so we'll see what happens when it arrives, I accept I may need lowers, but I am not needing complete perfection, as I wear a full face modular helmet, but the noise from the air coming over the existing screen is absolutely deafening, even with ear plugs it's verging on intolerable, it drums against the shell of my helmet. Even when it isn't windy it's like you are riding through a hurricane, when the wind is blowing it's really something else and becomes like an endurance torture test. Unfortunately it seems to have been blowing a hurricane since the day I picked my bike up. If I lean forward and down some, I can get out of it, but it's not a natural angle and at that point I can't see where I'm going either because my helmet is blocking my vision :( I'm hoping the extra 5.5" of shield will at least solve part of the problem and be tolerable with my style of helmet.
 
#19 ·
I've got a 22" inch Cee Bailey on order, we'll see how it works, it's 2" wider and and goes an inch lower than the Triumph Roadster screen, my stock screen is 16.54" so we'll see what happens when it arrives, I accept I may need lowers, but I am not needing complete perfection
Yes best see how it performs first. Buffeting comes from wind under your chin that is forced between the tank and the screen. That wind coming up is what the lowers (hopefully) deflect. Without a screen the wind is flush in your face so no buffeting.
 
#20 ·
I will have to wait and see, they make great claims for the improvements their design gives, but a test ride will soon reveal that. Currently the screen seems to deflect all the turbulent and angry air at the top part of my head because I'm tall, it's so uncomfortable and noisy, I'm yet to be in a situation where I could notice any air coming from underneath or anywhere else that may need refinement. No shield is better, other than the upright riding position makes the air pressure on the chest etc. pretty unpleasant compared to other bikes I've ridden where you are at least leaning into the wind.
 
#21 · (Edited)
I got my new screen fitted and tested today. It seems to work really well, a quick run up and down the freeway in slightly windy conditions revealed noise as very tolerable with out earplugs, where as before the noise on the shell of the helmet was very wearing even with earplugs. The shield didn't end up being longer at the bottom as they claimed, I spoke with Cee Bailey and they were very helpful about the whole thing. I think it may be slightly too tall, but had I got the 20" it would probably have been too short, so I'll see if I get used to it, the top is somewhat in my line of sight, but that's more because I'm thinking about it because it's new and different, I can see over the top fine on the open road. I think I also noticed it more because I was riding in traffic and through town where you are looking much closer to the bike. I can tuck down slightly and look through it if I want to in a comfortable crouch which will be nice if I hit unpleasant weather. I can always send it to have it trimmed an inch if I decide I don't like it, whereas I can't add material to one that's too short. As for wind/buffeting coming under the shield and upwards, I could feel that with my hand on the old screen when I checked after reading about it in this thread, but not with the new one, I couldn't detect it in my limited test at least, so whether the extra width does something, or the fact by being taller it also brings the top quite a bit closer to you, I can't say. So far so good. I will be riding 2-3k miles in the next few weeks so should get a full picture of how it performs in varying conditions.

My mods so far are the luggage rack and the Leatherlyke top case, which I really like the convenience of, HD locks added to my saddle bags, a Gearingo gear position indicator and now the taller screen, I think as it stands now it is a wonderful bike, ready for lots of miles on the open road. It's still getting smoother as the miles increase, if you haven't guessed I'm really pleased with it :)
 
#22 ·
I don't use earplugs with my screen up. Just not necessary. I actually look through my tall triumph screen but if it was an inch shorter the top edge would be right on my eyeline. That would prove incredibly annoying. The guides say you should look over the screen but I've found no problems looking through the screen - & I ride in all sorts of weather.
 
#23 · (Edited)
I rechecked the height of mine last night using a spirit level off the top edge of the windshield and it is level with the tip of my nose, so it's towards the higher end of the suggested height. It also verified how much closer the top edge of the screen is to my face, than before, because the same level was not long enough to reach me when I was trying to establish where the top of the original screen was. I'm just going to have to ride until I get used to seeing the top of the screen in my field of vision, before I can decide if I like it, or need to have an inch taken off it. I didn't find looking through the screen an issue either when I tucked down some, it's optically very clear so you don't notice it anymore than your helmet visor. I've heard some say if it's raining at night that doesn't work well, but with mine I have the option to look over the top. It seems I can find a comfortable stance to do either, it corresponds with the two riding positions I have adopted as naturally comfortable, a slight lean forward and sitting up straighter, leaning back against the lumber support. I seem to cycle between the two positions over time as I adjust my position on the bike to remain relaxed and comfortable. Given that awful buffeting and noise is gone, I'm sure I can adapt to seeing the screen in my field of vision much more readily than enduring the former, which was quite tiring over any sort of distance - the drumming on the helmet vibrated through to my skull, so while earplugs removed a lot of the wind noise, they couldn't remove the sound being transmitted directly to my head.
 
#25 ·
These are the ones I used, you can buy them at the dealership or from other places. It's nerve racking drilling the leather and a using spade bit to cut the big hole for the lock boss, but mine turned out looking like it came from the factory. Use masking tape on the inside to avoid tearing the lining material, it will try to twist around your drill otherwise. At outset I closed the bag so everything was lined up and drilled through both pieces of the case with a pilot hole before using the spade bit and then drilling the other holes based of that. Be careful to check the bag with the pockets inside to ensure you clear those.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391742516301?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
 
#26 ·
I noticed that the screen on my new LT could not be tilted.I found it was too upright so made two stainless steel brackets that gave it 1 inch of tilt at the bottom which gives about 2 inches tilt at the top.Not so much buffeting now with the original screen.Moved the heel changer down a little nearer the footrest.I use the heel changer due to my left foot having been damaged in an accident.Personally,i like the heel change on both my LT and R111.Great once you get used to it.
 
#27 ·
I rode the Tbird again on Saturday it was very windy, the screen was a huge improvement and my wife reported that the wind was not buffeting and blowing her head around as it was before. Last time we rode in the same conditions and on the same route it was just miserable for both of us. So a big improvement all round.

I'm still undecided on the height, It's probably an inch too tall, but I don't want to shorten it and then find it's not working as well. I'm headed out on a long ride on Thursday until Monday so I will see if I get used to it, I've never had any sort of tall screen before, so I'm just not used to seeing a screen when I look forward. I think I saw a picture of your brackets on another thread, I might try making something similar to give that a try when I get back if I'm still not happy, angling it back a little would take some of the height away too. I think with the new screen the fact it comes back much more towards me is a big benefit compared to the stock, as well as the height so a slight tilt back may be a further improvement. I'd definitely try that before having the screen trimmed.

I can see how the heel changer would be beneficial with a foot problem, to me it just seems alien to use and now the shift has eased up and smoothed out I don't find it necessary from a pressure perspective. I've thought about removing it to get more floorboard space, but it's still a novelty to use it once in a while and who knows if I drop something on my foot or stub a toe in the hotel, mid trip, I might be very glad of it for the ride home :)
 
#28 ·
Glad you're loving the bike Redhawk4! I've got over 15K on my '14 LT and it's been awesome, a classy, super reliable, great handling bike. And like you say, I've rarely heard my footrests ever touch down, so it's a non-issue for a cruiser. I put a tach on my bike, so I really don't need the gear indicator. I like the tach because without it I tended to shift too early. I got the TORS pipes and the stage 1 download... after a dyno of the bike, I could see what was the best shift range, so I can keep it in the power band-- very nice place to be on the LT! Like you, I like that the Triumph gets 48 mpg on the highway and that it eats up those miles with smooth, comfortable and steady ride. I got the tach from www.speedhut.com if you're interested.
Happy trails, DBrian
 
#29 ·
I'm just back from the first part of a ride with a friend I met at college 40 years ago, we did 1504 miles and are off again tomorrow on the second leg. Really enjoyed the TBird for all the reasons I'd already extolled. My friend was riding my BMW and we were going at a pretty good pace on some twisty roads, but not once did anything touch down at speeds that were safe given you have to enter a corner at a speed that allows for how far you can see ahead. I wonder if when they test these bikes they still have the suspension on setting 1 from the factory, I usually use 3 one up 5, two up, there is no pitching or wallowing so you can't touch anything down without getting a long way over for the type of machine.
 
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