Triumphrat

07-26-2005

I'm very interested in the America cruiser as my first street bike. I have 2 questions regarding the size of the engine (790CC):

I weigh in at about 275 and just a few of my "Harley" buddies are trying to convince me that I need a "1400” or better sized engine because I'm a beefy guy although not that tall. Obviously, I'm not interested in jumping on the Harley band wagon. I would appreciate any comments regarding the power output of the Parallel Twin 790 compared to the Twin Cam Harley engine (sorry if I offended anyone comparing the two).

I'm not looking to own a big muscle. I just want a comfortable cruiser that has enough power to push me up these steep PA hills with little effort.

Also, I noticed the 790 has twin carbs with heaters etc. How does this compare to fuel injection? Will I have to warm it up or fiddle with a choke to start it for the day?

Thanks in advanced for comments. I’m all ears.

meatwagon · 07-27-2005

According to the owners manual,the America has 60 hp and 60 Nm torque and weighs 497 lbs.I'm not an expert on Harleys,but I would think most of them weigh more (some alot more) and only some have more hp(some alot more).As I read elsewhere on this sight ,it's not all about displacement.An America should move you around pretty well and handle easily(this is important).Try your friends HD and see if you can test ride an America or SpeedMaster;totally different animals.You'll dig the light weight of the Triumph.

dazco · 07-27-2005

I hate to sound like i'm always pushing the speedmaster over the america. They're both great and very similar. But with 275LBs i'd be more inclined to got with the speedy's 865cc engine which was tuned for torque and thats what you need to pull weight well. That engine was tuned specifically for low RPM pull and it does it real well. As long as you aren't worried about incredible accelleration (275LB is likely gonna tame the quickness to some degree) i think it's do you just fine. I'm always amazed at how strong mine pulls me up hills. The powerband is extremely linear and will pull me like a team of horses from 30 MPH on up in 5th gear. What your weight will do to it i really can't say, as i'm only 175. But it does indeed deliver the great torque they were after. By the way, they also gave it a one tooth smaller front sprocket for the same reason. I would definatly put it on your list of possibilities along with the america.

larryshep · 07-27-2005

The 790cc America will do quite well with your 275 lbs. I have a very good friend that has a 02 TBA basically stock with the exception of Thunder Bike pipes from NZ and Avon Venom "X" tires. He rides 95% of the time two up with a combined weight in excess of 300#'s. Most of the riding he does is in the North Ga Mountains and areas in the Mountains of Tn and NC with elevations of 1500 ft to 5000 ft. He generally is the leader of the pack, usually 3-8 TBA, BA and SM riders on 790cc and 865cc. machines, most of the others have to really push to keep up. The average rider will never be able to push the 790cc equipped bikes to their full potential. I personally believe you will be well satisfied with the 790cc engine. Unless you are interested in straight line, stop light to stop light riding, the 790cc or 865cc equiped bike will be all you will ever need.

Christov · 07-27-2005

The biggest difference I think you will find is the America will not have the "low end grunt" that the Harley will. It is not a big thing though. The America will do what you want and still outhandle the Harleys in the twisties!! It's nice to be different too!! I enjoy the prestige of owning the Triumph marque. It is a marque that has been around since BEFORE Harley, and sets you as an individual, instead of just another one in the crowd.

TBAbob · 07-27-2005

The stock America or SM has PLENTY of power for a heavy rider or two up, even in the mountains In stock form it will easily keep up with any HD except the V-Rod. Simply add any of the available slip-on pipes and rejet the carbs and you'll have a substantial power increase that will leave the HDs gasping to keep up with you!! Really! Go one step further and drop in the Wiseco big bore kit and even the V-Rods will wonder what that really fast beautiful bike is. The stock bikes are simply de-tuned to get them thru the EPA import restrictions.

This whole "size of the engine" thing is really way overblown. 800cc is NOT a tiny engine. Depends on a lot of other things and Truimph paid attention to all of them. Then again, there's a bike that is equally well thought out and has 2300cc's, that's my Rocket3!! Now you're in a different universe. LOL! I even see some of the threads over on the Rocket forums where my honorable (but uninformed!) fellow Rocket captains mention the "small" America/SM cruisers. Obviously, they have never riden one!

I just installed the big bore this summer on my '02 TBA. Before that it was just pipes and re-jet. I'm 230 and the only problem I had with Harleys was when they were blocking the road in front of me. Ahahahahaha!! Any short straight solved that problem!

Cogito ergo equito

Bob

GaryD · 07-27-2005

Anyone who believes they "need" a 1400cc or larger engine to adequately handle a 275lb guy just has a poor knowledge of motorcycle engines.

When I got started riding , a guy at that time with a similar lack of knowledge would have said you "need" at least a 500cc or larger engine, as the "big" bikes were the 650cc Bonnevilles and Norton Atlases. Everyone was shocked at the unbelieveable overkill of manufacturers starting to make 750cc bikes in the later 60's.

I assume you know that you can buy two BAs for any one full size Harley. Buy a new BA, then spend about $700 for open pipes, airbox removal, and rejetting and you will be able to stomp any stock, twin cam, fuel injected (or carbureted) Harley (the Sportsters and VRod have different engines).

One thing you can do is test ride a BA and prove it to yourself; good luck on getting a test ride on a HD.

Bigsteve · 07-27-2005

I have the 790 2004 Speedmaster. I also outweight you by a few pounds. I agree with most everything posted. Get the bike, it handles so well. Get the after market pipes and tune/jet the carbs. Get rid of the snorkle and free up the intake and you'll have a bike that you won't be able to push hard enough.
Acceleration is all in the RPM's and these engines love them. Don't be afraid to run up to Redline in each gear. Your hog buddies will be wondering what happen to you as they see your tail light disappear. Most HD owners shift before their monster motor are at 3,500 rpm. Your motor starts to come alive at 4,500 and pulls like a freight train and screams like a wild ape from 4,500 to about 7,400 RPM. These engine will run all day long at limiter, so don't fret about engine damage.
Enjoy,

Bigsteve

Grandpaul · 07-27-2005

'These engine will run all day long at limiter, so don't fret about engine damage. '

Yep , that's the way to go!

dazco · 07-27-2005

Yea, thats another thing i noticed about my speedy. Unlike any other bike i've owned instead of sounding like it's gonna blow up at high revs it just feels like it wants to stay there ! It's kinda hard to explain the way it feels, but it's almost like the engine isn't ever straining anywhere up to redline. Aside from the fact that like every bike i've owned i always would like a bit more power, this is by far the best feeling engine i've ever ridden. I do however thing that with the right pipe/jet/airbox combination theres a world of power in there waiting to get out......i can just feel it. Just wish i knew that perfect combination w/o having to learn how to tune and spend the time and effort it takes.