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I think I am jumpin ship on the Thruxton R...

21K views 93 replies 36 participants last post by  Usaftrevor87 
#1 ·
Well... after really thinking it over and what I want in a new motorcycle, I think I am going to jump ship on the Thruxton R...
In all the hype and shenanigans of the release I quickly put a $500 down on the R. My dealer said it is totally refundable or I can put it towards something else in the shop. After careful consideration, I think I am going to go with the T120 Black instead.
This came down to basically personal preference & necessity.

Thruxton R $14,500 + I would need passenger pegs, and 2 up seat. It is definitely the sexiest out of the bunch, but think it might be a bit overkill for what I need.

T120 Black is $12,000 + I really wouldn't "need" much else, but have the extra cash if I wanted it. I also wouldn't have to buy the extra seat, and I also live in Minnesota, so the standard heated grips kind of wooo's me.

I don't know what to do, but hopefully I figure it out soon, because I speculate if I wait for my Thruxton R to show up I am going to have a hard time finding a T120 black. I am going to the Triumph show on the 9th in Minneapolis, and I will decide there.

We shall see...
 
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#2 ·
Why black on a classic Triumph rather than silver/red? Are you one of those triple-black 911 guys? :cool: :)

As long as you won't miss the suspension upgrades on the Thrux and revvier power band...

 
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#3 ·
Silver & red is definitely a classic, can't argue that, but every bike I've owned (4 of them) have been black on black, minus my first R6. I just love the black outted look haha

I would probably miss a little of the higher end, but I don't think enough to warrant the R. I maybe got my M109R up past 110 twice last year. So, I think since I plan to do more touring this summer, that the T120 would be a better fit.
 
#4 ·
Black is faster, that paint will make up for any HP/torque differences between the Thrux and T-120.


Wish I had advice, but there's no right answer. I prefer the T-120 style for the riding I do, but if I used the bike differently I'd probably prefer the Thrux. If that makes sense. Love my Bonnie obviously, but I got to spend a day on a Thrux once and that was pretty dam fun too.

I just need the bigger front wheel, lower pipes and the T-100/120 seating position for luggage and forest service roads and such ...

The R package is too much money for what it offers, but just IMO. I'm a cheap skate, and can have plenty of fun on non-orange-colored shocks and stuff.
 
#11 ·
Well of course Black is faster haha
If I was doing riding like I use to, just around town, to work, I would just stick with the Thruxton R, but I am planning do to some longer touring this summer.
Money is part of the equation but really only like 10% of my decision.
I just think the T120 might fit my needs better.
I emailed my dealer & he said he will have to contqct Triumph to figure out how it all works, with switching & keeping my pre-order status or something.
We shall see how it goes.
 
#5 ·
Thruxton R is the sexiest. No question about it. If I were you I wouldn't make this decision just on price alone. T120 seems like a good bike, but there is nothing else like the new Thruxton R. Just look at it:



Personally, I prefer Scrambler style over cafe racer style, but the new Thruxton is gorgeous.
 
#9 ·
Finding something which looks appropriate might be hard work and also less retro/showroom appeal for Lester copies. Triumph probably got this right. Was never crazy about Lesters at the time personally.

The "snowflakes" on my R100RS Motorsport looked OK..., also late '70's, but that was on a swoopy BMW. :cool:
 
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#7 · (Edited)
I've got that $500 down on a red/silver T120 and if I find they have jacked the expected price up, I may just bail on the whole thing and just love what I got and say adios to the new bike. Dealer first told me this T120 would be $11,700, now I'm hearing it more might be $12K or $12.5K and I thought I even heard that it would be $12,750 from some posting on TRat - well that would do me in and I would quite likely pass on it if it was that high.

Here was an article back in Dec, that mentioned $12K for the two tone T120:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2015/...als-2016-street-twin-bonneville-t120-pricing/

Some dealer on ebay is selling a T120 for $12K + fees and stuff, so I don't know what to think right now.

My dealer tells me pricing will be known in February...so I wait...Jeezus, even $12K is a LOT of money!
 
#16 ·
Ok you lost me. You make vague statements about "hearing" about prices, a dealer selling a T120 for $12k plus fees...etc. The prices as pointed in the article linked have been consistent in other articles I've read. When did your dealer say the two tone would be $11,700, before or after the Dec 8th article? Where did he get that figure from? Some dealer is selling a T120 for $12k, so are you complaining or what. A two tone T120 is $12k, according to the article you posted so what's your point?

When I put down my deposit on a T120 Black I received a Customer deposit form and Sales Deal Summary form. That form shows the cost of the bike at $11,499, equaling the number many articles quoted. The form also included a breakdown of all fees, taxes etc giving me the drive out price. If the price is different when he calls and tells me the Black is ready for pickup, then we'll have a problem.

From reading your rambling post it sounds like you've been confused by a variety of different and probably unreliable sources, you need to find a different dealer or both.
 
#10 ·
:confused:

A T-120 is a roomy "standard" and a Speed Triple is a "naked" hooligan. Not sure how they can be compared other than having two wheels. :cool:

And BTW, "standards" are "do most anything", not just for geriatrics... :D
 
#19 ·
I think the fact that you are looking for a two up seat pretty much answers the question on which model is the better choice for you
 
#20 ·
Lots of good posts here. We saw the bikes in person & wife said, "get yourself the Thruxton R, we already have a two up ride". However it's a lot of dosh & I'm not convinced I'd really love living with it for long. Been thinking about trading now for a lightly used Street Triple R, riding for a year to scratch that itch & then revisiting a new T120 after theyre more sorted out....
 
#28 ·
Well... after really thinking it over and what I want in a new motorcycle, I think I am going to jump ship on the Thruxton R...
In all the hype and shenanigans of the release I quickly put a $500 down on the R. My dealer said it is totally refundable or I can put it towards something else in the shop. After careful consideration, I think I am going to go with the T120 Black instead.
This came down to basically personal preference & necessity.

Thruxton R $14,500 + I would need passenger pegs, and 2 up seat. It is definitely the sexiest out of the bunch, but think it might be a bit overkill for what I need.

T120 Black is $12,000 + I really wouldn't "need" much else, but have the extra cash if I wanted it. I also wouldn't have to buy the extra seat, and I also live in Minnesota, so the standard heated grips kind of wooo's me.

I don't know what to do, but hopefully I figure it out soon, because I speculate if I wait for my Thruxton R to show up I am going to have a hard time finding a T120 black. I am going to the Triumph show on the 9th in Minneapolis, and I will decide there.

We shall see...
Bro the show is on the 8th.
 
#29 ·
Okay, just to confuse you more... my dealer said he had a heck of a time cleaning all the fingerprints off of the matt-black Speed Twin he got in. Said every time anyone touches it they leave a mark that has to be scrubbed off. I don't know how true this is or not, but just something more to worry about for you! But I agree, the matt-black 120 with the brown seat looked really hot when I saw it at the show...

-Dan
 
#32 ·
T120 Black is $12,000 + I really wouldn't "need" much else, but have the extra cash if I wanted it. I also wouldn't have to buy the extra seat, and I also live in Minnesota, so the standard heated grips kind of wooo's me.

I don't know what to do, but hopefully I figure it out soon, because I speculate if I wait for my Thruxton R to show up I am going to have a hard time finding a T120 black. I am going to the Triumph show on the 9th in Minneapolis, and I will decide there.

We shall see...
Triumph show in the Twin Cities? That's only an 8-hour drive from the centre (note the Cdn spelling) of Canada, where we have no m/c shows. Please tell more. And I'm with you on the T-120. Heated grips and all. My dilemma, if trading up now, would be red/silver or black/white.
 
#34 ·
I had a '10 Speed Triple in the matte black... Fingerprints & such wipe right off with a halfway decent micro-fiber cloth pretty easily.
 
#36 ·
Damn. I'll be at a curling bonspiel. Working, unfortunately.
 
#40 ·
I have a matte Fender & a matte Gibson. I totally know what you are talking about with the "it gets glossy with wear"... However, the matte paint doesn't do that (from what I've found, surprisingly) on the Triumph tanks... One would think it would, especially since your whole upper torso & knees puts more weight/wear than just the inside of your forearm on a guitar... Maybe because the matte on a guitar is over wood instead of steal on the tank? I think the mattes they use on the guitars are more of a nitroglycerin stain process. Since it's on wood. I'm no expert. But I wouldn't have ordered another matte black Triumph if it did that "glossy" thing... That would be unsightly. I do feel it scratches easier and maybe even chips a little easier from the lack of a clear coat though. It definitely is a little more "maintenance", but not as bad as one might think. (Just my two cents from my own experience. Hope that helps for anyone "on the fence" between color options.)
 
#43 ·
Just to be clear, I like/prefer matte black for whatever motorcycle is my own. (And you're right about not showing any "swirl-marks" when in normal day-light. That's a big plus I forgot to mention.)... I was just trying to be as neutral as I could be between the pros & cons between Triumph matte paint & Triumph clear-coat paint, for anyone without experience with it. I use Meguire's Quick Spray wax with a good micro fiber cloth too! (The magic maroon spray bottle!) It's good they offer other colors too though. Because not everyone has the same taste as us, and I don't want too many people having the exact same bike as me, right?
 
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