Having seen how many people are dissatisfied with the performance of the old Hinkley twins and have been resorting to modifications like upside down forks, cast wheels, better shocks, modified swing arms, bigger barrels, changed electronics etc etc, it got me all inspired.
(There is even a great reproduction Norton featherbedded frame Triumph that featured on this site recently. Brilliant!)
Given all of that, I decided a while ago to bite the bullet and do a complete workover of my 2006 Thruxton to turn it into something that will really perform and unleash the potential of the design. Basically what Triumph could've (should've) done originally but cheaped out on .
I want good handling, sharp braking, lighter weight and strong engine performance.
My first step was to improve the braking and front end.
I wanted twin disks and good forks. A tried and true solution for the Hinkley twins is to replace the front end with that from a GSXR.
So I hunted around and I bought these:
I also wanted to replace the twin shocks on the rear for a mono-shock - I mean seriously Triumph, this is the 21st century, twin shocks on performance bikes died in the 1970s!.
Given I was already going to use a GSXR wheel on the new front end I figured I could simply swap out the swing arm and suspension for a GSXR one as well and use GSXR wheels all round - I sourced this swing arm:
It was in near new condition and cheap.
Now off course that required substantial frame changes to fit the swing arm and single shock - I always was counting on that but I figured I could also lose some weight on the frame at the same time.
I have been pretty busy over quite a few weeks cutting and welding the old frame to get it how I wanted and reduce weight as well but I am really pleased with the result. This is the frame just before I sent it off to be powder coated:
The frame changes though have meant I needed to rethink the engine mounting - the existing motor no longer fits in the modified frame.
I did a lot of thinking and researching this.
I was always tossing up about how much horsepower I can really pull from the old 865 air cooled lump anyway and my original plan was maybe a 1050 triple motor off another Triumph. I would cleverly use the existing oil cooler as the radiator and although the engine may be a bit wider than the 865 I reckon most people wouldn't pick it.
I tried mocking up into the frame some casings off an old 1050 motor I bought off ebay
but it was even harder to make fit than the 865 motor so that ruined that plan
Then it struck me - "Cafe Racer!" Of course! all those years ago people were building Tritons and Norvins etc with mismatched manufacturers engines and frames so... why not a modern take of the idea and fit a Suzuki GSXR motor into my Thruxton and call it a "Suxton"? (get it? Suzuki-Thruxton... Suxton!)
This would be keeping alive the spirit of true British bike culture but with a slightly modern slant!
I got a motor out of a totalled GSXR last week
and found it will fit perfectly!
This is where the project is at now:
Still need some wheels and the tank and seat pan will need a few mods to fit the frame. Of course I will be fitting the original seat hump as it just wouldn't be a Thruxton without that! At least Triumph got that right!
I can't wait until it is finished - it will be one of the most original Thruxtons out there and should perform like stink!
So... a Suxton! What do you think? Am I crazy? Will this work?
PS: I know there will be hater's and detractors so please - if you are going to post negative opinions here - don't ruin it for everyone else OK?
(There is even a great reproduction Norton featherbedded frame Triumph that featured on this site recently. Brilliant!)
Given all of that, I decided a while ago to bite the bullet and do a complete workover of my 2006 Thruxton to turn it into something that will really perform and unleash the potential of the design. Basically what Triumph could've (should've) done originally but cheaped out on .
I want good handling, sharp braking, lighter weight and strong engine performance.
My first step was to improve the braking and front end.
I wanted twin disks and good forks. A tried and true solution for the Hinkley twins is to replace the front end with that from a GSXR.
So I hunted around and I bought these:
I also wanted to replace the twin shocks on the rear for a mono-shock - I mean seriously Triumph, this is the 21st century, twin shocks on performance bikes died in the 1970s!.
Given I was already going to use a GSXR wheel on the new front end I figured I could simply swap out the swing arm and suspension for a GSXR one as well and use GSXR wheels all round - I sourced this swing arm:
It was in near new condition and cheap.
Now off course that required substantial frame changes to fit the swing arm and single shock - I always was counting on that but I figured I could also lose some weight on the frame at the same time.
I have been pretty busy over quite a few weeks cutting and welding the old frame to get it how I wanted and reduce weight as well but I am really pleased with the result. This is the frame just before I sent it off to be powder coated:
The frame changes though have meant I needed to rethink the engine mounting - the existing motor no longer fits in the modified frame.
I did a lot of thinking and researching this.
I was always tossing up about how much horsepower I can really pull from the old 865 air cooled lump anyway and my original plan was maybe a 1050 triple motor off another Triumph. I would cleverly use the existing oil cooler as the radiator and although the engine may be a bit wider than the 865 I reckon most people wouldn't pick it.
I tried mocking up into the frame some casings off an old 1050 motor I bought off ebay
but it was even harder to make fit than the 865 motor so that ruined that plan
Then it struck me - "Cafe Racer!" Of course! all those years ago people were building Tritons and Norvins etc with mismatched manufacturers engines and frames so... why not a modern take of the idea and fit a Suzuki GSXR motor into my Thruxton and call it a "Suxton"? (get it? Suzuki-Thruxton... Suxton!)
This would be keeping alive the spirit of true British bike culture but with a slightly modern slant!
I got a motor out of a totalled GSXR last week
and found it will fit perfectly!
This is where the project is at now:
Still need some wheels and the tank and seat pan will need a few mods to fit the frame. Of course I will be fitting the original seat hump as it just wouldn't be a Thruxton without that! At least Triumph got that right!
I can't wait until it is finished - it will be one of the most original Thruxtons out there and should perform like stink!
So... a Suxton! What do you think? Am I crazy? Will this work?
PS: I know there will be hater's and detractors so please - if you are going to post negative opinions here - don't ruin it for everyone else OK?