Saturday (yesterday) went to the local Triumph dealer to look at a few Triumphs. I wanted to see the Street Twin (for my daughter, but they had none at the time), a Bonneville T120 Black (none in stock at the time), and a Thruxton R (the only one they had was sold).
I was able to see the Thruxton R (it was in another area in the store). Owner had asked for the lower clip-ons, V&H exhaust, and not sure what else. But at least I was able to see it in the flesh. Wow! What a thing of beauty. And in the right color for me... loved that color combination.
Got to talking to the sale person and a manager there... asking them when Triumph will have demo rides since I wanted to ride the Thruxton R before buying. I was riding my HD Softail Slim S and they starting smiling when they saw that under my HD jacket I had a Triumph t-shirt. Anyway, they offered me a regular Thruxton to test ride.
You have to understand, I had a Yamaha Roadstar 1600 (a cruiser) and a Honda CBR600RR... that I got rid off when I bought my first HD (Road Glide Custom)... then I got another Road Glide but in the CVO trim... then a Road King CVO and at the same time I had a Sportster 48 that was a blast to ride... then all those went away and I went to just one bike, the one I have now, a HD Softail Slim S. I change rims and tires because I prefer a tubeless setup, besides that it is pretty much stock. During all those years the Thruxton has always been a bike that just called my name... but just the looks, never took the opportunity to ride one until now... WOW, holy WOW!!! I had a frigging grin on my face from the moment I took off... wow!! It brought back the feeling I had when I rode the sport bike but in a different way... hard to explain... they way it took the curves, the power, riding position was comfortable as heck... I just kept saying, F* this is good... a sh***... wow! Oh man!@! hahahahaha... I went slow, fast, anywhere in between, testing acceleration, braking, turns, everything... it was a decent ride in terms of distance. Clutch was easy to operate, transmission shift sweet, everything about it was perfect for me... and this was the base model, not the R.
I went back to the dealer and gave them all my information to see what deal they can make on Thruxton R in silver. I do not want the clip-ons... I want the stock setup, the ride position was perfect with no pressure on my wrists.
The decision that I have to make is... do I replace my current ride with it... (I gave them all the information on my current ride to do the numbers before I decide) or do I wait another year to payoff my HD and then just add the Thruxton R to the stable?? When I got back home and shared with the wife she was like "but you told me this HD was your last motorcycle!" Honey yeah, but I had not tested the Triumph... I you know that I have been wanting one for a long time... "okay, but pay this one first and then get the Triumph, stop wasting so much on motorycles! Finish paying one and keep it!"
So I wait to see what the dealer comes back with as an offer... if it makes not financial sense, then I will wait another year and buy it in Oct. 2017... I just have to say, riding that bike brought back so many good feelings! It was like riding a sport bike again, but with the feeling of something special... and again, this was the base model, not the R. Looking closely at all the fine details on the R, it is just an amazing looking bike. The level of details in the triple tree clamp, the brakes, suspension, everything about it screams my name... in the words of that famous philosopher, Wayne Campbell, It will be mine, yes! It will be mine!
I do have a few of questions:
1. I do a ride every year with friends to Key West and I need the ability to carry some luggage. The dealer did not have the side nylon bags and installing kit to see what that looked like on the bike... I want to see, when the bags are remove, what is left on the bike?? Is it a large metal frame that just ruins the looks or is it something minimal that can't hardly be seen? I will be riding solo, so I want to keep the rear cover on all the time. Are those bags large enough to hold a few days of clothes and stuff for a four day get away?
2. Is there a center stand option for this bike?? (Forgot to ask the dealer).
3. I found the optional metal strap... I was wondering if the leather underneath comes in brown instead of black.
I was able to see the Thruxton R (it was in another area in the store). Owner had asked for the lower clip-ons, V&H exhaust, and not sure what else. But at least I was able to see it in the flesh. Wow! What a thing of beauty. And in the right color for me... loved that color combination.
Got to talking to the sale person and a manager there... asking them when Triumph will have demo rides since I wanted to ride the Thruxton R before buying. I was riding my HD Softail Slim S and they starting smiling when they saw that under my HD jacket I had a Triumph t-shirt. Anyway, they offered me a regular Thruxton to test ride.
You have to understand, I had a Yamaha Roadstar 1600 (a cruiser) and a Honda CBR600RR... that I got rid off when I bought my first HD (Road Glide Custom)... then I got another Road Glide but in the CVO trim... then a Road King CVO and at the same time I had a Sportster 48 that was a blast to ride... then all those went away and I went to just one bike, the one I have now, a HD Softail Slim S. I change rims and tires because I prefer a tubeless setup, besides that it is pretty much stock. During all those years the Thruxton has always been a bike that just called my name... but just the looks, never took the opportunity to ride one until now... WOW, holy WOW!!! I had a frigging grin on my face from the moment I took off... wow!! It brought back the feeling I had when I rode the sport bike but in a different way... hard to explain... they way it took the curves, the power, riding position was comfortable as heck... I just kept saying, F* this is good... a sh***... wow! Oh man!@! hahahahaha... I went slow, fast, anywhere in between, testing acceleration, braking, turns, everything... it was a decent ride in terms of distance. Clutch was easy to operate, transmission shift sweet, everything about it was perfect for me... and this was the base model, not the R.
I went back to the dealer and gave them all my information to see what deal they can make on Thruxton R in silver. I do not want the clip-ons... I want the stock setup, the ride position was perfect with no pressure on my wrists.
The decision that I have to make is... do I replace my current ride with it... (I gave them all the information on my current ride to do the numbers before I decide) or do I wait another year to payoff my HD and then just add the Thruxton R to the stable?? When I got back home and shared with the wife she was like "but you told me this HD was your last motorcycle!" Honey yeah, but I had not tested the Triumph... I you know that I have been wanting one for a long time... "okay, but pay this one first and then get the Triumph, stop wasting so much on motorycles! Finish paying one and keep it!"
So I wait to see what the dealer comes back with as an offer... if it makes not financial sense, then I will wait another year and buy it in Oct. 2017... I just have to say, riding that bike brought back so many good feelings! It was like riding a sport bike again, but with the feeling of something special... and again, this was the base model, not the R. Looking closely at all the fine details on the R, it is just an amazing looking bike. The level of details in the triple tree clamp, the brakes, suspension, everything about it screams my name... in the words of that famous philosopher, Wayne Campbell, It will be mine, yes! It will be mine!
I do have a few of questions:
1. I do a ride every year with friends to Key West and I need the ability to carry some luggage. The dealer did not have the side nylon bags and installing kit to see what that looked like on the bike... I want to see, when the bags are remove, what is left on the bike?? Is it a large metal frame that just ruins the looks or is it something minimal that can't hardly be seen? I will be riding solo, so I want to keep the rear cover on all the time. Are those bags large enough to hold a few days of clothes and stuff for a four day get away?
2. Is there a center stand option for this bike?? (Forgot to ask the dealer).
3. I found the optional metal strap... I was wondering if the leather underneath comes in brown instead of black.