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I Made a Mistake!

5K views 42 replies 18 participants last post by  VainCyrus 
#1 ·
Well, I took a ride on a 2011 Thunderbird that had only 950 miles. I'm totally impressed and I'm going to trade my Bonneville in for it. This bike had the 1700 kit and was amazing. I took it out on the road and broke loose the rear tire in first without popping the clutch from about 10 mile per hour.

They want $10,995 for it and I can't resist. I'm a sport bike rider and I thought I would never get caught dead on a cruiser but I just can't resist. The handling actually surprised me and with my short frame I could easily reach the forward controls.

I'm sorry I waited so long to ride one.:D
 
#6 ·
You would be the first out of many who own a bonneville and said that. Everyone else has talked about how the Tbird handles and many of them say the bird handles better. You simply weren't used to it. I felt similar when i took delivery of mine never having demo'd one. On the way home i wasn't all that sure i made the right decision. Next day, 100+ miles of twisties, got home with a smile a mile wide and not only knew i made a great decision, but realized once i got used to it this was the best handling bike i ever rode since 1969, and only 2 of my bikes were cruisers. Every article cites it's superb handling, so chances are pretty slim (huge understatement) that everyone is wrong and you are right. I honestly cannot count the times i read of bonnie owners who got a Tbird and said it handles better aside from slow speed peg clearance. One thruxton owner sold his thrux and said the bird handles better. You can doubt an opinion or even 2, maybe 3. But not dozens if not a 100 including all demo rides, buyers, and mag reviews.
 
#10 ·
I will admit that I am not a long-time rider, and my experience is only 20,000 miles on a Bonnie. I have only been riding 18 months, and really got used to the way the Bonnie handles. One of my riding buddies has a red T-Bird, and when I told him how I felt about my test ride on the T-Bird, he said if I thought the T-Bird rides like a John Deere, then if I rode a Harley, it would be like a Russian knock-off of a John Deere.

I am certain a T-Bird is a fine bike, and the reviews from the magazines back that up. It is just that my limited exposure to riding makes me more comfortable on the Bonnie. Perhaps, if I had more time to ride a T-Bird, say a weekend or so, I may get more comfortable and start to get the feel for it.

But I can't change my first impression, and I can always change my mind :)
 
#11 ·
Then you simply should have said that for a new rider like yourself it was too much or something along those lines, or even not post at all. I mean, whats the point? I sure as heck wouldn't go over to the bonnie forum and find a thread where they're all rejoice about thier bonnies and tell them "i rode a bonnie and it felt like a toy and had no power", or go to the R3 forum and tell them i rode an R3 and it's a bulky clumbsy lump. I just don't get that mentality. It's one thing to voice your opinion on something, but another to go to another forum and find a post where several people are voicing thier love for their model after a new owner has posted to rejoice over his purchase and criticize it for no constructive reason. Especially when you are a new rider. I've been riding since '69 and i know bikes well enough to know that there is a d@mn good reason this bike has been received by the motorcycle world as maybe the best cruiser ever made. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but i'm trying to make you see it from our point of view as Tbird owners.

You might say i'm sort of the resident Thunderbird defender here, and i get in heated discussions at time when someone from another forum posts here just to diss the bike. I don't pull punches on this subject. Sorry to those who may be sick of my rantings, but i just think that if you can't use good judgment and respect other triumph owners and thier bikes and post constructively then you probably shouldn't post at all.
 
#18 ·
You really are quite sensitive aren't you?

If you must know why I posted my comment, it was because VainCyrus switched from a Bonneville to a T-Bird. I ride a Bonnie, and simply can't see why that would be an upgrade. But I guess that is why they make different models. At least he is still riding a Triumph.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Get the Staintune collector pipes. It replaces the Tbird catalytic converter. You can keep the stock exhaust cans (mufflers). I did this today and my 1700 has way better sound and noticeably greater hp! Get on staintune site, search for Tbird collector pipes, and then ignore the need to order through dealer. Email them and they will let you give credit card number, i got 'em in two weeks delivered to my house. The power is WAY better, the sound is awesome. Cost about $565 total. The cat is the choke on sound/power.
 
#14 ·
As far as sport vs cruiser, you need one of each. Just sayin'.... Sometimes you feel like sport ridin', and sometimes you feel like cowboy ridin'.
 
#15 ·
That what I did! :) After owning a few bikes you realize there is no bike that really does it all.

The tbird is a surprisingly good handling bike. It takes some time to trust it but the weight makes it very stable and sheer power out of corners is fun to play with. Its low CG also makes it more flickable than you'd think. I'm not a peg dragger or anything, but I'd say I'm as fast on my tbird when I want to be as I am on my sport bike.
 
#23 ·
thanks, accepted. As to the gearing, not sure why you felt that but it's actually fairly wide. probably like you said due to the torque. The bike's top speed *if* it was capable of pulling redline in top gear is around 180 MPH. So you can imagine that 1st couldn't be very short without being way out of proportion to the other gears, and if anything the bike is geared very high. If you're happy with the bonnie then no reason to look further, at least if and when you feel you need or want to. But if you ever do i would suggest you take a 1700 storm out for a long demo. a short ride doesn't reveal much to some people, and i'm one of those as i mentioned before. I think if you do that you'll come back shocked as to what you feel about it then as opposed to how you did that first time. the 1600's are ok, but a 1700 is a whole other animal. You can cruise all day at well over 100 on these things w/o breaking a sweat. (that is if you aren't getting fatigued by the wind)
 
#24 ·
I have difficulty knowing if I'm in 5th or 6th - sometimes I lose track because to me they seem so close together. The others are easy, at around 2000rpm I'm doing 20 in 2nd, 30 in 3rd, 40 in 4th and 50 in 5th - then again I'm not an agressive rider.
Sunday I was on some country roads in FL, enjoying the cool shade of the big mossy oaks and cruising along at about 50, when I was startled by a crotch rocket wizzing past me - followed by - no exageration, by at least 12 more - all hunkered down in black leather, passing on the curves and solid double lines. The last 2-3 were the wildest - desperate to catch up and indifferent to oncoming traffic. Different strokes for different folks!
Later I looked back and there were about 5-6 cruisers well back, just following along at my cruising speed. They never closed the gap or tried to pass; I finally lost them when I turned off.
Life is good, and it's even better on a Thunderbird! :happay
 
#28 ·
Dan McGrath
New Member
Minitwins
Favourite Bike: T100
*
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 17
Other Motorcycle: basket case Honda Scrambl
"Horse's for courses......I just left a cruiser for a Bonnie, love it . Completely different ride between the two of them. Both the America and the T-Bird are good looking machines, enjoy your Thunderbird !"


Whoa dude, "horses for courses?". I had to look up that particular idiom, me being an idiot, and I figured maybe you're a British dude, but you're from Jersey. I never heard it before..
 
#30 · (Edited)
Brew this isn't about you.:D

I'm buying the bike because it does handle quite nicely and is easy on the road as it is on the eyes.

I ride for a living as a motorcycle cop, so I've got quite a few more miles then most and I know what I like. This bike is every bit an all rounder, unlike the Bonnie. It handles as well, cruises at highway speeds with ease, has gobs more torque and is a much better longer distance road bike. That's why it's getting traded for the T-Bird.;)
 
#32 ·
Brew this isn't about you.:D

I'm buying the bike because it does handle quite nicely and is easy on the road as it is on the eyes.

I ride for a living as a motorcycle cop, so I've got quite a few more miles then most and I know what I like. This bike is every bit an all rounder, unlike the Bonnie. It handles as well, cruises at highway speeds with ease, has gobs more torque and is a much better longer distance road bike. That's why it getting traded for the T-Bird.;)
Now THERES a recommendation ! Thanks VC. So often you try and tell people the Tbird is an all around great bike but many just refuse to believe it in one way or another. I think such a glowing description of the Tbird from someone who rides 8 hours a day for a living might have a pretty dependable opinion, dontcha all think?!

Now, down to business.....can ya help me out next time i get a speeding ticket? :D
 
#39 · (Edited)
I know your having some fun on my behalf, so let me say this. Considering you're in Ca Daz and I'm not, I doubt seriously if we'd every cross paths in my official capacity.

Eitherway, I may give you a warning but I don't fix citations for anyone. Not even my wife for obvious reasons, sorry.;)

Thanks Randomo. The chrome pulley and lower fork legs are on the way.

All the Best

Cy
 
#41 ·
Actually Daz, one of my fellow officers stopped her for speed last year. He called me and asked if he should ticket her. I told him heck yea. If she was speeding she deserved it, she knows damn good and well I would give her one.

She didn't say a word when she came home. I waited until she finally came to me that night and told me about it. I asked her if she used my name with the other boots. She quietly said, "no," as she already knew how I felt about it. Just told her to pay the fine and be done with it. She's a good lady and knows not to jeopardize my position in the community or with the department.

The exceptions I make are more likely to come back and bite me in the long run. So it's best not to start.
 
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