[mladd72]

For those who've had the experience... How much different does 100cc's make?

Can you upgrade every Thunderbird engine to the higher displacement version?

I really like the Storm, but they seem to be a whole lot more difficult to come by...

 

[TBird Daryl39]

So the timing of your question is perfect. I have a 2010 Thunderbird 1600 and it has about 32,000 miles on it, and for a variety of reasons I can go into on another post when I have more time...I'm upgrading. TODAY I purchased the Big Bore kit and am having it shipped out...when it gets here my shop wants to take a look and make sure it's complete, and then I'm scheduling having it done. As for worth it...I have read lots of forum posts about just how much better the engine feels, not just performs. I have a Power Commander V on mine already so the shop will just tune it on the dyno to break it in...so I will have before (1600), and after (1700) dyno graphs to compare.

 

[The Hornet]

I've ridden both and purchased two 1700's. I can say I could tell the difference and was impressed with the extra 100

 

[TBird Daryl39]

Bad news here...I just got emailed that the Big Bore kit is no longer available from Triumph. I tried 2 places online that showed to have it "in stock" on their shelves, and got the same result from both of them. The place I ordered from, refunded my credit card. So now what?

 

[blmc]

Say oh well. Go out and ride. Enjoy what you got. Come back smiling saying hot damn that was fun!

 

[TBird Daryl39]

That's just the problem, my bike has the infamous anti-freeze leak anytime it is ridden even moderately frisky (3rd gear, rolling on and off throttle from 3-4K rpm corner to corner)...EVERY SINGLE ride it looks like a elephant sneezed on my manifold behind the cylinder heads, I was going to finally have the shop mill the heads or whatever is needed to fix this problem once and for all and combine that with a big bore kit...I guess I will just spend the $$ to get it fixed without the benefit of an upgrade...seriously thinking about selling her and getting something else.

 

[Dougl1000]

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2014-Triumph-THUNDERBIRD-STORM-ABS-5016021564

 

[The Hornet]

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2014-Triumph-THUNDERBIRD-STORM-ABS-5016021564

Less than 3000 miles. Damn

 

[Dougl1000]

Yar.

 

[TorqueBird]

IMO u r lucky it was out of stock. I have a Tbird i bought new in mid '09, pre order bike. Have 80,000 plus on it now and got the BB kit at 12,000. Soon after it was installed the knocking started. If u haven't read about it the 1600s rarely have the issue but a lot of 1700s do because of the bore./piston geometry. Piston slap from most accounts. It's ruined my enjoyment of the bike for many years. Don't do it ! Even if your chances of not developing the knock are better then having it, it's not worth the chance. Second, the power gains are not huge at all and probably 90% of the gains are not from the extra 100cc but from the cams. If you can find a kit i would just put the cams in and run a 1700 tune. But do yourself a big favor and don't have the kit installed.

 

[ThunderCruiser]

IMO u r lucky it was out of stock. I have a Tbird i bought new in mid '09, pre order bike. Have 80,000 plus on it now and got the BB kit at 12,000. Soon after it was installed the knocking started. If u haven't read about it the 1600s rarely have the issue but a lot of 1700s do because of the bore./piston geometry. Piston slap from most accounts. It's ruined my enjoyment of the bike for many years. Don't do it ! Even if your chances of not developing the knock are better then having it, it's not worth the chance. Second, the power gains are not huge at all and probably 90% of the gains are not from the extra 100cc but from the cams. If you can find a kit i would just put the cams in and run a 1700 tune. But do yourself a big favor and don't have the kit installed.

That is what makes the biggest gains. The cam profile and tune should get it more gain than the 100cc.

 

[steve59]

I wish the storm wasn't so noisy and what was the most disturbing was the sounds weren't in rhythm with engine rpm's! just random knocks completely out of tune with everything else. My favorite looking cruiser that got compliments everywhere I went. I agree if you want more power trade for a used R3 or naked bike or invest $3-4k on a supercharger.

 

[PapaSmurfMC]

My Triumph dealer strongly discouraged me from big-boring up to 1700. He said the 1700 engines are way noisy. I listened to him and have no complaints. TORs and some map tweaks and it can climb trees.

 

[HomerSimpson]

That's just the problem, my bike has the infamous anti-freeze leak anytime it is ridden even moderately frisky (3rd gear, rolling on and off throttle from 3-4K rpm corner to corner)...EVERY SINGLE ride it looks like a elephant sneezed on my manifold behind the cylinder heads, I was going to finally have the shop mill the heads or whatever is needed to fix this problem once and for all and combine that with a big bore kit...I guess I will just spend the $$ to get it fixed without the benefit of an upgrade...seriously thinking about selling her and getting something else.

I've never heard of a common coolant leak. Are you sure it's coming from where the head meets the cylinders? If you're correct, then what I would do is reface both heads, which will increase the compression a little, then throw in the 1700 cams. I reckon after that you'll be really happy with it!

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[Terry Colley]

........what I would do is reface both heads, which will increase the compression a little,

The Thunderbird has two heads?

 

[ThaiumphScrambled]

As has been said above, the 1700 cams make more difference than the 100cc.

 

[HomerSimpson]

The Thunderbird has two heads?

Haha that was actually just an assumption with it having two cylinders. A V twin obviously has two, but not this motor lol

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[ThaiumphScrambled]

Most coolant leaks are from the crappy cheap hose clamps - or clamps that simply weren't fitted correctly. I haven't heard of a common leak caused by an actual design issue.

 

[HomerSimpson]

Most coolant leaks are from the crappy cheap hose clamps - or clamps that simply weren't fitted correctly. I haven't heard of a common leak caused by an actual design issue.

I agree. When I removed the exhaust decompression cams I had to disconnect the cooling system above the motor. After putting it all back together i had a very annoying leak where the hose clamps over a metal pipe. Had to take the tank off many times so I could try and get that leak fixed!!!

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[steve59]

I saw a black Storm on the road yesterday, probably the second one I’ve seen on the road ever. if I ever buy another cruiser it’ll be a thunderbird storm and I’ll just wear earplugs for the racket.