[VainCyrus]

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.

 

[Lygraf]

It's never too late to come to your senses. Welcome.

 

[Lantesh]

That is a good price for a bike that already has the 1700, and heck someone already did the break in miles for you. Now go get it, and post up some pictures!

 

[BMK9251]

That is a good price for a bike that already has the 1700, and heck someone already did the break in miles for you. Now go get it, and post up some pictures!

+1 decent price. I would buy it.

 

[BrewDudeBob]

I ride a Bonnie and took a T-Bird for a test ride. Handles like a John Deere. Not for me.

 

[dazco]

I ride a Bonnie and took a T-Bird for a test ride. Handles like a John Deere. Not for me.

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.

 

[paulfun]

I ride a Bonnie and took a T-Bird for a test ride. Handles like a John Deere. Not for me.

I have a few john deer's and there aint no comparison! Them tractors will run straight threw the fields and with the power stering and 4 wheel drive the thunderbird just cant keep up!

 

[Lantesh]

I ride a Bonnie and took a T-Bird for a test ride. Handles like a John Deere. Not for me.

Perhaps you simply don't have the skill to ride it to its potential.

 

[redtop]

You won't regret it, I traded my 08 Bonney for a 2010 Bird in March of 10. Very different bikes, sort of wished I kept the Bonney too!

 

[BrewDudeBob]

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

 

[dazco]

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 [email protected] 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.

 

[oldgreybull]

I have a few john deer's and there aint no comparison! Them tractors will run straight threw the fields and with the power stering and 4 wheel drive the thunderbird just cant keep up!

I have to agree, my Thunderbird won't clear snow worth a dam up here on our mountain compared to my John Deere. :beerchug

 

[tomfleming]

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.

 

[tomfleming]

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'.

 

[Sub]

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'.

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.

 

[tomfleming]

+1. i keep up when i ride the Bird and my son rides the Speedie.

 

[Biker Bob]

Traded my Speedmaster on for a Thunderbird myself two weeks ago and man, whatta bike! T-bird is awesome and the Speedmaster was no comparison whatsoever.

 

[BrewDudeBob]

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 [email protected] 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.

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.

 

[Dan McGrath]

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 !

 

[oldgreybull]

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.

Back peddle if you like, but you miss the point. In comparing the two bikes, most riders have pointed out advantages one has over the other. You, however, simply said the Thunderbird handles like a tractor - sort of an absurd and denigrating comparison.
As you now say, the bikes are different, they understandably handle differently, both have good attributes, and the vast majority of knowledgleable and experienced rider say they are both exceptionally fine motorcycles.
I think some simply take exception to your interrupting an otherwise useful and informative thread discussing the two bikes, with an inflamatory and gratuitious slam against the Thunderbird. Your comment was viewed as either malicious or at best thoughtless, or perhaps both.
I appreciate your clarification, am pleased you like your bonnie and delighted you ride a Triumph! Now where were we?