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Storm VS. Fat Bob

21K views 19 replies 8 participants last post by  DruAde  
#1 ·
#2 · (Edited)
I don't think there were any secrets or subterfuge related to the market that Triumph was targeting with the Thunderbird series. Clearly, HD has long dominated this segment of the cruiser market from a share standpoint.

The Tbird's styling, engine displacement, and even the 270 degree firing interval were all designed to capture the cruiser feel, but with a parallel twin rather than just another V-twin approach. I was actually stunned to see the physical similarities in person when I saw my black Tbird next to my brother-in-law's black Fat Bob. It was also stunning to watch his engine vibrate so violently every time we came to a stop.

After a day of riding, he volunteered without prompting that mine seemed like a much better deal from a price and feature standpoint, but he really only looked at HD because there aren't any other MC dealerships in his part of TX. Even the HD dealer is 30 miles away from him.

But folks should buy what they like. I went mostly by head-to-head online reviews, and sitting on/starting the bikes at various dealers, trying to get a feel of the personal fit. I've never ridden a Harley, but I have felt the ridiculous vibrations and watched the mirrors blur while sitting at idle in the showroom. Also, I'm always caught off-guard when HD riders walk up to me at service stations and quasi-biker hangouts, asking if that's the new Triumph, and telling me how much they like my bike. I would never buy one for that reason, but I feel like I made a great choice.

Ride and decide...

Jeff
 
#3 · (Edited)
What has me leaning towards The Fat Bob is ready supply of aftermarket accessories that are available!! Granted the storm is a new bike but that being said I have an 08 Speedmaster and the market still has it limits on accessories.

How can we "Go Your own Way!" when my choices are so few to make it my own WAY!! One reason I got the Speedmaster was to not be part of the cookie cutter crowd to a limit!!

Guess I am hanging out at the wrong biker bars All i ever hear is " They still make Triumph??" .... (Yea baby the do get out MORE!)
 
#4 · (Edited)
If it's after-market accessories you want, then the Fat Bob should be your choice. For me a modern power plant is a must. I wouldn't buy a car if it didn't have a modern engine (unless it was a classic and intended for very little use) and I feel the same way about my bike.

I don't look at my bike - I ride it. I love riding in my neighbors '68 Nova. Ground-up restore, very fast, but it does not make a nice every-day ride. If I want yesterday's technology, I'll actually buy an old bike and restore it ...

I have nothing against HD, but the only HD I'd consider is the VROD - it has a nice engine and I strongly considered one ... until I saw my first Tbird at a show in June 2009. I rode one home two days later and have enjoyed 15,000 comfortable and trouble-free miles.
 
#6 ·
Engage you don't care what it LOOKS like UNTIL you saw the Tbird??? Why didn't you go with the ROCET III ??? That has a modern powerplant..:p Heck even BIGGER more powerful then the Tbird or V-rod..I hear the Rocket is GREAT bike in the turns handles like a dream!!
My comment about riding as opposed to not looking at my bike was meant to imply that I won't buy a bike because of image or nostalgia - both of which HD has going for them. I put a lot of miles on my bike so I want a modern engine that doesn't vibrate a lot.

Then when I saw the Tbird in person, I knew I could have good looks and a modern power plant. To me, personally, the Tbird looks better than any HD made so it made the decision a no-brainer for me.

As for the R3 - it is a nice bike and I have ridden a few, but the Tbird is more agile and more comfortable to ride for me. You seem to think it is power I'm after - it's not. I like refinement so the extra power of the R3 means nothing to me (although I'm sure I would enjoy owning one!).

I'm not trying to argue with you. You keep presenting reasons why you think the Fat Bob might be a better choice. I have no issue with that, but you are posting them on a Tbird site, so when you make a comparison if I think you are failing to mention an attribute of the Tbird, I'll bring it up - not to be argumentative, but in order to put all the facts on the table. Simple as that.
 
#7 ·
Really didn't think Power was all your after the Rocket is a big bike I am 5'11" with a 34" inseam and its a BIG bike for me to handle too...

I understand this is A Triumph Forum ..but would like to hear what peolpe has to say...I think I bring up good points with the Fat Bob!! The Storm is a SHARP looking bike too...I guess I just wanna know WHY should I go with THE Storm over the Fat Bob?? And Maybe with these chat maybe some woh is on the fence like me but leaning more towards the storm DIDN'T look at every angle and point brought up!!!

Truth is the TRUTH !!

YES the Fat Bob will maybe SHAKE you to DEATH will the Storm NO! CAN i get a wide range of aftermarket performance parts for the Triumph? (as of now not so much!) Could there be more dealers to service the Fat Bob vs Storm I would have to guess so !! I would HATE for someone be UNAWARE of their choices...So I hope today WE help a few fellow RIDERS !!!
 
#9 ·
... I understand this is A Triumph Forum ..but would like to hear what peolpe has to say...I think I bring up good points with the Fat Bob!! The Storm is a SHARP looking bike too...I guess I just wanna know WHY should I go with THE Storm over the Fat Bob
Fair enough. I'm not sure I've given you a direct response. I choose the Tbird (same as storm except without the blacked-out bits) over the a HD (no model in particular) because of:

  1. Refinement
  2. Comfort
  3. Handling
  4. Looks

The advantages that I saw with HD are:

  1. Dealer is a lot closer
  2. After-market

I'm not so into the after-market so that didn't matter and the Tbird is so reliable that dealer being close wasn't an issue so I went with the Tbird.
 
#8 ·
What after market bits are you looking for? The storm already has more torque and HP than the FB? You can get bags screens seats bars bits ect what else can you put on a bike?

I think you should go with your heart and get what makes you happy myself. Its all about the ride not the bling in my book . Two wheels is two wheels and as long as you dont end up looking like one of those strange road pirates doing 30mph . Road pirates love that saying :D

I always go with my heart myself. I tried a fat bob a rocket 3 and a vn1700 . None of them said "eat me" until I rode the TBird . 15 minutes out I turned round slapped my card on the dealers counter "Ill have one of those thanks"

VRod yeah Id have one of those. Its a porche after all ....:D
 
#10 ·
DruAde see thats thing Would like to do diffrent Bars don't care for the stock the AfterMarket that Triumph Sell (cost way to much) don't see any others Do you? Really dont care to much for all the seats Triumph has to offer too!! On the Bars I am sure i can find a Pair of HD can can make work.. But seats IDK guess I will have too shave down and recover..

I would like more exhaust choices NOT only to I want more sound but better performance too If I am going to spend 500-600 on pipes
 
#12 ·
I do hear ya honest . There are a couple companies that make exhausts for the Bird and corbin now do seats. Bars as you rightly said are fairly universal so use what you like. But if you want pages of exhausts and bling your right you need to buy a HD.

As to power, u get 88 ft/lbs on a standard fat bob right? On a standard 1700 Bird you get 115 ft/lbs . So to get the FB to achieve to the same power lvl your looking at how much exactly? I seem to remember the SE version gets to 110 ft/lb for about 35k. Sure you can have a stage (insert number and HD cost of your choice ) new pipes filters ect and it wont cost you an extra 15k but I bet it isnt cheap. Mate of mine's got a stage one (whatever that is ) and some screaming eagle go louder pipes on his fat bob and he cant even stay on the same county as me when we open up.


Would you rather buy a bike that has been built to near its potential from factory or get one that is so strangled you have to give them a load to still not achieve what a TBird can straight out of the dealers door.

Ok its your cash but my wallet would vapourise with that kind of logic. But whatever you choose rubber side down, ride safe and enjoy . :D
 
#11 ·
Okay:
"I've never ridden a Harley, but I have felt the ridiculous vibrations and watched the mirrors blur while sitting at idle in the showroom."

The FatBob is a rubber mounted engine dyna, the vibration at an idle is normal for those models. At running speeds they become exceptionally free of vibration. The softails such as the fatboy do not vibrate at an idle.
I personally as well am not a fan of this which is one of the reasons I have let the fatbob go in my search. I rented a fatboy in Hawaii last month and was very pleased with the ride. This model for me is an aditional 4-5 grand.

For me from my research I keep coming back to the Thunderbird/Storm. They are not perfect but they have done there homework and done a lot of things right. As any new machines there is never a huge selection in aftermarket or oem accessories. Again I am suprised at how early there is more than I would expect which tells me as popularity of this machine grows so will the customizing options.
If your looking for a bike with limitless options for customizing Harley is second to none. I am personally finding that Triumph has captured a little of the best of all - price, ride power, refinment, suspension, looks (which is each to there own), braking..... etc. But it is a hard choice in todays market, all the new machines are advanced in rideability and longevity, it just comes down to what you will be happy with..

Gary
 
#13 ·
Thank you all for your input!!

:Darn:cannon:Surrender

Don't think the vibration from a HD so that BAD to be HONEST I think I am looking for Just that and for the Vtwin sound that HD does HAVE...I have an 08 speedMASTER so stepping up to even 92ft lbs of torque the HD claims the Fat Bob has works for me.

Another thing I am worried about is the Storm being a beefer SpeedMASTER I all ready have..I didnt get a chance to demo the Storm BUT DID sit on it and goose the throttle was not that impressed from the exhaust sound can't remember think it had TOR's on !! (I know it we it a little louder under more power) BUT sorry my Speedy HAS more of a THROATY sound..
So think I will hold off wait and see what more come out for the Storm and go from there!! ( Do KNOW if I'm looking for that HD feel and SOUND I have to get a HD)
 
#18 ·
Then go buy the damn thing. See what I mean about HD having the best marketing program ever? You made all the arguments for buying the Storm and could only come up with your desire for the HD experience as a reason to buy it. I can't believe all the response you got to that kind of reasoning. Have fun with your Harley. I'm sure you will fit right in with the HOG group. Let us know where you are and we'll take up a collection for a gallon of LocTite.
 
#14 ·
Don't write off the Tbird compared to your speedy just by sitting on it ! I've had both, and with short tors the 1700 Tbird especially is WAY more throaty and beefy. Plus i owned a speedmaster for 4 years and till you take a bird out for a while, you have no idea what the difference is. It's a whole other league, and theres a few leagues in between the 2 ! I rode the new speedy as a loaner too, so i've also now rode the EFI version. It sounds, handles and goes like a toy compared to the Tbird, plus the build quality is not real close. Don't take it the wrong way....the speedy is a great bike for what it is. But these a reason for the price diff. A big reason. Take it from someone who's owned both....the Tbird is like a far far better version of the speedy in every imaginable way. Even gets about the same MPG! You just cannot know till you experience both. And not just for a few miles. As i have said before, when i got mine (as a 1600) i wasn't sure i made the right choice on my 30 mile ride home. The next day i got home after a few hundred miles thru the twisties and at that point i was not only sure i made the right choice but since that moment and to this day i've have felt it's the best bike by far i ever owned since my first in 1969. And once i had the 1700 kit installed, that was all she wrote. trust me on this....the speedy is a great bike, but get a 1700 and watch your opinion do a 180 on the difference between them. Ask others who changed. they will all tell you the same thing.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Dazco don't me wrong IMO think the Storm is a bigger Badder Meaner Triumph then my speedy BUT IDK if it has what I am looking for at this ( YES SURE I WOULD LOVE 1699cc One hundredsomething ft. lbs torque WHO WOULD NOT) So I am going to wait and see..

:):p

And while I am doing that I will keep on enjoying my speedMASTER

Thanks :D

Besides like You said you got the 1600 THEN later they came out with the 1700...so MAYBE Triumph has something else upcoming in the 2012 bikes :GoodLookin

On the plus side if I wait MAYBE a little more guys like you well work out all the bugs and FIND great MODs for them...
 
#16 ·
On the plus side if I wait MAYBE a little more guys like you well work out all the bugs and FIND great MODs for them...
Well, no bugs here. I find mine close sheer perfection. As for mods, some are starting to do those but at the moment there isn't much. But then with the 1700 no mods are really needed IMO. (tho shorties are for me mandatory !) Of course that IS just MO. But it's really just fantastic as is. After the speedy i seriously doubt you would be chomping at the bit for more power or anything. the only thing for me is the accessories. I really needed a lot of the chrome items to give it the high quality custom look i often see on harleys, and it cost me a good bit but was worth it. Thats the only thing about some of the higher end harleys i have always envied, so i had to have a number of the chrome accessories. Theres a link in my signature to a pic of mine. cant really tell in the pic, but the bike looks like a jewel in person, especially in bright sun. Just freakin' beautiful to go along with it's functional beauty. Yeah, i'm a bit infatuated wit me bird. :D
 
#17 ·
Daz is right there. To get all the chrome stuff like the wheels the forks belt cover tripple tree I recon your heading up to Harley prices . But at least you dont need to get the power upgrade and you do get the exellent handling for free thrown in hhehe.