Motorcyclist Mag -Thruxton R vs BMW RnineT- Griso mention

[leafman60]

Latest issue of Motorcyclist offers a head to head test of the new ThruxtonR and the BMW RnineT.  They also throw a bone to the Guzzi Griso with an insert frame.

In short, they prefer the BMW over the Triumph because it is not so refined as the Thruxton.  They say, if you like these bikes, you may like the Griso too.

[grebmrof]

Not sure I am remembering when the Griso was introduced ('07?) and when the RnineT came out...but I thought their comment that the Griso:  "...is Italy's version of the RnineT" was particularly stupid, more like the other way around.  But they did note the more reasonable price tag of the Griso vs. those two machines they rode.

[LowRyter]

I was surprised the Thruxton only has 87 hp.

[kingoffleece]

"..............not as refined....."

Well what do you know about that!

[Kiwi Dave]

I was surprised the Thruxton only has 87 hp.

I'm reading 96.0 hp (for the Thruxton R)

[oldbike54]

"..............not as refined....."

Well what do you know about that!

 Back in 1972 no one , and I do mean no one , would have ever believed a Triumph would be more refined than a BMW 

 Dusty

[leafman60]

The Guzzi often-cited sideways nod when blipping the throttle becomes a virtue when the BMW does the same thing.

Page 34, extolling the raucous virtue of the BMW, "Blip the throttle at a stoplight and it twists quickly and snorts, like a steed shaking a fly off its ear."

Yep, the BMW is badass. It twitches when you blip the throttle.
.

[twowings]

The Thruxton R LOOKS like a motorcycle while still offering modern technology...modern BMWs offer too much technology and look like dishwashers...

[wymple]

I was surprised the Thruxton only has 87 hp.

I'm an old guy, and find it funny when somebody says something like this. Only 87 HP.  That is considerable for anything short of a loaded up cruiser.

[LowRyter]

I'm an old guy, and find it funny when somebody says something like this. Only 87 HP.  That is considerable for anything short of a loaded up cruiser.

87hp from a 1200 water cooled DOHC engine. 
 
I would expect it to have more power than the 1200 air cooled hi cam Beemer.  So it's about the same as the Griso.  Nothing wrong with that, I just thought the Thruxton would have more juice.  The article says it's built for torque and tops power at 6500.

[kingoffleece]

Engineering is always a compromise.  On a road motorcycle I'm in the camp for more torque and power in the lower revs and throttle positions where most of my (our) riding takes place.

Look back a few issues in BIKE magazine fro the UK.  Industry veteran and long time editor/scribe Steve Rose penned a very interesting article on the topic of hp and torque.

[leafman60]

IIRC the published HP on the Thruxton R is 96.  The 87 number is Motorcyclist's dyno test at the rear wheel.  Still, the BMW was about 10 HP higher.

My informal observation over years of reading them is that these California-based magazines almost always select and tout the highest HP bikes in any test.

I am wondering how their conclusions would have turned out if the Thruxton R was 10 HP up on the BMW.

[LowRyter]

Engineering is always a compromise.  On a road motorcycle I'm in the camp for more torque and power in the lower revs and throttle positions where most of my (our) riding takes place.

Look back a few issues in BIKE magazine fro the UK.  Industry veteran and long time editor/scribe Steve Rose penned a very interesting article on the topic of hp and torque.

I think you can have good low end power and HP from a 1200 water cooled bike.

Don't believe me, ride a new Beemer water boxer.  I'll bet it's 110 hp at wheel and has plenty of "get there" torque.  Same size of engine and similar price. 

I don't get why the new Thruxton has no more "thrust" than the 10 year old, air cooled Griso. 

For $15k, I think I'd want just a little more get-up. 

[Penderic]

Interesting video of a Truxton get taken apart and custom cafe bits slapped on....

https://vimeo.com/168016105
 

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

The seam around the bottom edge of the Thruxton fuel tank looks terrible.