Very nice intro to the new Bonneville/Thruxton/Street Twin

[Aaron D.]

If Indian ever puts shiny paint on the tank and fenders of a Chief Dark Horse, the lure may be more than I can resist.

If you are spending Chief money, our dealer does excellent paint for not much more..

[ohiorider]

 ................... ...........   The Ducati's had their ass in the air, too much gap between the rear tire and fender, and really low bars

My opinion at the time when it came out.  OTOH, the other stablemates in that series (cannot remember model names ... but retro) were beautiful machines.  However, the riding position would've been brutal for me.

[rocker59]

If you are spending Chief money, our dealer does excellent paint for not much more..

Just wishful thinking.  It will be a few years, at the soonest, before I could look at a $20k bike.  And, prefer factory paint.

Anyway, I bought a horse and a motorcycle this year.  2016, it will probably be a truck.  And, that will set me back!!!

My Suburban is fast approaching 275,000 miles, and I'll probably be near 300,000 if I'm still driving it this time next year.

It's a good-un, but I'm beginning to grow weary of trusting it for long trips with the horse trailer.

[ohiorider]

Here's where I am ................... sort of.  Money from Griso 8vSE sale isn't burning a hole in my pocket, but it is creating an uncomfortable warmth.

- Keep the 1200 Sport.  Don't worry about every little leak.  Badge of honor at 62,000 miles.  Use bike for weekend and longer trips.
- The R100GS.  Keeper at 144k.  Still chasing down an elusive vibration ever since top end overhaul.  But she's getting better with some help.

To fill that vacant spot in the garage, which, if I had any sense, wouldn't need filled at all.

- Possibly a Honda CB 1100 for an everyday ride with warranty.  Lots of black 2014s out there as leftovers.  Bike is nicely finished.
- That damned new T-120 is calling .... loudly!  Honda, you better shout louder over the next couple of months!

I'd like to wait it out to see if Guzzi might do a big block standard, but I'll be 73 in January, so if they're going to make a move, better make it fast.  The old attitude of 'I'll wait and see if they do what I'd like them to do in a few years' doesn't work as well as it used to!  Gotta be agile!

[Joliet Jim]

Does Triumph have an announced USA debut tour for dealers?  Or, was this only for Ohio??

They hit Windy City triumph near me last week, but not the other dealers. I'm not sure how they selected who to have unveilings at

[ohiorider]

They hit Windy City triumph near me last week, but not the other dealers. I'm not sure how they selected who to have unveilings at

They may be selecting the dealers moving the most iron, and/or those that also have the space for a technical class.  NE Ohio Triumph Ducati hosted several techs from other dealerships that then received two days of introductory service training on the new Bonnevilles.

[Kev m]

Here's where I am ................... sort of.  Money from Griso 8vSE sale isn't burning a hole in my pocket, but it is creating an uncomfortable warmth.

- That damned new T-120 is calling .... loudly!  Honda, you better shout louder over the next couple of months!

I LOVE MY V7.

I have no intention of ever getting rid of it.

I'd happily add a V9 (especially a V9 Stone). That's how happy I am..

But I have this feeling about the T120.... It might be the next bike to join my fleet. Though I'm gonna sit this first year out for financial reasons.

Still, I have little doubt in my heart what you should do.

[jas67]

- Possibly a Honda CB 1100 for an everyday ride with warranty.  Lots of black 2014s out there as leftovers.  Bike is nicely finished.
- That damned new T-120 is calling .... loudly!  Honda, you better shout louder over the next couple of months!

The T-120 definitely calls to me way louder than the Honda, although, the Hondas can be had at bargain basement prices, the T-120, not so much.

[Penderic]

Nice looking new bikes. Better than the old stuff.

 

[oldbike54]

Nice looking new bikes. Better than the old stuff.

 

 Turner doesn't look happy 

  Dusty

[rboe]

My CB1100 is growing on me. Took it to Death Valley for the Guzzi Gathering (waiting for the roller tappets to come in for the Griso). Did very well.

So much nicer in town than the Griso, not quite as nice on the open road, but very competent. Don't think I'll be getting rid of her anytime soon.

[Rox]

I don't think I'd use the word "cloned".  But they are going for the same look and demographic.

If anything, Triumph upgraded the Truxton R to be more like the Norton Commando.

The Ducati's had their ass in the air, too much gap between the rear tire and fender, and really low bars.

Thruxton, Commando, V7 Classic/Racer, and yes the Ducati Sport Classics, were going for that 1960s/1970s caf� racer look.

And they've pretty much nailed it.

The Thruxton R might be aimed at the Norton but I personally think Norton missed their mark and pissed off their true prospective customers with the false release dates and then the price once released. Im yet to see one on the road.
Ducati isn't much a threat since all their baskets of eggs are on the Scrambler 400 and 800cc things...
  Sport Classics are old maid. Still pretty but old maid..
Honda IMO could of done more with the CB1100.. Styled from an SRX? 80hp 1100? Cool bike but Honda has more potential than that.

   Triumph is pretty much the Apex Predator of the "Retros" right now..

[grebmrof]

Center stand, rear 'rack' (not a rack what the hell is that lovely thing called? )
Bob

That's the passenger grab bar that for the air cooled bikes was an extra cost accessory from Triumph.

[grebmrof]

So those bulges over the valves are "fakes" like the Amal carbs?
DogW

Or perhaps they look like they do to provide some clearance for the valve gear?  The Amals are nice looking fakes, but not real.  No reason to have EFI look like plumbing found under a sink.  We were surprised as anyone when the Triumph tech told us the new engines were SOHC with double arms actuating a pair of valves.  They had a couple of the new engines disassembled in the shop, but we weren't sharp enough to ask to see them, otherwise we might have gotten a photo or two.  We may have been distracted by the good looking girls that the dealer had running around.  Sigh...

[ohiorider]

That's the passenger grab bar that for the air cooled bikes was an extra cost accessory from Triumph.

I am losing it, for certain!  Thanks for helping me recall.

Bob

[quasigentrified]

They hit Windy City triumph near me last week, but not the other dealers. I'm not sure how they selected who to have unveilings at

triumph of seattle on dec 17th.

[bpreynolds]

Ducati GT1000.  BTDT.  Meh.  Came back to Guzzi.

I think the Street Twin is ugly.  After a couple beers and near closing time though, who knows.  I'd ride it home.

[rbm]

Many of you are probably more in tune with these new bikes than I am, but there were a few things I found interesting:
...
  -  Cartridge front fork .... rear is still adjustable only for preload
...

Readinging on the Web, I understand the Thruxton comes with Ohlins shock.  I'd hope a premium brand such as this would have more than preload adjustment.  Are you sure that no compression or rebound damping controls are available, especially on a remote reservoir type shock??

[ohiorider]

Readinging on the Web, I understand the Thruxton comes with Ohlins shock.  I'd hope a premium brand such as this would have more than preload adjustment.  Are you sure that no compression or rebound damping controls are available, especially on a remote reservoir type shock??

Robert, I spent little time looking at the Thruxton, since my interest lies in the T120.  I should have been more specific ....... I was describing the rear shock on the T120, not the Thruxton R.

Sorry.

Bob

EDIT:  went back and looked at my original post.  The comment about 'pre-load only' was in fact a sub item under the heading "Re the T120, " and didn't refer to the Thruxton R.  Admittedly, it didn't jump out at the reader, so I underlined and bolded it.

[blackcat]

Side note: the Thruxton R comes with Showa front forks and Ohlins rear shocks.

[Dogwalker]

The real news is that only the "R" comes with good suspensions.

[ohiorider]

The real news is that only the "R" comes with good suspensions.

It'll be interesting to see just how well the suspension on the T120 works.  The tech's comment to me at the open house was "the front fork is a cartridge type ..... the rear offers only preload adjustment.  I don't think his comment implies the front suspension is good and the rear isn't.  I've owned more than one BMW 'flying brick' with preload-only rear adjustment, and they worked pretty well.  OTOH, the preload-only stock shocks on my 2003 T100 were really bad for anyone that weighed less than 185-190#.  Oversprung and underdamped.  At 160#, the stockers would nearly launch me from the saddle over some of our bad frost heaves.  A pair of Progressive 440s were a real improvement.

[ohiorider]

Turner doesn't look happy 

  Dusty

If that's Edward Turner in the middle of the pic, I'd expect him to look irritated, simply being in the photo with that abomination of a bike.  But who knows, maybe ate something that didn't agree with him.

[Penderic]

Another early test ride and report....

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-triumph-street-twin-review/30579.html

[oldbike54]

If that's Edward Turner in the middle of the pic, I'd expect him to look irritated, simply being in the photo with that abomination of a bike.  But who knows, maybe ate something that didn't agree with him.

 Yep , that's Turner in the middle . Actually the Bandit/Fury was HIS last design , he is probably just unhappy looking , because , well , he was a grouchy old bastard by nature . That pic was taken after his retirement , he may have been mad at being called in off the golf course .

  Dusty

[Aaron D.]

Turner's version of the 350 was pretty weak, it was redone before it almost made production.

I actually saw ads for the 350 bikes in the major magazines.

[Rough Edge racing]

 Dusty, by the time the 350 came around BSA has pissed away money on all sorts of really stupid ideas..BSA bikes had a bad reputation by then but because of it's performance image, Triumph always made a modest profit. Triumph's biggest market was the USA...USA didn't want a Triumph 350, they wanted  650-750 Bonneville's with better quality ,disc brakes and a 5 speed. BSA gave the USA butt ass ugly 71 Triumphs and the rest is history..

[Rough Edge racing]

 Yes Honda sold a lot of 350's..But Honda was noted for it's nicely detailed reliable small bikes. Triumph and BSA were noted for building 650 road burners that were not as "reliable". Enthusiasts of that time tolerated the Brit bikes because they had the performance image... And there's little to guarantee the BSA/Triumph 350 would have anywhere near the reliability of a Honda ...With much less performance the lack of Honda reliability would kill it in 6 months..
 

[Rough Edge racing]

 Oh,quality would have been a problem. The BSA/Triumph 750 triples were faster and handled better than the Honda 750 but as usual lacked the fine quality control...and the electric starter and disc brake...
 Fortunately, the new Triumphs don't seem to have those problems..

[leafman60]

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Craig Vetter at a big motorcycle event.

He relayed the story of his involvement with Triumph in developing the Hurricane. He visited the factory and, as a young man, was struck by the age and old-thinking of management.  They all wore suits and rode around in luxurious sedans.