written by theory900 on 23/02/2005
Good Points
Good looking classic bike shape.
Bad Points
Needs lots and lots of cleaning.
General Comments
Triumph have now stopped manufacturing the Thunderbird range I believe, probably due to the success of the Bonneville range which, to my mind, looks even better. Despite that I have found the T-bird to be a great bike, plenty of power, loads of torque and surprisingly quick.
The seat is, in my opinion, it's greatest weakness as although it looks comfortable it's actually a pain in the rear after an hour or so.
Range is 135 - 150 miles per tank, mpg about 40, top speed reputed to be 125 mph but I've never managed more than 110, at which the lack of any fairing or screen meant that I felt that my head was being ripped off.
231347_Bjlovejoy's Response to theory900's Review
Written on: 23/02/2006
I have multiple verifications that the speedometer under reports on this model. It'll go 125 MPH any day of the week, and 135 MPH down hill with a good wind.
Theory900's Response to theory900's Review
Written on: 22/08/2006
This is really an update to my previous review in that I've just written off my beloved T'Bird!
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<br/>20mph, dry sunny day. My error entirely - I over-reacted to a truck which suddenly turned into my path, I did a full lock left and hit the front brake. In fact the truck was further away than I realised and I could have done a proper controlled stop if I had not panicked. The upshot is that the tyre gripped and stopped the bike dead, the front wheel buckled then the spokes pulled through the rim, the forks dived and bent, the bars dented the tank, the mirror and indicators snapped.
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<br/>End result? £4,500 quote for repair (that does include new exhaust and swing arm - both of which were scratched rather than ruined). So the bike is gone.