Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Tell me about the Adventurer

I have been lurking about this site for almost a year. I love the reads, I just don't post much. I would love to have one of theese bikes and my preference would be an America. The time has just not been right.

My local Deeler Has a used "01" Adventurer on his lot.
This a Beautiful bike but I have not heard alot about them. I would love some feedback. What size engine? Handeling? Performance, reliability ?

Mark

I dont know much about them at all, but they are good looking bikes. I may be wrong, but I think '02 was the last year for them.

You may be better off just getting a new Speedmaster If you buy new, you know everything about that bike from the start.

Another site to check out for some answers would be TriumphRat.net.

Soren

Well untill the new bonnies came out, I was also wanting one of these. I got the opportunity to ride one of them as a loner when my BA was being serviced. ( the black and orange one, best color of them all)

As you probably know, its a very standard seating position, it has a 900 cc motor. (more like a bit more than 883) It is a tripple. I know most mechanics dont like the triumph tripples,,,, so your kinda stuck w/ triumph shops.

RIDE QUALITY: NOT BAD, A BIT BUZZY, BUT QUICK GEOMITYRY, WAS GOOD IN TRAFFIC, TORQE CURVE WAS STEEADY, BUT I FOUND FOR MY riding style, that i was always downshifting when i wanted to goose past someone.

Still its a good bike. have you seen this, its on the t- bird but the adventure is a dirivitive, basically same engin. If you can find a T-Bird idd get that. bigger and smoother.

The original Thunderbird was Triumph's first "big" bike, a 650 derived from its 500cc vertical twin. Created after World War II for a push into the American market, it was the first British bike that many American enthusiasts ever saw. The 1998 Thunderbird has little in common with that motorcycle other than a few styling elements.

The new bike is powered by a modern, liquid-cooled, dual-overhead-cam, 885cc, in-line vertical triple with three carbs, four valves per cylinder and five speeds. It's bigger too, with a 62.2-inch wheelbase and a wet weight of more than 500 pounds--which makes it comparatively light in this crowd. Its chain final drive is lighter than the shafts of most of the other bikes, as well. The engine is a stressed component of the frame, which has no cradle tubes.

The three-into-two exhaust system terminates in a pair of mufflers (the right and middle cylinders use the right muffler) similar to those of 1960s-era Triumph twins. Naturally, the triple's sound is very different than the sound of the old twins. Since the T-Bird's style evokes classic British rather than classic American styling, its nostalgic touches include a one-piece dual saddle with a passenger grab rail, footpegs instead of floorboards, and the four-gallon tank's shape, badges and paint scheme. The Bird also uses classic wire-spoked wheels, though these have radial tires--in this case Michelin 89X series, running tubes. Like the late-model twins, the 900 Thunderbird wears a speedo and tach above the headlight.

Its lightweight style makes the T-Bird a standard-style machine rather than a cruiser for some riders. All of Triumph's Thunderbird models, which include the Adventurer and the more muscular Thunderbird Sport, share the T-Bird's basic engine and chassis design, and $8995 suggested price.


High Points:
Responsive handling
Strong acceleration
Smooth engine
Nice rendition of Brit-bike nostalgia
Comfortable for small to average riders
Lowest price here

Low Points:
Not a mainstream cruiser
Mushy front brake
Small for bigger riders
Dumb oil-level check arrangement

First Changes:
Aftermarket seat
Work on front brake

hope this helps. have you done any searching online about it?

Beamer,

Thanks for the input.
No, I haven't done any research yet, but thanks to you, I know more now than ten min. ago.

Mark

Whatever you decide, two front rotors = better than one. Spoked wheels and tube-type tires mean harder to clean and more tire blow-outs. The T-Bird Sports have two front rotors...Not sure about the different stock seating arrangements.

Dud! are you talking to M@M powersports? if its the orange and black adventure there, its the one i flogged for a bit.(they have had it since oct!) tell mark scott sailer sent you. I bought my 05 ba there. how much is he quoting you on the bike?

If you can spend under 6, there is a beautiful 02 BA w/ all the goodies included at apachie choppers in weatherford.

come on up you can stay at my place. its 30 min from my house. thie BA is the black and silver has a new corbin 2 pc seat bub pipes memphis shade shield chrome goodies and a rocker shifter. if interested, let me know and ill get the phone number.

Scott,

It is the Black & Orange one at M&M. Small World!
I am doing a little business with Matt and Mike. They said I could have it for $4200. What do you think? At this point I am just dreaming anyway. Timing is just not right.

Mark

4200, Ill bet you can talk them down more. They have had that bike on the lot for almost a year. it depends on how bad Mike needs to move it. Do Me a favor. Tell them im a referal. they said i could get a credit for sending them customers

I think when the timeing is right you shoul call me and see if the 02 BA is still up here.

is this your first bike? how much have you ridden it? I think you will tire of it pretty quick. they say its a 900, but my Ba has a better feel.

Does mike still have the green BA w/ the D&D pipes on the lot. that one looked ragged out to me and the D&D pipes didnt sound as good as the BUBS in my opinion.

ride both types of bikes. i think you will agree.

Tell Mike I say HOWDY. Wonder if he remembers me? I bought the first 05 that he got in. I think.

I talked to M&M today. Turns out it was not your bike. This one had bags and front shield. Someone traded it for a Hardley. They did remember your bike though.

I have never had a bike. I Just want one Bad! It doesn't help that my brother,(Blackwind)just bought a Speedy last year. My time will come and when it does I know My choice will be an America. The only problem is I will have to settle on the Maroon and Silver since they don't make the Blue one anymore.

Mark

They're pretty nice really. They have the "modular" 3 cylinder engine that shared a lot of parts with the 4's, so there shouldn't be much problem getting parts if you need them. They seem to ride a lot like a T100, only more power.

You misunderstood. never said it was my bike. that is the one i rode while they did a service on my BA (the maroon and graphite one )

did you test ride both types though?

Hambone,
I used to lurk about this site quite a bit because I wanted an America badly. But about 5 wks. ago I saw an ad for a 98 Adventurer and checked it out. It was in great shape--I read up on it a bit and found generally positive info, and just fell in love with it and bought it. I was just getting back into riding, too, and felt a little uncomfortable with the bike at first, but now I really love that thing. Having bags, sissy and lots of chrome from the start means I won't feel like I have to start getting more stuff right away, which pleases my wife! It's really a sport cruiser- you sit higher than a BA, but I think the bike has a nice feel to it.. corners well, cruises well. My Hardley buds like it (if that matters?). So, that's my relatively newbie opinion about it.

Congratulations! Enjoy it! That was one of my other favorite Triumphs and a shame they discontinued the Adventurer and the Thunderbird Sport.

Soren