Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Do the Thruxtons handle significantly better than

the Speedy's? I have a Speedy and even tho it handles very well, have been looking at some other bikes, I am looking for an excellent handling fun and unique bike to add to the stable, maybe one with more power as well. Currently looking at a Kawi Versys and a Thruxton and a Buell XB12STT, any thought, haven't ridden any yet...........

I am keeping the Speedy by the way!

Can't say for the rest but the Thruxton handles pretty well. never tried a buell or a kawasaki so would not know.

I like yourself was looking for something a little bit different thats why I went with the Honda CB Seven Fifty, it handles great and seems to get up there a lot quicker than my America, very much fun in the twisties for a 750

I have a Bonneville which has a 1 degree greater neck angle than a Thruxton and handles much "quicker" than the America in any kind of turning situation. I suspect this also due to slightly different wheel geometry as well; it is a gas on the twisties and very different than the America in most rider ergonomic aspects. Older Thruxtons are fitted with clip ons while the newer model has a top mounted bar and that would make for very different rider positions and comfort factor.

I'm pretty much pulling the trigger on the Versys as we speak. If everything goes well, I should finalize the deal today or by the weekend at the latest.

I've ridden a Thruxton in the past and I'm pretty sure it would handle better than the Speedmaster. I don't think I could handle the riding position for very long, though. I had a Scrambler loaner last fall and didn't care much for it.

Last weekend I rode a Tiger and the Versys on the same day. While the Tiger does have more power - especially for passing on the highway - the Versys more than held it's own. Plus it's lighter and not quite as "portly" as someone on ADVrider described the Tiger.

I did compare the Ulysses & V-Strom on paper, as well in the show rooms, but didn't get any more serious than that.

BTW, if you were interested in a Tiger, a local Denver dealer, Erico, as a Blue 2007 demo ABS unit with off-road exhaust for $8699 + doc fee. When I rode it Saturday, it had about 960 miles on it. It's a very good deal (MSRP is $11k+), just little more than I'm willing to spend. I offered them a little less, but they wouldn't budge - even though the owner told me he wanted it out of the dealership soon.

On a side note, I'm still contemplating buying my Speedy back - it goes to auction on the 28th. I'm only using 2/3 of the insurance money for a downpayment on the new bike, so I could possibly buy the Speedy back with the remainder. Most people I've talked to, including my insurance agent, say I should just let it go and not deal with it since it will have a salvage title.

I do feel bad I won't be in a Triumph, but I'm sure I'll have another one in the future.

Mark,
The was a pretty accurate and unbiased write-up in a recent rag. I believe it was either Rider or Cycle - In short, the Thrux will handle better - simply a result of the geometry, however, it will not match the capabilities of a purpose built sport bike. Think of it sort of a 'retro' sport bike, recall those handling characteristics, assume there are modest improvements (particularly in regard to brakes and tyres) and that's your Thrux. On the other hand, today's sport bike is designed from the ground up to be what it is, at that alone provides better, more advanced results (IN MOST ALL CASES). All that said, it's a matter of preference and price. I think they are exceptionally good at what they are, but, if you want sport handling and retro looks, and price ain't all that important - check out
those 'old school' Ducatis. If you want truely sport handling and retro ain't your thing, and you want moderately inexpensive - Suzuki GSX in any size. If price is no object BMW, Ducati, the later in RED - Its gotta be RED!

Yup...Barry pretty much summed it up.

I have a Thruxton and a BA, and yes, the Thrux handles much different (better for me) than the Speedmaster. The geometry requires a completely different method when approaching a turn as you may already know. It's tougher to initiate turns with the narrow clipons, but much quicker transitions in twisty situations.

Realize the bike is what it is, a "new" cafe racer. I'd consider the Ducati as well. It handles better and has more nut right from the crate.

That being said, I put almost 12,000 miles on the Thrux this past year and only 7,000 on the BA. I consider it a VERY capable bike.

I would love to have a sporter bike to go with my cruiser(Speedmaster) Love the Thruxtons, especialy the tornado red ones. That may be my all time favorite automotive color. I would also love to have a Daytona to hit those twisties.

Different worlds man, apples and oranges.

The Thruxton is a great bike.. they handle well and have power aplenty ,I just can't do the riding position.. not for long.

I ran into a fellow last fall at the gas pump and he asked me if my America caused problems for me with vibration which he related to the 360 firing order vs the 270. Said he couldn't stand the vibration through the bars on his Thruxton, made his hands numb. One guys opinion, I have no personal reference as I have never been on one.

Mine is a Bonneville and not a Thruxton but the vibration from its 360 isn't an issue unless you're right at the rev limiter.

I've done around 3500 miles on a Thruxton - that isn't mine...it's the courtesy bike from the dealer. I also got hit on it in September. I said at the time - though maybe not in here - that if I'd been hit on the America then it would have been on the floor, and had serious paintwork issues. And chrome issues and mechanical issues too. Somehow I kept the Thruxton upright. I really have no idea as to how, I remember staring at the floor at one point and then being at the road side and upright. All it needed was a new footpeg, gear lever and a couple of scratches polishing out.
I love the Thruxton, I love how it handles. I love the feel of it. I hate the riding position when I get him back for the first day/50miles and I can't just bungee bags on the way I do on the America.
They are different bikes but the way they both handle is good - but different. That's because they are meant to be ridden differently. If you want to ride round town, then the Thruxton is good at that (rush hour traffic - what rush hour traffic??!!!?) Long cruises along long roads then the America/SM is for that. I do ride my America through traffic, and I will filter (as it's legal here) but not always. Sometimes the gap is too narrow for the bars to get through, the Thruxton would get through no problems. Riding a cruiser in traffic can be hilarious, can be scary. The Thruxton can be scarier as I have been known to take bigger risks on that when I'm late for work.

That's probably not much help. I sometimes think that after the crash on the America I should have got a Thruxton. Then I look at the 06 and think I have made the right choice.

Speedmasters and Americas are cruisers. The added rake to the frontend looks good but when in a hard curve that has low spots and bumps, the rear suspension reacts to the rough spots more than the front does causing the rear to become a little squirrely for me. I can stiffen the rear shocks and resolve some of that issue. The Thrux has less angle on the steering head than the SM, AM, and Bonny. This allows the front to react with the rear better. Also the wheel base being shorter is going to make it more nimble in the curves and corners. Add the geometrics to the adjustible shocks and you got a system designed for handling and manueverability while the cruisers are designed for cruising. I ride with a dude that has a Suzuki Katana. I've notice that the angle on all those crotch rocket frontends are less than the Bonnies and even my old 82 Suzuki. Based on the design characteristics alone the Thruxton would have to be a better handler.

You might check out looking at a T-Bird Sport,thats what I picked out when I was looking for something different to ride.I considered a Thruxton but was sold on owning a triple and when the one I found only had 2500 miles on it for a 98 I had to buy it.
Triumph lost a great line of bikes when they quit making the THunderbirds.

Probably changing grips would help a ton,I went from the crap stock grips on mine to the Gell grips and it made the bike feel smoother and your hands more relaxed.

Have you considered a Street Triple?