Dwight...I see and agree with your points, but everyone needs to realize that with this bike, the Tremorpigeon...no...the Thunderbird, Triumph is doing everything they do best. If this bike is what everyone assumes it will be, it'll be a bike that will outperform darn near any other cruiserbike on the market. It will accomplish that at a decent price point and look good in the process.
Ed put it the best...Meriden guys dislike the Hinkley bikes. Hinkley Bonnie guys dislike the Americas and Speedmasters. And America and Speedmaster guys will probably dislike the Tbird. That's just the way it seems to go. Along the same line, how many typical HD riders like the V-ROD or the Buell line?
In their recent past Triumph's design department has done a superb job. Their motorcycles all scream Triumph and their apparel on the cutting edge of motorcycle style. Triumph has their retro line and this bike, much to the dismay of many here, isn't part of it.
Look at a few of their bikes such as the Speed Triple, Daytona 675 and Tiger. These aren't only their best sellers, but also are bikes that outperform their class. Triumph is in the business to sell motorcycles and have employed people much smarter than me to see that thru. People who get paid to sit around and design motorcycles...motorcycles that will sell.
If guys can't get over the little things...well...then this isn't their next bike.
