The story so far...
Enthusiastic Thunderbird fans:
Quote:
"Triumph's Thunderbird will be the end of Harley Davidson!"
"Sigh, I think I'm in love."
"Radiator? What radiator? Oh that, Triumph masterfully blended that tiny inconvenience into a classic whole."
"It's got twice the horsepower and torque that Triumph claims, yet weighs only half as much!"
"It's big. Who cares about anything else. BIG!"
"The new Thunderbird cured my arthritic hip!"
"It's the best Triumph ever!"
Energetic Thunderbird detractors:
Quote:
"The Thunderbird will be the end of Triumph, motorcycling in general, and Western civilization as we know it!"
"Sigh, I think I'm gonna hurl."
"The Thunderbird is just a support unit for its radiator!"
"It's too big, too heavy, and too slow!"
"It's different. Who cares about anything else. Different."
"The Thunderbird causes pancreatic cancer!"
"It's the worst Triumph ever!"
All is as it should be.
Think about it for a moment. You Thunderbird guys, (although I personally consider you traitors who, should the Cylons ever invade the Earth, would join with them as lacky informers against humanity), are going to have a bike that everyone has an opinion about and is talking it up over. This is not a bad thing. The worst would be a bike that brought comments such as 'eh, okay I guess.'
Remember too how many of the Bonneville 'purists' view the America and Speedmaster. Wonder why we have our own forum... There are also clubs such as the Brit Iron Rebels that deny BA/Speedy membership. From their website:
Quote:
British Classic & Retro Styled Motorcycles Defined:
All new Triumph motorcycles that come under the 'classic' range except for the cruisers (Speedmaster, America and Rocket III)...
So take heart Thunderbird dudes; rather than be dismayed by the naysayers, rejoice in your choice of a controversial ride that everyone is talking about!
Of course when your children turn into gnomes because of it, don't come crying to me! 
