 The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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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! 
2018 FLHCS
2014 Surly Straggler - 16,000 miles and counting!
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: May 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
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Well, it's never going to be this:  but then again neither are any of Triumph's other offerings for the 21st century. My take is you can move forward, like our bikes with overhead cams and modern engineering or you can winge about the past. I think I prefer forward motion myself. 
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Love that bike Ed. One thing I can say though, is this forum wouldn't chase members away that own a Tbird or even deny a new Tbird owner as a member even though we are geared to BA/SM. That's why we have an "other bikes" area. We have discussed many many different bikes many we didn't like many we did but we still talked and discussed them without malice. We might even do that with a bike destined to be a flop like the new Tbird!
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: May 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
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Yeah, Ian, it's a great bike. That's what a weekend visit to Barber does for you; hundreds of fine examples to lust after...especially the old Speedtwins. And how about this 1922 "Riccy"? It wasn't on display the last time I was there:  I do wish they'd taken a styling cue from this T-Bird and copied the lines of the old badge for the new bike; that new badge just seems too small for a heavy cruiser.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
yep , I agree. That's the badge on my 54 T-110 and it's one of my favorite badges Triumph ever did.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 228
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2008
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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)...
in this photo they are all British Motorcycles TRIUMPH Motorcycles so if some clubs wants to live in the past and can not keep up with the rest that is there loss 
My name is phil . . . I ride a TRIUMPH
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937 |
Quote:
I do wish they'd taken a styling cue from this T-Bird and copied the lines of the old badge for the new bike; that new badge just seems too small for a heavy cruiser.
I can't see it! 
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,611 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
We have discussed many many different bikes many we didn't like many we did but we still talked and discussed them without malice.
Really? Where have you been?
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
Ok except for a select few. I don't like the T bird but I was never nasty about it just tongue in cheek stuff. And for the most part seems the rest of us were expressing our views, good or bad, in an adult friendly manner.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,694 Likes: 22 |
There is really no controversy. It is a very pretty Bulevulcan knockoff. Its posted in other bikes and its another bike. And thank goodness it will never be a rigid, underpowered, oil leaking upright bike as above. They make pretty wall art. For our bikes they took a Bonneville and made it look like a M50. They kept the geezer magnet look and badge but moved it to the Japanese riding position and changed the crank so our little old bottoms would not vibrate. We ate them up! Our bikes have absolutely nothing to share with the old Bonneville except a chain and a badge. They are not even made in England for most of the worlds distribution. After we bought them we hated the lights, seats, pipes, carbs, pegs, and height. So we took our Suzukitrumph and made it a lit up, loud, floor-boarded bagger. A harleyhumph with a cool badge! Just teasing but think about it. Its in other bikes. It does not diminish what we like or our bikes.  regardless of opinions. I think its a really pretty bike. Then again I think the Victory Kingpin is a work of art so I may be a poor judge as I am one of about 3 people that like that one
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yep! Some good points there, Ron. However, I think a few are overstated, and in a few others you leave out some data to make your point. There really isn't a "Japanese riding position", because as I recall, the (ahem) "I'm going to sit on my tailbone and put my feet way up there but 'look really cool' while I'm ridin' around on my motorcycle" Riding Position, was pretty much started in the late 1960s by the Harley Chopper Crowd, and was soon adopted by H-D in some of their factory-built machines, and this continues to this very day. And at the same time in the late 1960s, the Japanese were pretty much patterning their motorcycles after the british motorcycle and the "standard" ridin' position of those machines. And it wasn't until everybody in The States went (ahem) "V-Twin Criuser Crazy" around the mid-to-late 1980s that the Japanese decided to jump on the ol' bandwagon too and design some of their motorcycles after the Harley look, seeing as how by that time the british look, and indeed, even the vertical-twin design itself had been surpassed in the minds of the public by the V-Twin based machines, often times 'sporting' the FEET-FORWARD riding position of these V-Twin machines. And THAT brings me to your OTHER assertion that, "Our bikes have absolutely nothing to share with the old Bonneville except a chain and a badge." If you're talkin' here that one can not interchange the cranks, the cylinder barrels, the heads, etc, etc, etc, between a, say, a 1969 T-120 with a modern Hinckley-designed Bonneville...then I invite you to attempt to do the same between say a 1969 FLH Harley-Davidson and say a, 2005 Twin-Cam Fat Boy!!!! My POINT here being that, the HEART of ANY motorcycle is its ENGINE, and the LAYOUT of said engine. And, I DON'T see too many OTHER motorcycle manufacturers today pumpin' out...VERTICAL-TWINS, with 'SPADED' exhaust headers, and with right-side "timing-end" HEART-SHAPED bottom end cases, be they EITHER pushrod or DOHC designs, and/or 360 or 270 crankpin placement...through the doors of THEIR factories. (so, yeah...there IS a lot more "heritage" goin' on here than I think you give these motorcycles of ours credit for than "just a chain and a badge") 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
Interesting take there Leno. A little look back for posterity sake : Back when this board was in it's original incarnation It was devoted to the Bonneville America. Period. Okay, that's fine, but then what does Triumph do? They come out with a slightly different version of the BA called the "Speedmaster". Those who were around in those days will recall that the discussions about the SM were very similar to the discussions about the T-bird. There were folks that thought it was very cool and those who decried the audacity of Triumph to mess with what they perceived as perfection. Well, Triumph went ahead and produced the Speedmaster, then the discussion turned to whether or no to allow SM owners to be part of the community. Since I had come here originally in 2002 looking for information, I had not yet bought my bike. I bought the Speedmaster in early '04 and continued participating, as have others. Now I know the T-bird isn't another incarnation of the BA/SM, but I find the opinions and parallels to be quite amusing  And you know the old saw about opinions  (They're like as*holes; everybody has one, and they all stink).
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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I agree with some. I glossed over stuff as its not really important. Triumph never made, as part of the iconic marque, DOHC Parallel twins that were shim over bucket and a 270 crank. The only thing similar in the motors is they are parallel. Our current motors take their leads from the great innovator Mr. Honda. Then subtle differences make them unique to Triumph. Not unique to the old marque in the least. That would be like comparing a V-twin Sabre with a Fat Boy. They are both V-twins then there is nothing similar at all. Oh! fins on the water jacket look good. I agree with you in most respects. My assertion is the iconic Triumph is not betrayed by the T-bird. If deviation from the ideals and designs is a betrayal that happened some time ago. In 2002 they made the Triumph Bonneville America for a reason. People wanted to ride that way. They liked it. The bulk of the HD line still comes with standard controls I think. I may be wrong. Forward is an add-on. I would submit to you that Triumph got lots more people off of Japanese bikes than Harleys. When did the Shadow take the world by storm? 1984 or so I think. Well, if you are going to design the Evo engine you may as well put in one of your own bikes too.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
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Quote:
...And you know the old saw about opinions
(They're like as*holes; everybody has one, and they all stink).
HEY NOW, Bill!!! How CAN you in good conscience post THIS right after MY very incisive, fact-based, historically-correct, and NOT to mention, EXTREMELY persuasive retort to Ron's opinion in the above....HUH?!
(why I NEVER!!!!)  
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Timing, my friend.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yep! I think our basic argument here IS actually quite the same, ol' buddy! I TOO can not quite understand some of the other opinions I read around here that seem to imply or outright say that the new T-Bird "isn't a 'real' Triumph", EITHER!!! Yep! I guess the concept of "modernizing" a product in desciption of a changes an engine's BASIC design element may morph into over the years, AS WHEN a company decides to switch the valve actuation from the old principle of recipricating pushrods contacting reciprication rocker arms TO a system with less recipricating parts via a DOHC arrangement, allowing a vertical-twin to run at higher RPMs and in a more efficient manner, CAN BE quite a stretch for some folks out there who, let's say, might think that WITH liquid-cooling, or maybe WITHOUT say a KICKSTARTER, any motorcycle isn't a 'real' motorcycle EITHER, HUH?!  (okay, let me see here...with that ONE paragraph I managed a shot at not only Ron's argument about DOHCs and "heritage", BUT most IMPOTANTLY, I got a shot at a HOST of OTHER guys around here who I think are REALLY stuck in the past!!!) (...BUT, even WITH that just said, I STILL think the new T-bird, an OTHERWISE nice lookin' motorcycle which WILL sell pretty darn well, NEED FINS!!!...and MOSTLY for aesthetic reasons, you understand...NOT for any mechanical reasons!!!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26 |
this is almost harley-esque! were there not a bunch of hairbrained knuckleheads screaming the the v-rod would be the demise of all things HD?
Put down your vacuum tubes and your betamax and embrace the future!
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yep! Good analogy there, My "chinese" friend!!!  If you'd talk to 100 Harley owners, you'd probably get at least 75 of 'em saying pretty much the same negative things about the V-Rod as what I've been reading about the T-Bird by some of the more, let's say, "retro-minded" among us here! However, except for the initial V-Rod having that weird off-set triple-clamp and rake angle, consequently giving it some weird handling characteristics, it's actually a superior machine to Harley's "heritage" models. And the engine is actually not bad looking either for a water-cooled unit! (EXCEPT, of course, for that unfortunate little "aesthetic problem" IT TOO seems to suffer just around that there cylinder barrel area!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
Quote:
And thank goodness it will never be a rigid, underpowered, oil leaking upright bike as above. They make pretty wall art.
Put 'em up! Thems fightin' words!
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
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I knew that would make you crazy
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 533
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
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Quote:
Well, Triumph went ahead and produced the Speedmaster, then the discussion turned to whether or no to allow SM owners to be part of the community.
Well that explains a lot.
Time for those troublemakers with Speedmasters to go!!!
2018 FLHCS
2014 Surly Straggler - 16,000 miles and counting!
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
Quote:
Well, Triumph went ahead and produced the Speedmaster, then the discussion turned to whether or no to allow SM owners to be part of the community.
Well that explains a lot.
Time for those troublemakers with Speedmasters to go...
...to PRESCOTT ARIZONA THIS MAY FOR THE SOUTHWEST TRIUMPH FEST!!! 
(HEY!...I figured that was such a good opening for a shameless plug, that I'd be a FOOL to let the opportunity just pass ME BY...ya BLAME ME???!!!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Yeah, with Derek absent, we'll be underrepresented 
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
Quote:
Quote:
And thank goodness it will never be a rigid, underpowered, oil leaking upright bike as above. They make pretty wall art.
I think that you have misunderstood the intent of mechanical enginneers who designed the old trumpets. What you see as "flaws" were actually "ahead of their time" intentional design features! The rigid frame, for instance, doubled as an exercise machine for fat guys. Just an hour or so riding this type frame, on roads of the 1940-50s, was the same as using the old "belt" excercise machines of the same day. As to underpowered, not so! These "overpowered" machines was sure to smoke most wheeled machines of the day, including Cushman Scooters and any Dodge flat head! And as any antique bike owner knows, the oil leaking was simply a "positive loss system", which encouraged the addition of "fresh" oil at regular intervals! I hope this clears up any misconceptions of antique motorcycle mechanical design.!
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
Quote:
And thank goodness it will never be a rigid, underpowered, oil leaking upright bike as above. They make pretty wall art.
I think that you have misunderstood the intent of mechanical enginneers who designed the old trumpets. What you see as "flaws" were actually "ahead of their time" intentional design features! The rigid frame, for instance, doubled as an exercise machine for fat guys. Just an hour or so riding this type frame, on roads of the 1940-50s, was the same as using the old "belt" excercise machines of the same day. As to underpowered, not so! These "overpowered" machines was sure to smoke most wheeled machines of the day, including Cushman Scooters and any Dodge flat head! And as any antique bike owner knows, the oil leaking was simply a "positive loss system", which encouraged the addition of "fresh" oil at regular intervals! I hope this clears up any misconceptions of antique motorcycle mechanical design.!
Yeah Rich! But AT LEAST they all had KICKSTARTERS back then!!!
(I'm of course speaking for Ian and Greybeard here, you understand...I doubt they'll mind)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
It occurs to me that I haven't used the word "chuckleheads" recently on this site...
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
It occurs to me that I haven't used the word "chuckleheads" recently on this site...
"CHUCKLEHEADS"???!!! 
Okay John, now TELL ME somethin' here...Why in the WORLD would you want to FURTHER COMPLICATE this ALREADY CONVOLUTED discusion by bring up that VERY short-lived and best forgotten Harley engine design that fell between the Panhead and Shovelhead eras...HUH?!
(I mean GEEEZ man...PLEASE try to stay ON TOPIC like "I always do"...OKAY???!!!) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
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Quote:
"CHUCKLEHEADS"???!!!
Okay John, now TELL ME somethin' here...Why in the WORLD would you want to FURTHER COMPLICATE this ALREADY CONVOLUTED discusion by bring up that VERY short-lived and best forgotten Harley engine design that fell between the Panhead and Shovelhead eras...HUH?!
Apparently chuckleheads start right up with just one kick
2018 FLHCS
2014 Surly Straggler - 16,000 miles and counting!
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
Quote:
"CHUCKLEHEADS"???!!!
Okay John, now TELL ME somethin' here...Why in the WORLD would you want to FURTHER COMPLICATE this ALREADY CONVOLUTED discusion by bring up that VERY short-lived and best forgotten Harley engine design that fell between the Panhead and Shovelhead eras...HUH?!
Apparently chuckleheads start right up with just one kick
Heck, sometimes they are self-starting. You can just show up and they're already running (their mouth).
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
"CHUCKLEHEADS"???!!!
Okay John, now TELL ME somethin' here...Why in the WORLD would you want to FURTHER COMPLICATE this ALREADY CONVOLUTED discusion by bring up that VERY short-lived and best forgotten Harley engine design that fell between the Panhead and Shovelhead eras...HUH?!
Apparently chuckleheads start right up with just one kick
Heck, sometimes they are self-starting. You can just show up and they're already running (their mouth).
"potato-potato-potato-potato"...WHOOPS!!! I mean...."perrump-perrump-perrump-perrump".
(sorry...I don't know WHAT came over me there, soundin' like that FIRST "thing" there!!!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,968 Likes: 1 |
The whole Brit Iron thing frosts my behind. I wouldn't belong to those posers if you paid me. In fact the America has more heritage and retro styling than the Bonneville, Daytona or Trophy. Triumph modeled the America after the 1938 Speed Twin that made them the world leader in motorcycle sales and design. The Brit Iron club can stick this where the sun don't shine.  As far as the T-Bird, it'll be a nice bike but it's built for a different segment and will appeal to a bunch of folks.
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
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Well, actually if you put a P-twin in this you would have some pretty close profiles between the America and ummm,  The TR5 and TR6 were clearly the grandparents of the Bonneville and were also clearly developed from the 30s speed twin. I can see that line. The America was made as a stand alone model for the Yank market to look like everything else here but keep some Triumph lines.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Maybe made for the US market , but it seems to have caught on in many other markets around the world too.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
The America was made as a stand alone model for the Yank market to look like everything else here but keep some Triumph lines.
Yep! I agree with ya there, Ron! BUT, let me ask ya a question here...
What kind'a dogs tend to make the best pets, AND often because they're NOT "purebreds" tend to have a whole lot LESS problems TOO? HUH?!
That's RIGHT! The "MONGRELS"!!!
And sooooo....VIA THE MUTTS!!!!
AND, as an AMERICAN of mixed anchestry, I PROUDLY consider myself one of those TOO!!! 
(hey...ya think maybe THAT'S why they named these babies the "AMERICA????.....cooooool!!!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,694 Likes: 22
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,694 Likes: 22 |
Its exactly why they call them the America. That is why I have one. I like the low seat, forward controls, and the heritage of the old ones. You can still see the lines.
I don't see Triumph in the T-Bird, or the sport bikes and especially not in the Rocket.
You are right Dog. I think maybe America is the biggest market for them. Then again, Australia seems to be pretty fond of them too. Considering they seem to think the production and shipping numbers are top secret, we will never know how many go to the U.S. vs. other areas of the world. If you just look at this board as a cross section, I think its mostly U.S.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
The whole Brit Iron thing frosts my behind. I wouldn't belong to those posers if you paid me.
Triumph modeled the America after the 1938 Speed Twin that made them the world leader in motorcycle sales and design. The Brit Iron club can stick this where the sun don't shine.
+1 Every time I've seen people in BIR shirts they look like dorks. Screw them. I wouldn't be seen talking to a BIR. 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 42
Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 42 |
coming from someone in the uk,i think i can safely say that triumph have lost there way somewhere,how can they have gone from a t bird with a triple engine and the looks of a normal street bike to a thing that has a parralell twin liquid cooled engine and looks like a harly especialy that back end straight off a deuce,but my maine problem is that engine being liquid cooled that sucks,proper triumphs are air cooled,the hole bike sucks, its not for me thats my opinion steve
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,968 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,968 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Well, actually if you put a P-twin in this you would have some pretty close profiles between the America and ummm,
The TR5 and TR6 were clearly the grandparents of the Bonneville and were also clearly developed from the 30s speed twin. I can see that line. The America was made as a stand alone model for the Yank market to look like everything else here but keep some Triumph lines.
Let me see:
America and Speedtwin commonalities:
P-Twin
Dual right left low slung exhaust
Knee indents on tank
Tank instrument console
Triangle shaped rear peg mounts
Chain drive
Spoked wheels
Saddle seat
Pillion seat
dual carbs
America and Harley commonalities:
Raked front end
forward mount pegs
You base your case on 2 things.
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 17
Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 17 |
Maybe I'm confused but isnt the 3 cylinder t-bird water cooled.Also wasnt the original t-bird a parallel twin making the new t-bird closer to the original as far as engine configeration, which is the focal point of a bike.The way i look at it,if you want a Triumph that is as close as possible to the classic models,buy a bonneville.They still make them but its a limited group of buyers thats not getting any larger.Harley had no problems copying the bonneville when they made the sportster so why is Triumph held to a different standard to other brands.
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Re: The Great Thunderbird Controversy
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,694 Likes: 22
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,694 Likes: 22 |
I said if you put a P-twin in the bike chucklehead.
Tank indents are no longer on that current Harley or Triumphs. The Japanese cruisers have consoles. Triumph couldn't make up their mind so they used a console and bar mounted speedo.
That bike looks like a Harley but it also looks like a M50 that also looks like a modern America except for the P-twin. IMHO>
A Bonneville America does not look like a Speed Twin. A Bonneville or T100 does.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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