 Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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That's pretty cool, John!  But ya know, it just might have won the "Best OVERALL Motorcycle" and not just the "Cruiser" category IF it would've had those fins I keep talkin' about!!!   (though without a kickstarter, a couple o' carburetors, AND a points ignition system, I'm guessin' Ian and Greybeard STILL might not think so) 
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: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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 yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa............ 
She's a Lady and the Lady is 100% mine !
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Jan 2005
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
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C'mon, Dwight, we all know which is the best overall motorcycle...
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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It confuses me a bit when something wins the best of anything before it really exist in any numbers.
Cost of ownership, recalls, accessories available, public feedback, obviously are not considered.
So, it is the best at what?
Great for the company though.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yep, I think we do.  But, what say IF Mr.Bloor would've ever seen fit to increase the displacement of those motorcycles of which I think you're referring to here to maybe a full litre at the FACTORY, and IF he would've also maybe upgraded the suspension a bit at the FACTORY too? THEN maybe these motorcycles of which I think you're talkin' about here COULD HAVE been maybe voted the "Best Overall Motorcycle of ALL TIME"!!! Yep, I still ocassionally ponder the question: Why does Triumph seem to ONLY wish to build ALL the Bonneville line "to a cost" when their Twins have such potential to be great motorcycles DIRECT FROM THE FACTORY???!!! I know I personally would have spent and extra couple o' grand INITIALLY for that kind of Bonneville America if that were an option at the dealership, and I DON'T think I'm the only one around here who's ever felt this way, either. I mean, HOW MANY members at BA.com have resorted to the big bore option in order to get more passing power and have purchased 412 and/or 440 Progressive Shocks??? Ya know, these very same motojournalists who give out these "Best Motorcycle" awards have almost always said about the Bonneville something along the lines of: "While the new Bonnevilles are "nice" little retro-styled motorcycles, they really don't have the same "mission" as the orginial Bonnevilles had, which was to be the "baddest" motorcycle out there back in the 1960s." Well, why NOT??? I'm not saying that they have to be 180BHP sportbikes, BUT they should at LEAST attempt to "live up" to their nameshakes a little anyway, right? Heck, I'll bet you'd never read that kind of stuff in those mags IF the Bonnies would put out around 80BHP, which isn't out of the realm of possibly with a 1000cc Bonnie! (well, at LEAST it appears that they've "learned their lesson" over there, as I hear this new T-Bird will have that big bore FACTORY option available when you order it at the dealership, right?!...of course, at 1600cc's already, I have to ask of 'em over there: Why is the T-bird gettin' this option and NOT the Bonneville line????)
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Jan 2005
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
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It's just a magazine, man. The "award" is only as good as the magazine's reputation.
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Well, the award, I'll take it. Good on ya, Triumph.
Guess the other side will be starting up again. The market will decide soon enough.
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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C'mon, Dwight, we all know which is the best overall motorcycle...
yes we do....the Triumph Tiger!!!!!!!  
Ed 
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Jan 2005
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
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Well hey... that's great! I have no experience with the TB but someone thinks it's a good thing and Triumph gets percs for receiving this award.
Let's hope the seat is better than the TBA. I'm with Dwight on a lot of points. Our bike could win too if from the factory it had all the things we immediately go out of pocket for upon ownership. Like suspension, horses and pipes. And on that list should be the saddle. If you're gonna have the rider positioned to grind on the tailbone, give them a seat that provides backside comfort for said position. Then... don't you think, the SM or TA could win best cruiser award? I mean... isn't it CLOSE to being the best? Looks, attitude, air cooled, parallel twin, handling, retro appeal.
Make it badass from the getgo (I'd pay more too if...) and walk away with the award. Thunderbird must have more than just horses over us to win.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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+1 to what the Dwight said.
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Quote:
C'mon, Dwight, we all know which is the best overall motorcycle...
Speedmaster
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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well, at LEAST it appears that they've "learned their lesson" over there
Yes, they have. You have to build something that is like everything else in order to win an award or get recognition.
"Go your own way" as long as it's the same way everyone else is going
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Go your own way" as long as it's the same way everyone else is going
Well don't sugar coat it Mr. Winslow.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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That's the part I don't quite understand. In a world of V-twin wannabe bikes they come out with a P-Twin and that was no easy feat. Ever wonder why it was never done before? Because it's really quite difficult to get the vibes under control and Triumph gets a big "Well Done' for doing it. And no, it's not so simple that you just "balance it". It was a heck of an engineering job and is not the motor the most important part? Now if they only can get the fins and tank a bit more "British", well then we'd really have something! But the bike is made for America and most want or think they want a V-Twin. And really, what's improper for a company to attemt to compete in a market segment they think they need to be in-even if it's not what everybody likes. Somebody sure likes the effort and the guy I know who got one told me after a dozen or so bikes the 'Bird is just what he always wanted in a bike.
My goodness, what will we all do if it turns out to be thier most sucessful model.
Last edited by KingOfFleece; 06/24/2009 11:52 AM.
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Jan 2005
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
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Quote:
My goodness, what will we all do if it turns out to be thier most sucessful model.
Laugh my butt off. At you guys, not the bike... 
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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My goodness, what will we all do if it turns out to be thier most sucessful model.
This is entirely possible. I believe Triumph took a page from the Jap Big 4 in designing the Thunderglide. They carefully observed market response to the Ricely Davidsons and decided to beat Honkawyamsu to the punch this time...
Based on the evidence, Triumph is apparently hoping to gain market share by pre-emptively producing a Japanese copy of the motorcycle they should have built in the first place.  
2018 FLHCS
2014 Surly Straggler - 16,000 miles and counting!
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Jeez, some things never change!! I haven't been on here in about a year and I'm still perfectly happy with the 790 speedy. Maybe in another 20 thousand miles I will do the big bore. Nah...
Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should just get used to that fact and relax
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Jeez, some things never change!! I haven't been on here in about a year and I'm still perfectly happy with the 790 speedy. Maybe in another 20 thousand miles I will do the big bore. Nah...
 Right on with the right on!
She's a Lady and the Lady is 100% mine !
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Jeez, some things never change!! I haven't been on here in about a year and I'm still perfectly happy with the 790 speedy. Maybe in another 20 thousand miles I will do the big bore. Nah...
Well Tony, as long as whenever you're ridin' two-up(or EVEN one-up, dependin' on how big a boy you are) I suppose IF you ALWAYS remember to make sure that that car or truck comin' the opposite way you're goin' out there whenever you're ridin' down a country two-lane road is WAAAAY out there in the distance as you(and maybe your pillion, as I said) begin to pass that there 18-wheeler or farm truck you've been hankerin' to pass for the last 5 minutes, THEN I suppose that Speedie o' yours will continue to serve you juuuuuuust fine.
However, IF you'd care to read of an instance where our very own FastEddy came THIIIIIIIS close to buyin' the ol' farm as they say when he and Thanassis were ridin' around Europe last year and while he was attempting to pass a loooong truck, well then, I invite you search out Eddy's very well written account of that little incident which you might be able to find in the "Rides and Rallies" forum archives, and which I think kind'a shows that havin' an 80bhp BA or speedie, OR "even" the "little" 1600cc T-Bird(seein' as how this thread IS about the T-Bird here) "might just" come in "a little" handy eventually someday.
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: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
However, IF you'd care to read of an instance where our very own FastEddy came THIIIIIIIS close to buyin' ol' farm as they say when he and Thanassis were ridin' around Europe last year and while he was attempting to pass a loooong truck, ... and which I think kind'a shows that havin' an 80bhp BA or speedie, OR "even" the "little" 1600cc T-Bird(seein' as how this thread IS about the T-Bird here) "might just" come in "a little" handy eventually someday.
Yep, I can vouch for the validity of that incident/nightmare.
My very thoughts (above), Dwight.
It is in these instances where the Speedy suffers and has, on occasion, proved lacking/dangerous.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Comon guys. That would mean Honda cruisers from 1100 cc down are unsafe as well as all Harley except the 883, 1200, and V-Rod.
Our bikes are slow pokes but they are not unsafe. They are just slow. If you don't have the ponies to pass a truck at high speed, don't. (sorry Eddie) I know it was scary but not the bikes fault. The truck should have slowed for you. He was a moron.
Our bikes were built to make them money at a 8K price point. It worked, we bought them. They were slow and we bought them anyhow. They are still slow and we still buy them anyhow.
If all we needed was more power we surely didn't need a T-bird. How bout a Rocket, Tiger, or Sprint. I assure you, they can pass the truck.
They made the T-bird to make money in that style of bike. That is all. No magic, no romance, they did it to make money.
I just don't know how you can name something the best until it has a chance to be bought and broken, or not.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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If all we needed was more power we surely didn't need a T-bird. How bout a Rocket, Tiger, or Sprint. I assure you, they can pass the truck.
They made the T-bird to make money in that style of bike. That is all. No magic, no romance, they did it to make money
I know this may be news to you but....
they make all of the above named bikes to make money..
Ed
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Quote:
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well, at LEAST it appears that they've "learned their lesson" over there
Yes, they have. You have to build something that is like everything else in order to win an award or get recognition.
"Go your own way" as long as it's the same way everyone else is going
Gee, I must be slow, but I can't name one other mc brand that has a 1600cc parallel twin engine cruiser. There sure are plenty of V-twins though. I guess Triumph is not following the pack after all, or the new Thunderbird would be one of the many metric Harley clones... 
"Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at seventy miles per hour can double your vocabulary" Author unknown
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Yup.....if the America/Speedmaster had been designed at a slightly higher displacement.......and costs been a little higher...we'd of all paid that more.
And the bike we all love anywho would have had enough juice to impress the adamant critics.
And Triumph might have sold even more Americas and Speedies than they have to date....considering the American penchant for HP and torque.
I think they simply used the existing designed and proven Bonneville powerplant as it is and then engineered our bikes around it. Probably a good business decision at the time. Considering time from design to production implementation.
Those that have the big bore swear by the added horses...
The T-bird may have won an award right out of the box but I dont think its as pretty as our bikes.
"Proud to be an Infidel" ... "100% pure American Jingoist"
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Honestly .......a custom bike builder should buy one of these T-birds.....then study the look of a Speedmaster....
and tear the T-bird apart and make it look as svelte as a shiny Black Speedie.
"Proud to be an Infidel" ... "100% pure American Jingoist"
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Our bikes were built to make them money at a 8K price point. It worked, we bought them. They were slow and we bought them anyhow. They are still slow and we still buy them anyhow.
Well, that's true enough Ron, however I know I bought mine because I liked the looks of the BAs, and I have the feeling that that's pretty much why most of us around here bought their's too. Okay, so we all "fell for" the idea of "function FOLLOWING form", however I know of no rule that says "Cruisers" or even "middleweight "Cruisers" HAVE to be comparatively slow!(contrary to what some of those "Brit Iron Rebel types" out there think of our bikes)
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If all we needed was more power we surely didn't need a T-bird. How bout a Rocket, Tiger, or Sprint. I assure you, they can pass the truck.
Hmmmmm. Well, I THINK I just said I purchased my BA back in '02 because I liked the LOOKS of it. Well, sorry BUT those others, the RocketIII, the Tiger OR the Sprint do not have that "classic retro-look" that our BAs and Speedies possess, and thus while they are fantastic(and fast) motorcycles while performing their "function", they certaining don't fill that "classic retro-look" niche, now do they?!
And so, then we come to the T-Bird, which DOES come the closest to that "look" I'm talking about here. BUT, it slightly misses that look because it needs those FINS on its cylinder barrels in order to INDEED have that "retro-look". But, so far from all I've read about it, it does appear to have the power required to effortlessly power through any situations you'd ever come across out there on the road, and I've also read that it handles pretty darn well too!
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I just don't know how you can name something the best until it has a chance to be bought and broken, or not.
THAT I have to say I kind of agree with you about. I too wonder if it's even possible that Dave Edwards and Company over at "Cycle World" even received a production T-Bird in order to have a reasonable long-term test on it and in order to really be fair as to how it stacks up to the other larger displacement "Cruiser" Twins in its market segment?!
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: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Our bikes are slow pokes but they are not unsafe. They are just slow. If you don't have the ponies to pass a truck at high speed, don't. (sorry Eddie) I know it was scary but not the bikes fault. The truck should have slowed for you. He was a moron.
The circumstances are a little more complicated than what you may have assumed.
I initiated the overtake with no oncoming traffic at the time (on my BMW RT1100 90hp).
Eddy followed suit on the Speedy.
Out of nowhere, an oncoming car came at us like a bat out of ****** (still quite far ahead of us).
I reckon he was doing over 100 mph.
By this time I was way ahead of the truck and Eddy was about half-way past.
The oncoming driver saw us and kept up his speed, not budging at all even though I sat in the middle and played chicken with him (seeing in my mirror that Eddy was still half-way) until the very last second, hoping he would move over as he had more than ample space.
He didn't budge an inch (I am more than sure on purpose).
I tucked in after feeling his hand on my trouser leg and looked in the mirror for Eddy.
He managed to slip past the truck just when the oncoming car was within kissing distance.
So no, we didn't attempt a dumb move as you may have assumed ("If you don't have the ponies to pass a truck at high speed, don't.").
A little more "oomph" would have gone a long way , given the circumstances (and since we are comparing, as do the Yamaha TDM 900cc and the BMW F800 ST 800cc - both parralel twins, both over 80 hp).
BTW 1 - The oncoming car driver was the moron, not the truck driver per se, although I agree he could have helped the situation.
BTW 2 - We both shat ourselves.
I have several bikes in my stable but I bought the Speedy to pop down to my watering holes, just 2 miles from where I live.
I love it.
I have taken the Speedy to 25 or 26 countries in the last 20 months (and for this I owe it a lot).
I will NOT be doing that again.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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well, at LEAST it appears that they've "learned their lesson" over there
Yes, they have. You have to build something that is like everything else in order to win an award or get recognition.
"Go your own way" as long as it's the same way everyone else is going
Gee, I must be slow, but I can't name one other mc brand that has a 1600cc parallel twin engine cruiser. There sure are plenty of V-twins though. I guess Triumph is not following the pack after all, or the new Thunderbird would be one of the many metric Harley clones...
My very thoughts, Paul.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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("If you don't have the ponies to pass a truck at high speed, don't."). I still stand by that. It was not the fault of the bike. It had the same HP it left the house with, nothing about the bike changed.
I only said it because there was some rationalization that our bikes are so underpowered they are dangerous. That is simply ridiculous.
A lot of bikes with a lot less power have ridden the roadways of this planet leaving smiles on the owners faces. Somehow they did not have head-on collisions as a matter of course.
My comment about making money was to assert that Triumph did not do it because lives were in danger on the little bikes. They made the Hondayamakawasuki with no fins and a radiator because they are gonna sell a ton of them. Not because they are safer.
I think its a pretty bike. I also think it has 0 credibility to be called the best cruiser in the world when it hasn't ever been tested with the public. Now if they called it the most promising, I could be behind that statement.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Words to the wise words to the wise
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
I only said it because there was some rationalization that our bikes are so underpowered they are dangerous. That is simply ridiculous.
Well Ron, in a few rare instances and occurances which one might find themselves in out there on the road, I suppose if YOU want to say that I said "our bikes are or might be "dangerously underpowered" in those PARTICULAR situations, then as long as you aren't inferring that I meant in my above statements that our bikes are "DANGEROUSLY underpowered" in a general or overall sense, or say 95% on the time, THEN I suppose I can agree with your last statement and can say that THAT later supposition WOULD BE "simply ridiculous".
(BUT...don't forget there IS that other 5% of the time out there when it WOULD BE awfully "nice" to have that extra little PASSING POWER when you NEED IT, huh???!!!)
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: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
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If ya want power, grab a crotch rocket... otherwise do some cruising and enjoy the ride! Viva la BA as it is!
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Hey Keith...question: Not that there's anything wrong with it at all mind you, BUT you wouldn't happen to be one o' those laid back hippie tree-hugger types, would ya dude???  (wait a minute while I go check somethin' out here....) Okay Keith, your bio here says you're a musician, and enjoy nature and gardening. OoooooKAY! Well I guess THAT answered my question there, huh?! ("Do some cruisin' and enjoy the ride", he says...well, HOW the HECK am I gonna do THAT if I can't go fast when I WANT to, HUH?!) 
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: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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(BUT...don't forget there IS that other 5% of the time out there when it WOULD BE awfully "nice" to have that extra little PASSING POWER when you NEED IT, huh???!!!)
Can you say Nitrios Oxide. If you all are so dissapointed in the HP., of our bikes, throw a NOS. kit on it. Spicially since you seem to only need it to pass loooong trucks with. I'm glad mine doesn't have a obsurbed amount of power or I'd be using it and getting tickets and doing wheeles and being stupid like I used to be. Now I ride to commute to work and relax ie. stress relief. 
Chip Sciarra "07" America, N.C.Switch Blade windshield, Moto Lights, Tri. Off Road pipes
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32 |
Quote:
(BUT...don't forget there IS that other 5% of the time out there when it WOULD BE awfully "nice" to have that extra little PASSING POWER when you NEED IT, huh???!!!)
Exactly what I said.
"A little more "oomph" would have gone a long way ..."
(I believe in English it's called passive safety.)
and
"It is in these instances where the Speedy suffers and has, on occasion, proved lacking/dangerous."
Given that when the specific overtake was initiated all appeared perfectly safe, I can safely say we didn't overestimate the bike's "ponies".
I did not say that they have head-on collisions as a matter of course nor that they are so underpowered they are dangerous.
That is simply ridiculous.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32 |
Quote:
I'm glad mine doesn't have a obsurbed amount of power
I don't know what "obsurbed" means but I do think the nitrous oxide solution may be a bit extreme, especially since I don't "tamper" with my bikes.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
Quote:
It confuses me a bit when something wins the best of anything before it really exist in any numbers.
Cost of ownership, recalls, accessories available, public feedback, obviously are not considered.
So, it is the best at what?
Great for the company though.
I know what you mean. Anyone remember when the Pontiac Tempest was "car of the year" in spite of having a driveline that was sure to be trouble and a 4 cylinder engine that sounded like a diesel at idle?
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Thunderbird named Best Cruiser
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
You know, the really funny part is that Triumph had a V2 years before any existing US motorcycle company.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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