IMHO, to call the T-Bird a downgrade is to doubt Triumph. While I understand the derision (yeah, it weighs alot more and yeah, the look doesn't stand out quite as much as a Speedy) the automatic assumption is that she won't handle as well or some other such thing. Beyond the reviews I've read (which can be full of hyperbole) I've sat on one and leaning it at a standstill it doesn't feel any heavier than my Speedy. Which is to say they've paid all the necessary attention to CG and kept the weight low. While my Speedy is no slouch, she has an entirely different demeanor with the wife on the back. I have a feeling the T-Bird wouldn't even notice her there. And she's already cleared the purchase (soon as we hit the lotto..lol) Soon as I brought home that Cycle World with the cover shot she said "we gotta get one of those". Someday, maybe...