 Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22 |
Well, I've now done almost 7 k miles since November on my new to me 014 TBA LT.
I'll be honest, I wasn't dead certain I'd be ok with it...most of my recent bikes have been way bigger capacity.
But it's been great so far..... came back 250 miles from Devon on Sunday with the the bike bouncing off the speed limiter some of the time ( It Has To Go...limiter, not bike) along motorways and twisties....great fun and with the screen and bags back on for this run, practical when it rained too.
This is my third TBA......I remember logging on here years back when thinking of buying one( maybe 010?) and wondering if it'd cut the mustard after bigger bikes.
Then, as now, no problem.
Just goes to prove you don't need big cubes to enjoy a bike.
I took the Road Less Travelled.
Now where the ****** am I?
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,839 Likes: 3
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,839 Likes: 3 |
Don't forget , there was a time when 650 was a big bike . It went from 650 to 1200 with not much in between . I rode a 500 around the outer perimeter of the United States and it did just fine . Bigger s not always better , this bike is smalk enough for me to push around and yet big enough to take me to the other side of the world . Big bikes can be comber some and hard to handle , ride a HD and then get on a TBA ! It's like getting out of a truck and getting into a sports car !!! I like handling over horsepower !! But I like enough horsepower to get me out of the way when needed . This bike is all I need !!! 
ENJOY!!!!! NEWT!!!!!
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7 |
Quote:
Don't forget , there was a time when 650 was a big bike . It went from 650 to 1200 with not much in between . I rode a 500 around the outer perimeter of the United States and it did just fine . Bigger s not always better , this bike is smalk enough for me to push around and yet big enough to take me to the other side of the world . Big bikes can be comber some and hard to handle , ride a HD and then get on a TBA ! It's like getting out of a truck and getting into a sports car !!! I like handling over horsepower !! But I like enough horsepower to get me out of the way when needed . This bike is all I need !!!
My brother is a Harley fanatic but whenever we ride together he likes to trade bikes for half the ride. 
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 220 Likes: 2
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 220 Likes: 2 |
The 865 engine was the largest production vertical twin made until 2009 when the thunderbird came out (that sounds a bit gay) it is not a little engine...motorcycle manufactures have learnt that there are customers (and there are lots of them) out there that care only about how big it is.  It may not do anything better than a smaller one but a lot of blokes just have to tell there mates...hey I've got a big one. 
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,237 Likes: 63
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,237 Likes: 63 |
I remember when the 650 was a big bike.
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: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 374
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 374 |
Just about the time Triumph builds a proper (High Torque)cruiser engine, they drop the Cruiser line. DUH Hopefully they soon bring back the America with the new engines. We don't need more Horse Power, the bikes need more low end Torque.
Tin Man 2
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22 |
I agree with all your comments......the evidence for my preference being that I have my Switchback on sale as I rarely ride it now....much preferring the TBA.
I took the Road Less Travelled.
Now where the ****** am I?
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 374
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 374 |
Yes, I like the handling of my America just fine, I just don't like having to wind it up to make power. Then again it's only the 790 engine, I've never ridden the 865 maybe that would be more Torquey.
Tin Man 2
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22 |
There's not a lot in it.... personally I like winding it up and hearing the crackle from those pipes under load
I took the Road Less Travelled.
Now where the ****** am I?
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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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 |
My America is comfortable, well behaved and the amount of power is just right. I can ride all day at the speed limit (or above if I like) and I don't have to be extra careful with how much throttle I give it because it won't run away or turn into a unicycle if I twist 2 degrees too far.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 797 Likes: 17
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 797 Likes: 17 |
I ride with a friend that has an 865 America. He freaks how quick my 790 is. He cannot keep up with me off the line and we have tried it a few times. Other than TORS and 19 tooth front gear I am stock.
You know there is not one thing I can say about these bikes that makes it outstanding or better than others. It is the most average bike I have ever owned.
It is also a joy to roll away the miles on. It is not the individual specs. It is the sum total of the bike.
I also agree with Newt. I have been racking up miles on my new Rocket and love it, but I climbed on the America the other day and god did it feel nice.
My dad had a 1958 T110 Tiger which was 650cc and considered the biggest bike on the road at the time.
Road Rash Heals. Freckles Grow Back. Ride
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10 |
Quote:
I remember when the 650 was a big bike.
Yep.Then the 750 Honda four came out and it was humongous.I saw a restored one a few years ago and I thought what a small bike they were.
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22 |
And I bought instead an xs650.....great bike.... dodgy handling...but all the Japs were then
I took the Road Less Travelled.
Now where the ****** am I?
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10 |
Yep I had a TX3 the third model with the Brit.style tankThe XS 1 and XS2 had what I call the "Banana" style tank.Very reliable but dodgy handling as you say.
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 22 |
Yes....dodgy...we used to have a specialist....chap named Tony Hall of Halco motorcycles ( down near Stonehenge) who did a lot of mods to these... including a neat swinging arm conversion...cured the wobbles.
Sadly Tony died ....must be about ten years back.
That's what I love about the forums here....you never know where the topic posted will end up
I took the Road Less Travelled.
Now where the ****** am I?
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Re: Actually I rather like it.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10 |
Quote:
Yes....dodgy...we used to have a specialist....chap named Tony Hall of Halco motorcycles ( down near Stonehenge) who did a lot of mods to these... including a neat swinging arm conversion...cured the wobbles.
Sadly Tony died ....must be about ten years back.
That's what I love about the forums here....you never know where the topic posted will end up
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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