| Author | Message | ||
     Lemonchili_x1 |
After doing some window shopping during the week I went down to my local Triumph dealer yesterday.   I've been trying to figure out what I want to do with the bikes I have and wanted to try some different things. I rode a Thruxton, then a Street Triple, then the Tiger 1050.  The Street Trip was as good as everyone says it is, incredibly impressive motorcycle, incredibly responsive and sooooooo flickable:  I was curious about the big Tiger as a "do everything" bike, which I'm sure it would be fantastic for, but it was little to tall for me as an everyday bike. Incredibly comfortable with the optional gel seat, but just not really my thing.  This is the one that surprised me, I expected to be disappointed by crude suspension and a lack of power... but I loved the the Thruxton, it really made an impression on me. A "real" motorcycle, nice and simple and fun to ride fast or slow   Riding three such different motorcycles was a good reality check for me, it put into perspective what I like about motorcycles. I may or may not buy a Thruxton, but I will be putting the 1125R up for sale. | ||
| Pwnzor |
The Thruxton is gorgeous, and to me it embodies everything a motorcycle is supposed to be. | ||
| Buellish |
Why would you pick the Thruxton over the Street Triple?I like and have ridden both myself and in a perfect world I would have both alongside my Buells. | ||
| Mnrider |
I just can't get past the headlights on the Street Triple. The Thruxton and the big Tiger would work great for me. | ||
| Sifo |
The Street Triple is an incredible bike. The big weak spot for me (and my wife, it's her bike) is the seat. The wide part of the saddle is sloped forward and wants to slide you up to the very narrow front. We got a Corbin seat that is much better. My wife loves it, I find it tolerable. I tested a 1050 Tiger and the ergos made my Lightning feel like a race bike. I felt like I was sitting on a bar stool. I have a friend who is 6'8" though and he loves his Tiger. I got a used Sprint St 1050 a couple months back. It quickly proved itself to be my favorite bike of any I've owned. I really just wanted a sport touring bike, but it is just that good. I can't say enough good things about the Triumph triples. They are just smooth powerful motors on the street. I haven't ridden a Thruxton yet, but they just look great! I've never been a fan of parallel twins, but this bike makes me want to try one someday. It's great that Triumphs have some personality. I think anyone who has owned a Buell can relate to that. | ||
| Slaughter |
The Thruxton was god-awful flexible when ridden hard in the US AHRMA Thruxton series. There is only so much you can do with handling when the chassis itself is whippy. That is NOT to take away from the coolness of it - but the other machines can be ridden hard. (that being said, the Thruxton appeals to me more than the others as a daily rider and occasional leisurely mountain-ride) | ||
| Badlionsfan |
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. My T-100 Bonnie does everything "worse" than my 1125r, but I love it. I think I've just realized that the 1125r is overkill for street. Since I put almost 6000 miles on the Bonnie and way under 500 on the 1125r, I'm pretty sure I'll be selling the 1125 next year. | ||
| Sifo |
I think I've just realized that the 1125r is overkill for street. There's a lot of wisdom in the saying "It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast that to ride a fast bike slow". | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
While the 1125 may be overkill for the street, I believe in self discipline. Just because you can doesnt mean you should, however, if you need to, you can. | ||
| Sifo |
if you need to, you can. I just see my self having the need to go 120 mph... In third gear! | ||
| Badlionsfan |
You're right Rpm. I make my living with my drivers license, and while I'm no boy scout I try to keep it clean. I haven't had any "legal" issues with the on any bike, and wouldn't blame the bike if I did. When I say over kill, what I mean is sure the. Ike will ride around at normal speed, but realistically it's not comfortable at lower commuting speeds, the 1125r cooling system doesn't like commuting duties. Perhaps a more accurate statement is the 1125r is over kill for THIS street rider. | ||
| Syonyk |
No mention of the Rocket III? It's a huge bike with a stupidly insane motor in it. It handles well for its size, and the throttle put a silly grin on my face for the next few hours. | ||
| Aeholton |
Agree with your statements BLF. I sold the 1125R back in February and bought an '87 BMW R100S. It is slow by modern motorcycle standards, but a lot more fun for street riding. My daughter thinks I am just getting old.  | ||
| Dcc46 |
I flew up to Maine last month bought this and rode back down to Florida on this.I don't know how to describe the ride , it's not refined , the brakes suck ,it's slow and it handles like shit, but I absolutely love riding it. It is the perfect bike to compliment whatever it is you ride   (Message edited by dcc46 on November 06, 2011) (Message edited by dcc46 on November 07, 2011) | ||
| Pwnzor |
I do like the Triples...  ...but the Thruxton is a pure nostalgia machine for me. Spokes, big round headlight, old-school design with some decent updated gear. When I look at it, I'm reminded of why I fell in love with motorcycling. | ||
| Kurbennett |
This is the one I picked up last Dec. While not a big fan of cruisers this one just fit.  | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Why would you pick the Thruxton over the Street Triple?I like and have ridden both myself and in a perfect world I would have both alongside my Buells. This is the question I will be asking myself a lot over the next few weeks/months, but I guess the short answer is I was impressed by the Street Trip, I enjoyed the Thruxton. In a perfect world I would love both too though  The Triple would be great in the twisties and awesome at a trackday, and I'm sure it would be fine for everyday use. The Thruxton would be a hoot in the twisties and freakin' hilarious at a trackday, and just plain fun riding around at a leisurely pace doing normal things. I'm lucky enough to be able to have two bikes at the moment. I went for the test rides with the aim of finding a solution to how I could find the right combination of bikes to do everything - commuting (with secure storage for a laptop), monthly weekend twisties, the occasional trackday and maybe some long distance touring. When I rode the Thruxton all that logical thought went out the window . It's interesting that the bikes I've ridden over the last couple of years that have impressed me most are the BMW F800R, Duc 848, XB9R and now the Thruxton (and it moreso than the other three). The Street Triple is an incredible bike. The big weak spot for me (and my wife, it's her bike) is the seat. The wide part of the saddle is sloped forward and wants to slide you up to the very narrow front. Agreed. You're pretty much locked into one seating position and pushed into the tank a little. It's great that Triumphs have some personality. I think anyone who has owned a Buell can relate to that. The sales guy I'm talking, Tony, is a really nice guy and used to work at the dealer where I bought my 1125R. After I'd ridden all three I caught up with him and the first thing he said was: "The Thruxton is the one, right?" He was spot on. He said a lot of Buell riders like the twins. The Thruxton was god-awful flexible when ridden hard in the US AHRMA Thruxton series. There is only so much you can do with handling when the chassis itself is whippy. For my riding style that might not be too much of an issue. I don't mind if it's a little loose as long as it tells me what it's doing. There's a lot of wisdom in the saying "It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast that to ride a fast bike slow".  I've always enjoyed small bikes, 250's, 400's and mid sized twins, the test rides just reminded me of that. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I want a Speed Triple and a Thruxton so bad I can taste it. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>I believe in self discipline.<< I believe in it too. I just don't have enough. >>It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast that to ride a fast bike slow<< Particular-like on crappy roads. The KLR Kid. | ||
| Brumbear |
I had a speedmaster bonnie and I just broke it a lot it wasn't for me I was always riding it on the stops no room for error. The speed or street triple I would go for in a minute but my CR is IMO better than both of them. I love the way the thrux looks but I just don't like that I can damn near outride the thing. The trps no way could I out ride either bike if you know what I mean? | ||
| Road_thing |
just plain fun riding around at a leisurely pace doing normal things Pretty much where I'm at anymore. ...of course, I'm, like, old... rt | ||
| 1324 |
I am enamored with my Speed Triple. After owning two XB's for a while and an 1125R for a short stint, I didn't believe I'd find another bike to make me grin that much. The S3 does it for me - and then some! The triple is an amazing engine and provides more then enough grunt for my riding abilities and size. I can't say enough good about it. I've put ~10k trouble-free miles on it since May. That is more I can say about my XB's, sadly. I really love the look of the Thruxton, although I haven't ridden one yet. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I found this article interesting: Speed Triple vs. XB12SS When I Sat on the Speed Triple, it felt exactly like the XB12SS. Felt like home. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Uh oh... I've been browsing the Triumph forums looking for pics of modded Thruxtons and looking for ideas... I don't think I've had bike lust like this since I first rode an X1...  Maybe it's just a passing phase... | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
PS I found some really cool Thruxtons and Bonnie cafe racers!  | ||
| 86129squids |
My best buddy once had an old, late 70's Yamaha XS750, a triple, bike was in pretty good shape for its age, best of all it had a Kerker on it... I'll never forget the day we were leaving Hooters, had some fancy chopper guys trying to do burnouts (emphasis on "trying")- I was on my old R65, no shenanigans for me, we were definitely NOT the kewl guys, until... my buddy just shrugged and lit his up for about a half circle, demonstrating excellent form. Pissed off all the posers- nothing like being a redneck hero for a moment... That Kerker at full throat was pure ear candy! He's got an old-school V-Max now, with a Hindle pipe- still don't think it sounds quite as good as that old Yamaha triple! Now, sorry Graham, back to your previously rational discussion...  | ||
| Macbuell |
I've been a big fan of the Speed Triple forever. I test rode one last year and loved it. Now I'd like to take that new Ducati 848 Streetfighter out for a spin. One the surface, with the Ducati Twin, that's my next bike but I want to see how comfortable it is. | ||
| 86129squids |
Oh yeah, speaking of seriously sexy triples... http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/mv-agusta-a nnounces-brutale-675/ Now, where's I put that winning lottery ticket... | ||
| Carbonsteel |
I would live to get my hands on a Scrambler. Unfortunately, I don't have a Triumph dealership anywhere near where I live....or a Ducati, BMW, Aprilla, Guzzi...  | ||
| Saxon59 |
I rode a Speed Triple a couple months ago with the optional "Fly Screen"it really cleans up the front end,the odd looking headlights are a signature of the Speed/Street Triple since the late '90's,when they put the dual round headlights on,I guess they had to come up with something new after being copied by others.That being said,I've riden the Thruxton,Street Triple,Speed Triple,Tiger1050,ThunderBird Storm w/1700cc engine.The Speed Triple felt, ergo wise,alot like my M2 only with higher pegs,very comfy,like I could ride it all day.The StreetTriple had excelent power,but I noticed the sloping seat as well.I fell in love with the Thruxton,would buy one in a flash if I could,the T'Bird had my Crappy back screaming for mercy in about 5 min.although it had great power and would be on my short list if I were interested in a cruiser.I've also ridden a Rocket Three when they first came out,lets just say it is appropriatley named!!! |
