Showing of new Triumphs in Dallas

DallasNorton

Joined
Oct 24, 2015
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Triumph is showing their new line of modern vintage bikes today. I'm going later on to see it in flesh and compare to our bikes especially Thruxton R.
Showing of new Triumphs in Dallas
 
Hopefully they will fire them up for you to hear. The sound of these new bikes is quite something. The lead engineer on the design team talked about the amount of thought that went into that aspect of the bikes, it was a big consideration.
I heard the stock Street Twin run at Seattle. It has a beautiful clean sound, virtually no engine noise and lots of crisp exhaust noise.
Because they were able to build such a mechanically silent engine they were able to still stay within noise regs and yet use a fairly free flowing exhaust with a lot of sound exiting the silencer.

One other point that caught my attention was the 10,000 mile service interval including oil changes.

The finish on the bikes was impeccable, have a good look at that R fork crown. The Show a Big Piston fork under it none too shabby either.

Glen
 
They didn't fire up any bikes. Great looking bikes and many impressive performance parts but not Norton handbuilt quality.

Showing of new Triumphs in Dallas
 
They are nice but definitely not in Norton's league. Its a hand built British bike versus a mass produced Thaiwanese bike!
 
One big thing you should get with the mass produced Triumph is a mechanically quiet trouble free power plant and trans. capable of running 100,000 miles or more on maintenance only.
To my mind the mechanical competence of the machine is ten times as important as real or imagined superiority due to any hand built effect or carbon fibre plastic bits.
The cruel reality of hand built is evident in some of the many problems witnessed with the 961s.

From a strictly cosmetic assessment, there are areas where I prefer the Thruxton R and areas where I prefer the Norton, so it's about a wash. Both are lovely to look at.

The details and general style of the Thruxton R caught my eye, but the expected mechanical competence ( which I have witnessed firsthand with my Daytona) and 120 NM torque to shove it down the road is what really sold me on the bike.

I figure a modern Retro bike ought to be a "get on and ride" proposition. We have the real Vintage machines for tinkering.
If this new bike is anything less than a get on and ride bike, I'll report on it here.

Glen
 
At one of these shows the Triumph folks should plan on starting the machines, with only their people onboard of course, for a short demo.
Bring ventilation equip, fire extingushers, all the necessary safety crap.
The exhaust note on these bikes has been "enhanced" some from the 865's.
So put it out there for the guests at the party.
 
Seattle Triumph fired up the Street Twin and the sound was really nice.
At any of the shows reported on it's always the Street Twin that is fired up, never the 1200s. Makes me wonder if there are any internals in the 1200s or if they are just lifeless display models.

Glen
 
worntorn said:
At any of the shows reported on it's always the Street Twin that is fired up, never the 1200s. Makes me wonder if there are any internals in the 1200s or if they are just lifeless display models.

Glen
Click to expand...

That was my suspicion as well.
Also, if you don't intend to start the engines, they dont have to have gas, oil, or coolant in side, making the bike feel lighter.
It almost makes me think that the intent was to introduce the bikes in the 2017 model year, but then Triumph decided to try to push them out a bit early.
Why else would they not have final stats for the 1200's available for the original introduction in November.
It just seems very strange.
Almost like eveything was pushed out to the public before the final work was completed.
On the other hand, Triumph does turn out a good product, so maybe this is just perception.
 
I have a Thruxton R on order. Its made in Thailand not Taiwan.

Once I have it in hand I can decide which bike stays.

I have a stripped carb thruxton for the hoon in me, a standard Bonnie for commuting duties so the 961 and the R are in direct competition for the weekend ride.

Let you all know later in the year which is for sale.
Skiddy
 
That review sounds like it was written by Triumph. He even praises the single front rotor which has been criticized for years! The bikes on the tour are not runners and don't have engine internals, per the techs. There is one running Street Twin that was at some of the training sessions and a few Tour stops. It does sound good on the videos!
 
skidmark said:
I have a Thruxton R on order. Its made in Thailand not Taiwan.

I typed Thailandese but the spellcheck changed it to Taiwanese. I have a red R on order also!
Click to expand...
 
The Speed Twin that was in Portland ran. They let some of the dealer people ride it. And started it inside. And maybe a burn out too. :mrgreen:
 
Running Street Twins built for public consumption are in North America already. For those who have pre-ordered, that's only a couple of months from pre order to delivery.
Check out this Triumph email received by a purchaser on the Rat site. Pretty clever marketing, especially the "customize it now" button!

http://www.triumphrat.net/attachments/t ... t-twin.jpg
 
BPHORSEGUY said:
That review sounds like it was written by Triumph. He even praises the single front rotor which has been criticized for years! The bikes on the tour are not runners and don't have engine internals, per the techs. There is one running Street Twin that was at some of the training sessions and a few Tour stops. It does sound good on the videos!
Click to expand...

I've got an updated (Madass) single disc on the 850 Commamdo. It is a beautiful brake and can handle anything you can through at it riding mountain roads.
Double discs look great. They come from the world racebikes and professional racers who run at speeds three times legal road limits then brake very late& hard. For us road riders the extra disc is a cosmetically pleasing ( some might say poseur) item that serves no function and adds a bit of unnecessary unsprung weight.
A good big single disc can handle pulling down from nearly double the legal limit repeatedly without fade.


Glen
 
Well we know we are all poseurs to some degree :mrgreen:
None of us can ride like Rossi.

After using the big single six pot on my 850 I don't believe the twin discs are needed for the road. When Allan Cathcart says the new Triumph 900 brakes are excellent brakes, I believe him. In fact I would take Allan Cathcart's word on most things. I think he gives you the straight shit.
The bike has a top speed of around 110 MPH, not 185 like a litre sportbike, so yeah a single is enough.

The Thruxton R according to my calculations should do about 140 on stock gearing provided it will pull to the rev limiter. With 120 NM torque, it probably will. One could play at the track with that bike and actually make use of the Brembo twin discs.
So I won't be removing the second disc from it or from my other bikes that have twin discs. I also like the balanced look of twin discs.
That's the poseur in me I guess. :D

Glen
 
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