Thruxton RS - First impression

Fast Eddie said:

I don’t think it would Glen.

The new R3 is quite a beast. Fastest 0-60 of any stock bike in the world.

And that’s before we start talking about bolting on a supercharger !!

Pretty sure the Thrux would have it in the mountain twisties tho.

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I looked that R3 time up, wow 2.73 seconds zero to sixty. That is fast. The Thruxton R is listed at 3.1 seconds, not sure if the RS trimmed anything from that.
Those are Triumph's official claims for the bikes so one hopes they are accurate. They can be sued if they are not, so the numbers are likely correct.

Glen

Fast Eddie said:

Not only millennials. I like the black. Just wish the forks were black too.

Am I the only one who’s TIRED of seeing gold freakin’ forks everywhere ??

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PIGPEN got gold shocks... o

I'm going to give that zero to sixty business a try. Not with the Thruxton r as we already have that number plus I have no way of accurately measuring it.
The Glenli has a Dakota digital speedo that will accurately measure zero to sixty times . It will also measure 1/4 mile ets and terminal speed. I forgot that it had those features.
Should be fun.
I won't cry if it isn't as fast as the new R3.
It does feel stronger than the Thruxton r.

Glen

worntorn said:

I'm going to give that zero to sixty business a try. Not with the Thruxton r as we already have that number plus I have no way of accurately measuring it.
The Glenli has a Dakota digital speedo that will accurately measure zero to sixty times . It will also measure 1/4 mile ets and terminal speed. I forgot that it had those features.
Should be fun.
I won't cry if it isn't as fast as the new R3.
It does feel stronger than the Thruxton r.

Glen

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Looking forward to seeing that Glen.

We have high expectations sir !

I've started to assemble the team for the Record attempt. My shop cat Skittles is all in.

Triumph had a team from Avon Tyre helping as well as some 90 lb Spanish test rider who probably has quicker reflexes than my cat.

The Triumph team were supported by the British tyre manufacturer Avon.
Stuart Wood commented; “Their expertise fed directly into the project. The record would not have been possible without our partners, Avon has been our tyre partner for the Rocket 3 project and ensured the necessary grip and stability. The Avon Cobra Chrome tyres already used on the Rocket 3 line-up were developed especially for this model and offer exceptional grip and incredible durability.”


I might be outgunned here but the cat and I will give it a try.

Glen

I gave the 0-60 a try with the Vincent. It became apparent that I am not skilled at this!
I tried this with the stock 998 engine years ago. With that engine there was a short and low wheel lift on takeoff up to perhaps 25 mph then the front wheel stayed on the ground. A standard Rapide is listed in the Handbook as having a 6.0 second 0-60. The Black Shadow is at 6.5 due to the high first gear.
After many tries I managed a 4.9 second zero to sixty with the Rapide 998 engine. The light weight of this bike really helps with acceleration.

I was pleased with the 4.9 for that engine as the magazine times all allow a rolling start. They have a 1 foot roll in before timing starts. This means that the actual test is from about 6 mph to 60. Seems like cheating doesn't it?
1/4 mile runs at drag strips have the same roll in.
My speedo timer does not allow for that.
The difference is claimed to be about .3 seconds.
In other words, when Triumph says that their Thruxton 1200 R managed zero to sixty in 3.1 seconds, it is actually about 3.4.
That R3 record run would be just over 3 seconds.
My first run today was at 4.1 seconds (1360 engine) I could not use full power on takeoff.
I will never be using full power on takeoff!
A drag slick would help but a wheelie bar would help even more.
The second try is at around the 4 minute mark. That one showed 3.4 seconds.
The last run is at the 13 minute mark but the front wheel stayed aloft right to about 70 mph, so that did not record.
The attempt at the 4 minute mark was decent as it was a good mix of wheelspin and wheel lift.
I'm sure that with practice and a slick type tire the time could be lowered.
The Triumph test used a light rider as do the magazine tests. That would help.
I'm around 250 lbs with gear on.
 Glen
I'll post this in the Vincent forum as well.

I’m inclined to believe that +/- 3 seconds is probably close to the limit for street bikes.

Even if the 3 secs is wrong, I’m thinking that physics must kick in at some point and dictate that the low weight, small tyre contact patch, use of road tyres, short overall length and lack of wheelie bars, on your normal street bike, must all conspire to create a ‘limit’.

And I think the R3 is a case in point, whilst it has huge torque and reasonable power (a stock new gen produces ‘only’ 143 ish rwhp). So to have such a low 0-60 is, I believe, partially due to other factors like: weight (gives traction), length (suppresses wheelies), huge rear tyre (gives traction).

So, whilst the R3 is still very torquey and reasonably powerful on paper, I believe it’s able to put a greater ratio of that down to the tarmac than other bikes, which enables it to make the fastest 0-60 production bike claim, despite many sports bikes having more outright power and a MUCH better power to weight ratio.

The actual wording with the Triumph record is " Fastest time ever by a Triumph motorcycle". There are a few claims a bit lower than the Triumph speed, one by an electric motorcycle.
The Rocket3 in the test was fitted with a special drag slick. It was also ridden by a professional sprint racer. A drag slick would really help my bike. There was a lot of wheelspin on takeoff.
A professional sprint racer would likely shave a few tenths too!
One other variable is gearing. One could play with that and probably gain a bit of ground. I just used the gearing that is on the bike now, which is quite high.
With all of that in mind I did not expect to equal or beat the R3 time, however coming within .4 seconds with the bike and rider as is was a pleasant surprise.
I think I'll stop there as the exercise has to be pretty hard on things.

As you say, 3 seconds is about it for most sportbikes. At that 3 seconds is really about 3.3.
Until yesterday, I did not know about the universal .3 seconds cheat that is present in all magazine tests.

Glen

Here's some info on the .3 seconds /1 foot " rollout" head start. Also used in drag racing .

And here is the info on the R3.
Note it is a " Triumph record" not a World record.
In 2016 a GSXR fitted with a drag slick and ridden by a professional managed a 2.6 ( 2.9 reality)

Paul Stroud, Chief Commercial Officer for Triumph Motorcycles said; “Triumph has once again demonstrated truly outstanding capability. With the new Triumph acceleration record achieved by the Rocket 3 R, we again enter uncharted territory because never before has a Triumph motorcycle reached such an incredible acceleration. Our goal was to showcase the exceptional performance of the Rocket’s unique, all-new 2,500cc triple powerplant. We have now achieved this, making the entire team incredibly proud. With the Rocket 3 line-up, we have consistently shown that we can build the highest capacity production motorcycles, capable of offering incredible performance and capability in return.”

Looking at it again, it appears that the run at 13 minutes is faster than the 3.4 second run. Unfortunately it did not record with the front wheel off the pavement.

When I got my Rocket III in July 2004 it was the first one in Canada and came with a few goodies like a leather bound riders handbook and a promotional CD. In the CD Triumph claimed 2.8 sec 0-60. I think that may have been with the usual 140lb rider and before they restricted it in the first three gears. A worn out hip was the reason that I sold it this Spring and bought a T120 Bonneville. I was concerned that I would find the T120 too slow after riding rhe 2300cc beast but was pleasantly surprised by how comparatively quick and nimble it is. probaly not as fast as a Thruxton RS at the top end but it has a ton of torque and pulls hard out of corners. My friends are bored with listening to me talking about how much I like it! I am keeping it completely stock as I love how quiet it is while still having a nice rumble. The stock mufflers are similar to Commando peashooters in as much as you can look straight through them so the noise muffling is obviously done in the Cat X-box. . As somebody mentioned, it is like a Commmando on steroids. Anyone considering a Thruxton RS should start saving their pennies now as the 2024 model will be the last.

triumph2 said:

When I got my Rocket III in July 2004 it was the first one in Canada and came with a few goodies like a leather bound riders handbook and a promotional CD. In the CD Triumph claimed 2.8 sec 0-60. I think that may have been with the usual 140lb rider and before they restricted it in the first three gears. A worn out hip was the reason that I sold it this Spring and bought a T120 Bonneville. I was concerned that I would find the T120 too slow after riding rhe 2300cc beast but was pleasantly surprised by how comparatively quick and nimble it is. probaly not as fast as a Thruxton RS at the top end but it has a ton of torque and pulls hard out of corners. My friends are bored with listening to me talking about how much I like it! I am keeping it completely stock as I love how quiet it is while still having a nice rumble. The stock mufflers are similar to Commando peashooters in as much as you can look straight through them so the noise muffling is obviously done in the Cat X-box. . As somebody mentioned, it is like a Commmando on steroids. Anyone considering a Thruxton RS should start saving their pennies now as the 2024 model will be the last.

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I’ve got a 2019 R3 and keep thinking I’d be better off with one of the 1200 twins for the very reasons you state. My trouble is, I don’t quite wanna part with the R3 just yet, and moreover, I can’t decide which version of the twin I really want !

I'm tempted by the " Final Version" of the Thruxton.
If it looks this good in the flesh then that would be good enough. There is a matching fairing available, that would add to the appeal.

Other than the paint scheme, there is nothing special about the Final Version.
I am a shallow person though, so paint colour is probably enough to cause loss of control.
Wouldn't want to part with the existing Red one though, and owning two of these things is too expensive plus it is beyond silly, so it's not going to happen.

I was tempted too Glen, I thought the FE emblems particularly appealing !

But if I was gonna get a Thruxton I reckon I’d go for a low mileage TFC…

The last model Thruxton looks great but I am happy with my 2016 Thruxton S and after buying 2 Thruxtons without telling the wife till the day she had to drop me off at the dealership doing it again I might get a good clip around the ears lol.
But with 30k now on the Thruxton S it seems to be getting better in all aspects of running so the need to upgrade it with a newer model is not on and I think I save my retirement money on important things like living cost, stopped working 10 years ago next month and still have over 2 years to get my GOV pension, that's if the Gov don't decide to put the old age pension age up to 70 as they been thinking off doing.
I wonder if the older versions of the Thruxtons will go up in prices when they become classics, I be dead and gone by then.

Ashley

I doubt the Thruxtons will go up in value. There are too many of them out there for that to happen.
They do seem to hold their value quite well , in our area at least.
I have a clubmate who bought a new rc51 in 2005. As Honda had stopped production and it was seen as a special machine, he was sure it would climb in value like a Vincent.
He paid about 15k and now they are worth about 5k, as near as I can tell.


Glen

worntorn said:

I doubt the Thruxtons will go up in value. There are too many of them out there for that to happen.
They do seem to hold their value quite well , in our area at least.
I have a clubmate who bought a new rc51 in 2005. As Honda had stopped production and it was seen as a special machine, he was sure it would climb in value like a Vincent.
He paid about 15k and now they are worth about 5k, as near as I can tell.


Glen

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He might still turn out to be right Glen.

Vincents weren’t worth much at 18 years old either ! Took a while for them to climb to their current heady heights.

I like them. Ran one on the track some years ago, a bit heavy, but otherwise a very nice bike IMO.

$5k Canadian is very cheap, good, low mileage examples fetch good money over here:

As you mention, the RC51 is known to be a decent but heavy bike on a track. They are also said to be quite horrible as a road bike. The seat is very uncomfortable for longer rides and the engine tends to overheat in traffic. The riding position is painful for all but small young riders.
Fuel economy is worse than some cars and fuel range is thus quite short. With all of that the bikes still have a following.

I'll pass!

Glen

worntorn said:

As you mention, the RC51 is known to be a decent but heavy bike on a track. They are also said to be quite horrible as a road bike. The seat is very uncomfortable for longer rides and the engine tends to overheat in traffic. The riding position is painful for all but small young riders.
Fuel economy is worse than some cars and fuel range is thus quite short. With all of that the bikes still have a following.

I'll pass!

Glen

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Sounds just like most modern sports bikes to me !