Thruxton RS - First impression

This is correct and that is how I ended up with a Daytona 955i.
When figuring out the ergos for the Vincent Special I tried sitting on various Sportbikes available at the local Triumph Dealership. In their used inventory they had a GSXR, an R1, a Fireblade, an Aprilia of some sort and a Kawi zx9r.
I had to contort painfully just to sit on them.
I was just about to give up on copying measurements from any modern sportbike when I spotted a 2005 955i Daytona. To my surprise it was pretty comfortable, so I copied those measurements for the Special.
It turns out it is also a bike that is quite good on fuel and has a big tank which gives the bike a 225 mile range.
It doesn't overheat and can do city traffic if needed.
About 20 pounds lighter than the RC51 and has a chunk more power as well.

Glen
 
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.
Well like most obvious things like a new Rocket 3 will beating a Thruxton R in a quarter mile it isn't always true.. I beat a inexperienced rider with new one with a quick shifter and an ECU modification for he said had another 20 horsepower.

I guess the thing about drag racing stock wheel base bikes an inexperienced rider can lose. I'm new to this site so I won't link the video from October 2022 "200 Horsepower Rocket 3 vs 100 Horsepower Thruxton R " I lost two races against the 200 Horsepower Rocket 3 but then raced the new 165 horsepower Rocket 3 and won.

At 70 years old I'm a little inconsistent a the drag strip but my reaction times are still good, it is surprising how many mistakes younger or inexperienced riders will make if you jump them off the line.

No way would I try a roll on with a Rocket 3 but a drag race yeah I'll do that.
 
Well like most obvious things like a new Rocket 3 will beating a Thruxton R in a quarter mile it isn't always true.. I beat a inexperienced rider with new one with a quick shifter and an ECU modification for he said had another 20 horsepower.

I guess the thing about drag racing stock wheel base bikes an inexperienced rider can lose. I'm new to this site so I won't link the video from October 2022 "200 Horsepower Rocket 3 vs 100 Horsepower Thruxton R " I lost two races against the 200 Horsepower Rocket 3 but then raced the new 165 horsepower Rocket 3 and won.

At 70 years old I'm a little inconsistent a the drag strip but my reaction times are still good, it is surprising how many mistakes younger or inexperienced riders will make if you jump them off the line.

No way would I try a roll on with a Rocket 3 but a drag race yeah I'll do that.
I drag race my Thruxton R vicariously thru your videos. The only difference- You rarely lose. I never lose in my imagination:)

Glen
 
Welcome.

Merry Christmas!🍻

I always enjoy meeting new people that give riding lessons. 😎👍🏻

Nice looking bike!🤩
Riders growing up only with traction control are at some disadvantage. I like old school short wheel base clutch shifting because I guess it is more rider centered instead of technology based.

The technology is quickly turning the corner that the rider is much less important. It's harder to find somebody under 170 horsepower to race whose bike isn't chalked with rider aids.

A year or so I was racing a 100 horsepower air/cooled BMW boxer completely stock against a BMW S1000R and had him by a good margin at the 1/8 mile before he went past so fast I thought he sucked the paint off my bike😁😁

So no I've had my time and the lessons now are being given to me.
 
I'm pleasantly surprised that the Triumph has withstood the dragstrip beatings you have dished out.
Those 5000? Rpm starts must stress the drivetrain pretty heavily.
One question about the Tec cam-
It is my understanding that the stock cam incorporates pivotting decompressor bumps of the style used first on pull start lawnmowers. This is supposed to allow for a smaller battery and starter than normally would be used for a high compression 1200.
Does the Tec cam have the same decompressors?
If not, have you noticed any difference in starting?

Glen
 
I'm pleasantly surprised that the Triumph has withstood the dragstrip beatings you have dished out.
Those 5000? Rpm starts must stress the drivetrain pretty heavily.
One question about the Tec cam-
It is my understanding that the stock cam incorporates pivotting decompressor bumps of the style used first on pull start lawnmowers. This is supposed to allow for a smaller battery and starter than normally would be used for a high compression 1200.
Does the Tec cam have the same decompressors?
If not, have you noticed any difference in starting?

Glen
No it doesn't have the decompressor. I haven't noticed any difference in starting at all. The great part is after 55 times down the drag the clutch feels and operates as good as it did when I bought. I don't dump the clutch at the starts which might help.

I admit I am surprised with the clutch I'll probably replace it in a year or so just to measure the wear on the old one.
 
I suppose if the Tec cam has more duration than the stock cam it will naturally be bleeding off some compression as a result of the late inlet closing. It must be enough to make it all work.

Glen
 
I suppose if the Tec cam has more duration than the stock cam it will naturally be bleeding off some compression as a result of the late inlet closing. It must be enough to make it all work.

Glen
I plenty of dynos before the cam changes and it was 84 or 85 hp but I forget the torque. I didn't get an opportunity to dyno just the cam but did dyno the cam with DNKtune, Meerkat exhaust and airflters and that was 101 horsepower.

Performance wise my ETs went from stock 12.05-12.4 to 11.678-12.1. Top speed stock 130ish mph to 151 mph (with fairing and gearing changes too).

For me it just fun playing with it and have seriously considered the supercharger from TTS for more fun.
 
@Flat Cap Cafe Racer
I'm new to this site also. Have followed you on the R3 forum.
How is your arm healing from the tumble you took at the Salt Flats?
When you made a video showing your stable of bikes I don't remember seeing a Norton there. Do you have one?
I'm still in rehab on my elbow but I'm riding and will be doing some drag racing this Spring on the Kawasaki Z900RS SE.
If anybody is interested there are several videos on me wrestling a 260 horsepower Rocket 3 on some very wet salt at Bonneville in August on my Flat Cap Cafe Racer channel.

I'm looking for a ride to take bqck to Bonneville in August. Most of the Superbikes which are advertised the 200+ horsepower struggle to get 190 mph at Bonneville.

I'd like to get another shot a setting a record over 200 mph but crashing the Rocket 3 was probably my best chance.

If Norton gets some dealers back in the U.S. a 961 will find itself in my garage.
 
Your R3 crash video certainly brings home how difficult, and dangerous, riding at Bonneville can be. Frankly I find it hard to believe folk get to such speeds on a surface like that ! Guess I’m just soft, but I’d wanna be on tarmac…

How did you address the gearing on the R3 to give it 200mph potential?

I sent you a PM by the way.

I’m unfamiliar with the classes and rules, but have you considered sumthin like this…

IMG_7975.jpeg
IMG_7976.jpeg
IMG_7977.jpeg
 
Your R3 crash video certainly brings home how difficult, and dangerous, riding at Bonneville can be. Frankly I find it hard to believe folk get to such speeds on a surface like that ! Guess I’m just soft, but I’d wanna be on tarmac…

How did you address the gearing on the R3 to give it 200mph potential?

I sent you a PM by the way.

I’m unfamiliar with the classes and rules, but have you considered sumthin like this…

View attachment 111747
View attachment 111748
View attachment 111749
That is a clean installation of a supercharger. Is it one of Richard's superchargers from TTS? The builder had it where it would turn 8100 rpms. I the highest I ran it was 7500 rpm. The salt wasn't up to dealing with Rocket 3 that day.

Is this your your Rocket 3??

I check your message
 
PIGPEN got gold shocks... View attachment 106488o
Agree wholeheartedly with the gold forks...never was and never will be a fan. Was almost a deal breaker for me but my lust for the FE being part of my stable won out. Silver would really make the green pop. With that said, I'll make the final visual judgment when and if the bike gets delivered. Supposed to be delivered by end of April and....
As of 2 weeks ago Triumph told me the first bikes were being shipped to the states the week of May 6.....crickets
 
It would be fairly easy to change the colour of the forks, if desired.


Glen
 
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