I have owned my Triumph Thunderbird for almost one year now. I was 55 years of age when my Thunderbird was first purchased. I looked at Harley-Davidson and Victory and rode many of their stated upmarket models first. I went to the Triumph dealer here in Brisbane Queensland, the largest...
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I have owned my Triumph Thunderbird for almost one year now. I was 55 years of age when my Thunderbird was first purchased. I looked at Harley-Davidson and Victory and rode many of their stated upmarket models first. I went to the Triumph dealer here in Brisbane Queensland, the largest motorcycle network on the eastern seaboard of Australia, and I was sold on Thunderbird. The bike is a work of art with real quality finish. They were certainly thinking of me when they designed it. That motor is spectacular with the 270 degree split crank and chrome everywhere. We oldies just love getting out the Goddards Glow and polish rages just to run our fingers over our new toys. She sounds like a muted pussy cat with the original exhaust pipes. The short and open Triumph accessory pipes turn her into a beast. It sounds wonderful on acceleration, and sounds just as good on deceleration with those explosions in the cat collector box catalytic converter. With the open pipes the dealer fitted the chip and the air cleaner conversion. This option package is the best value for money. Initially, the front brakes were rather wooden but as they bedded in, bite and feel arrived, and now the brakes are another outstanding item on the Thunderbird. This bike accelerates well and brakes well, and the handling is very precise because the geometry is just right. Remember these Triumph people have sorted this package out over many long years in its little brothers Speedmaster and America. So if you have a Speedmaster or an America, you are just now ready to upgrade to Big is Better. And how much better can it get. Actually, the center of gravity feels even lower in the Thunderbird. How predictable and manuverable can a bike be? It belies its true weight because that center of gravity is just right. Add the Touring gel seat for the rider and the same for the pillion and you have a comfort package to go. But because of the sheer torque of this baby, you will need the detachable sissy bar option when going two up, because your lady will complain that she feels the torque on hard acceleration forcing her off the pillion seat. And she was right. Torque is something this bike has in spades full. There is no doubt that the person who designed this bike knew where to place the pencil lines. The fuel tank has beautiful large broad shoulders which lead back to the seat. But it is the sweeping line of the underside of the fuel tank that lets you know that someone knew how to add sex appeal to the package. My Thunderbird is the silver with liquorice black stripe on the front guard, tank and back guard. And as usual Brian, who only has one task on the Triumph production line, a British artisan with his Fitch has carefully and perfectly painted the pinstripes that break between the silver and the liquorice. I saw that master stroke on my Speedmaster and now I see it on my Thunderbird. And only the British do it by hand like when God was designing the human race. We call it handmade. If you want a bike that makes a statement about you and all you ever wanted to be, then you should go out and purchase a Thunderbird. When the missus saw me first riding my Thunderbird, she said that bike suits you perfectly. I think she might have been referring to the Big Man on the Big Bike, or was that the Broad Big Man on the Broad Big Bike. This bike is perfect. Perfection means that you have to look long and hard to find something to complain about and I did and I can. All it needs is rear shocks with adjustable rebound. In Australia, the roads are made out of old corrugated iron and those roads will find any imperfection in suspension if it exists. I fixed it on the Speedmaster with the adjustable Ikons shocks, and it is fixed on the Thunderbird the very same way. So, now at a very reasonable price Thunderbird is the pick of the bunch. Is there any other thing that I need to mention about my new Thunderbird? Yes, the summer screen allows you to cover large distances protected from the wind. I recommend that you purchase that one, too, and then you have one of the best cruiser bikes on the market. Might I say many thousands of dollars less than the opposition and from where I stand, sit, ride, much better finished and better value for money. Go and buy one now. Kind regards from Australia.
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