Thruxton RS - First impression

I picked up my new 2023 Thruxton RS last week and was able to ride it yesterday on the local Norton run. I rode the freeway for about 30 miles and met the group. Then we rode through the local mountains. It was still a bit cold and there was sand / gravel on the roads. I am supposed to not go above 4K RPM during the running in process. At 4k it does just over 70 MPH, so its bearable. I rode it in ROAD MODE all day. It also has RAIN & Sport MODE.

Overall, very impressed. I wish I could have owned this bike when I was 18 yrs old. I could not go crazy on it due to the road conditions. I rode it 160+ miles.

Pros:
- It handles very well.
- Stops extremely well.
- Its fast with lots of torque.
- I like how it looks.
- Sounds pretty good (a bit quiet).
- My back was not screwed up as bad as I thought it would be (160 miles is probably enough for one day).

Cons:
- For an old man like me the bars are a bit too low. My hands and wrist hurt after riding all morning. I will probably have to raise the bars up somehow.
- I might remove the exhaust and put one on without the catalytic converter. It does sound good, I like making a lot of noise though.
- There is nowhere to attach my phone holder. This is very important for me as I am continually getting lost.

I don't have much to compare it to as I have not owned many modern bikes. It reminds me of riding a Norton Commando (on steroids). Cant wait to get back out on it!

Congrats on the new bike! Woodcraft or Rox for the risers and Ram for the phone mount.

Longtimegone said:

Congrats on the new bike! Woodcraft or Rox for the risers and Ram for the phone mount.

Click to expand...

Thank you.
The dealer is getting me a phone mount, as part of the deal, so not sure what I will end up with.

There are a lot of accessories for these bikes I see. Down the road a bit, I think I will remove the cat and fit an exhaust that breathes and sounds better. I think I will need to remap it? Do you know what I must do to remap for the new exhaust? Or do I need to take it in to the service department?

Jerry

Jerry Doe said:

I picked up my new 2023 Thruxton RS last week and was able to ride it yesterday on the local Norton run. I rode the freeway for about 30 miles and met the group. Then we rode through the local mountains. It was still a bit cold and there was sand / gravel on the roads. I am supposed to not go above 4K RPM during the running in process. At 4k it does just over 70 MPH, so its bearable. I rode it in ROAD MODE all day. It also has RAIN & Sport MODE.

Overall, very impressed. I wish I could have owned this bike when I was 18 yrs old. I could not go crazy on it due to the road conditions. I rode it 160+ miles.

Pros:
- It handles very well.
- Stops extremely well.
- Its fast with lots of torque.
- I like how it looks.
- Sounds pretty good (a bit quiet).
- My back was not screwed up as bad as I thought it would be (160 miles is probably enough for one day).

Cons:
- For an old man like me the bars are a bit too low. My hands and wrist hurt after riding all morning. I will probably have to raise the bars up somehow.
- I might remove the exhaust and put one on without the catalytic converter. It does sound good, I like making a lot of noise though.
- There is nowhere to attach my phone holder. This is very important for me as I am continually getting lost.

I don't have much to compare it to as I have not owned many modern bikes. It reminds me of riding a Norton Commando (on steroids). Cant wait to get back out on it!

View attachment 105849

Click to expand...

Thanks Jerry. I like that colour scheme. For navigation, a Beeline is the answer for crowded bars. I think it's even an official Triumph accessory.

cliffa said:

Thanks Jerry. I like that colour scheme. For navigation, a Beeline is the answer for crowded bars. I think it's even an official Triumph accessory.

Motorcycle sat nav

Motorcycle sat nav, made simple. Beeline Moto’s interface guides you in the clearest manner possible with one big arrow pointing in the direction

beeline.co

Click to expand...

Hey Cliff, yes, I was just reading about the Beeline. I am directionally challenged. Looks like a pretty cool device. I need one!

Going to have to start saving. I do have a birthday coming up, so maybe the misses can get me one lol

Beeline is OK, but..... you dont get an 'overview' of where its guiding you. So planning your route using the phone app is important, and can be a bit fiddly. It really needs a 'computer' app for off line route planning. Other criticism is that the director arrow doesnt 'swing' until you are quite close to the turn it wants you to take, it does give an indication of distance to a turning, but doesnt point to the turning until youre very close to it. I think its roots are as a bicycling gadget where travelling speeds are a bit slower.

Another irritation is that it isnt (yet) possible to share / send routes and waypoints with a riding friend, which would be a useful option if youre out for a days riding.

metalflake green is a cool colour. I could imagine a Commando with a silver frame and metalflake green tank etc would be very pretty.

daveforty said:

Beeline is OK, but..... you dont get an 'overview' of where its guiding you. So planning your route using the phone app is important, and can be a bit fiddly. It really needs a 'computer' app for off line route planning. Other criticism is that the director arrow doesnt 'swing' until you are quite close to the turn it wants you to take, it does give an indication of distance to a turning, but doesnt point to the turning until youre very close to it. I think its roots are as a bicycling gadget where travelling speeds are a bit slower.

Another irritation is that it isnt (yet) possible to share / send routes and waypoints with a riding friend, which would be a useful option if youre out for a days riding.

metalflake green is a cool colour. I could imagine a Commando with a silver frame and metalflake green tank etc would be very pretty.

Click to expand...

Is there a better alternative?

Garmin Zumo motorcycle specific sat navs? but suitably expensive.... never tried one.

I have kludged up a mount for an old Garmin Nuvi (car sat nav), it works OK (so long as it doesnt rain). A plastic handlebar mount intended for bicycle use, and some Ty raps as safety straps.

Jerry Doe said:

<snip> I think I will need to remap it? Do you know what I must do to remap for the new exhaust? Or do I need to take it in to the service department?

Click to expand...

I think you'll need to have your ECU reflashed, and that will likely void your warranty; I doubt the service department would even be willing to do it. The alternatives are getting your ECU reflashed by a third party company like Flashtune, or using a piggyback module like Dyno Jet's Power Commander.

Longtimegone said:

I think you'll need to have your ECU reflashed, and that will likely void your warranty; I doubt the service department would even be willing to do it. The alternatives are getting your ECU reflashed by a third party company like Flashtune, or using a piggyback module like Dyno Jet's Power Commander.

Click to expand...

I was just reading in a FB group that the ECU resets itself automatically, which I find odd. I am not changing the exhaust for quite a long time, if I do. It sounds pretty good. If I want to make noise I can take a Norton out.

Unsure of the latest water-cooled Triumphs, but the 1200 cc Bonneville WC bike has a cross-over routing for where the catalytic converter lives. It sits under the front of engine, cleverly hidden from view from the sides by a faux exhaust header cover. There is a de-cat'd version of that cross over "box" from places like TechBikeParts and a few others. Removal give a more louder setup plus free-er flowing...before changing the actual silencers. No idea if this applies to the Thruxtons...

More detail could be found on TriumphRAT forums, water cooled sub sections....

For sat nav, if you can sort a phone mount, then I highly recommend TomTom Go app on android. Does not require a live internet link as all maps are on-board your phone. I used this on my Vancouver to Ottawa excursion on my Bonneville back in 2019.

On my 2016 Thruxton I installed a Meerkat x-pipe and Peter at Meerkat opened up my stock mufflers and installed his baffles designed the same as the old Conti mufflers of old, Meerkat is the best for quality workmanship as well performance but he is only 100 miles from me.
The ECU will adapt to the new set up after the first ride of 30 minute ride and a restart or it can adapt with it idling for 20 minutes without touching the throttle but it will do it after the first ride.
You can also buy tunes for the set up, but with the 2023 models I think they have made changes and the ECU is locked with the Euro5 models but all the WC models where like that and was broken into and unlocked but give it time they will work on it on the new models.
The x-pipe and open mufflers made a big change to my Thruxton and they also run cooler as that big cat sits right under the motor, the x-pipe makes them run so much cooler, my bike is still quiet but get into it makes a great sound and performs so well.
The 270 swing cranks the motors are still quiet even with performance mufflers.

I still use a TomTom GPS . That is the older V2 version in the photo. I purchased a new Rider 550 awhile ago, really like it. A phone is great until you get into the mountains and the cell signal disappears.
The new one automatically locates gas stations along your route. Gas station icon are on a little vertical section at the side. The icons float down as you get closer to them. The distance to the gas station is shown on the icon and , of course, changes as you ride toward it. Handy!
Also great for finding restaurants, hotels, just about anything.
Phones will do most of this stuff but my Phone isn't waterproof, and there is the big " won't work in the mountains" problem. The other thing is that the TomTom is talking to me via Bluetooth. When I get into heavy city traffic I don't like to look at a screen, it's distracting. You can just follow the spoken directions coming to your ear and it works perfectly. The volume automatically rises as speed rises. Even the old V2 did that back in 07, which I thought was pretty cool!

I'm not familiar with the Beeline. Sounds like a basic GPS?

Glen

A review of the TomTom 550 Rider.

worntorn said:

I still use a TomTom GPS . That is the older V2 version in the photo. I purchased a new Rider 550 awhile ago, really like it. A phone is great until you get into the mountains and the cell signal disappears.
The new one automatically locates gas stations along your route. Gas station icon are on a little vertical section at the side. The icons float down as you get closer to them. The distance to the gas station is shown on the icon and , of course, changes as you ride toward it. Handy!
Also great for finding restaurants, hotels, just about anything.
Phones will do most of this stuff but my Phone isn't waterproof, and there is the big " won't work in the mountains" problem. The other thing is that the TomTom is talking to me via Bluetooth. When I get into heavy city traffic I don't like to look at a screen, it's distracting. You can just follow the spoken directions coming to your ear and it works perfectly. The volume automatically rises as speed rises. Even the old V2 did that back in 07, which I thought was pretty cool!

I'm not familiar with the Beeline. Sounds like a basic GPS?

GlenView attachment 105899View attachment 105899

Click to expand...

Thanks Glen. I was looking at the clipons and did not see where to mount anything,

There's not much space there. The TomTom mount I have uses a u bolt with rubber sheathing so it is very narrow, just fits.
Re the sore wrists. I had to get into the habit of using my stomach muscles to take weight off the wrists when riding in traffic or at any time below 60 mph or so. From 60 up it seems like there is enough wind pressure/uplift on the chest to keep the weight light on the wrists.
The beauty of using your stomach muscles to hold weight off the wrists is that after awhile you will look like a 25 year old sportbike rider

Jerry Doe said:

Thanks Glen. I was looking at the clipons and did not see where to mount anything,

Click to expand...

If you check out the Ram Mount web site they do lots of clever fittings designed to provide a ‘ball’ for such attachments.

Eg they do clamps that replace the rear half of the clutch lever clamp, lids for master cyl reservoirs, etc.

Well worth checking out.

Jerry,

A few examples of different mounts I use for my Garmin XT


Two types of Ram ball mounts. One is a clamp type I used for a while, then I went to the ball on the handle bar clamp





This ball mount goes in the mirror mounting point

This bracket came from Poland, mounts to the windshield attachment points.


Ball mount with arm attached


Pete

Oh, BTW that's a beautiful bike that followed you home

worntorn said:

I still use a TomTom GPS . That is the older V2 version in the photo. I purchased a new Rider 550 awhile ago, really like it. A phone is great until you get into the mountains and the cell signal disappears.
The new one automatically locates gas stations along your route. Gas station icon are on a little vertical section at the side. The icons float down as you get closer to them. The distance to the gas station is shown on the icon and , of course, changes as you ride toward it. Handy!
Also great for finding restaurants, hotels, just about anything.
Phones will do most of this stuff but my Phone isn't waterproof, and there is the big " won't work in the mountains" problem. The other thing is that the TomTom is talking to me via Bluetooth. When I get into heavy city traffic I don't like to look at a screen, it's distracting. You can just follow the spoken directions coming to your ear and it works perfectly. The volume automatically rises as speed rises. Even the old V2 did that back in 07, which I thought was pretty cool!

I'm not familiar with the Beeline. Sounds like a basic GPS?

GlenView attachment 105899View attachment 105899

Click to expand...

TomTom Go navigation app on my phone does not require live cell network as all maps/datapoints are internally stored.
Have not used a bluetooth audio while riding, that feature sounds good though. I do use the app in the car via bluetooth and get the voice directions, red light camera warnings, over speed warnings etc. I also like how it can give traffic disruption warnings IF it has live cell network access, even displays how long it takes to pass through the slow down.

On my 10 day ride to/from Ottawa, I had a baggy handy to place over phone, rubber band to secure, if rain was a threat. Never had an issue though as I usually needed to stop and put on my rain gear at first threat, so usually would put phone away in a pocket until I actually needed a direction update.

Please forgive the slight hijack here, but whilst we’re talking about sat navs…

Many modern cars, and now bikes, have Apple Car Play.

When using Apple Car Play, will this lose signal just like your phone does when it’s got no reception ?

And, is it using your phone contracts data ?