Time for a change

Hi All

Want to buy a new bike, the first time I seen a new Triumph Truxston when they first came out, I wanted one, they look so good and now is the time to get one, I went to my local dealer last week, got the guts on the price and what deal they can do for me, I want the high perfomance kit and rempped before I buy and the dealer has aggreed to the perfomance kit and fitting at no cost to me, so the next step is to take the demo for a test ride.
The salesman that took me on the test ride also owns a Norton Commando so we hit it off straight away, he took me throught some nice back streets with lots of corners and roundabouts then out onto the motorway, after about 15 kms we stopped to have a chat on the side of the road and he asked me what I thought about the Truxston, I was so impressed with the smoothness, the handling and the performance (with stock pipes) I throught my Norton was a smooth bike to ride, how wrong I was, after the chat on the side of the road we headed back to the shop.

Now here is the delimer I am in, just under 2 years ago my Norton spat me over the handle bars and I fractured my left arm, after riding the Truxston I got back to the shop and because the handle bars on the Truxston are low my weight of my arms on the handle bars, I had a bad pain in my left arm from this position, sinse I fractured my left arm I haven't been able to straighten it fully like my right arm, so what do I do, buy the Truxston that I like the looks of and had wanted one sinse I frist seen them and hope that my left arm gets use to it or do I decide to buy a Bonnaville instead, they have the same motor but the Truxston has 2 hp more, but there will be no strain on my left arm, I can ride my Norton on long runs without any problems, I haven't put a deposit on the Triumph yet, they haven't got the colour (green with gold paint) I want in stock and need to order it after the new year, so what does others think I should do, this will be my workhorse bike for everyday riding so I have to make the right desistion as to go, buy the bike I like or buy the bike that will be more practial.

Ashley

Short term get the one that doesn't hurt you on just a test ride. In the long run regrow your neck then ride what ya want. May be some bars and seat swtiching if that possible

" The salesman that took me on the test ride also owns a Norton Commando " see how that goes .

Get the Bonneville. If the Thruxton is uncomfortable now, it may feel better with use, but likely will get worse.

You can customize a Bonneville however you want through places like British Customs and NewBonneville. If you get the Thruxton, you'll probably have to change the control cables to fit different bars. The power difference between the Bonnie and Thruxton is due to the exhaust, and is only 1HP for the 2013 models. Putting and Arrow system on a Bonneville and getting a new map for the ECU will be good for at least 5HP, though mileage will drop below 40mpg.

BC has been making stuff for these Triumphs for a while now, and much of their product line is available from many Triumph dealers.
Here's just one example:
http://www.british-customs.com/

Triumph uses the same basic engine for their classic series and their smaller cruisers. The Scrambler uses an offset crank, and the Speedmaster and America are mapped for more lowdown torque and lower stress cruising, but they're all 865cc vertical twins. There have been enough built now that several companies are making various go-fast parts for them.

I know a guy with a Speed Triple who made several maps for the Tune boy (an aftermarket ECU add-on from Australia). He has dynoed Speed Triples at over 130 HP at the rear wheel with only a change of air filter, muffler and map. Stock bikes are listed at around 130 at the crank, and most test to about 112 at the rear wheel. Similar results have been made with the 865 twin.

im delighted with my bonnie. threw on the BC exhaust, ported intakes, rejeted carbs, hot coil/wires. dyno showed 63.08hp 47.15 ft/lbs. Im extremely happy with it. Ive got pain from a wreck a few years back. a ride on something that hurts is alright now and again, but its not fun to ride something regularly that causes pain. that gets old real quick

+1 (the bonnie is a better all around bike)

BillT said:

Get the Bonneville. If the Thruxton is uncomfortable now, it may feel better with use, but likely will get worse.

Click to expand...

Taking the Bonny out for a test ride tomorrow, but I like the looks of the Truxston but the owner of the shop said they will change the bars, just got to decide weather I go with flat bars or eruo bars this will be good on my left arm as I have eruo bars on my Norton and have no problems with them at all, the Bonny and Truxston are not much differance in seating position and the foot pegs are back further on the Truxston which I found very comfortable, so there are easy fixs that can be done on the Truxston, both bikes are the same price on the road, now just got to win the wife over on the idea :roll:

Ashley

I had an 04 thruxton for a year after trading my Ducati 900SS ie on it, I found the riding position waaay better than the Ducati. I have a dodgy lower back and slighly forward suits me better than upright...but not too far.
Mine had clipons but I gather the later ones have 'clubmans' bars on them?
I did the Cali superbike school and some track days on my Thruxton....turned a few heads....
There is no comparrison with the Commando, the Triumph is modern bike ( apart from the suspension) dressed up as a 60's bike.


I too like the Thruxton over the Bonnie.....but from a purely practical perspective the Bonnie is probably going to be a better all rounder.
Dunno about AU but I found mine hard to sell and I did not want to get back on the 'trade in' merrygoround.
Now riding a 30 year old BMW R65 every day.
Good luck with your purchase.

Sold my boat yesturday and now have just over half the money to buy the Truxton, going to order it today with the hi performance kit, ero bars, rear rack, have decide to go for the bike I like, I have owned 2 Triumphs before a 81 Harris built 650 Thunderbird and a 79 Bonnie, the Thunderbird was a smoother ride than the Bonnie and have been sorry to this day from selling the Thunderbird

Ashley

Ahh the second happiest day of a boat owner, the day you sell it. :lol:

Ramp rage, fishing environmental closures, fuel costs, etc.
When I sold my boat was defiantly a good day.

My wife bought a new 790 cc bonny the second year they came out.
Good bike, it did everything well but nothing outstanding. She sold it and I miss it but she doesn't.
Good luck with your new Thruxton, I hope you enjoy it.

Graeme

Ashley, I went for a Triumph as well, a used Daytona 955. Their engines have gained a reputation as being near indestructable, even the high performance stuff like the Daytona. And Triumph seems to build bikes made to fit larger framed people, the Japanese don't, in sport bikes at least.
The main problem I have with the Triumph is that it makes the old bikes seem old. Loads of power (138 on dyno with Massive Midrange remap and race exhaust) smooth, great brakes and suspension plus that Triple howl.

How difficult is it to change the bars on the Thruxton?

Glen

Glen, I had a T595. Excellent bike and very well built, only problem was it was way too hot in summer. (Brisbane) Another one I wish I still had.



We have 6 months when it's hot and humid and the side frame rails got very hot, nice in the winter though.
And there was the issue of keeping my license, listening to the triple howl. So it had to go,,,,,, :cry:

graeme

Ahh, the voluptuous curves of the t595, nothing like it. The yellow is the best colour too.
I prefer the look of the t595 over the later bike, but read about all the improvements that came in 02 and compromised.
Have seriously thought about finding a cheap 02- 06 bike with damaged fairings, then fitting t595 body parts to it, best of both worlds.


Glen

The shop is changing the bars before I get it, is going to be all set up before I pick it up just got to go and order it now, still trying to win the wife over, but the money I get from my toys is for my toys and have done so long before we were married, but she don't like it when I remind her of that :roll:
I plan on early retirment at the end of this year if things go well so this will be the last bike I will buy, I am thinking of selling my CRF450X sinse fracturing my left arm I don't think it will handle riding it like I use to

Ashley

Well I put the deposit down, they had a idea that I would and have already ordered the Truxton, it has to be shipped up from Melboune to Brisbane, will be here Friday and Monday they will put it together from the crate with the high perforance mufflers, remapped, gaitors on the fork legs, rack on the back and diffrent handle bars, will decide what bars will go on it when it arrives (flat bars or Ero bars) so with any luck I will get it Tuesday with still as week and half left on my holidays for running in time.

Ashley

Well picked up the new Thruxton today, pissing down rain and will be for the next few days :evil: and back to work next week :cry:

Ashley

Hello Ashley, keeping it dry and tied down so it doesn't float away or blow away?
Not sure how the weather mob reckon this is an "EX" cyclone?

Graeme

Hi Graeme

Yes very good timing with the new Thruxton, I live on top of a hill at Brighton so it won't wash away have only 10 ks on it and we have had some pretty heavy rain in the last few days, the bike was uncrated friday so they didn't get time to put the high perfomace pipes on or the other things I wanted but I still pick the bike up they are going to do the pipes at the frist service at 1,000 ks which won't take long to clock up when this weather clears up with any luck will be today, so will let you know about our ride day soon, Pommy John is intrested but has to make sure he is free which will probly be a Sunday ride.

Ashley

Probably best to wait a couple of weeks as the hills roads will be stuffed after thi weather?
Graeme