I took a 2013 Thruxton for a ride today. I really enjoyed the bike. Had great power and the handling was quite nice. I have not purchased a new bike since 1999 when I got a SV650 suzuki. What are all of your thoughts on the Thruxton?
I rode the Thruxton during one of Triumph's last demo tours; fun, but the rear sets and low bar's was too much for my neck after a 30 minute ride.
I still enjoy the looks of a Thruxy.
I then swapped over to an SE...no longer available, and really enjoyed the more upright seating, crisp handling with radials and mags and the sound of it being uncorked was music to my ears.
So, I sold off one of my toys and picked up a 2010SE. Installed a set of Dominator Touring/Torque slip-on's, DNA pods, air injection removal, 02 removal, a Triumph Twin Power tune, a wideband to monitor the action and she runs a heck a lot stronger and sounds 100% better. You're looking at going from low 50's rear wheel hp to mid 60's. If you want more, you can throw a set of 813 cams in her for the tune of low 70's in the rear wheel department. Low 70 rwhp is what my GS1100 puts down. If you still crave more there's plenty to do. However, this bike was not designed to compete with a liter bike that runs mid-10's.
I need to score a recent pic with the slip-on's and rear shocks, but here's Maggie right after I picked her up.
I've also added a set of Ohlins 36E (not pictured) to the rear and am determining if I want to go with cartridges or emulators in the front.
Wideband shot:
The whole performance aspect is too subjective. I can't speak for anyone else living where there may be no speed limits, but in IL, technically and legally speaking, 65 is the top speed. Now just because I happen to accidentally roll past the ton on the way home, on occasion, surely proves she has enough get up and go to keep any sane man happy. EVERYONE who I have let ride my Bonneville sings high praises on just how easy she is to ride, the great throttle response, the handling and overall, they are BLOWN away on how much fun it is to ride. Very friendly. I let my one friend ride her and he bought his own just a few months later. Sure his Honda was faster balls out, but it didn't pull much below 4G on the tacho, the Bonneville is strong from 2G on. You could roll along in 5th around 2G and just throttle into her and she's gone.
The faux carbs are great. It makes the bike look proper and those who wish to bite their thumb at SEFI, well that's their opinion. For those who want a plastic fantastic, they will go buy a plastic fantastic. For those who love to look at, talk about, have many spur of the moment conversations at gas station, eateries or any other place you take your Bonneville, about your Bonneville, then it is the bike for you. I had one guy patiently wait for me to finish filling her before he said hello. He made his son, come over and look at the bike and started talking to me about the Triumphs he had back in the day and how this is such a gorgeous bike. If you buy one, you best be prepared to talk about it.
PS, a regular Bonneville is cheaper on insurance...check first. You can easily add rear sets and other Thruxton farkles from take offs that are in excellent shape. Remember, this isn't scrounging for old GS parts, these things can still be purchased for a song seeing that there's plenty of take-off's available.
If you have some light fireroads around you, you may want to consider a Scrammie.
Triumph is the other motor company that offers a lifestyle; one year older than HD. I've struck up more conversations wearing some sort of Triumph schwag in the short term than wearing any other sort of branded stuff throughout my life. Somewhere, somehow, someone always has a Triumph story to share.
I've had guys out of no where be like my man in the Triumph shirt; right on. My wife would be like who was that and I would say apparantly a person who likes Triumph.
Also, don't be afraid to check out some used ones, unless you're itching for a new bike.
