New bike, very impressed

[MarkCR750]

I’m so impressed with my Triumph Thruxton 1200 I thought I’d let others know about the bike, sort of  “spread the word”.
 I was looking around for a pre unit T120, I’d always wanted one, then I took a friends bike for a test ride, they say never meet your heroes and sadly on this occasion it applies, at least it did for me, pulling away it felt gutless, the brakes were very poor, the forks felt flexy, my friends bike certainly looks good but dynamically it felt very challenged, I guess what you’d expect really for an old bike with an even older design!, so rose tinted spectacles well and truly smashed I decided to look at a modern T120.
I test rode one at a Triumph dealership and it was good, very good!, lovely smooth engine with tons of torque, from what I’d seen on paper I thought it would feel like a barge, but absolutely not, it’s actually quite a rapid bike and handles very well, a little slow to turn in but not obtrusively so, the moment you set off the weight vanishes, great bike!
So I joined the Triumph Forum to gen up and saw a 1200 Thruxton in the bikes for sale thread that was cheap!, well if the Bonneville is good the Thruxton will be even better yes?, lighter crank, more power, smaller front wheel, so off in the van to Maidstone to pick it up, just as the owner described “as new” with 2,900 miles, I didn’t test ride it I just put it in the van for the long drive back to Derby, luckily the first ride showed that it was indeed better (for me) than the Bonneville, quicker revving, more than adequate power, quicker turn in, I’ve never taken to a bike as quickly as I have this one, honestly take one out for a test ride (or a bonnie), I’m pretty sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
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[cooleronthecoast]

Very nice.  I have one of the earlier 900's

[mike the bike]

That's tidy.   I've always liked the Hinckley Triumphs and many even get one some day, depending on the job situation.  The thing that puts me off is, it may be too heavy for me.  Not to ride but to manoeuvre.   I had a K75 a few years ago and that aggravated my back injury a lot more that I owned up to.

[MarkCR750]

I can understand your thinking that Mike, at 203kg dry it sounds like a heavyweight, however the weight is low slung, mine feels effortless to push around, that said I haven’t tried to push it on an incline!, as always the test ride is king (or maybe a test push in this case

[mike the bike]

With the K75, it smoked like a 2 stroke, especially on start up.  Made worse by the oil sneaking past the rings. It was always a lot worse after it was on the side stand so i had to haul the bugger onto its centre stand, which didn't do my back any good.

[philward]

Nice bike Mark - always liked them. Haven't heard from you on the forum for a while!

[MarkCR750]

Hi Phil, I still dip in and have a look every now and then, I’ve still got the CR but rarely use it now, might sell this year, probably won’t though:), hope yours is still going strong.

[philward]

Hi Phil, I still dip in and have a look every now and then, I’ve still got the CR but rarely use it now, might sell this year, probably won’t though:), hope yours is still going strong.

Same as you Mark, don't use it much as alternate between 750k2 and ZZR. I'm just finishing off my 500k2 and will then concentrate on converting CR to electric start - no starter gear on now due to narrow race alternator - Andy at Good Bits has designed a mod to allow refitting of starter gear. (Need to mod or relocate battery, etc). Enjoy the Thruxton!

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

[taysidedragon]

Good choice Mark. 👍