Triumph Thunderbird Revisited

We got to play with one recently, hitting the mountains with same a little before the snow season closed off some of the more tasty roads.

Something which distinguished the T-bird on introduction was just how quick and nimble it was, despite the cruiser/classic tags that were hanging off it. Does the same hold true today? Let's have a look, shall we?

Wot's this then?
Triumph's Trophy tourer - now overdue for replacement - is the only other series left in the Hinckley range that shares the old T300 series engines, while everything else has moved on to either the injected triples, or the more recent carbureted twins. So the T-Bird's basic powerplant (minus some of the engine casings) dates back to around 1991, and in this guise runs the 70 horsepower tune. Peak power kicks in at 8000rpm, while the peak torque figure of 70Nm happens at just 4000rpm.

Transmission is a six-speeder with wet clutch and chain final drive, all riding on wire-spoked wheels.

Hauling up the 220kg package is a single disc at both ends. You get more stoppers (and more power) if you opt for the cafŽ-racer influenced Thunderbird Sport.

Fuel capacity is 15lt, which means long tours in remote places might take a little planning, but otherwise you can manage.

Wot's it like?
The specs read like it should have a bit of life to it, but really don't tell the whole story. Though 70 horses isn't tyre wrenching stuff, it's more than adequate and the broad spread of power means your gear-shifting is kept to a minimum.

Braking is quite good, while suspension is far better than what you'd encounter on most other cruisers. The T-Bird is working with limited travel on the rear (in part to keep the seat height down), but copes pretty well so long as the road isn't outrageously rough.

Steering is very neutral. So once you add the easy steering to good suspension, ample grip, low seat, wide handlebars and very respectable cornering clearance, you actually have a confidence-inspiring weapon on your hands. You won't nail the Daytonas of FireBlades, but a well-ridden Thunderbird will give them a hell of a fright on a tight road. Top speed, in case you were wondering, is a shade over 200.

Finish is generally very good, with the highlight being the portcullis tank badge that harks back to the good old Meriden days.

What's not to like? Really the fuel range is the only potential archilles heel - though it's easy enough to plan for on a long trip. There's lots of factory accessories on offer, and the bike has been around long enough now for there to be a pretty good tuning knowledge out there.

What we like most about the T-Bird is it's living proof that the words "cruiser" and "slow" do not have to be in the same sentence.

Price is $15,690 (plus ORC).