My retro bike 2

robnobrakes · Post by **robnobrakes** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:55 am

I've been customising the Thruxton for that leaner stealth look.

Rear mudguard reduction.
New rear LED light.
Mini indicators.
Home made alloy flyscreen painted black.
Front mudguard painted black.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/r ... C02428.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/r ... C02430.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/r ... C02412.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/r ... C02413.jpg

Post by **sirch345** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:41 am

It's looking good Rob

What a difference those changes make, all right up my street

Chris.

gcs · Post by **gcs** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:49 am

robnobrakes wrote:
sirch345 wrote:I like that new bike of yours too Rob but as Max said the Speed Triple was also a nice bike, anything against the Speed Triple or did you just fancy a change

Chris.
The Speed Triple is an excellent bike, although its hard work above 100mph for southern wimps like me. I've recently bought the Firestorm as you know, which has similar performance without the wind drag issues the Trumpet had for me. I would not have dreamed of changing the Speed Triple before I bought the Firestorm though.

I just love the looks of the Thruxton and in my opinion, its one of the coolest looking bikes around. Its a hoot to ride, flicks from side to side very quickly (what wouldn't with a 130x18 rear tyre and 100x18 front tyre), and sounds like a proper motorbike should, with the race cans fitted. Its not sports bike fast (claimed 69bhp before the race cans were fitted) but I will be able to thrash it once its run in, without going at the silly (road) speeds I tend to do on the Firestorm. Planning overtakes will be more challenging due to the comparative lack of horse power, which may also be more satisfying.

I think I have just talked myself into the purchase of this bike.

The best bit (as far as my wife was concerned) is the Thruxton cost me Â£100 less, including the extras, than the trade in price I got for the Speed Triple.

Get this, comprehensive insurance for the Thruxton for an old git like me was quoted at Â£94.00/pa including breakdown/recovery and protected NCB. I have both bikes on the same policy though, total cost of which is Â£157.00/pa including breakdown/recovery and protected NCB on both bikes. This could be the only advantage of being in my 50's.

I am also able to ride any Triumph demonstrator (from Bonniville to Rocket 3) at my local dealer, anytime I want, as I organise my local dealer rides for customers wanting to go on group rides. Tomorrow, I will be taking the dealer's new and un-used 675 Daytona for 5 days to 'run it in'.

I also did the same for their 1st 675 demonstrator back in January, when it was the only 675 in Essex.

Its a tough job, but someones got to do it..

Would like to hear your views on the 675, nice machine in my view.
The thruxton also is a sweet looking ride.

iggy1966 · Post by **iggy1966** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:39 am

Looking Good Rob.

Do like the mudgaurd eliminator on the back, neatens it up.

Keep up the good work.

robnobrakes · Post by **robnobrakes** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:59 am

Chris.[/quote]
Would like to hear your views on the 675, nice machine in my view.
The thruxton also is a sweet looking ride.[/quote]

I have 'run in' two 675 Daytona's for my dealer. The 1st one was in January, before they were available in the show rooms. The 2nd one a couple of weeks ago.

The bike is brilliant, with torque everywhere (Jap 600 sports bikes are not in the same league). The triple engine sounds awesome and revs to 14,000 rpm, but the intake growl is even better. Excellent exhaust note as well, and quite noisey. I'm not sure how Triumph got the bike through the noise regs. Its very stable and turns easiliy (but not as quick steering than my Thruxton, believe it or not). The ride quality is plush, although the riding position is quite extreme (no more than the majority of the latest sports bikes though). The brakes are excellent. The gearbox quality is excellent. I had no trouble doing clutchless gear changes up and down the gearbox (first into second is not recommended though). The bike looks superb in the flesh, with plenty of neat engineering touches.

All is not perfect though. The underseat exhaust does make the seat hot at low town speeds and when stationary at traffic lights, although this was not noticable in the cold January weather. Other that that, all the hype typed about it in the press road tests is not hype, its all true. I would not buy a Jap 600 sports bike of any type, after riding the 675.

All triumph dealers have a 675 demonstrator, so you can have a go on one. I promise you will love it, assuming you are looking at buying in the sports 600 catagory. GO TRY ONE AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE BIKE.

I should make it clear that I am not employed by Triumph, I'm only an enthusiastic owner, and therfore have no vested interest in how well the 675 sells. My comments are my honest opinion of the bike, having ridden two examples for approximately 900 miles, in the middle of winter, and baking hot summer.

I hope my comments have been helpfull.

robnobrakes · Post by **robnobrakes** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:56 pm

Now with Predator pipes bought from British Customs in USA, replacing the Triumph race cans. Beautifully made and more aggressive styling:

Its back on the dyno now to check out the fuel/air ratio and rejetting if required. May have a few more horses on the way

Post by **sirch345** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 3:57 pm

That bike to me looks absolutely beautiful Rob, all due credit to you

Chris.

iggy1966 · Post by **iggy1966** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 9:05 am

Looks so Cool Rob,

All credit to you, I've started stripping the head off mine and have been talking to the guys at farnhams, also have the 904 kit lurking in the garage ready to be fitted.

robnobrakes · Post by **robnobrakes** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:38 pm

iggy1966 wrote:Looks so Cool Rob,

All credit to you, I've started stripping the head off mine and have been talking to the guys at farnhams, also have the 904 kit lurking in the garage ready to be fitted.

Yours should go well with the extra cubes

Jaglifter · Post by **Jaglifter** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:08 pm

Brilliant..
Cans look like the ones they used to put on the old (c. 1967 ish) Thruxton Boneville

BarryH · Post by **BarryH** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:55 pm

Max wrote:Triumph are making some interesting bikes these days.
Why ditch the speed triple its one of their best ?? the Thruxton is nice though,
I fancy one of these for a bit of fun
http://www.royal-enfield.com/images/clubman_500S.JPG

They're seriously slow in standard trim. The gearbox has a mind if its own and the handling is a bit wayward to say the least. BUT the good news is that Hitchcocks do some serious tuning gear for them for not a lot of money and more accessories than the credit card could deal with, yep I bought one!

http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/

robnobrakes · Post by **robnobrakes** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:38 pm

BarryH wrote: They're seriously slow in standard trim. The gearbox has a mind if its own and the handling is a bit wayward to say the least. BUT the good news is that Hitchcocks do some serious tuning gear for them for not a lot of money and more accessories than the credit card could deal with, yep I bought one!

http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/

I agree, there are plenty of mods out there for the Hinckley Twins. I wouldn't say they were seriously slow in stock trim (unless you are compairing it with the 1000cc Superbikes with more than 2 times the power, although extra power is always welcome.

The gearbox on my bike is superb, with clutchless gear changes up and down the box (not 1st!!) so easy. The gearchange is now ever better since 10% stronger springs were fitted after the last engine mods.

I improved the handling on my bike by fitting Icon rear suspension and reducing form spring preload by 1 ring. Job done, handling and ride transformed. No problems giving sports bike riders greaf on the twisties. I want to give the bike some stick around Brands Hatch. It could be interesting against the sports bike riders

BarryH · Post by **BarryH** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:28 pm

robnobrakes wrote:
BarryH wrote: They're seriously slow in standard trim. The gearbox has a mind if its own and the handling is a bit wayward to say the least. BUT the good news is that Hitchcocks do some serious tuning gear for them for not a lot of money and more accessories than the credit card could deal with, yep I bought one!

http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/
I agree, there are plenty of mods out there for the Hinckley Twins. I wouldn't say they were seriously slow in stock trim (unless you are compairing it with the 1000cc Superbikes with more than 2 times the power, although extra power is always welcome.

The gearbox on my bike is superb, with clutchless gear changes up and down the box (not 1st!!) so easy. The gearchange is now ever better since 10% stronger springs were fitted after the last engine mods.

I improved the handling on my bike by fitting Icon rear suspension and reducing form spring preload by 1 ring. Job done, handling and ride transformed. No problems giving sports bike riders greaf on the twisties. I want to give the bike some stick around Brands Hatch. It could be interesting against the sports bike riders

Crossed wires me thinks. I was commenting on the Enfield in the link that max posted up, not the Thruxton........

robnobrakes · Post by **robnobrakes** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:25 pm

BarryH wrote: Crossed wires me thinks. I was commenting on the Enfield in the link that max posted up, not the Thruxton........

Sorry about that. I'll go back into the darkened room and have a lay down

BarryH · Post by **BarryH** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:52 pm

Dunno if they still do it, but Hyde do/did a few tuning bits for the Hinckley "classics". A guy I know has the Bonnie with the kit fitted and its keeps up with modern sports bikes while out playing......sounds awesome too...........!

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My retro bike 2

Customising