Fans of old bike models, for whom fuel costs and other transport details do not matter, are still delighted with several modifications of the Triumph Thruxton motorcycle. It has turned into a real English classic, because the stock Café Racer got its ironic name in the distant 60s of the last century due to the predilection of young racers for speed but short distances.
Mood setter
The Thruxton is a fantastic weekend toy, the best rideable alternative to a Harley, the motorcycle humanist who is at odds with the numbers and charts that reflect the high utility of this device.
The Triumph Thruxton is, let's face it, a bike that doesn't make journalists' hearts skip a beat, because they prefer to ride super-fast plastics or cruisers with unhealthy engine sizes. The Triumph Thruxton is a retro style motorcycle, so it automatically wins the sympathy of the ardent "old school" supporters who remember the times when no one took fuel consumption or road safety to heart.
We are, naturally, talking about motorcycles of the forgotten Cafe Racer class. Because everyone will agree with the statement that Thruxton is their descendant. My approach when receiving the motorcycle was similar. I was sure that when I parked it somewhere in the city, the only people who would pay attention to it would be melancholy-eyed grandparents and fanatics in Triumph shirts. However, how wrong I was!
Rock and roll and Triumph Thruxton
Cool racers 50 years ago loved to race Triumph to dynamic music. The motorcycle was easy for them because it was easy to control (without electronic components), moved very quickly, was reliable and unpretentious in maintenance. Traditions never die. Standard factory equipment will be in demand by future bikers in 10-15 years.
The Triumph model earned its second name by winning the 1969 Thruxton 500 endurance race. Motorcycles with the appearance of cafe racers, and their pilots took the entire pedestal!
Toy
The moment you pay a Triumph motorcycle dealer for a Thruxton model, you can be sure of one thing - you've bought one hell of a beautiful motorcycle. Basically, it's a Bonneville with low handlebars and a padded rear seat, and the Bonneville is one of the sexiest motorcycles of all time. And the most attractive and beautiful detail in it is the motor.
This inline two-cylinder engine is simply seductive! Muscular, dense, with vertical cylinders. Take a look at the head. You're right, it's practically a Knucklehead from Harley-Davidson. Plus, its huge cooling fins, scorched manifolds and massive lids give the impression that they were made by the ancient Greek blacksmith god Hephaestus. Thruxton is full of elements that we expect to find in it, or simply demand from a retro Cafe Racer. Spoke wheels, cut-off tail, mirrors at the ends of the steering wheel, long, thin exhaust pipes. But not everything is so smooth, in this barrel of honey there is also a spoonful of honey: an ugly protruding rear wing with lighting equipment hanging on it. It justifies the fact that you pay attention to him only when looking strictly in profile. Plus, I suspect that if it were removed and the license plate was placed “inside”, behind the shock absorbers, it would be even worse. Shocking fact - everyone loves Thruxton. Everyone stops near him, from motorcyclists riding “plastics” to sales representatives without ties and children with ADHD syndrome, that is, suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There is something unusual about him.
Upgraded Thruxton 1200
The adrenaline rush for single owners of this 206kg production model was fueled by Triumph's cutting-edge technology and balance of power and style. Manufacturers equipped the motorcycle with a modern chassis and an 8-valve engine (with a displacement of 1200 cm2). It was these details that determined its excellent speed qualities.
Single-seat stock model configuration
- Electronic throttle grip.
- The longitudinal distance between the axles of the front and rear wheels is 1.415 m.
- Stability control system.
- The maximum moment of force was 112 N*m.
- The power of the 2-cylinder engine reached 97 l/s (which could operate in three modes). The cylinder diameter was 97.6 mm and the piston stroke was 80 mm.
- Slipper clutch.
- The motorcycle had a lightweight 17-inch aluminum front wheel.
- Equipped with LED exterior lights and brake lights.
- Clip-ons and immobilizer.
- Power supply with USB connector and switchable ABS.
- Adjustable suspension.
- Filler neck on an exclusive gasoline tank.
- Mirrors and suspension appeared at the rear.
Triumph Thruxton 1200 R
Optimized design at the expense of comfort became a thing of the past with the introduction of the Thruxton R. The excellent dynamic characteristics of the previous motorcycle were complemented by the sporty and stylish features of the stock Café Racer. Design engineers managed to bring together perfect balance, sophistication and modern technology. Experts have not forgotten that the devil is in the details, so they gave the motorcycle a special touch:
- Monza style fuel cap.
- Steel tubular frame.
- The pad on the back of the saddle is in the same color scheme as the motorcycle.
- A pair of floating discs and a brake cylinder from Bremo.
- Monoblock radial brakes.
- Polished top crossbar.
- Aluminum strip running down the center of the gas tank.
- Rear swingarm made of aluminum (without painting).
- Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa tires.
The cost of a motorcycle depends on its modification and vehicle, starting from 294,000 rubles and above. Specialized trading platforms on the RuNet are open 24/7 for Triumph fans, because the dream should always become a reality.
Cafe Racing
The driving position is reminiscent of a sports touring motorcycle. The footpegs are set back and placed quite high, the handlebars are shaped like an "M" and the handlebars force the rider to bend their spine significantly. However, the short fuel tank and long seat make it possible to take a slightly more comfortable position. This Triumph can be driven on the highway, but that's like saying you can even eat a bat. It is possible, but it is not done unless necessary. The lack of any wind protection and the low, narrow handlebar become dangerous after 160 km/h. Despite the fact that the Thruxton is a fairly narrow and slender motorcycle, getting through traffic jams on it is a problematic issue. And all because of the mirrors mounted on the ends of the steering wheel. Visibility is excellent, but they are at the same height as the mirrors on 90% of cars. But management requires habit. The whole motorcycle is short (wheelbase 1490 mm), but it rolls on, let's say, extraordinary wheels. Front – 18 inches + 100 mm wide tire; rear – 17 inches + 130 mm wide tire. The driver is shifted quite far forward, plus the sharp angle of the steering column gives the impression that the front wheel is already under his head. When you finally get used to this feeling, it seems that Truxton enters turns on its own, without any coercion.
The rear suspension is no less interesting. It does not allow for a particularly sporty ride, is not technically sophisticated, and only has adjustable spring preload, but it does its job fairly well. Front fork too. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the brakes. If they are used to gently reduce speed, for example, when braking before an intersection, then they will turn out to be quite effective, will be well “dosed” and will provide a noticeable point of their action. But aggressive use of a lever or pedal will immediately reveal its rapidly depleting capabilities.
Watered down coffee
Flashes in the engine are a separate and very interesting process. Firstly, the Thruxton is powered by a fuel injection system, but looking at it, you definitely think that there are carburetors behind the engine. But at the same time there is a shifter for the pre-start enricher. This means that before starting the engine it needs to be helped (the shifter is located under the fuel tank, and not on the steering wheel - that would be too modern). The fact that the designers, having equipped Truxton with fuel injection, imitated a carburetor engine, is still half the battle. The main thing is that the engine works exactly as if it were fed through carburetors! This manifests itself in a rather sharp reaction to opening the throttle valve from a closed position. I got the impression that fuel injection was there solely and exclusively to comply with the Euro 3 standard. When the engine starts to work, the pilot is overcome with confusion. Rarely does a drive device operate so quietly that it sounds like an inline two-cylinder engine that is about to die out within a second. It is very likely that even a child in a stroller standing next to a motorcycle will sleep soundly, just as before starting the Truxton engine.
Acceleration dynamics aren't exactly mind-blowing, but in each of the five gears the parallel twin's power comes through with the expected intensity. But what happens after 6,000 rpm doesn't match the engine's dangerously soft idle. The vibrations become tiresome, especially on the steering wheel. As if in tune with this, the tachometer needle begins to tremble, probably with the same frequency as in the distant 60s of the last century...
Atmosphere in the shower
It doesn't have the technically advanced suspension, brakes, engine, nor is it very comfortable or very practical, but it transports the driver back to the 60s, to British streets full of motorcycle-riding rockers. The Thruxton is a fantastic weekend toy and the best rideable alternative to a Harley. He is a motorcycle humanist who is at odds with the numbers and charts depicting the high utility of this device. The only competitor that comes to my mind is the Ducati Sport 1000. But, rather, only externally - after all, it has a much more powerful engine and a much better chassis, but the same starting positions.
The real competitors for the Thruxton, in my opinion, are its “twins” - the Scrambler and Bonnevile. As for the engine and chassis, these are the same motorcycles, but they are more comfortable, more practical and equally beautiful, and the choice of one of them most often depends on a small impulse in the soul. Triumph Thruxton is a motorcycle that is never bought with the mind, but always with the heart. Is it worth it? The answer to this question is relative and everyone must give this answer to themselves. This car is certainly interesting, “with character”, and to put it simply, “with soul”.
Text: Lukasz Tomanek
Source: MotoDrive magazine [№9 (77) 2010
Test drive Triumph Thruxton
The Thruxton is a fantastic weekend toy, the best rideable alternative to a Harley, the motorcycle humanist who is at odds with the numbers and charts that reflect the high utility of this device.
The Triumph Thruxton is, let's face it, a bike that doesn't make journalists' hearts skip a beat, because they prefer to ride super-fast plastics or cruisers with unhealthy engine sizes. The Triumph Thruxton is a retro style motorcycle, so it automatically wins the sympathy of the ardent "old school" supporters who remember the times when no one took fuel consumption or road safety to heart.
We are, naturally, talking about motorcycles of the forgotten Cafe Racer class. Because everyone will agree with the statement that Thruxton is their descendant. My approach when receiving the motorcycle was similar. I was sure that when I parked it somewhere in the city, the only people who would pay attention to it would be melancholy-eyed grandparents and fanatics in Triumph shirts. However, how wrong I was!
Toy
The moment you pay a Triumph motorcycle dealer for a Thruxton model, you can be sure of one thing - you've bought one hell of a beautiful motorcycle. Basically, it's a Bonneville with low handlebars and a padded rear seat, and the Bonneville is one of the sexiest motorcycles of all time. And the most attractive and beautiful detail in it is the motor. This inline two-cylinder engine is simply seductive! Muscular, dense, with vertical cylinders. Take a look at the head. You're right, it's practically a Knucklehead from Harley-Davidson. Plus, its huge cooling fins, scorched manifolds and massive lids give the impression that they were made by the ancient Greek blacksmith god Hephaestus. Thruxton is full of elements that we expect to find in it, or simply demand from a retro Cafe Racer. Spoke wheels, cut-off tail, mirrors at the ends of the steering wheel, long, thin exhaust pipes. But not everything is so smooth, in this barrel of honey there is also a spoonful of honey: an ugly protruding rear wing with lighting equipment hanging on it. It justifies the fact that you pay attention to him only when looking strictly in profile. Plus, I suspect that if it were removed and the license plate was placed “inside”, behind the shock absorbers, it would be even worse. Shocking fact - everyone loves Thruxton. Everyone stops near him, from motorcyclists riding “plastics” to sales representatives without ties and children with ADHD syndrome, that is, suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There is something unusual about him.
Cafe Racing
The driving position is reminiscent of a sports touring motorcycle. The footpegs are set back and placed quite high, the handlebars are shaped like an "M" and the handlebars force the rider to bend their spine significantly. However, the short fuel tank and long seat make it possible to take a slightly more comfortable position. This Triumph can be driven on the highway, but that's like saying you can even eat a bat. It is possible, but it is not done unless necessary. The lack of any wind protection and the low, narrow handlebar become dangerous after 160 km/h. Despite the fact that the Thruxton is a fairly narrow and slender motorcycle, getting through traffic jams on it is a problematic issue. And all because of the mirrors mounted on the ends of the steering wheel. Visibility is excellent, but they are at the same height as the mirrors on 90% of cars. But management requires habit. The whole motorcycle is short (wheelbase 1490 mm), but it rolls on, let's say, extraordinary wheels. Front – 18 inches + 100 mm wide tire; rear – 17 inches + 130 mm wide tire. The driver is shifted quite far forward, plus the sharp angle of the steering column gives the impression that the front wheel is already under his head. When you finally get used to this feeling, it seems that Truxton enters turns on its own, without any coercion.
The rear suspension is no less interesting. It does not allow for a particularly sporty ride, is not technically sophisticated, and only has adjustable spring preload, but it does its job fairly well. Front fork too. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the brakes. If they are used to gently reduce speed, for example, when braking before an intersection, then they will turn out to be quite effective, will be well “dosed” and will provide a noticeable point of their action. But aggressive use of a lever or pedal will immediately reveal its rapidly depleting capabilities.
Watered down coffee
Flashes in the engine are a separate and very interesting process. Firstly, the Thruxton is powered by a fuel injection system, but looking at it, you definitely think that there are carburetors behind the engine. But at the same time there is a shifter for the pre-start enricher. This means that before starting the engine it needs to be helped (the shifter is located under the fuel tank, and not on the steering wheel - that would be too modern). The fact that the designers, having equipped Truxton with fuel injection, imitated a carburetor engine, is still half the battle. The main thing is that the engine works exactly as if it were fed through carburetors! This manifests itself in a rather sharp reaction to opening the throttle valve from a closed position. I got the impression that fuel injection was there solely and exclusively to comply with the Euro 3 standard. When the engine starts to work, the pilot is overcome with confusion. Rarely does a drive device operate so quietly that it sounds like an inline two-cylinder engine that is about to die out within a second. It is very likely that even a child in a stroller standing next to a motorcycle will sleep soundly, just as before starting the Truxton engine.
Acceleration dynamics aren't exactly mind-blowing, but in each of the five gears the parallel twin's power comes through with the expected intensity. But what happens after 6,000 rpm doesn't match the engine's dangerously soft idle. The vibrations become tiresome, especially on the steering wheel. As if in tune with this, the tachometer needle begins to tremble, probably with the same frequency as in the distant 60s of the last century...
Atmosphere in the shower
It doesn't have the technically advanced suspension, brakes, engine, nor is it very comfortable or very practical, but it transports the driver back to the 60s, to British streets full of motorcycle-riding rockers. The Thruxton is a fantastic weekend toy and the best rideable alternative to a Harley. He is a motorcycle humanist who is at odds with the numbers and charts depicting the high utility of this device. The only competitor that comes to my mind is the Ducati Sport 1000. But, rather, only externally - after all, it has a much more powerful engine and a much better chassis, but the same starting positions.
The real competitors for the Thruxton, in my opinion, are its “twins” - the Scrambler and Bonnevile. As for the engine and chassis, these are the same motorcycles, but they are more comfortable, more practical and equally beautiful, and the choice of one of them most often depends on a small impulse in the soul. Triumph Thruxton is a motorcycle that is never bought with the mind, but always with the heart. Is it worth it? The answer to this question is relative and everyone must give this answer to themselves. This car is certainly interesting, “with character”, and to put it simply, “with soul”.
Text: Lukasz Tomanek
Photo: the author and Triumph
Modifications
Since 2004 Several modifications of Truxton were released:
- "900". The first representative of the family, released in 2004.
- Truxton 2008 The model was equipped with a slightly more powerful engine (70 hp), the maximum speed was 190 km/h. They also added an electronic fuel supply system with sequential multipoint injection.
- Truxton SE. Released in 2010 This is a special version with bright white and red colors and a small windshield. Among the technical improvements - a new fuel injection of the Euro3 standard.
- Truxton R and Truxton 1200. New models for 2021. with a powerful 1200 cc engine and the latest technological achievements of Triumph. Electronic throttle grip, digital ride-by-wire control bus and one-button settings mode activation. There is also an ABS system, fully adjustable suspension and a 17'' front wheel. The R model is equipped with a Brembo braking system.
The manufacturer has provided many tuning options, especially for the latest models. Fairings, exhaust systems, indicators, trim parts - if desired, the appearance of your Truxton can be completely changed.
Peculiarities
The frame of the motorcycle was made up of a heavy-duty steel frame, so it withstood all the “surprises” of road riding without harm. Chrome shock absorbers with sport settings smoothed out bumps/potholes quite well and provided sufficient comfort for the driver. Moreover, the suspension springs were adjustable, making the motorcycle easy to adjust to any driving style.
Truxton was distinguished by improved handling and had powerful brakes, which fully corresponded not so much to its road, but to its sporty character. Another difference from the usual road cars is a technological and informative instrument panel, rear mirrors and acceleration to 100 km/h in 4 seconds.
