04-26-2016, 11:57 PM
I'll cut to the chase. I love this bike. Picked it up at Cross Country In Metuchen, NJ ( ace dealer by the way) and promptly took it to The Gathering of The Nortons in Washington Crossing, PA, followed by a seriously fun ride through NE Pennsylvania and NW NJ. Over 250 miles in the first 24 hours. Since then, another 100 miles on the slab and NJRATS 'loop' in Western Monmouth and Burlington Counties. My observations:
Fit and Finish: Outstanding. Attention to detail is similar to the CB. When you build a house, the advice is to invest and put thought in the things that people touch...door knobs, switches, countertops...because tactile elements are important to the perception of quality and comfort. Triumph applied this to the Thrux R in spades. The top yoke is a work of art, as an example. Countless small details that catch the eye and show how much thought went into the design. It was a massive source of interest at The Gathering, with everyone from old Norton blokes to sport bike squids interested in it.
Comfort: The 'R' has a more committed rider triangle, but is a perfect example of why sitting on a bike at rest is not the way to determine comfort in riding. The lean to the bars becomes second nature after only a few minutes, and allows for effortless handling and less blow-age at highway speeds. The Thrux at 80MPH on the freeway is a good deal more comfortable than my experience on the CB. Bottom line is that even at 58 years of age and a BMI that wouldn't win any prizes, 250 mile days with some gas and grub stops required the same end of day dose of analgesics as any of my other bikes.
Performance: Sublime. The engine is just ladled with character, and the 270 degree firing interval gives it a distinct V-twin like feel. I've not redlined it yet, but it's got grunt across the rev range. The sport setting on rider modes makes it nice and snappy, but not snatchy and the fueling is fine. (this is the first bike I've owned with the combo of rider modes, TC, ride by wire, and ABS, so getting used to all that.) The 'R' has a different camshaft profile, lighter crank and some other internal changes from the standard Thruxton, and while sharing the basic config with the T120 Bonnie, it is a significantly different and higher performing machine. Oh, and the R has, subjectively, the best stock pipe, in- helmet exhaust sound I've ever experienced. It's addictive.
Handling: This is what surprised me the most. The Ohlins/Showa BPF/ Brembo/ Pirelli Rosso Corsa combination makes the R a sport bike that looks retro, rather than a tarted up retro. Probably more akin to a Ducati Monster than anything in the modern retro competitive set. But compliant and comfortable, and within a performance range that is ideal for the road rather than the track, without beating you up. I've done our signature 35 mile 'loop' on 15 different bikes now, and I don't think I've enjoyed it as much on any other machine. It just leans, holds a line, and doesn't get upset with post- winter New Jersey farm roads. Switching off with my KTM/Ducati owning friend for a loop, he was speechless.
Other Stuff: OK, marketing and the like can irritate, but let me outline the process on procuring this bike, and compare it to the horrendous 'effort' that today's Honda puts out. It points towards how the CB, a fine bike, can languish. First, I was contacted by the dealer...live from London...at the unveiling of the new Bonnie line. He texted out to his customers as the bikes came on the stage. He then invited me to a private showing of the bikes at a bar in Brooklyn (free drinks and food!). Upon ordering, I was kept up to date from Triumph on the build, ship, and delivery of the bike. I was presented with the opportunity to... I almost said the now banned F- word... uh, customize it... from the over 140 accessories already created for the R (over 400 for the entire Bonnie line) which would be installed at ( or shortly after) delivery. At pickup, the dealership had a full display of the Bonnie line along with accessories and a trained sales team that knows the bikes well. Sorry, this might be fluff to some, but I'm in marketing, and Triumph nailed this.
So, in summary, it's a great bike, and while I'm moto- promiscuous, I don't see this one going away or collecting dust. It does challenge the use case for the CB1100 in my fleet. Switching over to the CB and taking it for a long spin, I couldn't think of a single attribute that I liked better than the ThruxR, save for the riding position for leisurely riding, and the fact that it is, in it's own right, a spectacularly beautiful motorbike. It would make a nice complimentary bike, but that darn inline 4 buzzing really bothered me again, especially in comparison to the pleasant vertical twin thrum. I also have an '06 Bonnie that I use for local beach jaunts and casual riding, which, while not fully comparable to the CB, is just as enjoyable for my usage. So, something to consider as I rearrange and perhaps, god forbid, pare down my stable a bit this summer.
That's the scoop. Happy to answer any questions.
[attachment=4551]
Fit and Finish: Outstanding. Attention to detail is similar to the CB. When you build a house, the advice is to invest and put thought in the things that people touch...door knobs, switches, countertops...because tactile elements are important to the perception of quality and comfort. Triumph applied this to the Thrux R in spades. The top yoke is a work of art, as an example. Countless small details that catch the eye and show how much thought went into the design. It was a massive source of interest at The Gathering, with everyone from old Norton blokes to sport bike squids interested in it.
Comfort: The 'R' has a more committed rider triangle, but is a perfect example of why sitting on a bike at rest is not the way to determine comfort in riding. The lean to the bars becomes second nature after only a few minutes, and allows for effortless handling and less blow-age at highway speeds. The Thrux at 80MPH on the freeway is a good deal more comfortable than my experience on the CB. Bottom line is that even at 58 years of age and a BMI that wouldn't win any prizes, 250 mile days with some gas and grub stops required the same end of day dose of analgesics as any of my other bikes.
Performance: Sublime. The engine is just ladled with character, and the 270 degree firing interval gives it a distinct V-twin like feel. I've not redlined it yet, but it's got grunt across the rev range. The sport setting on rider modes makes it nice and snappy, but not snatchy and the fueling is fine. (this is the first bike I've owned with the combo of rider modes, TC, ride by wire, and ABS, so getting used to all that.) The 'R' has a different camshaft profile, lighter crank and some other internal changes from the standard Thruxton, and while sharing the basic config with the T120 Bonnie, it is a significantly different and higher performing machine. Oh, and the R has, subjectively, the best stock pipe, in- helmet exhaust sound I've ever experienced. It's addictive.
Handling: This is what surprised me the most. The Ohlins/Showa BPF/ Brembo/ Pirelli Rosso Corsa combination makes the R a sport bike that looks retro, rather than a tarted up retro. Probably more akin to a Ducati Monster than anything in the modern retro competitive set. But compliant and comfortable, and within a performance range that is ideal for the road rather than the track, without beating you up. I've done our signature 35 mile 'loop' on 15 different bikes now, and I don't think I've enjoyed it as much on any other machine. It just leans, holds a line, and doesn't get upset with post- winter New Jersey farm roads. Switching off with my KTM/Ducati owning friend for a loop, he was speechless.
Other Stuff: OK, marketing and the like can irritate, but let me outline the process on procuring this bike, and compare it to the horrendous 'effort' that today's Honda puts out. It points towards how the CB, a fine bike, can languish. First, I was contacted by the dealer...live from London...at the unveiling of the new Bonnie line. He texted out to his customers as the bikes came on the stage. He then invited me to a private showing of the bikes at a bar in Brooklyn (free drinks and food!). Upon ordering, I was kept up to date from Triumph on the build, ship, and delivery of the bike. I was presented with the opportunity to... I almost said the now banned F- word... uh, customize it... from the over 140 accessories already created for the R (over 400 for the entire Bonnie line) which would be installed at ( or shortly after) delivery. At pickup, the dealership had a full display of the Bonnie line along with accessories and a trained sales team that knows the bikes well. Sorry, this might be fluff to some, but I'm in marketing, and Triumph nailed this.
So, in summary, it's a great bike, and while I'm moto- promiscuous, I don't see this one going away or collecting dust. It does challenge the use case for the CB1100 in my fleet. Switching over to the CB and taking it for a long spin, I couldn't think of a single attribute that I liked better than the ThruxR, save for the riding position for leisurely riding, and the fact that it is, in it's own right, a spectacularly beautiful motorbike. It would make a nice complimentary bike, but that darn inline 4 buzzing really bothered me again, especially in comparison to the pleasant vertical twin thrum. I also have an '06 Bonnie that I use for local beach jaunts and casual riding, which, while not fully comparable to the CB, is just as enjoyable for my usage. So, something to consider as I rearrange and perhaps, god forbid, pare down my stable a bit this summer.
That's the scoop. Happy to answer any questions.
[attachment=4551]
Very nice! 
