Intro: BRUTISH
And now we bring you a bike that is certainly not like the rest. A motorcycle that is part of a group that harkens of passion more than reason. It is the Triumph Thruxton 900.
An unruly evolution of the Bonneville, the Thruxton cultivates the spirit of competition, to go in search of a more sport minded customer base.
Esthetique: RACY
This Triumph, takes its name from the Hampshire racetrack. To refresh our collective memories, in 1969 the Company entered three motorcycles in an endurance race that went by the name Thruxton. After winning the event three times, the firm kept the name.
Racy, tapered and built for racing, the Thruxton can nevertheless be turned into a two seater. To do that, you just have to unscrew the right side lateral cover with the help of a coin to access the key and then unscrew the backrest of the seat... A very quick and easy manipulation.
The controls respect the spirit of competition from back in the day. Clip on handlebars and refined equipment. Tachometer and warning lights for the key essentials and that’s it.
Motorization: WHAT A TREAT !
The heart and soul of this model is the same twin-cylinder from the Bonneville but which has been seriously upgraded. The engine size has gone from 790cc to 865cc and the British engineers went to town with the incorporation of two new camshafts, two new carburettors and two new silencers to attain a power out put of 70 horsepower and a torque measurement of 7.2 mkg at 5750 rpm.
When speaking of the Thruxton’s performance, no need to look at the 0-100km/h or the kilometre from a standing start numbers, the Triumph is above all that, it has already proven its worth. When in command of such a bike it is the sensations that count.
And in a departure from the norm, we absolutely fell in love with the motor of this Thruxton, which literally spell binds the rider as much for the sound as for the performance.
Loaded with torque that is able throughout the power band, the Thruxton picks up momentum from 1500 rpm and keeps going just until the red zone. Impressive, and nothing less, the power picks up with still the same strength.
On the road: CHARM AND PERSONALITY
The Thruxton’s selling point is its engine performance. An engine performance that compensates for a lack of comfort. In fact, the seat leaves a lot to be desired compared to the more ergonomic seats around, and battling with the clip on handlebar is better than any gymnasium workout when it comes to the shoulders and wrists.
And just when you become comfortable despite everything else, the casing on top of the motor is there to you remind you of the heat of the engine by gently burning the knees. It is hard to imagine that the riders back in the day took part in 800km endurance races aboard such a bike.
Thankfully, the shock travel is well calibrated and provides for a nice ride and even allows for some undreamt-of fantasies.
The adjustable front fork and the combination of a softer rear spring allow for a multitude of possible settings for all sorts of surfaces and all weight loads.
The frame was taken from the Bonneville and studied and improved to support the increased power of the motor and provides the necessary rigidity for a sport bike temperament. The brakes are too up to the required performance level. Long lasting, there are just as progressive at the front as at the rear.
Triumph has successively incorporated charm and character. The 900 is a bike without concession, and leaves no one indifferent.
The Thruxton 900 comes in two colours, Jet Black and Cardinal Red. An ancestor of those café racers the Thruxton doesn’t shy away from its origins. Away from the racetrack, it is also a favourite amongst those who go for a bit of wild racing on the public byways. Its very masculine personality has remained in tact, while receiving a new lease on life.
International
