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2010 Triumph Thunderbird Introduced

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2010 Triumph Thunderbird

Triumph revealed their 2009 lineup and among the models was the all new Triumph Thunderbird which will go on sale in 2009 as a 2010 model.

The new Thunderbird is a 1600cc parallel twin with 6 speeds and belt drive. The bike will be offered with accessories to change its appearance and function from custom cruiser to fully dressed tourer. ABS will also be available.

The styling doesn’t seem to break any new ground but the bike puts Triumph squarely in the center of the large bore cruiser market with a parallel twin instead of the usual V-Twin configuration run by everyone else.

Posted on Filed Under: Motorcycle Business, Motorcycle Design

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Comments

  2. Hmm.
    I think that, in the U.S. at least, these will be relegated to the same “barely sold here” status that the Moto Guzzi cruisers have. Available, but almost no one buys ’em, as the target demo for a modern, decent-handling, not-over-the-top-styled cruiser doesn’t seem to exist here.

  3. Not a bad looking bike in comparison to other cruisers today, but it just doesn’t have the sculptural beauty of a classic Triumph twin. I would prefer it over the typical Japanese V-twins, however.

  4. Wonder how they keep the vibes in check. Balance shafts, I imagine. Also wonder about its firing order and how it sounds. It’s a significant marketing issue, since sound is important for cruiser riders. It’s sure a big deal for Harley (and they do sound good if not overly loud).

  5. I think this would be a good alternative to the v-twins cruisers, if you don’t care for all the v-twins. For me, my opinion, v-twins are becoming a cliché. I ride an old Honda vertical twin and this would be a serious step up.

  6. Walt, I haven’t found any tech specs yet on this bike, but since Triumph is using a 270-degree-crank vertical twin in the America and Speedmaster, mostly for the sound, my assumption is that this one is a 270 as well. (The Bonneville and Thruxton, FWIW, have traditional 360-degree vertical twins.)

    I’m not much of a cruiser fan, so this bike leaves me pretty cold. The styling seems uninspired, to say the least. I’d be much more interested if Triumph were offering a 360-degree version of this engine in a Thruxton-style cafe racer.

    Also interesting is that for 2009 Triumph is finally offering the Bonneville with cast wheels. Unfortunately they look like they’re off an ’80s Honda.

  7. PS: I find it odd that Triumph revived the Thunderbird name so soon. It’s likely to cause confusion. The most recent previous model, the 2004 Thunderbird Sport, was a completely different style of bike — more of a sporty standard, with the 885cc triple engine, that was readily converted to cafe racer configuration with a few bolt-on parts. It shares nothing in common with this new bike except for the name. All of the people holding on to their ’95-’04 Thunderbirds (because they were great bikes) must be irritated by this.

  13. ZZZZzzzzzZZZZZZzzzzz…

    What a disappointing effort from Triumph. Let’s hope they do better when they adapt this engine to a standard.

  14. Triumph is in business to make money, like it or not. There is a market for this type of bike, especially in the U.S. At least it’s not another V-Twin! This offends the purist side of me, being a Thruxton owner. But as the old saying goes: Different strokes………….. James

  15. Triumph have a world market to explore. Plenty of riders are looking for a quality non Jap bike they can enjoy but they simply can not afford the money HD askes for their bikes. I think the Thunderbird will fill a big hole in the market.

    People in the USA need to be aware that HD control the sales of their bikes world wide, and that includes the selling price. An US$18,000 HD costs AU$30,000 in Australia. The AU$ has rissen from 70 cents to 96 cents in the past few years yet bikes here cost 2 or three thousand more then they did 3 years ago.

    While HD maintains their high prices off shore they are creating a huge gap that a Triumph can easily be ridden through.

    STU

  16. Obviously didn’t spend to much time in the styling department looks like so many other cruisers, very dissapointed. Try harder Triumph!!

  17. Nice product design – for ten years ago.

    And to think, they could sell all the 350 singles their Thai factory could build.

    Tom

  18. As a Triumph dealer, all I can say is… it’s about time! Like it or not, the best selling bike in the US over the past 6 years BY FAR has been the America. These same customers, and many, many new customers have been asking for a larger version of this bike.. Well, there it is, and we’re going to sell the heck out of it. There is no doubt.. it will become and be our number one selling bike heading into the new decade.

  21. I’m in the market for a bike and I want low-end torque, but I don’t subscribe to Harley mania, drink Ducati Kool Aid, or fall for any of the current underpowered Triumph twins. BUT the new Thunderbird appeals to me for it’s grunt, belt drive, tubeless tires, fuel injection, modern brakes, and liquid cooling.

    I’m disappointed though, because upon closer inspection I realized that Triumph has put the very STUPID, inefficient, trendy, have I mentioned stupid yet…. forward controls on this beast. One of the reasons I find this sooo frustrating, is the fact that my 24″ inseam doesn’t permit my feet to reach the controls. And forward controls simply don’t work on a bike; leave ’em in the gynocologist’s office where they belong.

    If Triumph provides a kit for me to convert to mid-controls, I’ll change out the factory suspension for something that works under my weight, put some sport bars on it, 2CT Roads, a Ventura Rack System, and a little Bikini fairing. I will have retired by 2010, and a good road bike with GRUNT will be a good way to hit the open road. I am actually grateful that Triumph kept this bike low key and didn’t try to copy anything (save for the forward controls).

    (I wish more motorcycles were made for those of us EXPERIENCED enthusiasts who are short of inseam. 40 years of reaching for the tarmac with one tippy-toe at a time is growing old.)

  22. Why have triumph developed this.they allready have the Rocket to cover this market.If they wanted to bring back the Thunderbird name they should have developed a new injection version of the old triple thunderbird/thunderbird sport.It may be a British bike but its clearly aimed at the American Harley/crusier market, while the rest of us (who don,t want sports bikes or trailies, but want a Triumph) have to make do with the Bonny,another twin. I think I,ll hang on to my thunderbird sport for a while yet.

  23. Another Harley clone, even down to the tank shape! They should have updated the more recent 885cc Thunderbird or Legend. Those had some Triumph style, and easily could have handled a larger engine and forward foot controls.

  24. I am 65 with much riding experience. I love Harleys, but the only one I even consider seriously is the Dyna Lowrider, because I want a bike that handles well, doesn’t scrape the pavement in turns, is not a “tank” on two wheels, and has tubeless tires. This rules out their soft-tail and touring models, and their Road Kings are notorious for wallowing in corners. Also, the Dyna Lowrider has mid-mount controls and optional forward pegs – much more range of leg movement on long rides. But even the HD Dyna Lowrider has its shortcomings: All Twin Cam 96 engines run HOT due to HD making them run really lean to meet California emissions. The Dyna Lowrider does not have dual front brakes and does not have ABS. HDs are also way underpowered compared to the Jap V Twins (only 65 HP and around 80 ft. lbs torque). The factory bags for a Dyna are ridiculously small. To get a HD Dyna up to the power specs of the Thunderbird would require another 8 to 10 grand into a custom-built engine along with the voided warranty.

    The Thunderbird’s styling is both retro and CLEAN. Much like a Dyna. I love the styling. It has dual front brakes and ABS. It is set up with tire/wheel choices so it will handle well. It has ample cornering clearance. It is water-cooled so it won’t run hot. According to Cycle World, it puts out around 90 HP and over 100 ft. lbs torque, with a factory 1700cc kit available to boost it to over 100 HP and 115 ft lbs torque. And it is not a JAP bike. I do wish Triumph would offer a set of optional mid-mount footpegs, and would do away with the “skunk stripe” paint job, but I plan on buying one as soon as they are available.

  25. Reading about the new Triumph 1600 and viewing the pictures, Triumph appear to be moving into the future, but there are some close resemblance of a Suzuki Boulevard creaping through. Other than that looking at the new Triumph it appears to be a nice bike. Next thing to do is to test ride one, then go from there. A reply to Stu comment 15: Gidday Stu, reading your comment, it maybe so Australia. Let me add, I imported a 2007 XL1200C Sportster Custom from Milwaukee USA into New Zealand, with the exchange rate it cost me $14,600.00.(NZ) including on road cost and the same model through a dealer in New Zealand would of cost $19,000.00 plus on road cost which would make nearly $20,000.00.(NZ) Let me add I am a fan of all motorcycles, but my preference is and has been Harley Davidson. As a sugestion if you’re keen to own a HD you could check out the cost importing one either into Australia or via New Zealand to Australia, you may surprise yourself.

    Cheers.
    Live to ride, ride to live.
    Biggles (NZ)

  26. My dealer says $12,990 and about $700 more for ABS. If he had one it would have followed me home. Harley clone my rosey red butt. If I want ancient technology in my bike I will look for a Vincent Shadow, not a V twin with lots of Japanese parts to get a little reliability.

  27. I have an Triumph America and I am loving it so far.
    I like the new update model. I will definitely order one when it comes out.

  28. I can’t wait to get one! I ride a 2006 America and, on rare occaisons, my 1970 Bonneville T120R. I really hope it is as good a bike as my America! No more dreaming about a Wiseco big bore alteration. Come on, turn me loose on one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  29. I’m going to ride one when they come out, and if they live up to their billing I’ll buy. I love the concept, a cruiser that’s not a v-twin. Hopefully this bike will be what the Mean Streak should have been – comfortable, powerful, and good looking. It even has a useful fuel capacity! I just got into cruisers a few years ago, and while I like the looks, they are for the most part fat, sluggish, underpowered butt jewelry. There are a few exceptions to the rule, and I’m glad to see that there may be a new entry worth looking at. If they could just move slightly away from the c-clamp riding position, we’d be getting somewhere…

  30. I can Hardly wait,Bringing this bad boy to Canada.Canada’s roots were founded on Colonialism. Bringing this Triumph Back will Raise the Flag again.After all We
    Fought for Freedom, and this bike I say stands for our boys who fought in the
    wars for our great Nation.

  31. what a great bike about time triumph brough out a big bore bike , i have owned 4 triumphs a 1929 1951 1969 1971 and soon it will be no 5 the new triumph thunderbird. bring it on ride the legend ride triumph

  32. I own a 1960 tr6 and a 1955 trunderbird. I also wrecked a 2007 triumph america that i wish i still owned. 🙁 I will own one of these new thunderbirds in 2010. I love the new size, I think it is goning to eat the larger hd vtwins alive LOVE IT GOOD JOB TRIUMPH

  33. This is a shrewd marketing move by Triumph and will be a big hit in the US. Many folks here really desire a well thought out alternative to the Harley. Going with a big parallel twin with a 270 crank (it’s gonna sound WAY better than a Harley), belt drive, liquid cooling and all, THANK YOU TRIUMPH. Can’t wait to strip one of these down for the ultimate bobber in history. This bike will eat Harley’s alive.

  34. I think bike is an excellent departure from the norm. I used to ride a yamaha xs 650 and realloy enjoyed the bike except for the rear drum break and lack of power. I had read about how the 270 crank and a big bore kit made all the difference but I still thought a larger displacement parallel twin would be really awesome well someone at Triumph must have thought the same thing because behold a 1600 cc parallel twin its about time now just got to get me hand on the throttle and see what that bad boy got. I like the styling it leaves room for customization. In my opinion I would have went with full fenders or wrapped fenders but I like a full fender on everything.