Triumph Thruxton 900 2006 — Specifications

Who hasn't dreamed of weaving between the cobblestones of London, leather jacket brushed, to go and enjoy a cup of tea at the Ace Café? This is the image, this posture of chic rebel, that the Triumph Thruxton 900 came to embody in 2006. Far from being a simple Bonneville dressed up, this café racer embraces its heritage with a certain panache. Beneath its clean lines, we discover an 865 cm3 twin that, thanks to specific camshafts and carburetors, delivers 70 horsepower and 72 Nm of torque. A modest power output in the age of hyper-nakeds, but that is what makes this machine so special: it is to be savored, not swallowed.

The first surprise when throwing a leg over the Triumph Thruxton 900 is its accessibility. A seat height of 790 mm and contained weight, although solid at 227 kg fully fueled, make it an approachable motorcycle. The riding position is sporty, with a low handlebar and rear-set footpegs, but without the aggressiveness of a modern sportbike. It invites you to lean in, to play the café racer game, without torturing your back. On the road, the engine is remarkably docile. The five-speed gearbox is precise, the twin breathes freely from the mid-range, and the sound of the original exhaust pipes is a true pleasure. It is precisely here that you must make it sing, because beyond 6000 rpm, vibrations become present and recall, with a touch of nostalgia, the mechanical origins of the beast.

But do not be fooled, this retro look hides surprisingly lively handling. The secret? Narrow tires, 100 at the front and 130 at the rear, which give it the agility of a feline in the city and in tight corners. The 41 mm fork and rear shock absorbers, both adjustable for preload, offer a comfort-handling compromise that is more than honest for sporty touring. On the other hand, the braking, with its two simple discs, lacks bite when compared to that of a modern Japanese competitor. And at high speed, stability is not its strong point, the geometry being tailored for angled trajectories rather than the highway. It is a motorcycle with character, not a record-breaking machine.

So, who is the Triumph Thruxton 900 for? Clearly for the rider who seeks style above all else, raw emotion rather than absolute performance. Its new price back then, around 9000 euros, made it a compelling proposition compared to more sanitized Japanese models. Today, looking for a used Triumph Thruxton 900 is an excellent plan to acquire a piece of history with reliable mechanics. It is also a mythical customization base, where accessories for Triumph Thruxton 900 – seat, handlebar, silencers – abound to personalize it. It will not offer you the fury of a four-cylinder engine, but it will give you something rarer: a knowing smile with every start-up, and the unique feeling of riding a myth on two wheels. The bottle is superb, and the intoxication, although gentle, is deeply authentic.