Triumph Thruxton 900 2016 — Specifications

With the arrival of the 1200 Thruxton, and especially the Thruxton R, the smaller model of the same name will have a hard time justifying its place as a sporty classic roadster. It will soon conclude a decade-long career while offering a more accessible alternative within the Thruxton range. Those who want the bottle without seeking intoxication will find their account—the new siblings will raise the taste, the ambitions, and the price. Evocative and the initiator of the sporty retro style at Triumph, the Thruxton added a little more in 2014. The appearance of a symbolic forkhead is immediately noticeable. More subtle elements are revealed only to those who scrutinize, such as the chrome chain guard, the machined cooling fins, or the new megaphone-type silencers, designed to improve the sound of the twin vertical.

Genesis: Triumph likes to revive the past with a certain taste for nostalgia and the fun of those great years. After the legendary Bonneville, which returned after 10 years, here is now the Thruxton—a pure café racer, much like the Norton 850 Commando piloted by Manchzeck in JBT vol. 1. Starting from the Bonneville, the English manufacturer recreated the sports bike of the 1960s. At the time, you would take a motorcycle, add a small graft of clip-on handlebars and rear-set footpegs, a seat cowling... and you could present yourself at the Ace Café or swagger with the angry ones. Same recipe for this 2004 Thruxton, which takes the name of a famous series of Bonneville T 120 R itself associated with a mythical English race. The Bonneville, which served as a base, underwent a few modifications, especially the twin, which gained a few cc, new camshafts and carburetors, and 8 horsepower, as well as a good handful of torque. Since 2008 and the exchange of clip-ons for a handlebar, injectors power the English twin—but rest assured, a bit of aesthetic trickery and the appearance is still that of good old carburetors. Hinckley redefined the suspensions to handle the increase in power with an adjustable preload fork and new rear units. Of course, this sporty machine has nothing to do with today's GSX-R, but its delightfully retro look and riding position are enough to send shivers down your spine. Briefly, a sporty bike full of charm that is not afraid of repression.

Bad boy motorcycle, with a rebellious character, questionable reliability, and pitiful comfort... These memories spark the neurons at the sight of the Thruxton. But the riding reminds you that you are on a modern motorcycle. Pleasant gearbox command, supple and docile engine, easy handling, the machine is no longer the scourge of the 1960s. If one can regret the subdued temperament of the twin compared to its distant ancestor, one will rejoice in its reliability. Here, no maximum speed but a ride full of charm. Moreover, at high speed, this café racer does not enjoy great stability. The fault lies with a modified geometry compared to the Bonneville. So what! You are not riding an R1. The motorcycle has neither the pretensions nor the discomfort. The riding position is sporty, as in the old days, but without excess. The suspensions do not have the softness of a Goldwing, but they ensure correct comfort. Vibrations still exist; but they are no longer those that stuck to the moods of the star of London. Here, you find them at high RPM, and they are not necessarily pleasant. No, it is better to enjoy the mid-range and the sound of the superb exhausts. Good brakes (except at the rear), the neo-retro sporty can surprise with its agility and liveliness. Do not see this as a wave of a magic wand on the chassis but on the section of the tires. I am addressing the riders of GSX-R 1000 and their 120 and 190 tires: "imagine the agility of a motorcycle with 100 and 130 tires...!". The Thruxton is certainly a good idea; however, it deserves a more lively engine. The bottle is beautiful, but the intoxication may not be up to all expectations.

M.B (text of the test inspired by the article by C. Lacombe - Moto-journal n° 1 607 photos manufacturer)