Triumph Thruxton

The Triumph Thruxton is a modern day representation of how racing Triumphs would have looked back in the sixties when they dominated the tracks. In order to achieve that, Triumph made it look like it sited all its life in a museum or its restoration was finished yesterday. Many will be amazed to find out that this true work of art had just rolled out the production line because it simply reminds of the times when nothing else but a powerful engine and a courageous rider were needed for a first place on the podium.

Starting with the new millennium, riders could enjoy the revived Bonneville which was a motorcycle standing as the starting point for all Triumph models featuring two cylinders.

After the Bonneville, Triumph played its other aces that it kept hidden in its sleeve, the America model in 2002 and the Speedmaster only a year later. But none of these motorcycles were more powerful than the Bonneville and the motorcycling public together with their voice, the motorcycle press, started wondering when the acclaimed café racer from Triumph would see the production line.

All the models before it were very successful, but when the Triumph Thruxton was launched in 2004, riders simply couldn’t believe their eyes. It was exactly what their senses told them they needed and their consciences required.

Triumph had taken the Bonneville engine, increase the bore and fit larger pistons while keeping the 360 degree firing interval (instead of 270 degree on the America and Speedmaster) and it ended up with a parallel-twin that developed 69bhp, 7bhp more than the one found on the Bonneville.

The latest Triumph at that time was marketed either Red or Black painted, but who cared? We had a café racer back in our hands and we wore more willing to enjoy it than ever before.

Back in the early days when it came to café racing bikes people would imagine an engine, two wheels, a seat and the handlebars, all strategically positioned so that they will set the rider in an uncomfortable, but aerodynamic riding position. Today, with the Thruxton things aren’t very different as the bike is called a café racer mostly thanks to the way it is perfectly proportioned so that it would look like an incursion in Britain’s sixties.

People who are attracted to this style find the Thruxton overwhelmingly good looking. Defining for this category is the way the fuel tank (individualized with the help of the Triumph badge and rubber knee grippers), seat, and rear end are practically lined up as well as the stylish handlebars and mirrors which are placed in order to give the sporty riding position that the Thruxton features. I’ve always thought that Thruxton’s rear end looks like the one of a bee as this modern day replica of the early-days machines is impressively finished.

The exhaust system exits on both sides of the bike making it look the same, no matter on what side you’re on while admiring it. It will shine beautifully in front of the coffee shop, as well as the spoke wheels, a must at that time.

Colors available for 2009 are meant to give it a nice, distinctive look (not that the bike is hard to identify). Whether you prefer it Jet Black with Gold Stripe, Tornado Red with White Stripe, or Aluminum Silver with Red Stripe, it won’t let the admiring eye to be taken off of it.