Triumph Thunderbird 1600 test

Menus

• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Contact
• In the city
• Highway
• Departmental
• Braking
• Tires
• Comfort
• Convenient
• Consumption
• Conclusion

4,000 km test

When I first came up with the idea of ​​going to Corsica to test the new Triumph T-Bird, I felt a hint of mockery in the editorial staff. On the other hand, at Triumph, they did not hesitate for a second to entrust me with the rear admiral of the fleet, a tool costing almost 15,000 euros per end, even going so far as to wish me a good ride. 4000 kilometers and a set of tires later I admit I was seduced by the qualities of this bike which are more than present. And while the custom is hardly my cup of tea, the T-Bird blew me away in many ways. In addition, the motorbike had a great effect in the Isle of Beauty – where to go from the Cours Napoleon to the Sanguinaires bar it is very often the climbing to the power – and that, icing on the cake, it did beautiful all the time, that’s what it is about this "fat" in the land of men !

Discovery

The machine is superb and is characterized by its profusion of chrome, from the wheels to the small headlight. Note the transmission provided by a toothed belt. The fork emerges well from the frame. Behind the fork is the huge cooling grid. The large tachometer-tachometer-controls complex is positioned on the tank. The driver’s seat is very wide. The passenger will have to be satisfied with the usual footstool on this type of machine.

Moral: I’ve often been asked the question: is this the last in Milwaukee? But no ! Take a look at this huge and distinctive 1597cc inline-twin. And that little discreet logo on the tank. It is indeed an Englishwoman who introduces herself to you !

Sober in its stock version, the Tbird can be widely customized with a plethora of options catalog. The available options method is still a must in this market; nude models on which everyone can add their own options; the Milwaukee brand does the same, often for more.

In the saddle

The beast gets on easily and offers good footing, with a very low saddle height: only 700 mm; the feet are therefore flat, even for small sizes. Sitting on the saddle, the motorcycle maneuvers well when stationary despite its 339 kilos fully loaded.

The wide handlebars fall perfectly under the hands and it is very easy to steer the motorcycle using the supports both on the handles and on the wide toe clips. The position of the feet requires just a little getting used to in order to avoid either catching the ground with the heel or inadvertently pressing the brake or the selector.

The largely "cruising" riding position will surprise those who are not used to driving with their feet first. But it turns out to be quite comfortable in the long run, even if the spine acts as a relay for the suspension on bad roads. We can then feel some pain in the coccyx, most often caused by the combined effect of this position (totally unusual for me) and the coating of the island pavements of Corsica, without any point in common with the wide roads which are the terrain. preferred for this type of machine.

The dashboard of the T-Bird has great similarities with that of the competition but is even more beautiful when night has fallen, with colors in the reds of the most beautiful effect. It leaves plenty of room for the very precise tachometer. On the other hand, the tiny rev counter is purely aesthetic as this machine does not need to be pushed into the revs.

The different partial, clock, totalizer and autonomy controlled from the handlebars by a small button on the impulses of the thumb are just wrong by the small size of the indications format. A battery of indicator lights complete the instrumentation. We especially appreciate two gadgets that are of unparalleled usefulness: the automatic change in remaining kilometers to be covered as soon as the fuel reserve is started (this is where we appreciate the glasses) and the automatic switch-off of the flashing light. after a few seconds thus avoiding the traditional Christmas tree effect inherent in the vast majority of bikers who forget to cut. Orders fall well under the hands.

The only side crutch is relatively easy to maneuver even if at the beginning its slightly receding position is surprising..

The chrome and aesthetic mirrors would benefit either from having the arms a little longer or from being slightly larger to avoid having a breathtaking view of the elbows of the driver.

Contact

The ignition key is located on the right side of the machine, a typical custom feature. If this detail is particularly aesthetic by not cluttering the view with keys, it quite easily leads to forgetting the keys on the motorcycle, as long as you are called upon when stopping.

After a few moments due to the initialization of the circuit, the engine snorts at the stress on the starter.

The control levers are large and well designed but do not have any adjustment. It is therefore preferable to have cowboy-style mimines rather than midinettes if you do not want to "pilot" with your fingertips..

The braking assisted by ABS is formidable efficiency and proves to be effective without any effort. The clutch, which seems to have a small point of stress, is also remarkably smooth. The foot controls fall well and I have not noticed any false neutral on a six-speed gearbox which I would have preferred a little better staged, or even amputated of a sixth which, in view of the engine compartment, seems totally useless to me. The controls are large and as long as you get used to them, they do not err on the side of inadvertent mishandling. The footrests do not vibrate and have a good seat.

In the city

Despite its imposing size, length (2340mm) and weight (308 kilos dry), the TBird is a real bike and is remarkably manoeuvrable. The large caster angle (32 °) does not make it easy to maneuver at low speed, but the general balance of the machine, as long as you get into the wheelbase, does not interfere with them. We don’t compare a custom with a roadster, but the bike is easy to handle in traffic jams. The fabulous torque of the big twin also allows you to get out of all situations on the simple request of the throttle without having the least bit of juggling the box. And if the city is not the ideal playground for this model, we find ourselves riding on a net of gas which allows to cheerfully tame all the beautiful … who will not be without turning around.

The sound of the exhausts deserves a little less discretion at the time and contrasts a little with the ardent desire that one has to be noticed on the handlebars of such a machine.

Highway

The big twin cruises quietly on the motorway. The bi naturally has nothing to do with the character and breathtaking acceleration of its cousin Rocket, but it does bring out its torque of 14.8 mkg. On the handlebars of the T-Bird, we ride more over time than in the moment.

For those who would like to do a lot of freeway, a windshield will be essential, as the wind resistance is important. But as long as you respect the limitations, it’s bearable. If the optional windshield provides comfort, you just have to check that the latter does not affect the sensitivity to side wind, almost zero in the stock version.

Reasonable speed and a good surface are enough to take you to the end of the world by borrowing only the large ribbons. I found myself humming while eating the kilometer of the highway without worrying about losing points with the wind and the distance traveled, helmet open, and, but we must not say it, almost a cigarette on my lips !

Departmental

The torque of the engine – immediately available -, the pick-ups at low speed and outstanding braking, combined with remarkable road holding, allow numerous eccentricities. The handling of the machine also allowed me tricks that greatly surprised my hiking companions.

But Corsica is not his favorite playground, especially as long as you have some inclination to turn the throttle a little too much. With carriageways less than 8 meters wide and bends every 30 meters, it is difficult to pick up the hairpins without going to the left side of the road. It is absolutely forbidden to cut too much in a turn or to brake on the angle if you do not immediately straighten the machine and end up in a rough position. Ground clearance is low and it is not uncommon to leave the heel of the boots on the tarmac.

Not made for sporty driving on small roads, but is it only designed for that? No. The Thunderbird is ideal for cruising, even cruising fast, but it is above all a big custom.

Braking

ABS allows you to forget the braking dosage. During the journey over terrain that has often been marred by wet patches and other gravel, I have never had the slightest fear of calling on the speed bumps. The 339 kilos of the machine are stopped in a few meters in complete safety. And it’s really amazing on a daily basis.

Tires

The bike is fitted as standard with Metzeler road profile tires 120 x 19 at the front and 200 x 17 at the rear which will prove to be excellent throughout the test in all circumstances..

The high torque limits the life of the rear tire, which is only marathon in name, but wet handling is very reassuring and the temperature rise of the tires under stress is not exponential. The tire budget should still be taken into consideration when considering shopping for this motorcycle..

Comfort

The belt drive is remarkably smooth and provides no jerking. The original saddle is relatively comfortable. It seems that the optional one is a bit nicer. This impression is related to a test carried out on the often degraded roads of the Isle of Beauty. The passenger is placed on a kind of totally uncomfortable beanbag and the couple’s ride can only be limited to a small number of kilometers due to the lack of guaranteed divorce.

It’s easy to equip this bike with a pair of side bags that don’t spoil its aesthetics in any way. Even if the fully cruising driving position is prohibitive for those who suffer from back problems, the wide saddle allows many changes of position which reduce the discomfort. I would be curious to test the same machine in a roadster version which is sure to happen one day like the Rocket which has thus discovered a new face and opened up to new customers..

Convenient

The practicality of the stock bike is the weak link. To access the underside of the saddle, use the awl wrench hidden under the left cover. The side covers come off very – too – easily but leave good access to the electrical part of the machine. Level controls are easy.

For the trip you have to go through the accessories box to hope to transport the least combination of rain, the tire sealant or the four necessary briefs. The tank does not lock. The steering lock is designed from the outset but it’s a hit if you forget to remove it and go the wrong way.

The T-Bird has a single sidestand which takes a little getting used to to maneuver but offers good stability. The footrest nipples rub happily on the tarmac as soon as you take a little angle and you regret not being able to angle as much as the machine frame seems to be able to allow because it is so rigorous and rigid.

Consumption

The tank capacity is 22 liters with a reserve indicator light that lights up while there is approximately 4 liters remaining in the can. There is then this famous little count which indicates the number of kilometers to be carried out before pushing. The average consumption during this long-term test having been 5 liters per 100 km, this ensures a range of nearly 450 km, so as not to go into refueling every five minutes. The injection has been well thought out and I’m sure that with a more reasonable drive you should be able to approach 4.5 liters per hundred. What for a 1600 is remarkable.

Conclusion

It was my first approach to a custom on a long-haul test and I have to admit that I was not disappointed. It must be recognized that it has a large number of qualities, especially if it is used in the context of the use intended by its design. All those to whom I have been able to have it tested over a few kilometers are unanimous, after a short period of getting used to those who have never driven a custom, the Thunderbird is an easy machine that puts you in total safety and invites you to stroll. In the market largely acquired by the Americans, this new Triumph will undoubtedly be the paving stone in the pond and should try more than one. The intrinsic qualities of the machine, associated with the aura of the brand, should allow the T-Bird to encroach on the beds of the Milwaukee V-twin or its ersatz in this specific niche of big cruisers! The 14.8 mkg of torque always available, gently, are the most that will tempt many lovers of this kind of motorcycle. Take out the fringes guys, the "big one" will make you fly in the wind.

Strong points

• torque and engine flexibility
• handling
• braking
• consumption

Weak points

• original equipment
• ground clearance

Competitors: Kawasaki VN 1600, Kawasaki VN 2000, Suzuki Intruder M1800, Yamaha XV1900A Midnight Star

Datasheet

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