Moto Poll: Vote for About.com's Long Term Triumph Motorcycle!

Hope the Thunderbird wins, really like that bike.

I have really mixed feelings about you putting in the time and effort that a long term test will take on a bike brand that will never again be more than a marginal player in the U.S.

95% plus of all future motorcycle sales in this country over the next five years will be Harley’s or one of the big four Japanese brands. I thought your recent Gold Wing long term test was exactly where you needed to be concentrating your efforts: on one of the motorcycles that are relevant to today’s new bike market and today’s riders.

A new Triumph will never be more than a curiosity in the USA, even if it does work pretty well as a motorcycle. Likely, when you are riding your shiny new Triumph, you will here a lot of comments like, “Oh, are those guys still in business?”

I can’t think of a better choice for a long-term test than a new Triumph. I’m getting a Bonneville T100 because it looks and rides better than anything Harley or the Japanese Four currently have to offer. Anyone who knows about bikes knows that Triumph is a big company in the USA so you will likely never hear the comment, “Oh, are those guys still in business?”

In my opinion a test of the Bonneville SE is much more relevant in today’s market than a $21,000+ touring bike because many more people are going to buy a Bonneville. I have absolutely nothing against Harley or the Japanese Four. I’ve ridden bikes from all of them and couldn’t find a single thing wrong. But 95% seems like a ridiculous number and I’d like to ask Steve the name of the person who made that up.

Harley Davidson will most likely go bankrupt in the next five years. And I’d honestly hate to see that, just like I was upset to see that Buell is being shut down. It would mean the loss of a great motorcycle icon. But it’s plain and simple that they’re just not making enough money right now. There are dozens of bike manufacturers besides Harley, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha and I’m always happy when I read a new review.

Steve,

Thanks for your comment, but I’ve got to say I disagree. Triumph is far from a “marginal” brand; they’ve got a rich history, an eclectic lineup, and more character than most bikes currently available on the market. If I based my coverage solely on outright sales numbers, this website would essentially digress into a popularity contest… in my opinion, Triumph is exactly the type of brand that merits a closer look and more in-depth testing.

Basem

Steve, I own a harley but would still be intested in seeing a review of one these Triumph’s. I’m sure Truimph sees this as good publicity and way for people to learn about some of their bikes. I think it’s good to see reviews of high selling bikes and some bikes that are lower volume and what better way for Truimph or any other brand to get there name out there then to do stuff like this.

A few weeks ago I stopped by the Triumph / Ducati dealer here in Manhattan (which curiously is closed Mondays as well as Sundays), and two of the three Bonnevilles had sold signs on them. No other sold signs in the showroom, and they did have a Thunderbird and some Triples. I guess that just goes to show that people still like the classics or that the price and the size work well here.

Triumphs are great just because they’re different than anything out there right now. I’m particular to the classics because of what I perceive to be more aesthetic beauty, but even their modern bikes are quite different. Anything to break the Harley/UJM mold.

The SE Street Triple. It’s a bike on the ’short list’ for me, when the time comes to replace my current steed. Better suspension, more ‘nuts’, less body work…. with a 3 cylinder motor. More character, better quality components……. light, agile, fast… braided brake lines stock.

What’s not to like?

Basem,
I totally get your comment about ‘character’ and I agree. Take the body work off a CBR, GSXR, ZXR, R1, and probably the Beemer as well, and park them across the street and I bet they’d be very difficult to tell apart. Fire them up and use sound only, and there wouldn’t be a hope in telling one from the other. (The R1 with the trick crank would probably stand out)
Long live V4’s, triples, vertical twins and 90 degree V-twins!

Glad to see you are testing the Triumph. Many of us grew up with those “marginal” bikes, and are excited to see the DAytona and Thunderbird badges getting some facetime in the mainstream mags, again. I was a little concerned over the possibillity of a year long test of the T-Bird, in it’s first year. Why not test the American or Speedmaster for a cruiser?

Lance,

I’m definitely looking forward to spending more time on a Triumph. The Thunderbird appealed because it’s new, and besides, what better test of a bike than during its first model year?

Basem

No Sprint ST? That is a bike I’m very interested in. Seems to be one of the few truly good hybrids between sport bike and touring bike.

I’m partial; have a 2008 Truimph Scrambler but if you do the Bonnie test it’s pretty close, except it don’t have the ground clearance, lower torque, yeah less ponies but when your scooting down fireroads and jumping ditches and water crossings, it just looks better dirty.

28years on Wings and others and the Truimph has been the most fun to date.

as Yamaha,Honda & Kawasaki have all discontinued making their good looking cruisers ie. Virago,Sprit 1100 & Vulcan 750 i will be seriously looking at the America or Thunderbird when my current 95 Virago dies.

I concur that it should be the Thunderbird because it’s a new model even though it’s an old name. I’ve test ridden one and it’s very much the cruiser with a V-Twin feel.

Wow, all three bikes have 33% right now. Maybe they could give you all three.

I like the Truimph Thunderbird–nice bike. I have owned a BSA, Truimph, Puch, Honda`s, Kawasaki and now a STAR Yamaha Venture. I had a junk H.D. and when it crapped out on me I used it as target shooting–A TURKEY SHOOT for the times I had to push that S___T. Made me feel good.—Sold it as scrap. H.D. will be out business soon anyway.
Truimpt has come back strong and not the oil leakers of old.—THE Rocket is a great bike. Daniel I like the way you think.

Joy,

I think that’s a GREAT idea!

Hey, Triumph…

This is a great idea I have own Triumphs for the last 4 years. I owned the America and now the R3 they are both great bikes. My next bike will be the The thunderbird I’m hoping it gets picked. I’m interested in learning more.

Triple all the way. Would like to see something on the Yamaha MT-01….fun bike

It would be hard for me to pick one of the three categories to poll.I own a 1977 750 bonnie,silver jubilee,and a 2006 america.I love both bikes,the 06 because it is an overall great bike ,handles great,mechanically can’t beat it,never let me down,6500 miles later,comfortable to ride,and great lines.A set of BuB pipes,and she roars with the best of them.And what can i say about a classic like a 77 bonnie,every time i sit on her i’m 21 again,even if she pee’s a little oil,thats part of the appeal of an old triumph.As for Steve he must just be upset his Harley stock tanked and he’s hemmoraging money,and his bike is just hemmoraging,look behind you Steve that’s a TRIUMPH getting ready to pass you,just get out of the way

If you offered the Sprint ST, I would be voting. I would have thought that a sport tourer option on your list would have been instructive for everyone. Looks like this is primarily a sport/cruiser website.

bjrieder,

We love pretty much all types of bikes here.

The idea for this poll was to pick one from each of Triumph’s categories: Modern Classic, Cruiser, and Urban Sports. And because I already have a review of the Tiger 1050 (found in my list of sport touring motorcycle reviews, I felt the Street Triple R would make a better option since it’s a newer bike.

Ride on,
Basem

Ride the T-Bird. I tried it on a short test and was surprised at its easy shifting and relative lack of vibration. I ride a Triumph Sprint 955 — it’s quick, but the bottom end grunt of the T-Bird is simply awesome. This will be an important bike for Triumph and should stack up well with the Harleys and clones. Add some bags and a windshield and take a trip!

The Thunderbird is the way to go. Power for sportiness and comfort for the long hall.

I voted for the Thunderbird, because, selfishly, that’s the one I most want to ride. Can I, Basem, can I?

I don’t get why the Street Triple R is lagging in votes. It’s got the best engine, the best suspension, the best chassis, a much better braking setup…it really is the best all-around bike of the three. As a matter of fact, its one of the best all-around bikes on the market. Another online moto-journal already rated it the best bike of ‘09.

But, leave it to the typical American buyers to pick the bigger, heavier, slower, ‘chromed-out’ couches. You guys are ruining the market availability for the rest of us…

Basem, regardless of the outcome of this poll (which I fear will go way off in the wrong direction), you’ve gotta do at least one or two track day tests of the Street Triple R. Half of my riding is done at track days, and the R is far and away the best fit for both street and track duty…you can’t even take a T-bird on the track! I can’t imagine foolishly wasting my money on something like that.

Mick,

I agree that the Street Triple is a way cool bike and will outperform the others in a straight line and around corners. But I voted for the T-Bird because the cruiser market is so important here, and publicity and sales for the T-Bird will help Triumph stay in business. And that will help keep great bikes like the ST, the Street and Speed Triples, the 675 crotch rocket and the twins in production.

Hey Mick. I’m an American and I voted for the Street Triple R. Hard to believe, right? It must be even harder for you to believe that I ride a Ducati Monster. Last time I checked nobody was calling that bike a ‘chromed-out’ couch. I didn’t pick my bike based on how well it would do on a track either. Stop trying to compensate for something you’re missing.

If you really think Americans are ruining the world-wide market for sport bikes by buying cruisers then you must be as stupid as you sound. I’ve always thought that people who believe in stereotypes are too dumb to think for themselves. Go into any Triumph dealership and I guarantee you won’t have any trouble getting a Street Triple.

The best bike for a long-term test in North America would be the Triumph Bonneville America. The SE is actually a “standard” configuration, not the cruiser of the Triumph line. The America has a longer wheelbase, lower saddle height, forward pegs and slightly different engine set-up for maximum comfort in day-to-day riding as well as long-haul traveling. My 2003 America now has over 24,000 miles on it and it is one of my favorite bikes of the 19 I’ve owned over the years and of the 11 I own today.

Nice blog! Great article!