Thunderbird?

[Evil Mitch]

The only thing i really didn't like about the bird apart from the massive drop in torque was the ground clearance. I had those pegs smashing the ground without even leaning hard

 

[Sphinx]

As a previous Storm owner let me assure you there is one thing the Tbird has that the R3 doesn't...that very very very ***c'n annoying chirp from the belt drive. I was lucky (and it really was pure luck) and never personally had the pleasure of having to listen to my Tbird squealing like a stuck pig but I do remember going on a ride once where we had to pull in to a servo to get a can of belt dressing so we could quiet (which never seemed to last for long) a mates bike. We found out later that acetone-free silicon spray is the best short term fix. The Tbird forums are full of complaints about the dreaded chirp though it seems to have become less of an issue with the later models.

 

[idk]

The new T-bird is selling well. There are a number of people who look at the RIII and think that it is too much bike for them. The T-bird is what they will get. It is about the same engine size as most of the V2 bikes, but there is power all the way from idle to the red line. Not as much as the Rocket - but more than the direct competition. I think that Triumph hit a six with the T-bird, especially the new LT, as it is selling well and would have to have better profit margins than the RIII.

 

[cr0ft]

So Triumph has put all of it's eggs into the p-16. They came out with 2 more models this year and the phantom harley sightings were triumph using the big p-twin with the road king body! Why should this frustrate me, i'm not going to buy an LT for the same price as a R3t. I don't get it. The bird is an easy, forgiving, and more conventional cruiser but the rocket is a beast! this is the "you can have your cake and eat it too" bike!!! so,wtf more rocket choices please, Triumph can figure it out,

The Rocket is awesome - obviously - but marketing in the US especially is going to require being more traditional. A two-cylinder with traditional styling is something they're betting on to go more head to head with the American manufacturers. I can see why they're doing it, and I wish them luck. I just hope they don't start thinking crazy, like "hmm, let's discontinue the Rocket lineup".

Unfortunately, people are already saying that Triumph is planning to retire the R3 Touring by 2015; I would hope they keep the R3 Roadster at least, because having the biggest baddest engine does give the marque bragging rights (and us bikes to ride).

But if you look at the Thunderbird LT and the Commander and squint a little, you see something ****ed close to the R3T and the R3R...

 

[steve59]

that is what throws me? the LT costs as much as a R3t and side by side why would anybody walk past the rocket with hardbags to a smaller cheaper tbird and say oh yea this is it? I owned a Storm 1 year and 14000 miles maybe the R3 was a bit to big and "go your own way" looking. I remember bringing home the big map style brocure and comparing specs then and questioning my decision to spend even money on less bike and I ended up walking away that day because after we added all the acc's my new storm was going to cost $20,000.00!! when the dealer called a day later with a very lightly used one for $8500.00 less I bought it despite my wife nudging me to the big one. The more conventional look of the tbird is surely helping sales so why not give the masses a conventional looking rocket?

 

[cr0ft]

Sorry but I personally think Triumphs Thunderbird is just another 'run of the mill' cruiser , not unlike so many others.

I think that's the whole point. Cruiser pilots are conservative. Prying them away from Harleys takes some doing.

 

[cadconversions]

Dad owns the Thunderbird - I own the R3R... I love both bikes and if for putting around town and riding one up - the T-bird is more than enough but doesn't really have a "wow" factor for me. Dad's bike will never be sold and will be a part of my family forever... It means something to me...

The R3R - I've owned for two years. I've never yet to throw a leg over her that I don't smile. When I park it in the garage and walk away - I look back and smile. When I pull into the large rides around town and everyone wants to know about the Rocket - I smile. When I walk in the victory dealership and the manager knows almost as much about the rocket and it's amazing power as I do - I smile. When all conversations stop about he victory and people want to know where to buy the rocket - I smile... When a gentleman on a Valk pulls over just to see one "in real life" - I smile...

Get my point? Triumph has a truly one-of-a-kind advertising machine - and it seems like that have failed to use it.

I almost picked up a T-bird... wanna know why? The r3r came across as very intimidating...that is - till I got brave enough to ride it. Even though I loved the crazy video with Kevin Carmichael doing some crazy wheelies and drifting on the bike - I wonder if a video showing an average man out cruising the backroads - passing every V-twin on the road including a V-rod wouldn't have been better marketing.

 

[mcather]

Rode the Storm and the Roadster and the Touring many years at demos and I always came away liking the R3T over the others. The only difference for me is the wide seat on the R3T. I have short 29" legs and getting on and off can be awkward. But the eclectic style and smooth KApower of the R3T is addictive.

I wish there was the standard touring gadgets: true cruise, radio, linked braking & ABS, remote lock, true fairing, adjustable screen, trunk, all from factory. I still eyeball the Vic XCT and the Indian Chieftain... both are very nice bikes. Not as quick as the R3T or my Goldwing, but they are very comfortable.

I don't see Triumph after all these years putting together a true touring cruiser package for the R3T. I don't have the knees (position) for the new Trophy, and there have been glitches w/ that machine, as with all.

 

[GPMAZ]

I think Triumph recognizes that most cruiser riders don't care about, and in many cases are intimidated by power. Same goes for touring bikes. No doubt the T'Bird is cheaper to manufacture and its closer to what most cruiser buyers want. Long, slow rides and good gas mileage is what the majority want. People who want a full dress, 2.3 liter, 150 horsepower touring bike are a minority and not large enough to sustain a product line.

The Rocket should be aimed at the power market. Sharpen the focus to do battle with the Diavel and V-Max. The Rocket engine is seriously under stressed as witnessed by the results folks like Carpenter get with little to no mods needed to improve reliability. Turn over final engine development to Art and the boys like Mercedes does with AMG, and make the Rocket an exclusive, take no prisoners, assault machine.

We need to realize that we are the exception, not the rule.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

[Bobs05]

To each his own.

It takes a special breed to handle and appreciate the awesome bike that the R3 is. It's not for everyone!