I have a friend who is thinking of buying a classic...possibly a Commando....but they break down and need lots of TLC, but Triumph make a new old bike called a Thruxton and its new and comes with a two year warranty. Problem is my friend thinks retro bikes are like fake watches and handbags.....sort of thing you would buy at a Bangkok market. What do you think?
Is your friend a wrench ? And what does he want the bike for? I suspect he would probably be happier with the Bonnieville than the Thruxton (BTW, there is only EVER one REAL Thruxton, and Velocette made it !)
The new triumphs have got fuel infection hiding in carb bodies.................. Not a Amal in site Old bikes are best !
Out of all the new Triumph retros, the Thruxty is the best IMO, and they say you can get some decent hot up gear for them too.
Is your friend a wrench ? And what does he want the bike for? Why does he want a classic ? Because they look cool? Or because he wants to relive his youth? Or becaue he wants a bike that can be fixed with only a hammer? Or because, like the rest of ud he is simply a bit doo-lalley? I suspect he would probably be happier with the Bonnieville than the Thruxton (BTW, there is only EVER one REAL Thruxton, and Velocette made it !)
My 'friend' rode a Bonnie last week and said it had as much character as a mid 80's japper twin like the Z400 and way less go than an old Ducati Darmah. The Thruxton looks way cooler than the Bonnie....Velocette....didn't they make Police bikes called Noddy?
Well a Commando that cost as much as a new Thruxton would be almost a new bike....so I would go for the Commando.Looking at it the other way...a Thruxton for the same price as an old Commando would be a piece of shit.
Your "friend" will have to decide whether he prefers to lose money through depreciation with a new Thruxton, or spend money on maintenance and recovery vehicles with ownership of a Commando . . . .
i reckon the scrambler, its got the 270' crank so sounds like a lumpy v twin, (or a trx850) plus its a little different, i reckon they'll hold their value a bit better as well, although its down 10hp on the thruxton or the bonne, but still a fair amount more than commando, with its crappy push rod engine, go the dohc i say
The Scrambler is even less a scrambler than the the Thruxton is a racer..... ...although I had a good report on one from a mate who rode one, his opinion has to be disallowed as he has only ever had Jap bikes and a Hinkley Triumph.
The Thruxton holds value pretty darn well. I bought one for 9K, did 8,000 on it and sold it for $11,470 on a $1 reserve.... Turn key bike, mine had carbs and aftermarket pipes. Trouble free and good fun. Reasonably well made too, that was made in the UK though, not in the 'other' factory. Even I wince at buying a Commando, so many people I know in the past have had them off the road more than on. I still want one but realise that it will challange me mechanically from time to time. My friend has a Commando and a handfull of Indians, the Indians he says are easier to keep on the road, and he is pretty handy with old stuff... The scrambler is pretty gutless, I like the look but a test ride answered the 'will I' question.
So what you saying is ... just as well brother in law has some dollars for us to spend on his commando
.....other factory???? Plan B would be throw some $$$$ into reviving the 59 T110....have a 360 Nourish crank and a Bonnie head, got my eye on a magneto to gut out and fit boyer.'Maybe one of those fancy French Lucas look a like alternators.... Just need a good 8 stud barrell some new pistons and viola.....after all its already at the new place...has been there for over 13 years....waiting... Plan C would be fit the Max'd R90 motor in the Toaster, raise the motor, fit 5 speed and r100 final drive and throw on the new wheels/tyres and disc front end and give it the cafe treatmeant. or just forget Commandos and do plan b and c.
They farmed out production/assembly of the classic range to Thailand a few years back. Sounds like it would be cheaper to buy a handgrenade than hot up the T110 Volty, same end result. All that work to the toaster seems like buying my R100 and putting the toaster bodywork on would be a lot easier.
I've read that the Thailand-assembled bikes are as good (if not better) as the UK assembled bikes were. The engines are still assembled in the UK and shipped to Thailand. Don't forget that some BMW bikes are now manufactured in China . . . . As for fitting the Toaster tank to the R100, it won't fit without major surgery to clear the electrics mounted along the mainframe spine unfortunately.
