Tbird wins award

[AD345]

Problem with a cruiser performance shootout is...you are entering shot putters in the high jump.

10 points for the analogy

Perhaps shootout was the wrong word. I was thinking more along the lines of a comparison.

In fact - your own method of choosing the "best XX" by means of a line-up might be the go.

get someone thats never ridden a cruiser - some gixxerbunny type - and have them take each of the bikes around a loop (say Drury-Pukekawa-Mercer-Drury) and then pick one that they would take home*



*this step may require a firearm to the cranium

[98tls]

10 points for the analogy

Perhaps shootout was the wrong word. I was thinking more along the lines of a comparison.

In fact - your own method of choosing the "best XX" by means of a line-up might be the go.

get someone thats never ridden a cruiser - some gixxerbunny type - and have them take each of the bikes around a loop (say Drury-Pukekawa-Mercer-Drury) and then pick one that they would take home*



*this step may require a firearm to the cranium

Wahoo pick me pick me.That would be a fun day out.

[Molly]

I've yet to ride a Rocket III but last time I made the mistake of thinking: "That's a nice bike. I'll have a go on that" was at the local Harley dealer's open day. After trade-in I went home $7,000 poorer and one Road King richer :-)

Actually saw the Softail I traded that day parked up on town today. Made me realise how much time I'd put into that bike personalising it. The wife mentioned that we'd had our first date on that bike. Felt bad for selling it...

When we've finished dithering and arguing over this or that model, it actually doesn't matter as much as what the bike comes to mean to you; what experiences it gives you. A new bike is just another new bike. It takes time before it's any more than that and the badge is irrelevant.

Christ, that was deep.... I'm going back to bed

[zadok]

I wonder though, how does ANY manufacturer win a "best XXX" award for a model that has only been released in the last few weeks?

It may prove to be a great bike, but my sentiments exactly.

[Big Dave]

They have had press bikes for several months.

[Big Dave]

A Rocket is nothing like a Harley really. I really enjoy both of them but they are both a different kind of buzz.
I could do you 2,000 words as to why.
It mainly comes down to:
A Harley runs out 70 horsepower. A Rocket has 140.

Part of the appeal of a Rocket to me is cranking it over so it's right on the edge of that square rear tyre and lighting it up so it's just on the limit of traction and starting to break loose on exits. That is a beautiful place that deals with any of its appearance shortcomings.

Harleys can just make me feel good - dance on the inside - cruising at 55kph.

[shrub]

Hell, nobody can. People buy Harleys because they're Harleys - the new ones are bloody nice bikes, but on paper they're usually way behind most of the metrics, yet they will always outsell any other cruiser because of the writing on the tank.

The Thunderbird has been released because a lot of people want Triumph cruisers because they love Triumphs (in the same way people love Harleys), and the Speedmaster/America are seen as too small being 865cc and the Rocket is too big and scary for a lot of people. Now they are able to buy a bike that is a serious cruiser with tons of poke and competes directly with the M109s etc. I would say most of the cruiser market share the T Bird collects will be from the metrics and they have priced it (around $24,000) so it's well cheaper than most Harleys and slightly more expensive than the metrics.

However the T Bird will take some sales off Harley because there are also an increasing number of people who own and love Harleys, but are sick of the fact that every second bike out there seems to be a Harley and they don't want to follow the crowd.

As to whether it deserved the award - Triumph are a small company compared to the bjg 4 Jap companies and Harley, so I doubt their advertising budget had any influence. The reports I have read suggest that it really is a great bike to ride, so it may be that it won because it is the best cruiser on the market.

[Molly]

Hell, nobody can. People buy Harleys because they're Harleys ... they will always outsell any other cruiser because of the writing on the tank.

Agreed with your post apart from the above. I know there's a section of Harley's customer-base that wouldn't ride anything but a H-D regardless of what the competition has to offer but that's not all of 'em (though it is the ones I try to avoid like the plague).

I shopped around before buying my latest H-D but nothing else seemed sufficiently substantial. That said, I did notice yesterday that the Rocket 3 touring bike (the only one I'd consider) is now just $27k plus change. Might've been tempted - but probably wouldn't. Doesn't say Harley on the tank..... Doh!

[ukusa]

only a 2 - 3 weeks & the Tbirds will be here. I had several reasons why I ordered one, I loved the look, I needed the extra power (2 up on the America didn't cut it), and yeah, I probably did buy it partly for the name, I loved my last Triumph (don't tell the wife) and it's still a little more exclusive than the big 5. So why not go for something completely new, I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

[Big Dave]

only a 2 - 3 weeks & the Tbirds will be here. I had several reasons why I ordered one, I loved the look, I needed the extra power (2 up on the America didn't cut it), and yeah, I probably did buy it partly for the name, I loved my last Triumph (don't tell the wife) and it's still a little more exclusive than the big 5. So why not go for something completely new, I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

I'm sure you won't be disappointed too.
I've just been down a TNZ. Big shipping container there is.

[ukusa]

Jay Leno has one, watch his review here

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/...e-ar77595.html

[Big Dave]

Cheers - will watch later - I don't read any other reviews until I have ridden and written it myself - and I saw some in boxes yesterday so we're close.