Is Triumph the new Harley Davidson?

**Sketchy Snr** · 13th September 2009, 22:18

Originally Posted by scumdog

Yep, that radiator just shags the appearance eh!

The radiator, the front end ( stolen HD ), the rear end, the exhausts, what were they thinking?? The new HD i dont think so. The only thing this bike will do is maybe shuffle a few Triumph owners around.

**AllanB** · 13th September 2009, 22:49

Originally Posted by usa-vtwin

Triumphs are little sluts...they play with the Jappa set and they play with the American set!

Yeah everyone wants to ride the slut, but who wants to take her home?

The new Harley?

I don't think so - I think what may be happening is that people are being less tunnel visioned - I have know of guys who wanted to get back into riding - all they talked about was a Harley - never ridden one and last rode a XR350 or something 25 years ago.

Now days I think people who want a Harley are also trying others - Triumph is getting a fair bit of the returning "I want a HD" crowd on the merits of their bikes. Ride a sporty and a T100.

Plus the Triumph name has enough bad-boy history to still impress your old lady

**Storm** · 14th September 2009, 00:23

Originally Posted by scumdog

Yep, that radiator just shags the appearance eh!

Come on now, the reason no one talks to you is because of another sterotype- your day job.

Dont take it personal. I dont care what they say- I reckon you're..........all right

EDIT: Damnnit quoted the wrong post. This was meant to quote Scummy's comment on the skull mask. Take it easy, I've been away for nigh on 5 months

**ukusa** · 14th September 2009, 00:48

Originally Posted by Sketchy Snr

The radiator, the front end ( stolen HD ), the rear end, the exhausts, what were they thinking?? The new HD i dont think so. The only thing this bike will do is maybe shuffle a few Triumph owners around.

rode the demo Thunderbird to Akaroa last week. As soon as I parked the bike an old guy came up & we got chatting. He said it looked like a Harley except for the tank.

**popelli** · 14th September 2009, 06:12

Originally Posted by RDjase

I had bonnies and tridents in the late 80s and early90s, and everyone i rode with had british bikes(we had 5 or more T140D
triumph specials in HB) then the HD thing started . I never wanted one , i could do the wairoa rd on the T150 awesome, i tried on a Big Block something(never got used to all the letter for models, fxrgt custom blah blah blah)when me and a mate swaped bikes one day , and my mate didnt want to give my trident back lol. The thing that changed was the attitude of "ive got a Harley and your only on a triumph" I sold my trident and got a CB900F Bol,dor with yoshi bits and a noisey 4 into 1. They didnt like that. I see the guys that used to ride with and only 2 out of 15 odd have still got bikes, I think thay were more into the scene than the bikes

first decent trip I did was the SI in 86, 7 of us 2 harleys, 2 nortons and 3 triumphs

the 2 guys on harleys no longer ride, the 3 guys on triumphs now all have harleys, one guy on the norton has a harley and lost touch with the other guy

harley is the new triumph affordable and within everybodies reach

the 883 sportster replaced the bonnie in 1986 and harley have never looked back

**rosie631** · 14th September 2009, 08:18

Originally Posted by popelli

first decent trip I did was the SI in 86, 7 of us 2 harleys, 2 nortons and 3 triumphs

the 2 guys on harleys no longer ride, the 3 guys on triumphs now all have harleys, one guy on the norton has a harley and lost touch with the other guy

harley is the new triumph affordable and within everybodies reach

the 883 sportster replaced the bonnie in 1986 and harley have never looked back

Actually, yes that's a good point. A lot of us back then did ride bonnies cos didn't have a shit show in hell of owning a Harley. Funny, cos I can remember a couple of friends of mine (married) who bought a superglide each. We were all jealous as hell. I'm sure I remember them paying 26grand each or maybe that was for both. If it was each that's more than you pay now.
That would have been very early 80s. On the other hand I bought a 76 ironhead sporty in 89 and paid 7 grand.

**devo** · 14th September 2009, 12:58

Originally Posted by ukusa

rode the demo Thunderbird to Akaroa last week. As soon as I parked the bike an old guy came up & we got chatting. He said it looked like a Harley except for the tank.

Shoulda lent him some glasses
I honestly cant see any resemblence between any trump and an hd.
The lack of a v twin is the first noticable difference.
I will admit tho, the tank console could be a bit of a copy, and is the first thing I would toss of my speedy if I could get another tank at a reasonable price, as I prefer the more traditional look.

**Bounce001** · 14th September 2009, 13:28

Originally Posted by Molly

Y'not kidding. Quoted $350 for some Triumph America handlebars!

As for the whole HoG thing? With two notable exceptions I found the ChCh HoG to be the most unfriendly, unapproachable, clicky bunch. When my missus dropped her Sportster at Hororata half a dozen of them just stood and watched. Bollocks to them.

Just remember HOG = Homos On Goats

**bru62** · 14th September 2009, 15:02

i took a bonnie for a testa and have to admitt i was pretty disapointted been wanting a truimph for years still got the posters on the wall it was just small and im just under sixfoot but in saying that it turned like a demon i dont think truimphs are the new h-d, with wages being a bit higher and bikes being more affordable thats what gets you in the saddle and the newer machines being more reliable who gives a shit what you ride we all at differant stages of life and that dictates what your riding fuck it and ride

**ukusa** · 14th September 2009, 15:11

Originally Posted by bru62

i took a bonnie for a testa and have to admitt i was pretty disapointted been wanting a truimph for years still got the posters on the wall it was just small and im just under sixfoot but in saying that it turned like a demon i dont think truimphs are the new h-d, with wages being a bit higher and bikes being more affordable thats what gets you in the saddle and the newer machines being more reliable who gives a shit what you ride we all at differant stages of life and that dictates what your riding fuck it and ride

phew, glad you got that out, and without a pausing.

**Bonez** · 14th September 2009, 17:01

I like what Triumph are doing with their twins. The thunderbird would make a great sidecar hack. The new Harley-a deffinate no. Triumph twin exhaust note- turnip turnip, turnip turnip..........

Also it does give the "anything but Jappanese" crowd another choice.

**Flip** · 14th September 2009, 17:09

I don't think many harley riders will be trading in their bikes on a triumph thunderbird.

They are just too new, too soon, too much, too little. The one thing about HD riders is they are IMHO conservative.

I am happy to ride with any bike brand. Don't care what you ride as long as you are not a d1ck.