Triumph Thunderbird 1600 mini review part 3

[jeffgrinds]

Bought mine in Dec 11, first bike!! Love it to bits, short pipes sound grrrreat. Shame about the weather...PS I'm about 10 miles from Donnington.

[RocknLester2011]

Geeezz that machine is wicked!!!!

[StereoFuzzable]

Is there not a vid where you crank the bike so we can hear the short pipes?

[V8Villan]

Cheers NovSpice

[NovSpice]

wow sexy bike!! especially the rear view!!

[motornade]

Thanks again,, nice comment , good camerawork

[IMOLEGREGG]

Please no more chrome mate. Looks nice, just the rear mudguard/fender looks all wrong, maybe ive been looking at to many (much nicer) customs.

[waringpepper]

Great review.

Just purchased my Tbird Super Bike.

Thanks

Phil.

[theroadbeckons]

But does it Go?,I like the old nortons and triumphs this thing does look kinda massive?I like your extras tho, give it a bit of a performance look!

[V8Villan]

yeah, it goes well, and corners for a bigun!

[mingeth]

Great reviews very seriously considering, although I do quite fancy a Victory, sorry but hate the nose cone...

[donmartinp]

Ran out of paper!!!

LOL

Just to round off...

From what I see and read... You are a great salesman!

Happy ridin'!!!!

[V8Villan]

i'm sat in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur killing time just as your comments came through, glad you like the reviews and i'm more than happy for you to contact triumph uk with your recommendations :-)

good choice on the tbird, you'll love it when you get it, i would hold off getting the sissy bar for the time being... because if Fran does divorce you then you won't need it. not sure why its called a sissy bar, but i think its do to with the support it gives passeners, only sissies need support, enjoy!

[donmartinp]

Great Reviews! I agree ... You should think about a little journalism as a second job... Helps pay for the trips....LOL

Thanks to you sir... I got the silver version... Waiting for it to arrive... I'll probably get divorced... Me wife's name is Fran... :(

Planning on putting a sissy bar and passenger backrest and fog lamps.. Maybe she'll appreciate the expense!!!!!

Or maybe I'll find a Liz somewhere.... ;)

BTW ... Why do they call it a sissy bar?

(Triumph should pay you commission ... Fro

[motodobe1]

Thank you sir for your minireviews. You did a great job. They helped me to make my decision. Just bought a new T'bird! Have to wait a few more months for the snow to melt here in Alaska which can't happen soon enough!

[V8Villan]

cheers, motodobe1, the months will fly by and the snow will be gone and you'll be making tbird memories that will last forever! make sure you post some Alaskan tbird vids for us to see, ride saft, VV

[bvivers]

You should be doing bike journalism! Great video.

[V8Villan]

hey @bvivers, if i did journalism it would mean giving up selling plastic carrier bags for a living! what a tough decision that would be... thanks for the comment, vv

[hagar1959]

have fun in may ,we just had the wettest year in history here in OZ but I still did 7000 kms over summer .Thats how much I love the bird lol

[hagar1959]

G-day V8 I Just fitted the bars on the bike they look fantastic ,again thanks for the Vids they really helped and not just with the bars . When I saw the 1st vid I new I had to have one lol

[V8Villan]

mate, just watched your vids! i'm so jealous of where you live, it looks awesome, you've inspired me to do a couple of vids of me riding this summer so keep in touch, i'm off to Germany in may with a bunch of other riders so i should have a vid or two of that. i cant wait for this cold weather to go. i took the tbird in for a service today so that its ready for when the sun comes back... it was 3 degrees! ride safe hagar

[guins99]

GOOD looking ride -- love that look-- I'm close to buying a new thunderbird storm, like that blacked out look -- but this t-bird with you add-ons looks great

[V8Villan]

cheers bud, i saw the storm at the bike show in birmingham, great looking piece of kit, go for it!

[stgarrettjones]

Sweet looking scoot brother! Do they have a chrome accent trim you could put around the taillight? I think that would make the contrast of the red, blue, creme really pop out. And it would look good with that luggage rack you have. Cheers

[V8Villan]

i think you might be right, i'll keep and eye out for a chrome, trim, if i do it i'll post it and let you know, cheers

[hagar1959]

thanks for the vids on the bike ,thanks to you Ihave just ordered the flat bars for my t-bird

[V8Villan]

good choice, i think the few mods that i've done really change the bike and the best one to start with has to be the T bars, enjoy

[blackhand1818]

@V8Villan what's the mileage on this thing and the capacity of the tank?

[V8Villan]

@blackhand1818

its 5.5gallon and around 230miles to tank

[V8Villan]

@blackhand1818

its 5.5gallon and around 230miles to a tank 

[gs400s]

Start the engine, it's the only thing we want to hear !!!!!

[V8Villan]

as soon as the british weather give me a chance i'll post a short vid with some sound,

[UgenetheFlagman]

watched the three vids . luv the bike happy cruzen .

[V8Villan]

@UgenetheFlagman

cheers buddy

[ausglocker]

P.S - my ex wife's name was Liz. Hated bikes (and anything fun!), especially my 98 Tbird Sport. She's gone, still got the bike ! "Why is divorce so expensive?". Cos it's worth it !!!

[ausglocker]

Great bike. I'm waiting for the Storm however, the blacked out one !

[mrmatkilgore]

Hi, Gee wives named Liz are good value, because I'm now a proud owner of a T'bird the same colour as yours, Getting the shorties fitted before delivery and as happy as a pig in poo. cheers

[mrmatkilgore]

Your bike looks great . I'm very very envious, my wife's name is Liz too. Hopefully she will be as understanding as yours and let me buy one. Look forward to your next update.

[V8Villan]

Thanks mrmatkilgore, any man with a wife called Liz should own one of these bikes. i'm sure your good lady will be understanding enough, if not just sneak one in to the garage, i'm sure you will be able to explain the Thunderous noises and continuous smile on your face some how...

[XCalubar]

Great review! I watched all three and they were very helpful. I just purchased this same bike, but haven't taken delivery yet. I waited for the winter to get a deal. I love the look of the double T bars, but I have short legs and arms. Did it change the rider position significantly?

[V8Villan]

Thanks XCalubar

i know i sound like stuck record but you are so going to love the TBird in every way! now with regards to the TT bars, if you change the seat to the long haul gel seat then you wont notice any change in the reach from seat to handle bars. thats because the shape and thickness of the seat will compensate, for you a little closer to the bars when compared to the standard seat. if you keep the standard seat then you will notice the xtra reach when the TT bars are fitted. enjoy!

[trenoso]

Fantastic review. Really enjoyed your open style and complete coverage of the bike. Are you sure you don't work for Triumph?

[V8Villan]

Thanks Trenso, glad you like my vids, do you think i should speak with Triumph about receiving some benefits for raving about the Thunderbird?

[TarkMalbot]

Chrome rear pully would finish off the rear end as its much more noticable with the shorties. I have a Black 1700 Big Bore with the T Bars and Shorties and am looking at getting a few other things similar to yours. I have the mudguard emblem for when removing the passenger seat but am considering the small rack as the mudguard looks a little bare. Did the rack come with a Triumph Motorcycles emblem and if not would I still be able to use it with the rack fitted?

[V8Villan]

hi matey

i agree the chrome pully is a must have once you've added the chrome guard and the short exhausts. the chrome rack does come with the triumph emblem so you will be able to put one on ebay and get a bit of money back.

[ESLLM5]

@TarkMalbot Are you satisfied with the Thunderbird? I am considering buying a Thunderbird. How many miles do you get to a tank of gas?

[V8Villan]

Hey ESLLM5, absolutely satisfied with the Tbird, winter is now here so i don't know what i'm going to do for the next 5 months... not sure how many miles to the tank, i think its around 200 miles but i'm not quite sure, that said it is really good on the fuel economy

[ESLLM5]

@V8Villan Thank you for your response.

[TarkMalbot]

@ESLLM5 Yes I love the Thunderbird but after coming from a sports bike find the pegs touch the floor in every corner if I don't slow right down! I have the 1700 Big Bore version and am getting about 200 miles to a tank but to be honest have only done about 300 miles in total so can't say for sure. I recently got the short exhaust fitted and it sounds much better!

[ESLLM5]

@TarkMalbot Thank you for your response too.

[narsisco2010]

Hi Mate!

Thanks so much for the 3 videos... I appreciate your comments and taking the time to share your impressions. I just rode a 2010 T-Bird here in Denver and it was love at first sight/sit! The one I'm trying to make a deal on at the local Triumph dealer is the same color as your... blue with the white stripe. As you've said, what a great looking bike it is... Triumph has done a bang up design job with the T-Bird. What a FUN bike to ride! I WILL own it!

[V8Villan]

hey buddy

thanks for the feedback, real glad you like the vids

a Thunderbird in cruising round Denver sounds the business.I have no idea how many Triumphs are out there but trust me, where ever you go you will get a lot of attention when riding it.

Blue and white is still the best colour and with a few mods it just looks stunning.

make sure you get the short exhausts, chrome swinging arm covers and then the twin T bars and you are good to go. When you get it post a vid and let me know

ride safe

[narsisco2010]

Just got mine yesterday! Same color as yours... LOVE IT! Gonna got with the shorty exhaust and heated grips during my first service. I love the headlight cowl, but am also considering the Corbin Contraband fairing as I plan on doing some more touring in the Rockies and points west of Denver.

This is my first cruiser (been riding a 2009 Triumph Sprint and a 2007 ZX10R Ninja), but don't regret selling those bikes now. I'm SOLD on the Triumph performance and build quality!

[V8Villan]

@narsisco2010

[V8Villan]

dude, i like your style! you said you were going to get one and you've gone and done it and you are so going to enjoy every minute of owning the Tbird.

lets see some pics of your bike with the Corbin fairing when you get it

[narsisco2010]

"Enjoying every minute of it" is EXACTLY the right way to describe this bike! Got 300 miles on it and am already saving for the Shorty pipes (and poss. grip heaters) for install during its first service. I love the look of the color-matched cowl you have, but the Corbin comes color-matched, too and its calling my name! YouTube won't let me post a video reply so I'm uploading vid right now... look for it under my vids.

[MrLouieG]

is the seat "longhaul rider seat"?it does not look the same on the website.this seat looks very comfortable.

[V8Villan]

thats right its the longhaul rider seat, its real comfy but it does reduce the reach a little due the depth of the padding. which is ok if you're not very tall but if your 6ft 2 like i am its a bit of a down side. that said its worth getting one even if you are tall

[MrLouieG]

@V8Villan thanks.i would like to have this bike.i had been looking at you tube and on websites about the best cruiser and i can see this is not only the best in perfomance but also the best in aesthetics.you made a very good looking bike setup yourself.cheers.