Triumph was established in 1883 . H-D is on the market from 1903 so Triumph is 20 years older . Triumph was an inspiration for H-D how to build motorcycles. After 118 years Harley-Davidson still can't reach Triumph's quality.
Quality means nothing when marketing, business practices, and logistics are trash. I love Triumphs, but the co.pany itself is a joke compared to HD or any Japanese brands
I have always enjoyed Triumphs. Learned to ride at ten on a cub. I also have owned a couple of HD s. I will question the reliability of Triumph over HDs both bikes were labor intensive.
I own one. Ive been riding for 36 years, and have owned bikes from all 4 Japanese brands, and HD. This is by far the best bike I've ever owned . More power than even the Mil 8 HDs, and the best handling of any cruiser I've ever ridden.
I've ridden the Thunderbird and while it has ample power and good handling, it only has comparable power to the M8 107 judging by the seat of my pants. Let's not get carried away. But it's a really good bike, well made, and a bargain for what you can pick them up for now.
@@peterchown1552Absolutly . I own a Storm, and every time I ride with a Harley driver, or lover, I can't help myself showing him, on the road, the mistake that he made when he bought his too expensive, too slow, none agile, stage2 or 3, milwakee 8 , transmissions heating garbage after 50 thousands km. But you know what they ALL say for their defence....But yours dont have that sound.......Bottom line, it's crazzy, but you can't stop a heart to love. Pouahahaha !
@@1jasonover way better than harley. I had a streetbob and now i have a 2012 t bird storm that I picked up 2 weeks ago. It is smooth and handles really well for a cruiser. Personally I feel like it brakes better too and I dont feel any heat on me like I did with my old street bob.
Rode a storm to Vancouver Canada from Columbus Ohio. 10,300 miles in 25 days. Wandered around BC for days. Bike beat out my Streetglide, Ducati Diavel, Ducati St 3, bmwr1100rt for solid touring comfort. It rained 16 straight days and I left home before my shield came in. Still most comfortable and fun than the other bikes I toured on.
I've been riding,racing,and a 35 year motorcycle tech,for 50 years. I've had at least 50 bikes. I will NEVER buy another bike from anyone but Sean at SRK cycles. Honest ,intelligent man.
I have a 2015 Triumph Thunderbird Nightstorm SE. The bike is a freight train. Get out of its way...awesome cool and yes pure muscle. Long distance rides no problem. Handles excellent and is a HOG killer. I do agree, Triumph could have moved the cluster.
Like my 2300cc Rocket III Roadster, only Triumph would and could build something like that, then outdo themselves by discontinuing it only to replace it with a 2500cc upgrade a year later 🙂
Can't compare apples and pears the Triumph is much smoother but I have Harley bobber 48 love it because it's like a buffalo chargers off makes little concessions to comfort but somehow to me it feels vintage and a more authentic experience some of the fastings and fittings I think they've been buying them in China
I have the ‘14 thunderbird storm with a windshield and bought the saddlebags, performance slip ons, power commander, k&n intake. She gets it when I want to. I just rode it 1400 mi. In two days across 4 west coast states. Could go for a comfier seat and some clip on forward pegs for the longer ride. (I’m 6’4”) But overall amazing bike and feel.
Big parallel twins will be my fav engines for the rest of my life. In my youth I drove across Texas on my Honda SL 125. No I wasn't fast. But I took my new adult freedom for a ride. Freedom doesn't necessarily mean a big bike.
Just bought a 2014 T-bird Commander and I love it. Engine ticks kinda freaked me out for a bit but was told it's typical. Biggest drawback is finding accessories to make it your own. After market pipes are rare. But wow is the bike a beast and so smooth on the highway.
Had a 2014 storm that I bought new in 2016 (leftover inventory). Great bike, had hog slayer exhaust. Traded it for a 2019 road glide special, 3 months ago... If I had the space and the $$$, I would have kept it. Still have a bobbed out 2002 Triumph America.
I stopped watching @ 1:41 when the soy/self-loathe/apologies got too deep - God help this younger generation. Rocket III...15 mpg of putting your eyeballs in the back of your head.
Had that bike for 3 years. Loved the handling, even for that huge engine the fuel economy was awesome, comfortable. The look was killer, had the small mufflers and looked sick. But that engine sound clac clac clac clac clac... just killed me, I could never stop hearing it. Not for that, I wouldn't have sold it, ever.
Royal Enfield were established in 1901 and have been in continuous production since, their current 650 is excellent but the 500 Bullet up until recently had levels of unreliability to make a Saint weep.
Moto Guzzi is the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. The current Triumph is a different company from the prior incarnation.
@@doctormojo Moto Guzzi started in 1921 so its far from being Europes oldest. Many British manufacturers started much earlier. Triumph in 1885 BSA in 1861 and Norton in 1898, Matchless 1898.
just bought a used 2014 with 2500miles on it. i havent stopped riding this since i got it. love this bike! reminds me of a 2004 meanstreak i had, but the engine is 100x better on the triumph
I like your message at the beginning of your videos. Good grief, some people get really upset. I don’t know why. Keep them coming. Oh and your test rides to! 👍
I absolutely love my 2011 Thunderbird 1600. It is bone stock except I punched my baffles for a deeper throatier exhaust sound. It is a monster and I've yet to ride another comparable bike that is superior. I ride my Indian Springfield for long rides and comfort and I ride the Thunderbird for thrills, it takes the twists and turns like none other. Nice review! Thanks for sharing!
“When I say a Harley is smooth I’m comparing it to other Harley’s. This is smooth compared to... MOTORCYCLES.” ~ Sean commenting on this bike in an earlier video. Yes I agree. Triumphs are smooooooooth! Sometimes because of the parallel twin they can vibrate, but v twins rumble back and fourth.
Love the thunderbird ,it rides as good as it looks amazing my perfect bike ,bought a 2009 ,1600 cc ,few months ago ,riding it is such a thrill makes you feel glad to be alive wow ,mick uk
I have owned both the Rocket III and Thunderbird. The Tbird is definitely smaller than the Rocket. The Tbird handles better than the Rocket III over all. But man, the Tbird can not compare when cracking the throttle. Both bikes are great on acceleration. The Rocket III torque kicks in and it is WOW!
Triumphs first motorcycle came out 1902 mate. And there is a triumph Thunderbird LT, LT stands for luxury tourer. Comes with the windshield, bags and stuff.
Triumphs were pretty popular in my day. Heavy as hell though. And you had to fill up the oil and check the gas, In that order. but they were always cool. Especially the triples. They had a 'growl' that no twin or 4 could match.
Its truly pathetic how modern society has become obsessed with being politically correct at the expense of logic. We should never give in to these foolish and nonsensical movements, and stand firm
Agreed. Its gotten out of hand. Another thing about this age that gets me is. Nothing against this dude or any with this issue. But there is so much gayiness in society and in msm tgat even straight dudes sound gay. The accent is picked up over generations. So many men sound gay yet arent.
Well it’s not about being gay, it’s about the lack of fathers and growing up around women who don’t know how to give or find proper guidance for their young man. These guys don’t “sound gay” they’re just more feminine. Which doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but usually is because men and women are made with a clear distinction, and “manliness” can’t be taught by women. Just can’t. So lots of mothers nowadays just let their boys follow after them; if you ask me it’s another form of parental irresponsibility, same for the parents of young ladies who don’t teach them what “womanhood” is about. I’m a man so that’s all I’ll say there, but I know lots of younger women lack respect for themselves, but swear up and down to their loved ones and twitter that they’re confident. Insufficent/indecent parenthood and too much (social) influence is what’s eating at my generation. it’s a real conundrum
"Toxic Masculinity" [according to those with an agenda] is evil? Well, not when you require a fierce military to defend our country, our historically unique Freedom, our positive role models, our personal safety, our individual Freedom.. etc, etc, etc.
i've have R3R from Triumph for 5 years now 33k miles and running strong; incredible bike- but always like the looks of the storm with the straight bars and the lines its a beauty no question doesn't have the performance of the rocket but has better handling. The Rocket is about 60 lbs heavier the biggest ding on the bike is the rear suspension is a little heavy up front because of the huge motor and is only a 5 speed. (recommend ear plugs to save your ears)
@@Doppelwhoppermcdonald It's the same world wide with Harley riders. They think they are superior when in reality everyone other motorcycle rider is laughing at them because they got duped into buying a polished turd then spend the rest of their days in denial about it.
Why buy a "muscle bike" 🙄...when you can buy a bike that actually gets moving 😂😂 there's no need to have a buge engine in a cruiser. Just adds weight to an already heavy bike then you have the rider on top...average American weighs 300+lbs alone nevermind cruiser riders 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
LOVE my Storm, it's comfortable to commute on, and with a set of bags on it, you can do cross-country rides. And... it actually corners well. By the way, the passenger pegs make great 'highway pegs' for sport riders, you'll feel right at home.
I noticed that! Coming off of sport bikes after not riding a cruiser in years I got a storm and the passenger pegs are my go to for getting sporty aggressive with her. Its actually the best of both worlds
Bought a ‘13 storm back in January from a guy in Richmond, Va. Riding all summer- my fifth Triumph. I’m restoring a ‘72 650 Bonny in my living room. Triumph ROCKS!!! Love this T-bird. Does everything well. Looks great! Rides sooo nice. Even nicer with my lady on the back! Has a Mustang saddle, Triumph bags, crash bars front and rear, and luggage rack/ backrest. Comfy! My dream bike is now reality. My Bonneville America grew up! Enjoy yours! 👍🇬🇧🇺🇸❤️
That thunderbird is the largest capacity parallel twin made, the Rocket is the largest cc capacity production bike out there. And then there are people out there that scream Boss Hiss, well No1 they're not production bikes and on that theme, the Brits make a V10 non production bike that is way bigger than a Boss Boss.
I have the 1600 ABS model and the noise has been noticeable... doesn't impact the ride quality or functionality of the bike but made me wonder if something was wrong with it. I feel a little better having watched this video knowing it's a known thing that's not to worry about. Thanks for the awesome review.
But what is making the noise? I don't remember which bike it was but there was a similar noise and it was a balancer slapping the oil when the oil level was slightly too high. Has anyone found out what this "normal" noise actually is?
It is a big trip bike, I rode 10300 miles in less than three weeks with no windshield M16 straight days of rain. I've owned them all BMWs, Ducatis, Harleys Indian Etc this was the best Touring bike I've ever had.
Owned over 30 motorcycles including late model Harleys, BMW’s, Ducati’s, Indian, etc. The 1700 cc Triumph Storm was is in my top 3 all time. Fantastic long distance iron. Over 700 lbs. feel more like 500.
There was a time I wanted this bike really badly but I had never ridden it. The dealership kept stringing me along then it became a boat and pwc store. I went to H-D and don’t regret it, but I always wanted to know what it felt like to ride the Tbird Storm. Great looking bike!
Oh and also: the commander and storm were made then but I think they also had an LT model. Which was HEAVY! Every storm I’ve sat on had been nice and light feeling. But the LT and maybe even the commander were heaaaaavy!!!
That noise is hilarious. I looked it up and there are entire forums dedicated to those mystery sounds lol Pro mechanics and bike builders have apparently tried everything and it's just sounds that those bikes make. Healthy, smooth running bikes that tap and click at random intervals. Some guys get rid if them because of cry wolf syndrome because they're worried if there is a catastrophic failure, they might accidentally ignore it. That's insane to me. How does no one know what causes those sounds?! Someone has to know?! Ghosts? Is it ghosts? Did Triumph make deals with demons and gremlins that live in the bikes? Magic? Do they run on magic? What the actual heckin hell? I've never heard of anything like that, but it sounds incredibly british. Makes sense.
I took my Triumph Trophy to two independent dealers for a second opinion because I had never heard an engine like it. I have now accepted that the straight gears are noisy.
If I knew they were gonna kill off their cruiser line I would have bought a new one of those. Love the dual headlights on the Storm. Plenty of power and smooth as glass at.....55. Lol.
The sprocket for the cam chain located on the camshaft is split and under tension. It takes slack out of the cam chain to limit slap. When the camshaft is removed for valve adjustments, it loses tension and must be twisted back into place before its reinstalled. If not, it allows the cam chain to slap and cause a rattling sound at lower rpm. This is what that sound is. It's not normal. Whoever did the valve adjustment didnt do it right.
To have a speedometer on the tank sort of made sense for Harley because they would take so long to gain 5 mph anyway, but for this bike I don't think having the speedometer there makes any sense at all.
I owned a 2017 Triumph Thunderbird LT, (Lite Touring) 1700cc. Styling ques of a HD Softail Heritage. Great bike. I financed the bike. Had a heart attack and was unable to go back to work for too long. Lost the bike. I would say it out performed the Heritage 103, HP and Torque. Cornering was great. Aftermarket sucked. Last year they made the bike was 2018. So aftermarket will get less and less. Dealer support far and few between compared to HD. I liked Triumph back in the day (1970s) Their Bonnie was hot on flat track. But, I won't buy another one. No comparison to dealer support of HD and aftermarket available for HD.
Had a 94 triumph super 111,carbon fiber kit,first year they got back in business,yellow and black,awesome bike,transmission out put shaft snapped doing a wheel,clutch parts all over the place but awesome bike.
Henry Thomas doubt it would eat my Harley. That said I’ve spent a small fortune getting it to where it is now. And I doubt my next bike will be a Harley. That is in fact why I’m watching this video. Doing research for what’s next
today i testdrove a suzuki intruder 1800/yamaha 1900/harley 1500 and something/honda valkyrie 1500/triumph rocket 2300/and this one a triumph thunderbird... guess which i prefer? the tbird won because the handling and driveability is by far the best and it handles so f... nice! i found myself tossing it around all the time on the roads. the engine is almost as torky as the intruder. it weighs 45kgs less, that is a geat great plus. the engine is soo nice. great tork and flexibility nearly from idle in overdrive. none of the others could do that this smooth - except for the rocket. the sound of the engine is so smooth and healthy - as you can hear in the video. it looks better than the rest in my opinion - lower, meaner and cuter🙂 without being too big, like the intruder. overdrive, advanced injection, 4 valves, very flexible motor and the lowest weight of the bunch = great mileage for me the choice were between the suzuki and this. the suzuki lost because it was too heavy, did not handle as good, blocks the frontwheel to easy, too loud, not as comfortable. the yamaha was nice, but too heavy and too slow. the harley was actually nice, fast and good torque. nearly as flexible as the tbird. but the tbird is a little faster, has nicer handling and are more joyfull to drive. the honda valkyrie was a dissapointment. insufficient lowend torque. too heavy compared to the tbird. could not keep up in handling compared to the tbird. slower except over 4000rpms. but i like the power below... the rocket was a rocket. best lowend torque of the bunch, even from idle in topgear - impressive... a motor like a big bumblebie - sounds literally like that, when driving! but slow handling. uninspiring sitting position and the motorsound was not as engaging as the littlebrother. the tbird was by far the most joyfull to drive! within minutes i found myself playing around and looking at the nature - enjoying the smells and sounds. i only did that on this bike. and the engine is incredible! six gears, advanced engine design - thus a super fuel economy! just as much groundchaking torque as a vtwin. sounds just as nice. and can pull in overdrive from idle - can your vtwin that? just bought the only one for sale in my country😁
I’ll give triumph that. I have a 2015 Thunderbird LT it cruises effortlessly at 85mph and if you need more speed simply roll on the throttle and there’s plenty more where that came from. Ive only been up around 110 once on it and it just kept pulling. I wonder how fast they really are. But I think that Triumph only sold a few here in the states. Which is why I have never seen another one anywhere
Rode one yesterday... It's a great bike, though the one I rode was quite a bit louder than the one in the video. Great bike and really comfortable. I always wanted a Harley as a second bike to my KTM 1050 Adventure but I'm considering getting the Thunderbird instead. Lots of grunt in the lower rev-range and an amazing sound.
Picking up a Triumph next week. Was also considering a Sportster 48, also an awesome looking bike. Read the reviews and it wasn't long before Triumph became the obvious choice. The variants on the Bonneville engine are to me where Triumph truly shines. Though i get why they'd want to cash in on the muscle bike market.
RUclips is a private company so they are the ones who have the freedom to allow or not whatever they want. I agree that it sucks but thats not how freedom works, you are also free not to express in RUclips
Pedro Rezende false RUclips and google have been deemed a utility and as such they have a protected status from litigation, But they are not allowed to discriminate. Just like the electric company can’t discriminate.
@@bonnevillebagger9147 sure, they cant do whatever they want, but not to discriminate and not allow "manly" behavior/comments are completely different things
I find it funny how many people are unfamiliar with the intake induction noise of most modern liquid cooled bikes lol what is this? 1991? I guess if it doesnt sound like a Harley then something must be wrong with it right? Lmao
Us Brits gave the world the Cafe Racer. Why on earth would we want to build a leviathan thats of little use on most of the British road system.... A friend bought a rocket three,.....sold it and bought a 'Bonnie'
I just had my rear brake master cylinder fail on my 012 first thing I've had go wrong with it... I've got three vids on my channel of my storm check them out
What noise? The ticking? Be more specific please. Triumph told you what it was but you don't remember? Might be kinda important to include that in a comprehensive review.
I'm new to this bike world. What do you guys think of buying this used Triumph bike? Are they reliable? and how're parts cost compare to Harley Davidson?
@@edwardtupper6374 Well, the Rocket three has three cylinders, and is 2300 cc, but I was hoping for a comparison on how it rides and speed differences.
Amen!I liked these bikes when they first came out, just thought they were pricey, but then again, that's Triumph for you. I really like the umph of that bike (along with the Rocket III)I've got a 2010 Kawasaki V2K and even though it has a Goodyear Assurance Confortread on it the tire still spins up when I bang the throttle -no clutching necessary. I think the Triumph Rocket III would be the only cruiser/muscle bike that would give it a run.P.S. Glad you ignore the hater(s). Envy is an ugly thing.
Can you tell me about the v2k. I always thought it was the baddest looking bike ever made. The only thing I ever heard about was a complaint about the gearing.
I road it for 8 years and never had a single issue with it. Like I a said, it is a beast, but it is a very comfy beast. Did an Iron Butt on it -1100+ miles in about 18 hours. We flew down the Interstate at 85-90 and no issues. Well, I was deaf. Mine had hard chrome strait pipes on it. Lol. I sold it recently -I don’t regret it, but I do miss that bike!
I road it for 8 years and never had a single issue with it. Like I a said, it is a beast, but it is a very comfy beast. Did an Iron Butt on it -1100+ miles in about 18 hours. We flew down the Interstate at 85-90 and no issues. Well, I was deaf. Mine had hard chrome strait pipes on it. Lol. I sold it recently -I don’t regret it, but I do miss that bike!
I road it for 8 years and never had a single issue with it. Like I a said, it is a beast, but it is a very comfy beast. Did an Iron Butt on it -1100+ miles in about 18 hours. We flew down the Interstate at 85-90 and no issues. Well, I was deaf. Mine had hard chrome strait pipes on it. Lol. I sold it recently -I don’t regret it, but I do miss that bike!
I road it for 8 years and never had a single issue with it. Like I a said, it is a beast, but it is a very comfy beast. Did an Iron Butt on it -1100+ miles in about 18 hours. We flew down the Interstate at 85-90 and no issues. Well, I was deaf. Mine had hard chrome strait pipes on it. Lol. I sold it recently -I don’t regret it, but I do miss that bike!
This bike looks fantastic but the sound it makes is tbh lackluster. Sounds very similar to a 500cc touring bike. The noise Yamaha Raider and Honda Valkyrie made in one your videos were miles better than this.
You, being nothing more than an armchair umpire, need to keep your comments to yourself. Triumph knows how to build a Bike that hauls it down the road in style and Power and Manliness. This is not any sissy bike. Any Brit rider will tell you the same. Who cares about the sound it puts out? Triumphs have always had high compression compared to other bikes. Be glad it has an electric start, because if it had a kick start, I doubt very much if you could even start one. They are high compression!!
In England you have the watch your speed all the time. There are speed cameras everywhere, so you can lose your licence (and a heap of money) in one trip. Thanks to the Dutch guy who invented the GATSO camera. So, I need the Speedo to be in the eyeline where you can occasionally look where you're going too.
Triumph was established in 1883 . H-D is on the market from 1903 so Triumph is 20 years older . Triumph was an inspiration for H-D how to build motorcycles. After 118 years Harley-Davidson still can't reach Triumph's quality.
And given another 118 years they will not do it.
Quality means nothing when marketing, business practices, and logistics are trash. I love Triumphs, but the co.pany itself is a joke compared to HD or any Japanese brands
Triumphs are cool but I'm beginning to become really annoyed with the engine noises.
I have always enjoyed Triumphs. Learned to ride at ten on a cub. I also have owned a couple of HD s. I will question the reliability of Triumph over HDs both bikes were labor intensive.
Nah man, HD is totally in front of triumph, look at their electric lineup.
😂
I own one. Ive been riding for 36 years, and have owned bikes from all 4 Japanese brands, and HD. This is by far the best bike I've ever owned . More power than even the Mil 8 HDs, and the best handling of any cruiser I've ever ridden.
I've ridden the Thunderbird and while it has ample power and good handling, it only has comparable power to the M8 107 judging by the seat of my pants. Let's not get carried away. But it's a really good bike, well made, and a bargain for what you can pick them up for now.
Gabby Hayes you’re talking about the 1600 thunderbird, the 1700 storm absolutely eats any standard
Harley
@@peterchown1552Absolutly . I own a Storm, and every time I ride with a Harley driver, or lover, I can't help myself showing him, on the road, the mistake that he made when he bought his too expensive, too slow, none agile, stage2 or 3, milwakee 8 , transmissions heating garbage after 50 thousands km. But you know what they ALL say for their defence....But yours dont have that sound.......Bottom line, it's crazzy, but you can't stop a heart to love. Pouahahaha !
How is vibration, being that you've had HD?
@@1jasonover way better than harley. I had a streetbob and now i have a 2012 t bird storm that I picked up 2 weeks ago. It is smooth and handles really well for a cruiser. Personally I feel like it brakes better too and I dont feel any heat on me like I did with my old street bob.
Rode a storm to Vancouver Canada from Columbus Ohio. 10,300 miles in 25 days. Wandered around BC for days. Bike beat out my Streetglide, Ducati Diavel, Ducati St 3, bmwr1100rt for solid touring comfort.
It rained 16 straight days and I left home before my shield came in. Still most comfortable and fun than the other bikes I toured on.
I've been riding,racing,and a 35 year motorcycle tech,for 50 years. I've had at least 50 bikes. I will NEVER buy another bike from anyone but Sean at SRK cycles. Honest ,intelligent man.
I have a 2015 Triumph Thunderbird Nightstorm SE. The bike is a freight train. Get out of its way...awesome cool and yes pure muscle. Long distance rides no problem. Handles excellent and is a HOG killer. I do agree, Triumph could have moved the cluster.
What happens when the British try to build a muscle bike? Something that Harley has no chance of equalling!
The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For me, "Springer Softail" with 16 and 21" spoked wheels is top.
Like my 2300cc Rocket III Roadster, only Triumph would and could build something like that, then outdo themselves by discontinuing it only to replace it with a 2500cc upgrade a year later 🙂
Can't compare apples and pears the Triumph is much smoother but I have Harley bobber 48 love it because it's like a buffalo chargers off makes little concessions to comfort but somehow to me it feels vintage and a more authentic experience some of the fastings and fittings I think they've been buying them in China
I have the ‘14 thunderbird storm with a windshield and bought the saddlebags, performance slip ons, power commander, k&n intake. She gets it when I want to. I just rode it 1400 mi. In two days across 4 west coast states. Could go for a comfier seat and some clip on forward pegs for the longer ride. (I’m 6’4”) But overall amazing bike and feel.
Big parallel twins will be my fav engines for the rest of my life. In my youth I drove across Texas on my Honda SL 125. No I wasn't fast. But I took my new adult freedom for a ride. Freedom doesn't necessarily mean a big bike.
Triumph motorcycles are, at this point in time, making the best bikes on the market..
Please
They definitely make awesome bikes and cover all the categories of sport,cruiser adventure ,and everything between
Just bought a 2014 T-bird Commander and I love it. Engine ticks kinda freaked me out for a bit but was told it's typical. Biggest drawback is finding accessories to make it your own. After market pipes are rare. But wow is the bike a beast and so smooth on the highway.
Had a 2014 storm that I bought new in 2016 (leftover inventory). Great bike, had hog slayer exhaust. Traded it for a 2019 road glide special, 3 months ago... If I had the space and the $$$, I would have kept it. Still have a bobbed out 2002 Triumph America.
Dave Platt (DP Pipes) in England and Paul Bryant (Viking exhaust) in NZ made ‘em custom by hand :)
Nah. When the British build a muscle bike they build the Triumph Rocket III.
Exactly.
I stopped watching @ 1:41 when the soy/self-loathe/apologies got too deep - God help this younger generation. Rocket III...15 mpg of putting your eyeballs in the back of your head.
Yeah give me that 2.5 litre inline 3.
Donnie Fair 15 mpg? My Rocket III gets about 37
@whitegrass@gmail.com They are talking about the new generation Rocket . 2.3 inline down the frame inline triple. Same name totally different bike.
Had that bike for 3 years. Loved the handling, even for that huge engine the fuel economy was awesome, comfortable. The look was killer, had the small mufflers and looked sick. But that engine sound clac clac clac clac clac... just killed me, I could never stop hearing it. Not for that, I wouldn't have sold it, ever.
Triumph was established in 1902.....a year before harley davidson
Royal Enfield were established in 1901 and have been in continuous production since, their current 650 is excellent but the 500 Bullet up until recently had levels of unreliability to make a Saint weep.
Facts
Moto Guzzi is the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. The current Triumph is a different company from the prior incarnation.
Today's triumph is not yesterday's triumph it's the same thing as saying today's Indian is yesterday's Indian totally different companies
@@doctormojo
Moto Guzzi started in 1921 so its far from being Europes oldest. Many British manufacturers started much earlier. Triumph in 1885 BSA in 1861 and Norton in 1898, Matchless 1898.
just bought a used 2014 with 2500miles on it. i havent stopped riding this since i got it. love this bike! reminds me of a 2004 meanstreak i had, but the engine is 100x better on the triumph
I have a 2010 Thunderbird and I love it! I’ve ridden from NC to WA and back on it with no issues!
I like your message at the beginning of your videos. Good grief, some people get really upset. I don’t know why. Keep them coming. Oh and your test rides to! 👍
i'm riding this beast two years now...and i love it! Next Bike for me is the Indian Chieftain Dark Horse!
Greetings from Germany!
I absolutely love my 2011 Thunderbird 1600. It is bone stock except I punched my baffles for a deeper throatier exhaust sound. It is a monster and I've yet to ride another comparable bike that is superior. I ride my Indian Springfield for long rides and comfort and I ride the Thunderbird for thrills, it takes the twists and turns like none other. Nice review! Thanks for sharing!
“When I say a Harley is smooth I’m comparing it to other Harley’s. This is smooth compared to... MOTORCYCLES.” ~ Sean commenting on this bike in an earlier video.
Yes I agree. Triumphs are smooooooooth! Sometimes because of the parallel twin they can vibrate, but v twins rumble back and fourth.
2015 Triumph Thruxton is the smoothest bike I ever rode.
Love the thunderbird ,it rides as good as it looks amazing my perfect bike ,bought a 2009 ,1600 cc ,few months ago ,riding it is such a thrill makes you feel glad to be alive wow ,mick uk
I have owned both the Rocket III and Thunderbird. The Tbird is definitely smaller than the Rocket. The Tbird handles better than the Rocket III over all. But man, the Tbird can not compare when cracking the throttle. Both bikes are great on acceleration. The Rocket III torque kicks in and it is WOW!
Finally!!! I ride this bike, with short pipes. it's awesome!
Where’d you get the short pipes?
@@MrMjwaggoner I got it with the bike, but search for “triumph short tors”
Learned on my dad's flat track Bonneville in the 70's. Gotta try one of the new ones!
Triumphs first motorcycle came out 1902 mate. And there is a triumph Thunderbird LT, LT stands for luxury tourer. Comes with the windshield, bags and stuff.
LT stands for Light Touring.
Triumphs were pretty popular in my day. Heavy as hell though. And you had to fill up the oil and check the gas, In that order. but they were always cool. Especially the triples. They had a 'growl' that no twin or 4 could match.
Its truly pathetic how modern society has become obsessed with being politically correct at the expense of logic. We should never give in to these foolish and nonsensical movements, and stand firm
Agreed. Its gotten out of hand. Another thing about this age that gets me is. Nothing against this dude or any with this issue. But there is so much gayiness in society and in msm tgat even straight dudes sound gay. The accent is picked up over generations. So many men sound gay yet arent.
Well it’s not about being gay, it’s about the lack of fathers and growing up around women who don’t know how to give or find proper guidance for their young man. These guys don’t “sound gay” they’re just more feminine. Which doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but usually is because men and women are made with a clear distinction, and “manliness” can’t be taught by women. Just can’t. So lots of mothers nowadays just let their boys follow after them; if you ask me it’s another form of parental irresponsibility, same for the parents of young ladies who don’t teach them what “womanhood” is about. I’m a man so that’s all I’ll say there, but I know lots of younger women lack respect for themselves, but swear up and down to their loved ones and twitter that they’re confident. Insufficent/indecent parenthood and too much (social) influence is what’s eating at my generation. it’s a real conundrum
@@agentinforms9068true. But the msm pumping out gayiness to our youth doesn't help. Again patents fault.
"Toxic Masculinity" [according to those with an agenda] is evil? Well, not when you require a fierce military to defend our country, our historically unique Freedom, our positive role models, our personal safety, our individual Freedom.. etc, etc, etc.
Yeah, because the basics of courtesy are so difficult to learn.
i've have R3R from Triumph for 5 years now 33k miles and running strong; incredible bike- but always like the looks of the storm with the straight bars and the lines its a beauty no question doesn't have the performance of the rocket but has better handling. The Rocket is about 60 lbs heavier the biggest ding on the bike is the rear suspension is a little heavy up front because of the huge motor and is only a 5 speed. (recommend ear plugs to save your ears)
The best part of riding my 2010 Thunderbird was watching Harley weenies yank their hand back when they realized who they were waving to.
Talk about having a chip on their shoulders, and for no reason! HD, so what? Technology of yesterday, to the price of tomorrow. Good luck with that.
What, you get / got waves from an HD rider? One, one I have gotten in 25 years of riding ... !!
Alexander Cartier Me too !!
Pipes, RamAir, OZClaw, and Neville LUSH tune :-D
In Germany it's the same thing every motorcycle rider waves every other motorcycle rider excapt harley guys
@@Doppelwhoppermcdonald It's the same world wide with Harley riders. They think they are superior when in reality everyone other motorcycle rider is laughing at them because they got duped into buying a polished turd then spend the rest of their days in denial about it.
It's crazy that I knew exactly where you were when you got on the highway. I used to drive through Lancaster a lot, a few years back. Great video!
Try their actual muscle bike, the rocket III.
He has
No. He means the new one.
@Billy But Whole what about ALL Harleys? I've rode em and they are horrendous in the handling dept.
Why buy a "muscle bike" 🙄...when you can buy a bike that actually gets moving 😂😂 there's no need to have a buge engine in a cruiser. Just adds weight to an already heavy bike then you have the rider on top...average American weighs 300+lbs alone nevermind cruiser riders 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
This one looks cooler to me. Rocket has all the performance and what not advantage but idk this looks way cooler to me
LOVE my Storm, it's comfortable to commute on, and with a set of bags on it, you can do cross-country rides. And... it actually corners well.
By the way, the passenger pegs make great 'highway pegs' for sport riders, you'll feel right at home.
I noticed that! Coming off of sport bikes after not riding a cruiser in years I got a storm and the passenger pegs are my go to for getting sporty aggressive with her. Its actually the best of both worlds
The only decent review on this bike in the world, this is the video that made me decide to buy 1, love ya work dude
I love my 2013 T-bird 1600 ABS. Big bike but handles great. Such a different feel relative to a sport bike. So much noisier too
Bought a ‘13 storm back in January from a guy in Richmond, Va. Riding all summer- my fifth Triumph. I’m restoring a ‘72 650 Bonny in my living room. Triumph ROCKS!!! Love this T-bird. Does everything well. Looks great! Rides sooo nice. Even nicer with my lady on the back! Has a Mustang saddle, Triumph bags, crash bars front and rear, and luggage rack/ backrest. Comfy! My dream bike is now reality. My Bonneville America grew up! Enjoy yours! 👍🇬🇧🇺🇸❤️
That thunderbird is the largest capacity parallel twin made, the Rocket is the largest cc capacity production bike out there. And then there are people out there that scream Boss Hiss, well No1 they're not production bikes and on that theme, the Brits make a V10 non production bike that is way bigger than a Boss Boss.
I have the 1600 ABS model and the noise has been noticeable... doesn't impact the ride quality or functionality of the bike but made me wonder if something was wrong with it. I feel a little better having watched this video knowing it's a known thing that's not to worry about. Thanks for the awesome review.
But what is making the noise? I don't remember which bike it was but there was a similar noise and it was a balancer slapping the oil when the oil level was slightly too high. Has anyone found out what this "normal" noise actually is?
"It's crazy how everybody is going so slow" .... LOL Looks like a GREAT bike! :)
It is a big trip bike, I rode 10300 miles in less than three weeks with no windshield M16 straight days of rain. I've owned them all BMWs, Ducatis, Harleys Indian Etc this was the best Touring bike I've ever had.
Owned over 30 motorcycles including late model Harleys, BMW’s, Ducati’s, Indian, etc.
The 1700 cc Triumph Storm was is in my top 3 all time. Fantastic long distance iron. Over 700 lbs. feel more like 500.
I felt manly just watching this, now I'm gonna squish some soy milk containers with my bare hands.
Love muscle bikes. The Ducati Diavel is the best I've owned. Although, I'd love to ride this beast of a Triumph for myself.
There was a time I wanted this bike really badly but I had never ridden it. The dealership kept stringing me along then it became a boat and pwc store. I went to H-D and don’t regret it, but I always wanted to know what it felt like to ride the Tbird Storm. Great looking bike!
Oh and also: the commander and storm were made then but I think they also had an LT model. Which was HEAVY! Every storm I’ve sat on had been nice and light feeling. But the LT and maybe even the commander were heaaaaavy!!!
My baby bought in 2013... still beautiful... still reliable... still fun.
That noise is hilarious.
I looked it up and there are entire forums dedicated to those mystery sounds lol
Pro mechanics and bike builders have apparently tried everything and it's just sounds that those bikes make. Healthy, smooth running bikes that tap and click at random intervals.
Some guys get rid if them because of cry wolf syndrome because they're worried if there is a catastrophic failure, they might accidentally ignore it.
That's insane to me. How does no one know what causes those sounds?! Someone has to know?! Ghosts? Is it ghosts? Did Triumph make deals with demons and gremlins that live in the bikes? Magic? Do they run on magic?
What the actual heckin hell?
I've never heard of anything like that, but it sounds incredibly british. Makes sense.
I actually like it, its like my storm talking to me haha
I took my Triumph Trophy to two independent dealers for a second opinion because I had never heard an engine like it. I have now accepted that the straight gears are noisy.
If I knew they were gonna kill off their cruiser line I would have bought a new one of those. Love the dual headlights on the Storm. Plenty of power and smooth as glass at.....55. Lol.
The sprocket for the cam chain located on the camshaft is split and under tension. It takes slack out of the cam chain to limit slap. When the camshaft is removed for valve adjustments, it loses tension and must be twisted back into place before its reinstalled. If not, it allows the cam chain to slap and cause a rattling sound at lower rpm. This is what that sound is. It's not normal. Whoever did the valve adjustment didnt do it right.
To have a speedometer on the tank sort of made sense for Harley because they would take so long to gain 5 mph anyway, but for this bike I don't think having the speedometer there makes any sense at all.
I would trade my HD for one of those, totally cool!
Do it ! :)
So would I
I did haha
i died at the deadpan "big womenly bike" bit haha
I owned a 2017 Triumph Thunderbird LT, (Lite Touring) 1700cc. Styling ques of a HD Softail Heritage. Great bike. I financed the bike. Had a heart attack and was unable to go back to work for too long. Lost the bike. I would say it out performed the Heritage 103, HP and Torque. Cornering was great. Aftermarket sucked. Last year they made the bike was 2018. So aftermarket will get less and less. Dealer support far and few between compared to HD. I liked Triumph back in the day (1970s) Their Bonnie was hot on flat track. But, I won't buy another one. No comparison to dealer support of HD and aftermarket available for HD.
Had a 94 triumph super 111,carbon fiber kit,first year they got back in business,yellow and black,awesome bike,transmission out put shaft snapped doing a wheel,clutch parts all over the place but awesome bike.
Thanks for the great videos! Big fan of your channel
My Triumph Thunderbird 1700cc....we eat Harley's all the time....pure class....
I have the 1600...it eats Harleys all day errr day..
@@rocnnrollbus Yeah.....
I have a 2010 thunderbird, can confirm, it’s diet is Harley
Henry Thomas doubt it would eat my Harley. That said I’ve spent a small fortune getting it to where it is now. And I doubt my next bike will be a Harley. That is in fact why I’m watching this video. Doing research for what’s next
@@Room-qd7pl Love my storm hog slayer pipes decat air filter and tuned she is evil
2012 T’Bird here. She’s called Lucille and she’s badass.
6.15 love how he had to head check more than twice before he could send it 🤣
today i testdrove a suzuki intruder 1800/yamaha 1900/harley 1500 and something/honda valkyrie 1500/triumph rocket 2300/and this one a triumph thunderbird...
guess which i prefer?
the tbird won because the handling and driveability is by far the best and it handles so f... nice! i found myself tossing it around all the time on the roads. the engine is almost as torky as the intruder. it weighs 45kgs less, that is a geat great plus. the engine is soo nice. great tork and flexibility nearly from idle in overdrive. none of the others could do that this smooth - except for the rocket. the sound of the engine is so smooth and healthy - as you can hear in the video.
it looks better than the rest in my opinion - lower, meaner and cuter🙂 without being too big, like the intruder.
overdrive, advanced injection, 4 valves, very flexible motor and the lowest weight of the bunch = great mileage
for me the choice were between the suzuki and this.
the suzuki lost because it was too heavy, did not handle as good, blocks the frontwheel to easy, too loud, not as comfortable.
the yamaha was nice, but too heavy and too slow.
the harley was actually nice, fast and good torque. nearly as flexible as the tbird. but the tbird is a little faster, has nicer handling and are more joyfull to drive.
the honda valkyrie was a dissapointment. insufficient lowend torque. too heavy compared to the tbird. could not keep up in handling compared to the tbird. slower except over 4000rpms. but i like the power below...
the rocket was a rocket. best lowend torque of the bunch, even from idle in topgear - impressive...
a motor like a big bumblebie - sounds literally like that, when driving! but slow handling. uninspiring sitting position and the motorsound was not as engaging as the littlebrother.
the tbird was by far the most joyfull to drive! within minutes i found myself playing around and looking at the nature - enjoying the smells and sounds. i only did that on this bike. and the engine is incredible!
six gears, advanced engine design - thus a super fuel economy!
just as much groundchaking torque as a vtwin. sounds just as nice. and can pull in overdrive from idle - can your vtwin that?
just bought the only one for sale in my country😁
Get a british custom exhausts for this bike and you won't hear typical triumph engine rattle. Great bike.
I remember when they said no one could build an inline twin bigger than 750cc without it vibrating apart.
I’ll give triumph that. I have a 2015 Thunderbird LT it cruises effortlessly at 85mph and if you need more speed simply roll on the throttle and there’s plenty more where that came from. Ive only been up around 110 once on it and it just kept pulling. I wonder how fast they really are. But I think that Triumph only sold a few here in the states. Which is why I have never seen another one anywhere
I love TBird Storm best bike I’ve ever owned & ridden - still got it!❤
The old Thunderbird with the triple engine is way cooler
Rode one yesterday... It's a great bike, though the one I rode was quite a bit louder than the one in the video. Great bike and really comfortable. I always wanted a Harley as a second bike to my KTM 1050 Adventure but I'm considering getting the Thunderbird instead. Lots of grunt in the lower rev-range and an amazing sound.
Sean, with a thumb to PC culture. Approved by me.
Picking up a Triumph next week. Was also considering a Sportster 48, also an awesome looking bike. Read the reviews and it wasn't long before Triumph became the obvious choice. The variants on the Bonneville engine are to me where Triumph truly shines. Though i get why they'd want to cash in on the muscle bike market.
They do it as soon as they are running. I think it’s belt or gear box whine ...
At .24: transmission type, belt drive. Don't think so. Maybe final drive. A belt drive transmission would be some trick.
It sucks that we are getting our freedom of speech taken away. I love you videos Sean. Even if you say “manly”
RUclips is a private company so they are the ones who have the freedom to allow or not whatever they want. I agree that it sucks but thats not how freedom works, you are also free not to express in RUclips
It's because I just want to say racist hateful things with my friends
Pedro Rezende false RUclips and google have been deemed a utility and as such they have a protected status from litigation, But they are not allowed to discriminate. Just like the electric company can’t discriminate.
@@bonnevillebagger9147 sure, they cant do whatever they want, but not to discriminate and not allow "manly" behavior/comments are completely different things
Pedro Rezende you are describing sexism. Discrimination based on gender.
I thought the suspension was a bit hard when I rode my son's Thunderbird, you felt the bumps. My Tiger 1200 is a lot more comfortable ride
" perfect for burning both of your calves" lol
These little comments are why I love your videos.
I don't think anyone watching your videos is gonna get bent out of shape for calling that bike what it is.
A Honda
@@randyhutchinson9910 lol...a Man's bike
@@randyhutchinson9910 oof
Triumph has the Rocket III. I think that should suffice as their muscle bike
Suffice lol.
So does the speedometer lag far behind actual speed when accelerating? My bike does this horribly bad.
Even my grand pa knows what a triumph is. That guy must living under a rock or something.
Marlon Brando rode a Triumph Thunderbird in the Wild One. That is peak coolness.
Oliver. Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry and Bob Dylan and Steve McQueen and..... Coolest people
Great review Sean!
Headlight was stolen from a Fat Bob! Looks awesome too! Ride safe and have FUN!
i’ve recently bought a Commander, best bike i’ve had, only other bike that compares to it is the Honda Valkyrie
I had a whine (very quiet) on my Victory Boardwalk. You get used to it eventually.
That's the 1 thing I hate about my bonnie t120 with the Parallel Twin is it's just sooooo anti climatic
I find it funny how many people are unfamiliar with the intake induction noise of most modern liquid cooled bikes lol what is this? 1991? I guess if it doesnt sound like a Harley then something must be wrong with it right? Lmao
Us Brits gave the world the Cafe Racer. Why on earth would we want to build a leviathan thats of little use on most of the British road system.... A friend bought a rocket three,.....sold it and bought a 'Bonnie'
Fat Bob not Street Bob but who's caring anyway lol
I just had my rear brake master cylinder fail on my 012 first thing I've had go wrong with it...
I've got three vids on my channel of my storm check them out
I want that storm so much, but just can’t afford it now. If it’s still there next year it will be mine!
What noise? The ticking? Be more specific please.
Triumph told you what it was but you don't remember? Might be kinda important to include that in a comprehensive review.
The best review , the best explanarion and opinion/ advice on bikes for your choice.
Good job - interesting ,noble and pro
Thanks from Brazil
Thanks again, and God bless
Ummm ..... Rocket 3 ........... 'nuff said 😉
Spacely Sprocket 4, so there
Rocket 3 is a muscle beast of a bike n hands down n your right😎
I'm new to this bike world. What do you guys think of buying this used Triumph bike? Are they reliable? and how're parts cost compare to Harley Davidson?
Another great review, have you done any reviews on the Thunderbird LT? Would really like to see that one!
You should do a "mystery Bike" sale. You pay an amount and you get a bike sent to you.
Make it something you need to assemble..now there's a mystry... lol
No mention of the Rocket III? I would have liked to see a comparison.
Ahahahaha there isn't one apart from the badges
@@edwardtupper6374 Well, the Rocket three has three cylinders, and is 2300 cc, but I was hoping for a comparison on how it rides and speed differences.
Praying?! That killed it for me. Turned the sucker off
I appreciate your video and really appreciate the scripture reading thank you
Try?....to build. Never have ridden once so don't know from first hand experience but pretty sure they nailed it with the Rocket 3.
This is a cruiser, the rocket is a muscle bike but respect to you bro.
Sports cruiser
Amen!I liked these bikes when they first came out, just thought they were pricey, but then again, that's Triumph for you. I really like the umph of that bike (along with the Rocket III)I've got a 2010 Kawasaki V2K and even though it has a Goodyear Assurance Confortread on it the tire still spins up when I bang the throttle -no clutching necessary. I think the Triumph Rocket III would be the only cruiser/muscle bike that would give it a run.P.S. Glad you ignore the hater(s). Envy is an ugly thing.
Can you tell me about the v2k. I always thought it was the baddest looking bike ever made. The only thing I ever heard about was a complaint about the gearing.
I road it for 8 years and never had a single issue with it. Like I a said, it is a beast, but it is a very comfy beast. Did an Iron Butt on it -1100+ miles in about 18 hours. We flew down the Interstate at 85-90 and no issues. Well, I was deaf. Mine had hard chrome strait pipes on it. Lol. I sold it recently -I don’t regret it, but I do miss that bike!
I road it for 8 years and never had a single issue with it. Like I a said, it is a beast, but it is a very comfy beast. Did an Iron Butt on it -1100+ miles in about 18 hours. We flew down the Interstate at 85-90 and no issues. Well, I was deaf. Mine had hard chrome strait pipes on it. Lol. I sold it recently -I don’t regret it, but I do miss that bike!
I road it for 8 years and never had a single issue with it. Like I a said, it is a beast, but it is a very comfy beast. Did an Iron Butt on it -1100+ miles in about 18 hours. We flew down the Interstate at 85-90 and no issues. Well, I was deaf. Mine had hard chrome strait pipes on it. Lol. I sold it recently -I don’t regret it, but I do miss that bike!
I road it for 8 years and never had a single issue with it. Like I a said, it is a beast, but it is a very comfy beast. Did an Iron Butt on it -1100+ miles in about 18 hours. We flew down the Interstate at 85-90 and no issues. Well, I was deaf. Mine had hard chrome strait pipes on it. Lol. I sold it recently -I don’t regret it, but I do miss that bike!
This bike looks fantastic but the sound it makes is tbh lackluster. Sounds very similar to a 500cc touring bike. The noise Yamaha Raider and Honda Valkyrie made in one your videos were miles better than this.
Sounds like a 90° V twin because it uses a 270° crankshaft. Would sound way meaner if it was a 360°.
The Valkyrie was in a league of its own. Such an awesome sound.
You, being nothing more than an armchair umpire, need to keep your comments to yourself. Triumph knows how to build a Bike that hauls it down the road in style and Power and Manliness. This is not any sissy bike. Any Brit rider will tell you the same. Who cares about the sound it puts out? Triumphs have always had high compression compared to other bikes. Be glad it has an electric start, because if it had a kick start, I doubt very much if you could even start one. They are high compression!!
@@davidgreve1081 Wowie youre triggered lmao, & who cares about the sound it puts out...seriously...?
Marlon Brando rode a triumph in the wild one
In England you have the watch your speed all the time. There are speed cameras everywhere, so you can lose your licence (and a heap of money) in one trip. Thanks to the Dutch guy who invented the GATSO camera. So, I need the Speedo to be in the eyeline where you can occasionally look where you're going too.
“Header for each side, perfect for burning both sides.. of your calf, BUT” 😂😂😂