Dear fellow riders, since I posted 2 pics of my late Thruxton R in the gallery I think, I owe this new thread: A Thrux R and the guy has sold it? Yes, actually I did. (Imagine man with Bowmore in hand taking a deep breath, uttering a long sigh, then mopping at his right eye, telling you 'No, it was not a tear...') I fell in love with the Thruxton in June, I saw the speed-fairing, my brain shut down in a tenth of a sec my heart did the rest of the talking and bought it from the spot. Only 2 weeks to wait since someone dropped out of the waiting line. Oh, and 'yes' I took a test-ride on the version with the standard handle-config. Picked it up and took this pic: Fairing was installed shortly after. A VERY HAPPY MAN. This should be the beginning of a great friendship and the end of this intro, but we're only half way through (pls bear with me). Eventually my brain came back on line (at least that is what I hope) and I registered, I owned a café-racer that was so beautiful to look at to make me forget the rest of the world. And when I rode it and went above 60 mph everything was swell with the wind on my breast and I loved the ride. Summer 38 degrees C. little town, downhill, speed bumps, pedestrians. The usual stuff. In my part of Germany you have this every 3 to 6 miles. And man did it HURT. (Whimp, Softy, Muffin-over-the-sink-cutter...) But it HURT. My knees don't reach the fuel tank so I can not relieve my bodies' weight by squeezing the knees shut. The joints at my both hands were no fun at all and my back felt like that of a 51 year old (which I am). In December I made the tough decision to swap it for the T120. I wanted the fun to return to my biking. And the pain go away. Now, can anyone relate? This might become a controversial discussion and I am very curious what you have to say... Cheers, Daniel
I'm about your age and I can relate very well.....it don't mater how pretty she is, if she's a pain in the arse it's the pain in the arse you'd remember
I get it. I waffle between sportbikes and cruisers. Just sold my classic Harley Springer for the 16 Speed Triple. The Harley with the "sit up and beg" riding position was more comfortable in theory yet in practice it left me with shoulder aches no matter the number of handlebar and seat combos I tried. The Speedy, after adding bar risers is nearly perfect for me. I am 62 and have worked my body hard over the years through carpentry and stone work - end result some arthritis in hands and back. Add a few offs for extra wear and tear....well you get it. I have to do all sorts of stretching before folding my legs up on the Speedy but I really like the lightness and how I fit on it. Having owned what are now classic bikes - BSA Goldies, Dunstall Nortons and a BMW R90 S plus a plethora of Harley tour bikes and a Ducati Monster it all does come down to comfort or they become garage jewelry. Good on you Daniel for finding the right ride for your purpose. I wish I could justify 2 bikes for different uses but currently am flogging a 2012 wide body Corvette as my other passion on the roads. CHEERS, Chris
In my opinion the new T120 has the best riding position for me, arther everywhere. My GT isn't far off, but I don't do distance on that.
I have a back problem - two crushed vertebrae. If I ride a bike of the cruiser variety/stance, hitting a bump sends intense pain shooting straight up my spine. Not nice!
Yes: same with me; I traded a Road King for the ThruxR. The Harley was surprisingly easy to handle once on the move but way too heavy for me while scrambling backwards on gravel going slightly uphill in the Alps. Things you learn the hard way sometimes... I actually walked to the dealer to get the T120 right away but then I heard the siren call of this red little beauty. Well, you know the rest.
Thanks guys! You know, I felt a little like in the Brothers' Grimm fairy tale 'Hans in luck' were the boy barters things on his journey and they loose in value all the time (Harley-Thrux-Bonnie) but in the end it is one's own happiness that counts. At least, that's what I concluded...
Winglad you've done the correct thing. I hankered after Ducati 748 for years then I got one in 1998 after dreaming about the sound, the sexy looks, the ora then when I bought one I only had it for a few months as it crippled my short (5'6") body and it became unsafe to ride in built up areas so it had to go. Now I have a cast wheel bonneville that sounds very British looks good and just rides so well and it's been the best move so far and the bonus is it's one of the best bikes to hold its value!!
Well I have the opposite. I actually have more aches when getting off Tracey my tiger than when I get off Doris my thrux900! Not that bad but noticeable. This I will put down to the more upright riding position and bumps and shocks heading straight down my uprightish spine on T and my leant forward spine on D acting slightly like a leaf spring so softening a proportion of bumps. Mind you I'm more knackered on D than I am on T after a long ride and neck ache is more due to wind buffeting
It took me the best part of 2 years to realize that I needed to change my Speed Triple. More long distance riding and more aches and pains eventually forced my hand. I'm now on an adventure(BMW ) bike and things are a lot more comfortable.
Crispey, I think I know what you are pointing at: especially if your spine gives you the main ache. But in my case it is the wrists and -as you mentioned- the neck. For a while, I had a Thrux 900 SE and a Tiger 800 and I could ride the Tiger for hours without problems. Same on my actual XJR. So I know, what to hope for and this also shows how the differences in our personal physics influence our conception of 'perfect ride'. Which makes the market out there so overwhelmingly colourful. I am pretty impressed with the wide range of fascinating bikes to enjoy at the moment. I am also a car-fan but sometimes these days I have trouble discerning a Jaguar from an Alfa from a BMW...
I test rode the standard R with higher clip ons and was fine with that, I then bought an R with the fairing also with the lower clip ons and after a few rides found my neck hurting and back stiff, so fitted the standard ones back on, now all is fine again. I'm only 5'6 and have recently turned 50.
Mentalist, do your knees touch the fuel-tank? And in addition: I hope, that there are a lot of riders out there who feel great on the new Thrux, because I want to see it on the roads as often as possible. Likewise with all the great Ducs, NineT Sportsters and all the other cool café-racers!!
No my legs aren't long enough for my knees to grip the tank, but don't find it a problem. I really like the riding position. Sporty but not extreme, unlike my 916. Also I think the suspension is really plush. Its shows up the crap the suspension on my Hyperstrada. I could easy do a few hundred miles in a day on the R.
I know a few oldies who havent got on with the upright new type Tiger riding position. It is never time to give up tho. lol Theres always a Tiger Sport, then you got the grunt, A Sprint sized comfy ride with slightly higher bars. I know I couldnt live with a thruxton or daytona, and I have had to even get higher bars on my old Sprint coz of arm and lower back strain. Got regular renthal medium superbike bars fitted with a converter block, the angle of the original bars was too extreme
Hey Daniel, pride of ownership is important, but enjoying the ride is more so. I def can relate. I bought a Sprint 955i last year, so semi-sporty riding position, then caught a bad dose of infamatory rheumatoid arthritis to add to my osteo variety and now find it a joyless chore. Even my 2010 Bonnie SE with low handlebars can give me wrist and shoulder ache (still love riding the bike though, just not too far). The Street Twin with it's natural riding position I just bought is soooo much more comfortable for these old joints, and of course, back in the day all bikes were like these, 'cept those cafe racer lads with their clip-ons. That said, I'm going to test ride a new Thruxton soon, just to say I've ridden one. There are two demo ones nearby, one red and one silver. Given your issues with a red one think I'll try silver.
Good plan Rich! And beware: it really can fog up your rational thinking One thing, that I am most curious about is the suspension on the T120 for the Thruxton R really has premium parts. But since I am more a 'swift cruiser' I think I'll be fine with the Bonnie on longer tours. Tomorrow I get the insurance-confirmation for registration and then the clock is counting down... Here it sits at the dealer: (This is not the show room; more like winter storage...So that no one is test-sitting it)
