Triumph Thunderbird - I Bought One

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Triumph Thunderbird - I Bought One | Phil West

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8 жыл бұрын

Motorcycle journalist Phil West tells us what it's like to own this handsome Triumph Thunderbird.
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Пікірлер: 90

@jeffjones3581 3 ай бұрын

I have a 95 Tbird had since new put 160000ks/100000miles on still going strong one of the best new Triumphs made

@JAG312 3 жыл бұрын

I have a 1999 Triumph Legend TT. I have had it for about 10 years. Very similar to the Thunderbird. I love it.

@johnhenshaw7655 3 ай бұрын

I have had my T bird since 03 brand new and I’m off out on it in a minute, it’s been an absolute pleasure to own ,it’s now showing its age ,it’s still an eye catcher , and I love it 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🇬🇧

@MartinSage 7 жыл бұрын

I love my 2001 955i speed triple. 120Hp pulls like a train 4-9,000rpm, proper adj. suspension, duel front disks, sculpted, curvy lines. I could go on and on. This is a solid Hinckley- British made bike.

@sboy1955 7 жыл бұрын

They should bring it back!!!

@pateris 3 жыл бұрын

Now that the Trident's back, one can only hope !

@DJSteveDee 7 жыл бұрын

Hi Phil. Great Video. Fantastic Bike The Thunderbird 900.. Love it.. Looks great in Black.. I have a 1999 in Black.. Only 5,000 on the clock. Best Bike I've ever had.. A keeper for life.. Cheers Steve.

@DaveOasist 2 ай бұрын

I have the same 95 Tbird in black. I have had it for 8 years now.

@rickv4714 8 жыл бұрын

My main ride is a 2013 Triumph Trophy SE, but just recently picked up a 2003 Thunderbird in two tone British racing green and cream color. I call it my Urban Rat Rider, just a great machine. Already made some mods and its been fun doing so.

@Lavaman3682 7 жыл бұрын

You cats should check out his mods. Great video and thanks for the intel, Rick!

@chrisheggie952 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video, I took your advice and bought an '96 T'Bird with only 25,000km on the clock in superb condition. It's currently having a mild cafe racer makeover and I will post a video of the final result soon.

@troytjeee 7 жыл бұрын

you allready posted the video?

@chrisheggie952 6 жыл бұрын

Bike's 95% done and yes hopefully a vid soon

@chrisheggie952 6 жыл бұрын

Look for Thunderbird Downunder. Not the best quality (my first and only KZfaq vid) but it shows up reasonably.

@chrisheggie952 6 жыл бұрын

Yes. Thunderbird Down under

@rjunio876 6 жыл бұрын

An absolute modern classic... And I know bikes. Cycle. Cycle Guide. Cycle World avid reader since the 60s! A baby then! Summation? The modern Nortons must have admired this Triumph. The Trident! taken to a modern realm of engr.ing. Richard J... Busaman

@j1m97 8 жыл бұрын

been driving for 3 years now, been thinking about learning to ride, really want to pick one of these up as a first bike

@steveboatright8215 7 жыл бұрын

I had the 'Legend' version, a more basic model with blacked out engine. Loved the look, went well, mine had a sensitivity to anything other than a really well charged battery - it wouldn't start otherwise. The seat on this model was pretty uncomfortable and it used to weave over 70mph because of the very high bars - it would have benefitted from low bars like the ones here. Check for spark plug tightness on the middle cylinder - mine vibrated right out on one occasion! A good bike though and a great Sunday afternoon retro styled cruiser.

@LenScapoff 8 жыл бұрын

Lovely bikes, these. I've owned a 2002 model for a long time. Not sure about the insistence on "the earlier the better" though - the earlier models had Mukuni carbs, restricted carb venturi, sprag clutch problems. They also had key locking seats, as distinct from the bolt on of the 2000+ models, but this is an easy conversion. One big plus of the earlier models, for many, were the Akront alloy wheels and alloy engine covers, but the later chromed equivalents stand the test of time if cared for. Enjoy!

@oldguzziguy 3 жыл бұрын

What a beauty! Does anyone need any more than this? Suits you Sir!

@chrisheggie952 7 жыл бұрын

I've just purchased an immaculate low milage '96 T'bird and will be having the 16in rear laced up to a 17" rim with lower profile tyre and also bob the guard to lighten up the look of the rear. Also plan to access an appropriate 4 piston calliper for the front disk along with braided hoses which may give a bit more bight on braking...

@michaelroxby3937 2 жыл бұрын

Love the triumph... it then I see the lc in background. U lucky man.

@dozerblade 6 жыл бұрын

I had a 1998 Adventurer which looked great and I liked the seating position and the sound it made and the handling but I had this horrible vibration problem, most of the time when the tank was low it was bad sometimes it was middling and sometimes it was as smooth as silk, just couldn't figure out what the cause was, so traded it for a Suzuki V-strom 650 which is excellent, and 3 years later no problems.

@humandroid53 7 жыл бұрын

T Bird Sport is the one!

@whitedust696 2 жыл бұрын

Yip probably the best bike in the world

@steepriderz9003 3 жыл бұрын

Great bikes! We just did a review on a custom cafe racer style one! Love the sound of them 👌🏻👌🏻

@lucklesscope8367 8 жыл бұрын

I've recently been wanting a bike with a more classic look. And the triumph Bonneville caught my eyes along with the cheaper alternative, the thunderbird. Found two 1995s tbirds that I'm going to take a closer look at

@philwest3708 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Phil. My name is also Phil West. I did a double take when I saw your catch line. Will all the Phil Wests please stand up. I am from New Zealand

@shmac96 5 жыл бұрын

Wish we could have heard more of the bike instead of the crappy music! Great looking bike!

@leonnewcombe 2 жыл бұрын

After watching this I bought one 96 tb ☝️ one year on and over 10 thousand miles it’s awesome Put a set of TOR pipes on sounds brilliant, looks ace 👍 also picked up a Trident 🔱 900 with 12k On the clocks as it was so cheap and in such good condition both are very under rated bike’s. If you see one get it you will not be disappointed .

@Spartansrule118 Жыл бұрын

has the thunderbird been reliable?

@leonnewcombe Жыл бұрын

@@Spartansrule118 totally 👍 Just general maintenance, stuff at least you can do all the work yourself.

@leonnewcombe Жыл бұрын

@@Spartansrule11820k in the last two years

@piontybird 8 жыл бұрын

I've had an early one 96 and have kept a 99 one which is way better with the 6 speed box, handling and general feeling slightly better than the early one. The 99 model still has the alloy rims. With the 5 speed box you are constantly looking for an extra gear. I would say the only advantage of the pre 99 model is the paint on the frame which is quality gloss[later ones are matt black]. Larger jets[40-42 pilot and 120 mains] and a 1 and a half inch hole in the right side of air box transform these bike whatever the year. The early ones had very dim warning lights which doesn't sound too big a deal, but is when constantly checking your indicators for being turned off .The Hinckley Bonneville is rubbish compared to these.

@chrisheggie952 6 жыл бұрын

I found a one tooth larger front sprocket solves the need for the extra gear - only slightly harder to get off the line but plenty of grunt anyway.

@paulwhitehead35 8 жыл бұрын

looks really good !!!!!

@frankkemble2103 8 жыл бұрын

I love these, why ever did new Triumph replace it with that twin cylinder behemoth?

@tms372 6 жыл бұрын

Because the twin cylinder behemoths are great too. My Storm is the best bike I've owned since I started riding in 1971.

@rjbrimage1970 Жыл бұрын

Hi Phil, Do you still have the Thunderbird? The speed triple bars, can you remember which model year they were off or where I could get some ? Thanks

@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff 4 жыл бұрын

Great bike, do you still have it Phil, what does it look like now?

@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff 3 жыл бұрын

@@West004 that's great.

@AngloThai 7 жыл бұрын

Now let's see a video about the LC!

@jackwood2328 Жыл бұрын

Badder...? Meaner...? It's not exactly "Black Rain" out here in the English countryside.

@antoniomanchado2026 4 жыл бұрын

Hola Sr. Phil Tengo un problema con mi Thunderbird, se calienta y ningún mecanico encuentra avería. Siempre dicen que es de culata, pero ya hecho dos veces. Gracias

@dabozz2873 7 жыл бұрын

bloody great bike good investment..

@alastairwood9336 7 жыл бұрын

Great bike. Just picked up a 95 with only 8k on it. I like the rear mud guard conversion, wonder if it's a custom job. ?

@keithhall4883 6 жыл бұрын

What's the backlight off ? nice

@grabir01 2 ай бұрын

Nice bike

@thomastraddles1204 7 жыл бұрын

nice LC in the background, I can see you are a fan of bikes made in Asia

@stephenrobbie7683 2 жыл бұрын

Cheap shot: The Thunderbird wasn’t made in ‘Asia’. Nothing wrong with the later bikes either…

@shanedesilva9291 5 жыл бұрын

Why is the front tyre on with the treads facing the wrong way?

@adnanlatif1722 3 жыл бұрын

Beautiful bike handle bars where did u get from ?

@ashleykitson1300 6 жыл бұрын

I recently bought a 2002 TBird 900 after being off a bike for a decade. It's not the most powerful or fastest bike in the world, but that wasn't what I wanted anyway. Plenty of low down power makes riding it an absolute pleasure, (just like my old 1 litre boxer.) As Phil says, it's just an easy, accommodating machine. Mines a full chromed model, but it's nice to spend an hour or so every other weekend keeping it in good nick after an early morning ride before the idiots wake up and get out on the road ;-) If you're looking for a great bike to get back on the road, you can do a lot worse than a first generation Hinckley TBird.

@bobber4000 5 жыл бұрын

you mentioned that you've put speed triple handlebars on. i bought some off ebay but they don't fit. they're off a 2007 1050. what were yours off?

@philwest1611 5 жыл бұрын

Can't remember but wasn't happy with them. Now got mid-rise Bonneville T100 ones on (the old one). Just right. P

@jurgenwust5784 5 жыл бұрын

hi Phil,.please tell me ,where you bought this short mudguard. And how can you create this good Sound with the original exhausts. Jürgen From Germany

@philwest1611 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Jurgen, the mudguard was from pjsglassfibre.com, I think, now around £160, complete with light. Silencers are Triumph's TOR (Triumph Off Road) loud versions, part no. A9608100. Sometimes they can be found on auction sites. Hope this helps Phil

@jurgenwust5784 5 жыл бұрын

hi Phil,thanks a lot, this helps me very much. jürgen

@jpkumar182 7 жыл бұрын

lovely Bike

@themeanaverage.1692 2 жыл бұрын

what year is his bike?

@crispinleslie 2 жыл бұрын

Have you still got it Phil ?

@dry509 3 жыл бұрын

What year is yours?

@texlee1640 11 ай бұрын

But does he still have it?

@Mrdrivereight 3 жыл бұрын

"Its a work in progress" - every motorcycle owner ever

@lamportprez3714 8 жыл бұрын

Yeah I had a 1995 version of this and the electrics were a world of pain, killed the bike in the end. T-bird Sport is a better bike, but both are collectable

@Oldpigsass 7 жыл бұрын

Why do you recommend the earliest ones? What did they do to mess with it?

@gavingordon7869 4 жыл бұрын

Build quality. Later models show cost cutting in details.

@danielaustin8849 4 жыл бұрын

Earlier ones had alloy rims ..the legend I bought in 2001 had steel chromed rims..but better carbs on later models..

@blazejp5806 3 жыл бұрын

Hello Phil :)

@TyaJIeT 3 жыл бұрын

How will a tall rider feel on it? More than 190cm...

@MOTOFLIXGARAGE 4 жыл бұрын

lovely

@alessandromototaxi 6 жыл бұрын

Linda demais 😍😍😍

@threepot5874 3 жыл бұрын

Just bought the same bike😊

@andreastomblin2137 2 жыл бұрын

How is it I am thinking of getting one

@rustybuckets07 2 жыл бұрын

@@andreastomblin2137 I bought one new in 2003 and sold it a year later for a Speed Triple 955i. The Trip was a great bike, but I traded it last year for a Bonneville Speedmaster. Long story short ;I was just trying to recapture the T-Bird feeling with the Bonneville. Selling the Thunderbird was a silly ,silly mistake that I have regretted ever since. If you get the chance ,buy one.You'll not regret owning it, but you will regret selling it.

@andreastomblin2137 2 жыл бұрын

The one I went to see was a 1996 model. It was in reasonable condition for the age little surface rust that could be polished out. Low mileage 14000 it did not have the flat bench type seat but one with scopes for the rider and passanger which I felt was very comfortable. It also had the Marlon Brando bars which combined with the seat made for a very uncomfortable position. I was also impressed by its weight as it was quite heavy. I love the bike but not sure it was being sold for 4300 euros as I am in Cyprus. Thanks for the info.