Triumph Thruxton RS - Do I?
Discussion
Been playing on my mind since first lock down then a mixture of summer, track days and mx riding kept me busy. Here we are with lockdown 2.0 and I'm thinking about it again...
I have a few bikes I ride already - all 1000cc + or 500cc 2 stroke old school mx bikes and I just want something that I can go out, thrash about and not feel I'm absolutely taking the piss. The modern setup but old school look really does it for me although not so the cafe screen as it drops the bars and makes it uncomfy on my wrists and back
Anyone got one? Am I mad? Not sure whether I'm having a bike crisis or if it makes sense. Not ridden one yet but already thinking vance exhaust, tail tidy, mini leds. Not sure if the lockdown is making me go stir crazy
I have a few bikes I ride already - all 1000cc + or 500cc 2 stroke old school mx bikes and I just want something that I can go out, thrash about and not feel I'm absolutely taking the piss. The modern setup but old school look really does it for me although not so the cafe screen as it drops the bars and makes it uncomfy on my wrists and back
Anyone got one? Am I mad? Not sure whether I'm having a bike crisis or if it makes sense. Not ridden one yet but already thinking vance exhaust, tail tidy, mini leds. Not sure if the lockdown is making me go stir crazy
This is such a stylish, quality, great looking bike inside-out and such a pleasant ride (I only rode R version, can imagine RS can only be better).
If you are happy with the narrowness of it and with the way it makes the power it has (it is not Tuono and not GSXR1000), then yes, absolutely worth a purchase, imho.
If you are happy with the narrowness of it and with the way it makes the power it has (it is not Tuono and not GSXR1000), then yes, absolutely worth a purchase, imho.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yeah see that was a good watch. Thats what a few have said to me that it might not suit my riding. Its not really to calm my riding as I'll still want to thrash the pants off it but it'll make me feel like a hero at lower speeds I guess hearing the twin on the big ol' exhausts. I dunno...I'm really in two mindsBirky_41 said:
Yeah see that was a good watch. Thats what a few have said to me that it might not suit my riding. Its not really to calm my riding as I'll still want to thrash the pants off it but it'll make me feel like a hero at lower speeds I guess hearing the twin on the big ol' exhausts. I dunno...I'm really in two minds
They are great bikes to ride, the engine is fantastic, they don't need thrashing and to be honest there's no point in redlining it, the performance is still fantastic, the only reason I didn't buy one was because my wrist won't let me ride a bike with clip ons, fabulous looking thing too.I’ll just leave this here 
From conversations I’ve had with dealers no point swapping from an r to an rs, but buying new might as well get the rs. Personal opinion, I don’t like the paint schemes on the rs.
Edit to add. Budget for tail tidy, fender removal and LED indicators, both pretty much essential...
Edit again. The tail tidy shown here is fitted in “standard mode”, you can take a section out ( 2 bolts) and it brings the plate right up to the tail light.
From conversations I’ve had with dealers no point swapping from an r to an rs, but buying new might as well get the rs. Personal opinion, I don’t like the paint schemes on the rs.Edit to add. Budget for tail tidy, fender removal and LED indicators, both pretty much essential...
Edit again. The tail tidy shown here is fitted in “standard mode”, you can take a section out ( 2 bolts) and it brings the plate right up to the tail light.
Edited by Mr Dendrite on Friday 13th November 15:03
Edited by Mr Dendrite on Friday 13th November 15:04
On another note. You may struggle to find a test bike without the cafe racer kit fitted. I gather that the dealers were pushed into having them and were not happy. The kit gives the bike a very different feel. Lower bars make an already stable bike feel a little bit slow going from one side to the other. Still good, but if you want chuckable look at the speed twin, downside of that is the suspension is cheaper and you can feel it pushing on. Just my thoughts from the last few years.
Just buy it, they’re great..
Just buy it, they’re great..
here's my 1200R with the track racer kit and a few tasty extra's, decat x pipe, V&H US spec with no baffle, quickshifter, lovely diamond stitched comfort seat, heated grips etc.
Mine has the lower clip ons but you can still keep the standard higher bars with the fairing, I may have to make the change myself in the next few years.
Apart from a few kilo's less weight, some engine upgrades and the uprated calipers the RS is basically the same bike, and I personally prefer the matt black or my ice silver to the RS colour options. I must admit I like the black spoked wheels though.
I'm sure there's some good deals to be had in the dealers on the R as well, at various times Triumph have given a free track racer kit or £1000 accessory/clothing contribution but can't see anything just at the moment.
I don't think its slowed me down that much as its very torquey and surprising quick up to 3 figure speeds but its a bike you can cruise around on (some may say pose) when the mood takes you or push on if you feel like it, unlike my Daytona which encourages me to ride fast all the time.
As well as a decent ride its just a nice thing to own and definitely gives me that feel good factor when i'm riding it or just admiring it parked up (with everybody else).
The only downsides I've found is the suspension is a bit harsh, possibly the relatively short travel of the twin shocks doesn't help, gearchange can be clunky especially 2nd-3rd and there has been a few gearshift failures caused by worn pivot plates, ive changed mine as a precaution (only £6)
The other thing I think someone mentioned already is how narrow the bike is in the middle, its not possible to grip the tank to help support your weight, especially with the lower clip ons like mine, tank pads are an option but only if you don't mind the look. That also goes for the seat, if I sit forward I can feel the corner of the seat under my arse cheek, its fine if you sit back slightly and there's plenty of room.
Also wouldn't class it as a good all year round bike, takes a bit of time to keep it looking nice although if you went for the RS the black cases/wheels would help.
But any negatives are massively outweighed by the positives, obviously the looks but also I feel cool riding it (i'm sure I don't look it) and Its also very cheap to insure, does 65mpg and is easy to service and I can't see myself getting rid any time soon.
Edited by tinhead on Saturday 14th November 16:30
tinhead said:
here's my 1200R with the track racer kit and a few tasty extra's, decat x pipe, V&H US spec with no baffle, quickshifter, lovely diamond stitched comfort seat, heated grips etc.
Mine has the lower clip ons but you can still keep the standard higher bars with the fairing, I may have to make the change myself in the next few years.
The only downsides I've found is the suspension is a bit harsh, possibly the relatively short travel of the twin shocks doesn't help, gearchange can be clunky especially 2nd-3rd and there has been a few gearshift failures caused by worn pivot plates, ive changed mine as a precaution (only £6)
The other thing I think someone mentioned already is how narrow the bike is in the middle, its not possible to grip the tank to help support your weight, especially with the lower clip ons like mine, tank pads are an option but only if you don't mind the look. That also goes for the seat, if I sit forward I can feel the corner of the seat under my arse cheek, its fine if you sit back slightly and there's plenty of room.
Edited by tinhead on Saturday 14th November 16:30
Twin shocks don't worry me my race mx bike is twin shock and short travel so I know exactly what you mean
I cant make my mind up where to go standard bars and single light or the cafe racer but if I went with the latter I would definitely want the bars still more upright
How yours looks its exactly how I'd have mine done before I even rode it. Its gotta sound and look as I want. It'll be a summer toy
The Thruxton comes as standard with a quickshifter connector (and in the map) but Triumph never offered one as an official accessory.
So you can use any push type sensor as long as it will physically fit as the linkage is very short, mine is a Translogic I got used off Ebay.
There is a big but though and its probably the reason Triumph never offered one after they obviously thought about it, it doesn't work as good as a modern quickshifter equipped bike, I can't really use it below 3rd gear, 2nd to 3rd at a push but not smoothly, also need a generous amount of throttle/revs, a lot more than my 675R for example.
So if i'm pottering around its clutch all the time usually, only use the QS when pushing on a bit in the higher gears, luckily its a light slip assist clutch.
Maybe one with adjustable cut times would help, there's no adjustability in the map, but could just be the nature of the engine/gearbox.
Although one good thing is the QS still cuts when doing a normal clutch change and I get a really loud crack from the exhaust with the right amount of throttle, probably childish but it amuses me.
Regarding the fairing, when Triumph fit the track racer kit they change to the lower clip ons but people found later that you can still keep the higher clip ons, you may have to bend the brake reservoir bracket slightly but that's it.
I prefer the look of mine with the lower bars but i'm considering going to the higher bars or maybe trying tank pads first.
The other big thing I did was to seal the normally tubed spoked wheels to run tubeless, I got a really rapid puncture on the rear luckily when I was coming to a stop but didn't want a repeat at speed.
Did it myself with 3M extreme sealing tape and its been 100% airtight over the last 12 months.
I was quite lucky finding mine already with all the accessory's I would have specced.
Track racer kit (fairing, single seat cover, fender eliminator kit), x pipe decat, V & H silencers, heated grips, leather perforated tank strap, led indicators, comfort seat.
I would say the V & H are probably not worth the money, especially the standard EU ones with the fixed baffle, just removing the cat will make a bigger difference to the sound and much cheaper.
Although I like mine with the fairing I still like the way it looks without, because the fairing pushes the headlight forward about 6" the unfaired bike looks shorter and squatter.
Don't be surprised if you can't get to the sidestand on the test ride, a lot of people find the "peg" too tight to the exhaust, I just heated mine and bent it out then filed a flat & diamond pattern on the ball.
So you can use any push type sensor as long as it will physically fit as the linkage is very short, mine is a Translogic I got used off Ebay.
There is a big but though and its probably the reason Triumph never offered one after they obviously thought about it, it doesn't work as good as a modern quickshifter equipped bike, I can't really use it below 3rd gear, 2nd to 3rd at a push but not smoothly, also need a generous amount of throttle/revs, a lot more than my 675R for example.
So if i'm pottering around its clutch all the time usually, only use the QS when pushing on a bit in the higher gears, luckily its a light slip assist clutch.
Maybe one with adjustable cut times would help, there's no adjustability in the map, but could just be the nature of the engine/gearbox.
Although one good thing is the QS still cuts when doing a normal clutch change and I get a really loud crack from the exhaust with the right amount of throttle, probably childish but it amuses me.
Regarding the fairing, when Triumph fit the track racer kit they change to the lower clip ons but people found later that you can still keep the higher clip ons, you may have to bend the brake reservoir bracket slightly but that's it.
I prefer the look of mine with the lower bars but i'm considering going to the higher bars or maybe trying tank pads first.
The other big thing I did was to seal the normally tubed spoked wheels to run tubeless, I got a really rapid puncture on the rear luckily when I was coming to a stop but didn't want a repeat at speed.
Did it myself with 3M extreme sealing tape and its been 100% airtight over the last 12 months.
I was quite lucky finding mine already with all the accessory's I would have specced.
Track racer kit (fairing, single seat cover, fender eliminator kit), x pipe decat, V & H silencers, heated grips, leather perforated tank strap, led indicators, comfort seat.
I would say the V & H are probably not worth the money, especially the standard EU ones with the fixed baffle, just removing the cat will make a bigger difference to the sound and much cheaper.
Although I like mine with the fairing I still like the way it looks without, because the fairing pushes the headlight forward about 6" the unfaired bike looks shorter and squatter.
Don't be surprised if you can't get to the sidestand on the test ride, a lot of people find the "peg" too tight to the exhaust, I just heated mine and bent it out then filed a flat & diamond pattern on the ball.
Edited by tinhead on Saturday 14th November 19:52
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