Triumph is best-known for high-performance street bikes, but they’re not above building a cruiser or two … and then covering them in chrome bits and creating a bagger.
The UK-based company announced their new Thunderbird LT today; basically, it’s a bagger version of their vert-twin cruiser, with 1699 cc motor, 92 hp at 5,400 rpm and 150 Nm of torque at 3,550 rpm.
The LT initials stand for Light Touring; there’s a 22-litre fuel tank, a medium-sized windscreen, leather saddlebags, and what Triumph claims are the world’s first radial whitewall tires (on spoked wheels). Apparently, in their quest for classic looks, they didn’t want to abandon good handling. There’s also a new lightbar, with additional headlights.
Triumph also unveiled another version of their Thunderbird, the Commander. It seems this machine is really just a tarted-up Thunderbird aimed at the muscle cruiser market; however, it doesn’t seem to have any major performance upgrades. It does have floorboards, heel and toe shifters, and all the other pieces cruiser fans want …
Their 865 cc America also got updates for 2014 (and the Speedmaster, too), but there’s little word on what those updates are. Triumph is bringing a bagger version of the America to market as well, though, dubbed the America LT. It’ll get a similar treatment to the Thunderbird LT.
There’s no word on when, or if, these bikes will make it to Canada. We also don’t have an arrival date for Triumph’s new 250, but apparently the company assured showgoers the machine is on the way.
A few spy shots of what’s alleged to be a naked version of the bike have been floating around the internet for a while, and Triumph says they’re also working on a fully-faired version. It’ll be made in India, to keep costs low.
Supposedly, it’ll be on the market by 2015. Hopefully, by then, the just-started 300 wars will have turned into 400 or 450 wars, and there’ll actually be space for a 250 segment again.
Also – it’s hard to know what the changes are, but Triumph has unveiled a Tiger 800 XC SE as well. It appears there’s little difference between this bike and the stock model, except for paint, but if we learn more, we’ll share.
GALLERY
Check out all the pics that go with this story! Click on the main sized pic to transition to the next or just press play to show in a slideshow.
“Hopefully, by then, the just-started 300 wars will have turned into 400 or 450 wars, and there’ll actually be space for a 250 segment again.”
I can see this happening, and nothing would make me happier.
In the 400-war territory, it would be awesome to see some exotic iron from the Japanese market make its way over and spur on the release of interesting bikes such as a Daytona 400 triple. Will it happen? I doubt it, but a guy can always dream.
Yes!
I’d like to add to that dream list an aprilia RSV4 where the 4 means 400cc. Heck, even a 250 would do.