I'm not surprised you only got 43mpg because you're riding it with too many revs. You mention the flat torque "curve" which all Triumph engines have. So ride it between 3 & 5 K revs and it'll accelerate just the same but probably give over 50mpg.
I reckon this is a direct competitor to the Z900RS, except the Kawasaki has got USD forks, radial brakes, and more advanced rear suspension. Plus it’s got 110 HP, although it’s a little heavier. Both bikes look good, but I’ll stick with my Z900 RS Jaffa thanks, though if I didn’t have that I’d be looking seriously at the new Speed Twin. Seems weird though calling it a Speed Twin though because the original Meriden Speed Twins were 500cc.
It does seem to compare most directly to the Z900RS, and I imagine the biggest factor pushing buyers to one or the other will be engine character - some people gravitate to the smoothness of 4 cylinders, others are addicted to the rumble of a twin. I fall in the latter category, so would go for the Triumph, but I also love the Z900RS.
The Triumph does sound good but so does the Kawasaki with it’s “tailored” exhaust and intake. Myself, I would have liked Triumph to stick with the 360° crank so it sounds like the original Meriden Triumphs, everyone seems to be going for the V-twin sound nowadays, and the Triumph could have been different. I know an offset crank is better for balance but I’m pretty sure they could fix that with their balance shafts.
Looks, sounds and apparently goes beautifully but that small tank would automatically rule it out for me here in Australia as the range is too short. My old '96 Thunderbird can squeeze nearly 17 litres into the tank even though rated at 15 litres and I can get up to 250km range with it. My TDM Yam will get 430km+ from 21 litres by comparison...
@@SteveInskip Not really if you consider other bikes in the retro segment. Ducati Scrambler 1100, Honda CB1100, Harley 1200 Sportster bikes, they all make less horsepower. BMW R NineT makes a bit more.
Steve Inskip it’s the high power engine from the thruxton not the high torque engine from the t120 Bonneville. Hence the hp on the engine casing at 1.10
Having driven this and the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, on a given day what would you prefer. I ask this realizing that they are of different cost / feature categories. But at the end of the day what would you enjoy on a ride.
How fast do you want to go to enjoy a ride , and how much cash do you have ? The Interceptor is incredible value for money, and a good bike, but then it has half the BHP of this bike, and probably doesn't handle or brake quite as well. If you get an Interceptor , then think how much cash you've saved !
Still no prices on these yet!....basically it’s a Street Twin with a 1200 engine and a T120 fuel tank, great looking machine and Triumph obviously looking to sell to those wanting a bit more performance from the MC range.
It's more like a comfy Thruxton, with Street Twin type looks. It could do with the fuel tank taking another 1/2 to 1 Gallon (UK Gallons!). Bikes should really have a range of near 200 miles. this one is more like 120 to 140 miles.
So, if I understand this correctly, someone who works for Triumph but owns a Honda CB1100RS, was told by his boss that he's no longer allowed to park his Honda in the Triumph staff car-park. That's when he hit on the idea of taking out the Honda engine and sticking in a Triumph 1200cc twin engine, that he found laying around, instead. And the Triumph boss said "yeah, that'll do nicely".
I've ridden that road getting to that part that goes under itself is up hill a lot of the way , the engine would be working hard and the computer calculates the range as the mpg alters. I went out on my ST and it said I had 33 miles left , after I did 20 miles it said I had 22 miles of fuel left.
Looks like it has the 17” front wheel which transforms the handling like on my old Se with sold wheels. Does sound muted though. Think you would be more excited on a 900 Kawasaki rs
