Gert an insight into the Triumph America. PLEASE NOTE** When we say Kayaba standard that is all cruisers. When we say rigid chasis we mean stablility through corners (little flex) not rigid fram
To be it known. I sold my Harley Dyna yesterday, and picked up a Triumph america. One 10 mile ride on the Triumph and I new I was done with the Harley.
Excellent commentary, my last bike before the HD Softail I ride now was an '07 America. ( the last carburetted model I think). It was an awesome bike. Did everything very well, Looked hot. I sold it at 27000 kms on the clock. No issues and Totally oiltight. I would recommend the Triumph America to anyone. Excellent value for money when you take into account the build quality
Best Triumph America review I've seen yet. I own one as well. So far Ive aped it and put cocktail shaker pipes on it by British Customs. It's a 2008; last of the carb model. John Norton Savannah, GA USA
When I was on my 125 I would go on about what I wanted next, my first "big bike" and with colleagues calling my VL125 a "pretend harley" I knew... I couldn't have one of those yankee rides. Being English, being a man whose father owned a silver jubilee Bonnie back in the day, I knew I had to get a Triumph. My '02 America is everything I had hoped for in that "big bike" and one I can start pouring money into her again, good lord there's a lot I want to do (For a start, better fucking shocks!)
Good guess, Pete - I live in Nebraska, in the upper midwest portion of the country. As an absolute beginner on motorcycles, fresh out of the MSF basic rider course, I suspect it might have been better for me to start out on something smaller but I decided to get a ride I could grow into. So far, the America has been a great choice!
Thanks for posting, this is a really informative video. Don't worry about the production, it's the content that matters! I'd be really interested to see the outcome of the modifications discussed, if possible, are you planning to do another video?
I have a 2002 B/A. Great bike with easy maintenance. Mine is black and silver. I had the bucket for the headlight powder coated black . Keep the shiney side up.
I am a Harley owner and love the big twin which in hog language means not a sportster. BUT as a master mechanic and engineer I have to admit that the triumph will last longer than the harley and I have to say that bike in the video looks really GOOD to me. Much bigger tires and wider forks than the harley sportster and those triumph engines will last longer. Anytime us master mechanics arent honest with the truth we are only choosing to be a fool
A Sportster will run circles around your big twins, in terms of handling, acceleration, braking, fuel economy ... but at least your attitude is typical among "serious" Harley riders.
Thanks for the video, the best I've seen on this bike. Gave me a good look. I should be picking mine up tomorrow, can't wait. Anyone have pics of one that is blacked out? Would love to see what it looks like.
I have at home my Valkyrie , a Honda vtx 1800 and a Harley VRod. The monsters. This Triumph has its own class and looks . Its beautiful. I wish I had one.
Gooday mate! Great review! My last bike was a 1965 BSA 650 Lightning which was destroyed ( Don't ask) in 1969. I just ordered an America in red. What an amazing bike. However, I heard you say a couple of times. "what a great bike for a younger guy starting out". I'm an old (67) Navy Seabee just getting done. Can't wait to get this bike under my butt.
After seeing this clip I made a trip to your garage last Saturday (31st Aug) with 15K to spend on a new Triumph. No customer service and was ignored for 45 mins by those who worked there. Everyone seemed more concerned about talking shop with their mates and existing clients. Sorry guys but Bikebiz got the sale and my trade in.
Best review I've seen on the Triumph America and as one subscriber said "This video is one of the reasons I just bought an America.... Of course, the 0% financing had a lot to do with it"... When are we going to see that sort of finance with Triumph Motorcycles here in Australia ?
Why buy a Harley instead? They're both good bikes but having owned 2 Harley's - a Road king and a 1200 custom - and several Triumphs I have found the build quality on the Triumph better. Yes the Harley sounds better but you can upgrade to shorter pipes on the triumph - check out Triumph Speedmaster Short Triumph Off Road Pipes. It's also worth noting that Triumph was the top selling bike in the UK - again. Excellent taste us Brits. Finally if anyone copied it must be Harley as Triumph produced their first motorcycle in 1898 - several years before Harley.
Great review from the first guy. The second guy had to compare it to the "Thunderbird" and then tell us the "America" does not have much power which "killed" the review for me... Don't forget the 270 degree firing order which makes the engine have a Vtwin feel and more character.
It sound fantastic and for the money a seriously cool bike. Now considering this, along with Harley 883 Iron and Kwaki VN 900 custom. Great vid guys, really informative.
I have been looking at this and the speedmaster as well. Really like the individual looks of them and yes there not common like a Harley . I think the speedmaster would be easier to turn into a bobber like someone else has mentioned but it's your bike and your shop and im rather interested to see what you come up with. As for wheels the only other ones i can find are spoked wheels , i can't find any other alloys that fit .
This is a pretty raw video and more relaxed then the explorer one - we see this bike as fun, easy and built like an ox. So it is pretty informal. WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO - to learn this video stuff!!! j
I have a 2007 Triumph America with about 1500 miles. Garage kept not ridden for years. Might be worth to get it on the road again. Have aftermarket exhaust not installed.
I have owned one of these for a year now. I love the bike and the sound the short pipes . My only criticisms I have is the poor finish of the alloy wheels which don't shine like new after a short time and the poor customer service in the UK (in my opinion). Good review Trooperlu.
I don't know about image, but Harley comes with a low rpm, long stroke motor that I like. I really like the big Sportster motor, and they are very dependable and run a real long time. I don't know of any other type of motor that gets you going from idle to 3500 rpm as well as that, size for size, and they can easily enough be upgraded for more power. However, the Sportster riding position isn't to my liking. I really like the riding position of the Speed Master. I suppose my idea of a dream bike would be a Sports Master, a Triumph Speed Master with a 1200 Harley Sportster motor. I think that would be it for me.
One of the main reasons I bought the Triumph America LT was because it WASN'T a Harley. I live in the Milwaukee area and 9 out of every 10 bikes you see are Harley's and like the guy said, I didn't want to be part of the flock. Only bad thing is there are Harley dealers all over the place but very few Triumph dealers. I literally drive past four Harley dealerships going to my lone Triumph dealer.
At the moment, I have a small Suzuki but its time to get a bigger bike. Ive always wanted a Harley 1200 sport, but when I saw these Triumph Americas ive got to admit they have turned my head. I like the look and sound of these more.
What kind of pipes are those? Where can I buy a good full pipe system? I own a 2007 triumph America and want it to sound well a lot better than it does
anybody still deciding on whether to buy this bike, go for it. Awesome ride, got mine this past May. MPG is outstanding. I went with exhausts from BUB Systems. Awesome sound out of these pipes. Also, ANYTIME I ride with people, or go on a bike run, everyone is crowding around my bike because it is the only bike that is not familiar.
Hi, I am an old man now. After my 1st street bike 1969 cb 750 honda in 71, I got my dream bike a 1960's Triumph Bonnie and after that another one. neither one held out more than a year, but I remember I really loved riding them both. I moved north and swore I would never own another Triumph I bought a Yamaha 650. Never had a lick of trouble with that bike, but my first Harley was calling and sold the Yamaha to a neighbor and started on a long relationship with Harley's my first one cost me $1900 in 78 and I owned two Sportsters and an Electra Glide. Now that I am old and Harley's are way to expensive I got a craving to go down on one more Triumph.Trouble is that I have read that Triumph is less reliable than a Harley. If it were for raw speed I would buy a used Japanese bike. I have owned two and they were reliable and fast, but just did not do it for me.
Marlon Brando also rode Triumph along with legendary actress Ann Margaret and rebel without a clue James Dean. I think also Grammy winning singer P!nk has a T100.
Triumph aren't about 'competing' with Harley Davidson. They're an alternative. Nothing says, "I didn't want a Harley", like buying a Triumph. The America and Speedmaster can be beefed up a bit, but even in stock form could outperform anything in the same range from H-D. If you want bigger, go with a Thunderbird - brilliant cruiser, 2010 cruiser of the year, again matching or exceeding what H-D puts out in the same range.
I bought my first Triumph America in 2007.We traveled around the southeast and up north in this great country, and loved that motorcycle.Wish I had her back.My Second America was a 2014 America LT.Took a 6000 mile road trip on her.Wonderful motorcycle.I traded her in on my new 2018 Speedmaster.
This video is one of the reasons I just bought an America. Of course, the 0% financing for which I qualified had a lot to do with it, too. But still, if I don't like it, I'll blame you.
Nice bike iv I just brought me a speed master Trump I'm from New Zealand my kuzn put a single seat wider slightly higher handle bars he ,s made it suit my size ,, made the back and front sprockets slightly smaller than than arigdnal ones , it looks and it sounds like a beast master what ever that is lol its loud I'm 6 ft tall 120 KGS and Iv had it up 150 km any faster and I'm hanging on New Zealand speed limit is 100 to 110 km some places not very fast for a bike if you like speed my friends ride Harley Davidson,, 1672 1700 cc Indians 1800 cc , I'm the only speed master , and Ducati 900 monster
Much like Harley, Triumph is about it's history which to me is the Bonneville and Thruxton. I love those bikes and would like to own one. My question is, why on earth would I spend $9,000 on an 865cc bike that was obviously made to look like and compete with Harley Davidson when I could own a 1200cc Harley Davidson for just about the same price? Triumph needs to get rid of the Speedmaster (since it's basically the same bike as the America) and give the America a make over with a larger engine. If Triumph wants to compete with Harley (and based on their proud history I think can), they need to make the America with at least a 1200cc engine. That way it would be direct competition with the 1200 Sportster.
I hear that all the time and I think it's garbage. I have owned plenty of Harley's and have NEVER had an issue wher I have had to leave my bike in the service department! Never! Harley's just like Triumph are reliable. I'm just saying, Triumph needs to give the America a larger engine.
Let me educate you. I own a 2008 Truimph America. I got my first motorcycle when I was nine years old, and I am now 38, so I have a fair bit of riding experience. A Harley is a car with two wheels. it handles pathetically ( I have ridden ones owned by mates). I have NO WISH to ever own a Harley. Take a truimph, or any other bike for a spin and you'l realize why you dont' want a Harley.
I'm not sure why you think your opinion is "educating" me but anyway, .... I have also been riding for a long time and I have owned Yamahas, Hondas and 4 Harley's. I am considering buying another bike and I'm looking at Triumph, Victory and Harley. They are all great bikes and each of them offer something the other doesn't. Harley's are great! There's nothing like riding a Harley, whether you like it or not, there's nothing like riding a Harley! I happen to love the ride.
Slower shots of the bike in the intro would have been appreciated - camera panned way too fast. And the camera op needs to learn how use the drag control on the tripod. Other than that, some good points made here, and it is a nice bike. It's going on my short list.
Yeah, ok, they rounded it off to 900. For many years the Harley Sportster was called a 900 Sportster and it was an 883. I use to have a Honda 750 ... was actually 736cc. lol
Wayne Novotny I have an xs 650 and it is 654cc phew! But I also have a bmw 1150 GS which is only 1137cc and a moto guzzi SP1000 which is 949cc, but I never tell people they are bigger than they are lol! It is a bit like me saying my dick is 9" long instead of 8" ha ha (oops my mistake 6").
OK people.. I am really struggling with whether to buy the America or Speedmaster. I love the blacked out Speedmaster(not really into all that chrome). I would be doing different kinds of riding. I want something i can ride short stints to the wineries, but also something that is comfy enough to ride to the beach, take on weekend trips. wHAT SAY YOU??
+Brian Holbrook right choice Bro they handle fantastic and after market parts are cheap if you have problems with it cutting out at traffic lights turn up the tick over to around 1100 rpm should sort out the problem happy days maaan if you want any advice just let me know
Brian Holbrook no just chop the back mudguard off stick a lucas style back light on and some bullet indicators and some cocktail shaker exhausts on they sound fantastic if you live in England send me your email address and I'll send you some photos of mine it looks the dog's bollocks if your not too far away I'll help you with the conversion free of charge
Good bike, I have it for 3 years now, very robust and awesome bike for sure. But I don't like the dealership. Very unprofessional and trashy people, they never call you, charge you. When you take them in for any maintenance, I know they didn't even touch the bike and charge $300.
Great choice Kev... You guy's across the pond have it good with 0% finance and cheap motor cycles... Lucky buggers! :) You prolly paid around 8 or so K for your America... Here they are 14.5 K even when our dollar was a lot stronger than the U.S were still 14.5 K and our finance is around the 12% mark :( ... Enjoy the Ride! ;)
These bikes are smooth as. No ass tickling vibrations like those Harleys. Pretty sure that's why those Harley bum boy fans buy em. Haha, and let the shit throwing begin!
Vanrocco66 what 1200 sportster within 5 or 6 years old with around 15000 ks on it can you get for $9000??? You'll get one of these triumphs with upgraded pipes and bags etc for less than $9000 2nd hand. You might find a stock 883 for that money. Ugly things stock and everyone knows they are the girls Harley where as this is just a triumph. No stigma attached.
why keep mopeing on about the classic american agricultural tractors otherwise known as harly davidson which is quote old fashioned out of date scrap. i mean come on pushrod engines in this age even the most recognised musican the king elvis presley didn't want to be seen dead on that rubbish overpriced and only purchased by absolute dickheads i wouldn't have a harly of any description in my garage got more sense than pay extortion for out of date crappy scrap absolutely fecking rubbish.
