TWO, Sort Classic vs Triumph Thruxton - SV650.org

northwind · 25-02-06, 02:09 PM

I'm deeply confused by the new TWO review of these 2 bikes. They say, quite rightly I reckon, that the Sport Classic is the better bike, with its modern fat tyres, USD forks, Ohlins suspenders, and reasonably modern air-and-oil cooled 1000cc engine. But they then put the Triumph down for not being accurate enough to the original, while slating its narrow tyres, engine design and much poorer handling- all of which are of course much more true to the original.

Niall Mac criticises the Triumph for being "too retro". It's a retro! I've never seen him criticise a bike naked for being "too big". "The problem with this GSXR thou is the engine, it ought to have a 600- it's too litre."

I don't get it... I mean, personally I think the Duke's a dog's breakfast- It looks a great package but they've shoehorned too many modern parts into it to give it any real retro credability IMO. They could have fitted quality RWU forks that'd be entirely more convincing without being significantly worse, for example. No easy way around the engine but I could have forgiven that, it's just hte hodgepodge of new and old with no consistency that spoils it for me. it just doesn't look much like the bike it's based on, past a superficial glance- while with the triumph, the tank shape and dual seat initially make it look different but the actual detailing's far closer.

Anyone else agree, or am I just a rabid Ducati hater?

25-02-06, 02:56 PM

The Duke "Sport Classic" range is just designer biking. Everybody with the money wants an old bike, but with new parts, and that's not right... As you say, a dogs breakfast.

Triumph on the other hand have a range of bikes that are "back to basics" design and do exactly what is expected of them. At one point I quite fancied a Triumph "Scrambler" but decided against it.

So I'm with you Northy (which is getting me worried 'cause that a few times just recently

)

.

25-02-06, 07:22 PM

I agree, I thought it was somewhat of a mismatch.
The Duke is a sportsbike made to look retro, whilst the Triumph is, erm, Retro.

IMO I think the Ducati is the nicer looking of the two.

25-02-06, 07:26 PM

i rode my mates 900 thruxton and was very suprised by the performance,he does have thruxton cup track pipes on it but other than that its standard,it also has a very good build quality compared to my sv.
triumph have captured the retro look perfectly because the thruxton fools most old timers into thinking its a restored classic.

northwind · 25-02-06, 07:35 PM

They should have put a Royal Enfield into the mix for a proper retro, with proper retro oil leaks...

25-02-06, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwind

They should have put a Royal Enfield into the mix for a proper retro, with proper retro oil leaks...

Chris Scott list the Enfield Bullet in his top 10 bikes in the Adventue Motorcycling handbook.

Good points - Can be fixed anywhere
Bad points - Need to be fixed everywhere

25-02-06, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwind

They should have put a Royal Enfield into the mix for a proper retro, with proper retro oil leaks...

Do you mean the new cafe racer model? The one that might just do 70mph?

Still all that money for a retro - you can go out there and buy a very good quality retro with boyer ignition and Twin leading shoes for less.....

And they don't break down that often.... My James starts second kick - not bad for a 1958 2-stroke!!!!

25-02-06, 02:09 PM	#1
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	TWO, Sort Classic vs Triumph Thruxton I'm deeply confused by the new TWO review of these 2 bikes. They say, quite rightly I reckon, that the Sport Classic is the better bike, with its modern fat tyres, USD forks, Ohlins suspenders, and reasonably modern air-and-oil cooled 1000cc engine. But they then put the Triumph down for not being accurate enough to the original, while slating its narrow tyres, engine design and much poorer handling- all of which are of course much more true to the original. Niall Mac criticises the Triumph for being "too retro". It's a retro! I've never seen him criticise a bike naked for being "too big". "The problem with this GSXR thou is the engine, it ought to have a 600- it's too litre." I don't get it... I mean, personally I think the Duke's a dog's breakfast- It looks a great package but they've shoehorned too many modern parts into it to give it any real retro credability IMO. They could have fitted quality RWU forks that'd be entirely more convincing without being significantly worse, for example. No easy way around the engine but I could have forgiven that, it's just hte hodgepodge of new and old with no consistency that spoils it for me. it just doesn't look much like the bike it's based on, past a superficial glance- while with the triumph, the tank shape and dual seat initially make it look different but the actual detailing's far closer. Anyone else agree, or am I just a rabid Ducati hater? __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

25-02-06, 07:35 PM	#5
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	They should have put a Royal Enfield into the mix for a proper retro, with proper retro oil leaks... __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Thruxton BSB	chris8886	Soho Massive	2	17-04-08 02:58 PM
BSB Thruxton	thinman	South & West Surfers	10	15-04-08 09:38 PM
Triumph Thruxton	jayjay	Bikes - Talk & Issues	14	24-06-06 03:00 PM
triumph thruxton 4 sale?	kwak zzr	Idle Banter	1	22-03-06 04:58 PM
triumph thruxton 4 sale?	Stormspiel	For Sale - SV's and SV related items	1	06-01-70 08:46 PM

25-02-06, 02:56 PM	#2
Jelster Guest Posts: n/a	The Duke "Sport Classic" range is just designer biking. Everybody with the money wants an old bike, but with new parts, and that's not right... As you say, a dogs breakfast. Triumph on the other hand have a range of bikes that are "back to basics" design and do exactly what is expected of them. At one point I quite fancied a Triumph "Scrambler" but decided against it. So I'm with you Northy (which is getting me worried 'cause that a few times just recently ) .

25-02-06, 07:22 PM	#3
tricky Guest Posts: n/a	I agree, I thought it was somewhat of a mismatch. The Duke is a sportsbike made to look retro, whilst the Triumph is, erm, Retro. IMO I think the Ducati is the nicer looking of the two.

25-02-06, 07:26 PM	#4
kwak zzr Guest Posts: n/a	i rode my mates 900 thruxton and was very suprised by the performance,he does have thruxton cup track pipes on it but other than that its standard,it also has a very good build quality compared to my sv. triumph have captured the retro look perfectly because the thruxton fools most old timers into thinking its a restored classic.