I don't know which one to get!

[usaftrevor87]

First motorcycle I ever rode was a 1968 Triumph Bonnie when I was 12-13 years old. So I'm heading back to my youth.
I'm graduating in May and this will be a present for myself lol but I am stuck on which one to get.
The 1 seater (can get a 2 up seat) is the Thruxton R & the other one is the T120
I really just don't know which one I like better.
The Thruxton has higher end shocks & brakes, more of a performance version of the T120. But the T120 is cheaper and has heated grips standard. I just don't know!

image.jpeg

• usaftrevor87
• Feb 1, 2016

image.jpeg

• usaftrevor87
• Feb 1, 2016

 

[b-one]

I don't ride but I would want the one with better brakes,there's a lot of idiots out there! They both look great I prefer the bottom as the color is perfect!

 

[daveomak]

I bought a '67 TR6R new...   quite the ride....   30 years later I bought a '96 Harley Sportster 1200 Custom....   My opinion after owning and riding 7 motorcycles....    Ride a Harley 1200 sportster...  Close to the European bikes in handling but WAY smoother... It was a relaxing pleasure to ride....

My fastest bike was a Suzuki GS750B...  worlds fastest at the time...  1 year before the KZ 1000...    had a Harley Sprint. (Italian), Suzuki 250 cross breed, Suzuki 80 trail, and a 450 single cylinder something or another... didn't have it long... vibrated too bad...  but it had snort !!!  low end torque that would climb a building...

 

[dirtsailor2003]

My personal preference is not to ride with 2, especially long distance. I guess you have to decide how you really want to ride. Heated grips would be nice in my neck of the woods any day.

I bought this a year ago

image.jpeg

• dirtsailor2003
• Feb 1, 2016

Haven't rode this pig more than 10 miles since!

image.jpeg

• dirtsailor2003
• Feb 1, 2016

 

[usaftrevor87]

I bought a '67 TR6R new...   quite the ride....   30 years later I bought a '96 Harley Sportster 1200 Custom....   My opinion after owning and riding 7 motorcycles....    Ride a Harley 1200 sportster...  Close to the European bikes in handling but WAY smoother... It was a relaxing pleasure to ride....
My fastest bike was a Suzuki GS750B...  worlds fastest at the time...  1 year before the KZ 1000...    had a Harley Sprint. (Italian), Suzuki 250 cross breed, Suzuki 80 trail, and a 450 single cylinder something or another... didn't have it long... vibrated too bad...  but it had snort !!!  low end torque that would climb a building...

I'm going to have to agree to disagree. While I've only been riding consistently around 9 years I have owned 5 bikes in search of my forever bike (if that actually exists) haha
But with all do respect Harleys are kind of over rated in todays market. You can't knock their history, thats undeniable, but the American Cruisers like Victory & Indian are overall, i think better bikes. Harleys, are heavy, slow, but you are right, the torque is amazing. One could argue that they have torque where you need in, in the normal riding band, but my friend has a 2013 1200 that I have rode quite a few times & I thought it handled horribly.
We shall see how these new bikes handle though. I had a friend who had a Vrod and that was fu but so uncomfortable which I think the Thruxton R ride would be like.

My personal preference is not to ride with 2, especially long distance. I guess you have to decide how you really want to ride. Heated grips would be nice in my neck of the woods any day.

I bought this a year ago

image.jpeg

• dirtsailor2003
• Feb 1, 2016

Haven't rode this pig more than 10 miles since!

image.jpeg

• dirtsailor2003
• Feb 1, 2016

Nice bikes! The 2up riding wouldn't be long trips, just short day trips. Long trips are just me. Yea the heated grips would be amazing here in Minnesota.

I think if I had to pick right now I would go with the matte graphite T120. I think just overall price and features its a great all around value.
They are having a special invite only unveiling show in the Twin Cities here next Monday, so that will be my deciding factor.

 

[redrocker65200]

I have only owned two bikes, one was a Yamaha 535 and my current Honda 1100.  Both are street bikes, cruisers actually (the Honda is a Harley Lookalike that was half the cost).  I went to a bike show here in the San Fran area and sat on every bike I could.  What struck me was how uncomfortable the Harley's were to sit on.  The other thing that struck me was just how really overpriced they are.  I bought the same style Honda for more than half the price, and it is shaft drive and water cooled, so all I need to do is add gas and check the oil once in a while.  Don't get me wrong, the Harleys are sure great looking bikes, but they are very uncomfortable and for the price, they are way too expensive for me.  If I was going to stay "American", then I was really looking at the Victory  Plus, I just don't like how some of the Harley riders out here don't consider you a bike rider unless you ride a Harley.  Two wheels and a motor is how I look at it.

Both are good looking bikes.  Good luck on your search.

D

 

[chef jimmyj]

You Bike guys are a breed apart! I rode a KZ 750 a couple of times, back in the 80's. Was nice but Comfort, for me, was a Buck Seat, good Stereo and Heat or AC as needed. Oh yeah and no Rain Suit needed. 

 Good luck with your choice and stay safe...JJ

 

[siddpup]

image.jpeg

• usaftrevor87
• Feb 1, 2016

image.jpeg

• usaftrevor87
• Feb 1, 2016

Finally-a thread in which I can actually contribute as opposed to the lurking I do most of the time around here.

My $0.10-buy the one that makes you grin more when you sit on it. Unless you are riding 2up, in which case buy the one that won't make your passenger want to kill you in your sleep. The only thing that rides on my passenger seat is my husband's camera bag on some long rides, so I don't have to worry about that piece.

If I was buying for myself, it would be a secondary bike for bopping around town (my current bike is a Kawasaki Concours 14). Having ridden both (briefly), I liked the feel of the T120 better. Unless you are living somewhere that allows you to have a bike as your sole transportation, it is going to be a luxury. Make sure that the bike you pick is the one that makes you happy to have picked up such an expensive hobby.

And, because a thread about bikes is useless without pictures :biggrin:, here is one of my baby.

image.jpeg

• siddpup
• Feb 3, 2016

 

[usaftrevor87]

Finally-a thread in which I can actually contribute as opposed to the lurking I do most of the time around here.

My $0.10-buy the one that makes you grin more when you sit on it. Unless you are riding 2up, in which case buy the one that won't make your passenger want to kill you in your sleep. The only thing that rides on my passenger seat is my husband's camera bag on some long rides, so I don't have to worry about that piece.

If I was buying for myself, it would be a secondary bike for bopping around town (my current bike is a Kawasaki Concours 14). Having ridden both (briefly), I liked the feel of the T120 better. Unless you are living somewhere that allows you to have a bike as your sole transportation, it is going to be a luxury. Make sure that the bike you pick is the one that makes you happy to have picked up such an expensive hobby.

And, because a thread about bikes is useless without pictures :biggrin:, here is one of my baby.

image.jpeg

• siddpup
• Feb 3, 2016

First things first, love the ride! The fur is what does it for me lol really though it is a nice kawa.
I ended up switching my deposit to the 2nd bike, the T120. Main reasons were ergonomics. The Thruxton would probably be a 2 year bike for me till my back hated me so much I wouldn't ride it. The T120 seems like a long term bike for me. Can't wait to get it! Should be here in March since I was part of the first 250 pre-order.

Probably the most important question I can ask, you RODE a T120 & Thruxton R? Or sat on it at the Bonneville Reborn Tour?
If you actually rode one, 1. How did you pull that off,m? 2. Tell me more bout what you thought. My mind is blown lol
I'll be sitting here eagerly hahaha

 

[siddpup]

Sorry-meant to say I sat on them.  But was so excited to reply to something I actually knew about that I misspoke (maybe I mean mistyped).  D'oh!

Sounds like you made the right choice for you.  Bad ergonomic matches have destroyed many an otherwise good bike-owner relationship.  When I was looking at the Connie, I tried the FJR. On paper, it was the perfect bike for me.  It didn't feel quite as tall as the Connie does, it had factory cruise control and it is a well rated and reviewed sport-tourer.  After a 15 minute test ride my back already hated me.  I could have changed some things, but the Connie just fit me (other than being too tall) from the first time I rode it.

The Alaska Leather Buttpad is a wonderful thing.  Keeps my rear off of the hot seatcover in the hottest weather.  And doesn't add a lot of height-which is important since I already have to tippy-toe the bike.  I have had one on every bike I have owned in the past 15 years.  Can't recommend one highly enough.  It does smell a bit like a wet sheep when it gets rained on, though. 

 

[usaftrevor87]

 
Sorry-meant to say I sat on them.  But was so excited to reply to something I actually knew about that I misspoke (maybe I mean mistyped).  D'oh!

Sounds like you made the right choice for you.  Bad ergonomic matches have destroyed many an otherwise good bike-owner relationship.  When I was looking at the Connie, I tried the FJR. On paper, it was the perfect bike for me.  It didn't feel quite as tall as the Connie does, it had factory cruise control and it is a well rated and reviewed sport-tourer.  After a 15 minute test ride my back already hated me.  I could have changed some things, but the Connie just fit me (other than being too tall) from the first time I rode it.

The Alaska Leather Buttpad is a wonderful thing.  Keeps my rear off of the hot seatcover in the hottest weather.  And doesn't add a lot of height-which is important since I already have to tippy-toe the bike.  I have had one on every bike I have owned in the past 15 years.  Can't recommend one highly enough.  It does smell a bit like a wet sheep when it gets rained on, though. 

Good to know! Thanks for all the insight. They are suppose to be arriving in March. And Triumph let me keep my spot on the pre-order list! So that was cool of them. And I get a gold plated commemorative clutch cover & 1 out of the 250 will win a solid gold clutch cover badge! That would be sweet. Take a couple thousand off the list price for me haha

 

[unclebubbas bbq]

My 1st bike was a 69 Bonnie 650, man I loved it....not very comfortable on long trips but great around town. I guess it comes down to what type of riding you do. They are both great bikes

 

[SmokyMose]

When I was your age, usaf, I went through a Honda 350-4cyl, a Yamaha 650 and a BMW 600 in 4 short years. My favorite was the Yamaha, because like you, I always liked the Bonneville, and the Yamaha was like it. Alas, I had to give up motorcycles when the kids came. 10 years ago I realised the kids were gone and bought a Suzuki Volusia 800 (cruiser). Like many, I think Harleys are over-rated and over-priced.
All that ramble aside, go with the 2 seater. It'll ride like a single seater, but you have the option for a sweet young thing along with you...
Remember that if the tires keep those "nubs" on the sides, and the footpegs don't get a scrape or two, you're not really riding!
Ride On...
Dan

 

[usaftrevor87]

Remember that if the tires keep those "nubs" on the sides, and the footpegs don't get a scrape or two, you're not really riding!
Ride On...
Dan

^^aint that the truth haha

Yea, i ended up going with the 2 seater, T120 Black. $2000 cheaper & will be more practical for the type of riding I do.

 

[unclebubbas bbq]

Congrats, ride safe and enjoy!