Okay, so, the other day I finally got my hands on that 900 Triumph Thunderbird I’d been eyeing. You know, the classic one from the 90s and early 2000s. I’d heard a lot about them, and let me tell you, it’s a whole different beast compared to some of the newer bikes.
First off, I spent some time just looking at the engine, it’s a big one, 900cc. Apparently, there was a sport version of this bike that had more horsepower, like 82hp, but this one is a bit less because they restricted the engine on this model, unlike the sport version. I guess they let the sport version suck in more fuel and air. This Thunderbird, though, it’s more about that classic feel.
I started it up and you can just feel the power, not crazy fast, but it’s got that rumble, you know? I took it out for a spin and it’s pretty smooth. I read that Triumph made a newer Thunderbird later on, like 1600cc, a real monster. That one got up to 115 mph. Mine’s not that fast, but it’s got plenty of get-up-and-go, especially at lower speeds. The torque peaks at around 2750rpm, and it redlines at 6500rpm, so you don’t really need to push it too hard.
Riding it, you can feel it’s a bit of an older design. It’s got that classic style, but it’s not going to win any races against the newer sportbikes. It’s more about cruising and enjoying the ride. I did some digging and found out they stopped making these Thunderbirds because of some new emissions rules in Europe. Same with some of their other bikes, like the Speed Triples with the 1050cc engine.
- Start up: Felt the power, not super fast, but a good rumble.
- First ride: Smooth, especially at lower speeds. Not as fast as the 1600cc version, but good enough.
- Feel: Older design, classic style, good for cruising.
- Research: They stopped making them because of emissions rules.
All in all, it was a fun day messing around with the Thunderbird. It’s a cool piece of history, and it’s fun to ride something a little different. I read that it was a 70 bhp and the “Performance Index 2015” is mentioned in Motorcycle Consumer News, but honestly, it’s just fun to ride and tinker with. It’s not about the numbers, you know? It’s about the experience.
If you ever get a chance to ride one of these older Triumphs, I’d say go for it. It’s a nice change of pace, and you can really feel the history of the bike. Plus, it’s always fun to turn a few heads with a classic.
