Daytona Bike Week is traditionally the start of the new riding season, which is why this year Triumph chose Daytona to introduce the Triumph Thunderbird. The Thunderbird is the latest new model to share its storied name with the past. The original Thunderbirds were produced from 1950 to 1966 and were legendary in both styling and performance; they were also the first Triumph to sport the 650cc engine.
The new Thunderbird carries on the tradition but now boasts a 1600cc (96 cubic-inch) vertical twin engine that boasts 80 horsepower and 100 foot pounds of torque. Hooking up the power to the ground is a six-speed transmission that spins the 200mm rear tire via belt drive for long life operation. A sleek new five and a half gallon fuel tank perfectly compliments the forward controls, relaxed sitting position, pull back bars and easy to read integrated speedo, tachometer and odometer for those long rides into the sunset or around the corner for a quick errand to the hardware store.
Introduced as a 2010 model, the Thunderbird is positioned between the Bonneville (two-cylinder, 863cc) and the Rocket III touring model (three-cylinder, 2300cc) both of which have been quite successful in an American market which has an affinity for large displacement cruising motorcycles. The price has been set at $12,499 with an additional $800 for the optional ABS.The original Triumph Thunderbird captured moviegoers attention as soon as it hit our shores with an appearance in the movie The Wild One, starring Marlon Brando. Now you can have the new and much improved Thunderbird to cruise the highways or star in your own movie. Want to see more? Visit your local Triumph dealer; they're taking deposits now. Tell them Motorcycle Cruiser sent you.