VOLUME 57 ISSUE 4 JANUARY 28, 2020 P75
(Above) Portugal is a street rider's paradise. If you ever get the chance to ride it, do so.
(Below left) Single seat only for the Euro's, but we get the option of a passenger seat.
(Below right) Again, old-school charm meets new-school tech in the dash.
of a couple of Isle of Man TT
racers (Gary Johnson and Joe
Ackroyd) and told us to ride as
fast as we can.
Well, "ride to your own
pace" were the exact words
they used, but it's all a matter
of interpretation. And ride we
did, exploiting the impressive
ground clearance, enjoying
the glut of grip from the newly
spec'd Metzeler Racetec tires
and riding the Thruxtons like
they were the very race ma-
chines that first wore the name.
Riding the RS fast takes
effort; it won't fall on its side
and change direction without
thinking—you have to get off
your backside and do it. This
is no flimsy modern superbike,
flitting between corners with
agility bordering on indeci-
sion. The Thruxton needs to
be ridden. You have to push
on the bars and put it into the
turn. You have to haul it up with
the powerful Brembo brakes,
before driving it out the other
side, pulling the throttle right
