2016 TRIUMPH THRUXTON /THRUXTON R
FIRST RIDE
P48
whose wide spread of torque
from low down makes it almost
irrelevant which gear you throw
at it, the Thruxton asks you to
use the sweet-shifting six-speed
gearbox (best yet on a Bonnev-
ille?) to keep the engine revving
about 4000 rpm, at which point
the high-compression motor
really takes off, building power
up close to the hard-action 7500
rpm limiter—it may be a ride-by-
wire throttle, but Triumph has
opted for an old-style cutout at
the redline. Yet midrange roll-on
from about 3500 rpm upwards
delivers a muscular response—
you catch yourself reveling in
the decisive pickup the big twin
motor delivers to the background
track of twin-cylinder music.
Riding the Thruxton in something
approaching anger through a
fast series of third-gear bends is
heaven on two wheels, where in
backing on and off the throttle
you're never disappointed at
the response. This is an acces-
sible and thoroughly enjoyable
motorcycle which just asks to be
ridden hard, and delivers when
you do—but a wide-open power-
shifter would be very welcome to
help keep it revving hard, even
with the lighter crankshaft.
CHOSE YOUR MODE
The Sport riding mode has a
crisp but controllable throttle
response, and its fuel mapping is
impeccable—it's really well done.
It's responsive without being
fierce or snatchy, even from a
closed throttle, and in spite of the
lightened crank. I ended up us-
ing it all the time, even in traffic.
This makes the Road map pretty
superfluous on the Thruxton,
The Thruxtons
weigh in at a little
over 450 pounds;
they feel agile and
well-balance on
the road.
