VOL. 53 ISSUE 13 APRIL 5, 2016 P45
sunny, leaving us with ideal con-
ditions to exploit the undoubted
performance of the Thruxton R.
The R-model carries twin
320mm Brembo floating front
discs gripped by the Italian firm's
four-piston Monobloc radial cali-
pers, and operated by a Brembo
radial master-cylinder with braid-
ed steel brake hoses, whereas
the stock Thruxton has the T120's
twin-piston Nissin axial floating
calipers gripping fixed Sunstar
320mm discs. That means the
front suspension is different,
too—although don't assume that
the gold-anodized fork tubes on
the R-version mean the front end
came from Sweden. So no, that
isn't an Ohlins fork, but a fully
adjustable 43mm Showa BPF
upside-downer, compared to the
non-adjustable 41mm Kayaba
cartridge fork on the base model
Thruxton that's sourced from the
T120, and doesn't have radial
brake caliper mounting points.
Both forks deliver 4.7 inches of
wheel travel, same as at the rear
where the Thruxton R has twin
fully-adjustable piggyback Ohlins
shocks against the base model's
twin Kayabas, adjustable only for
The new pair of Thruxton models are the most
potent Bonnevilles to carry lights and a horn yet
produced by Triumph
Both Thruxton
models are a joy
to ride and rather
sporty.
