With your arms extended, your butt mistaking the rider's seat for a couch, and your feet resting on large boards, it's easy to sit back and relax as you enjoy miles and miles of open road. Sure, the large turning radius makes parking a bit harder, but this British hero is still pretty easygoing at low speeds, and a lot less intimidating to ride than to look at. Whereas many competitors are all show and no go, the Thunderbird LT proves quite balanced and relatively agile around town for such a big bike. Front nosedive and rear tail-whipping are nil, while ground clearance is generous enough to give you the impression of riding a sporty cruiser. In typical cruiser fashion, the clutch lever is still manly to use, while the very long final gear ratio helps reduce engine revs and fuel consumption at highways speeds.īuilt on a rigid, stable frame, and equipped with a nice set of brakes, the 2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT is designed to let the engine reveal its spirited character. The only thing missing here is cruise control. (Photo: France Ouellet)Īttacking the road with the 2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT It all starts with a 1,699cc parallel twin-cylinder which perfectly suits the nature of the 2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT. There's a price to pay at the pump, however, as fuel economy is below average (at least it was in the case of my tester, which wasn't quite broken in yet). Classic big-twin sounds and thrills add to the excitement of riding the 2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT, while the smooth operation enhances comfort. Similar to its 1,600cc predecessor, it uses a 270-degree firing interval to create a dynamic feel. The 8-valve, DOHC engine is both feisty and flexible, pinning you to the back of your seat at each twist of the throttle. Forget about weight and power figures it's the massive amount of torque that makes the big steed come alive at just 1,500 rpm, and then catapults you from 2,500 to 4,000 rpm. With is juiced-up twin, the 2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT feels so much more aggressive than light-touring cruiser stereotypes would have you believe. Powerful and charismatic, not to mention devoid of unpleasant vibrations, this engine boasts lightning-quick throttle response, and propels the 380kg beast with disconcerting ease. The British manufacturer thought everything through, and the result is an impressive combination of styling, comfort, and mechanical thrills.Ģ014 Triumph Thunderbird LT powertrain: Simply a great match Triumph say the LT's wheels are shod with the world's first 'white-walled' tires.The new 2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT has all the segment's big guns square in its sights, including the Victory Cross Road and Harley-Davidson Road King. ABS brakes are standard with supplier Nissin providing a four-piston caliper with twin 310mm front discs, and Brembo supplying a two-piston caliper with a 310mm disc to the rear. A 47mm Showa front fork with 120mm of travel and twin Showa shocks at the rear with a 5-way preload adjustable mechanism perform the suspension duties. Suspension parts are also borrowed from the Storm. On the LT, it produces 92 hp 5,400 rpm and 150 Nm 3,550 rpm. It shares the 1,699 cc parallel-twin engine with a 270-degree crank, with the currently-selling Thunderbird Storm. The seat design is revised for more lumbar support. These introductions make the Thunderbird platform better suited for touring duties. The 2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT variant gets a windscreen, additional headlight, detachable leather saddlebags and a passenger backrest. Triumph has revealed the LT version of its Thunderbird range and the new Thunderbird Commander at the 2013 EICMA show in Milan, Italy.
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