Triumph Thunderbird

Infobox Motorcycle
name = Triumph Thunderbird


aka = 6T, TR65
manufacturer = Triumph Engineering Co Ltd
production = 1949 – 2003 (not continuous)
predecessor = Speed Twin
successor =
parent_company =
class =
power = 34bhp at 6,300rpm
torque =
platform =
engine = Four-stroke Parallel-twin
transmission = Four speed
rake =
trail =
wheelbase = 55in
length =
width = 27.5in
seat_height = 31.5in
dry_weight = 385lb
wet_weight = 397lb
fuel_economy =
fuel_capacity =
related = Tiger T110
similar =

The Triumph Thunderbird was a British motorcycle introduced in 1949 [Bacon 1995, p. 52.] and produced in its original form until 1966. The name was used twice more for new and distinct Triumph models.

Original Thunderbird

To capture the American market, the 6T Thunderbird used a variant of the earlier Speed Twin's parallel twin engine, bored out from 500 cc to 650 cc to give the added horsepower American customers demanded. [Davies 1998, p. 105.] The type was launched publicly at Montlhéry near Paris where three standard production bikes were ridden around a circuit by a team of riders who between them averaged a speed of 92mph over a distance of 500 miles (800km at 148kph). All three machines were ridden to the circuit and back to the Meriden factory. [Davies 1998, p. 108.] The Thunderbird brought Triumph considerable publicity with Marlon Brando's 1953 motion picture, The Wild One, in which he rode a 1950 6T Thunderbird. In 1962 the cost of a new Thunderbird was £278. [Bacon 1995, p. 190.]

Meriden co-operative Thunderbird

The Triumph worker's co-operative at the Meriden factory re-introduced the Thunderbird model name to their range in April 1981. [Bacon 1995, p. 104.] Their TR65 650cc parallel twin was a short-stroke version of the 750cc T140 Bonneville engine. A trail version of the TR65 was also introduced in 1981 but was dropped from the range due to poor sales in late 1982. [Bacon 1995, p. 106. ] Planned for 1984, a custom-styled and further sleeved-down TR6 600cc Thunderbird was exhibited but not produced, the co-operative closing down towards the end of 1983.

Hinckley produced Thunderbird

The new Triumph company based at Hinckley introduced the Triumph Thunderbird 900 in the autumn of 1994. [McDiarmid 1998, p. 74.] It was instrumental in Triumph's successful re-introduction to the US market. The 'Thunderbird' name and retro styling harks back to the golden years (for Triumph) of the 1960s. It was the first "Classic" Triumph to be produced by the resurgent company.

It uses a variant of the 885 cc triple engine, detuned for more torque at lower rpm. Peak power is down to 69 bhp from convert|98|bhp|abbr=on. The engine is externally redesigned to give a period look.

Several variants were produced, including the Triumph Legend 964cc, Adventurer and Thunderbird Sport. The Thunderbird was produced until 2003 and the Thunderbird Sport until 2004.

Thunderbird 1600 Cruiser

In July 2008 Triumph announced the new Triumph Thunderbird 1600, a liquid-cooled parallel twin cruiser with 6-gears and a belt drive. [ [http://www.triumph.co.uk/uk/News_10720.aspx Triumph Motorcycles - News ] ]

References

Notes

Bibliography

cite book
last = Bacon
first = Roy
authorlink =
title = Triumph Twins and Triples
publisher = Niton Publishing
year = 1995
isbn = 1-85579-026-2

cite book
last = Davies
first = Ivor
authorlink =
title = Triumph-The Complete Story
publisher = The Crowood Press
year = 1991
isbn = 1-86126-149-7

cite book
last = McDiarmid
first = Mac
authorlink =
title = Triumph-The Legend
publisher = Parragon Publishing
year = 1998
isbn = 0-75252-080-6

External links

* [http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20%20A/Triumph%20Thunderbird%20TR65%2081.jpgPhoto of a TR65 Thunderbird]
* [http://www.bikepics.com/triumph/thunderbird/ Photo of a modern 'Hinckley' Thunderbird at bikepics.com]
* [http://www.mcnews.com.au/2009_Bikes/Triumph/Gallery/images/Thunderbird_LHS.jpgPhoto of a 1600cc Thunderbird Cruiser at MCN.com]