Motorcycle specifications Triumph900 THUNDERBIRD Sport 2003 Beautiful English without rigor

the Thunderbird looks like something out of a photo album from our parents' youth. It exudes an irresistible charm, a subtle reminder of the great era of British brands. This clever resurection doesn't prevent the Thunderbird from featuring an engine closer to our own history, but from a generation earlier than Triumph's current blocks. Incidentally, the Thunderbird S makes a reappearance here, having been dropped from the manufacturer's catalog 2 years ago. Once underway, the 3-cylinder 885 cc engine calmly announces its "so British" character - the typical 4-legged purr changes melody when the throttle is teased a little. Big and relatively heavy, the British machine nevertheless offers a driving position that makes it easy to hold. This is all to the good, because although handling is good, liveliness is not the Triumph's strong point. Once you've got past this, you'll be able to revel in the typical, friendly mill. Without really reconciling the advantages of the 2 main architectures (4 and 2 cylinders), it erases their shortcomings: it offers smoothness and linearity at very low revs, while providing a nice torque effect at mid-rpm. The engine's good health means you can have fun as long as the asphalt is forgiving, with a little work to get the machine to spin properly. Once the pavement starts to break up, the bike stops laughing: you're jolted in all directions and the machine struggles to hold the floor. Quickly, slow down the pace and put up with the dryness of the suspension. It's a pity: its shape and generous engine shake the senses, but its behavior isn't rigorous enough to claim English nobility.

M.B
(inspired by Moto-journal - internet photos)