Like most I began at an early age and from the bottem up. I have rode many bikes, but only owned four.
1) Honda CB250G5, from the 70's. 2) Kawasaki Z1300 THE BIG SIX, of the 70's/80's eara. 3) Honda CB1100SF X11, the naked BLACKBIRD. 4) Triumph Thunderbird Sport, 2000 model in opal white and tangerine (I belive this was the last of the T-Bird models to be made).
Due to an accident at work I am now disabled can't work and have lost a lot of my physical strenth, I also have polyneuropathy. I am know unable to manage large, heavy bikes. So needed something lighter and more managable. The polyneuropathy has afected my feet badly, causing me pain day and night 24/7. For which I have to take a morphine based drug. I was unable to get my right foot under the gear change and through the NABD Club for disabled rider I had a Klicktronic gear changer fitted, which opperates by a thumb switch.
We were going to have a new T-Bird Sport befor I was injured. Then whilest I was awaiting compensation to come through Triumph desided to stop making the T-Bird Sport. I was able to locate an new T-Bird in Scotland, I was told it was posibly the last new one in the country. But it was more than what I had got. Then we found our's down London way.
I'm a six footer and 150% hevier than I should be due to several working accidents. But two up the T-Bird is fast enough for us.
We'er having a screen, as the wind blast gets to be to much. I only hope that it will not spoil it's naked looks of the 50's/60's bikes that it looks like, as that is one of the draws for us and many who stop to admire it. I can't fault the T-Bird, it sounds good (could be made louder), looke fantastic and (with me on the bars) can keep up and sometimes out run moden sport bikes. There is only one thing that I miss, that is the warp facter of accelleration that the Honda X11 had. The T-Bird is carb fueled so it is a little slower, but if ridden right returns mega tons of grin facter. I have found that the adrenilin of riding is the only thing that kills the pains from my polyneuropathy.
So which ever model of T-Bird takes your fancy, grab it quick with both hands, co's you wont regret it.
Have lots of fun as we do, and keep it between your legs.
Yours,
T-Bird (what else).
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
My brother in law has recently purchase a beautiful tangarine and white triumph thunderbird sport, one of the last like yours, he is out on it every opportunity he gets. Before he bought the T bird sport, he owned a Suzuki Intruder 800cc, he says that the T bird sport is better in every respect and he says he would keep this bike forever. I hope you continue to enjoy riding your T bird as much as my brother in law.
Bigbaz 03.09.2002 21:11
The T Bird I love has four wheels..Baz
MATT230583 03.09.2002 17:19
GREAT REVIEW! And it's wonderful that you're still riding despite everything that's tried to stop you. I'm a mountain biker myself but still appreciate the review and the obvious love for biking that comes through
very helpful by (50%):
helpful by (44%):
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