need a snick down, will love it if you do, but the
power delivery is spectacular. Cranked up, this
beautiful machine swallows tarmac at a
phenomenal rate, but it is in the fabulous
twisting open-road corners north of Auckland
where I cemented my passion for this glorious
steed. The torque-assist clutch, given much use
in the tight of curly rural B roads, never fatigued
the hand. At slower speeds I find the gearbox
can be a little clunky and it took a few rides to
find the optimal way to change, with a slight
roll-off on the throttle, but it’s still a major clunk
selecting first at a standstill. Manoeuvring the
bike in carparks is like all Thruxtons, the steering
angle doesn’t allow a sharp turn, but it’s probably
the clip-ons mostly to blame for that. On the
road such things are unnoticed. Barrelling along
a tree lined road and throttling down to a stop
sign will deliver a fabulous popping crackle from
those brushed stainless pipes and the smile will
stay in place as you accelerate away. All day long.
The designers and marketeers at Hinckley
seem to have got together and said ‘Let’s build
the most beautiful bike ever, let’s stack it with
the best possible technology without
compromising rider input, and let’s sell it at an
affordable price’. If they did, they made magic,
and it deserves recognition.
There are few things in our lives that make us
happy each and every time we see them; a boat
maybe, provided it isn’t costing you more than
the national debt of Greece, your wife possibly
(mine certainly - I’m a lucky guy), and maybe
that Sage fly rod you bought, or a Stella reel,
whatever it is, you probably paid a trifle more
than you thought you should at the time, and
then thanked your lucky stars ever after.
That’s how the Thruxton makes me feel. If you
were to pop the bling, and after-market quality
aboard this bike at your own expense you’d
never do it, but here its done for you. Do I like
the Thruxton R? Quite simply it as close to the
perfect town and city machine as anyone,
anywhere ever came. And every single time I
look at it I get goose bumps and a desire to go
ride somewhere, anywhere. It is nimble, powerful,
impossibly cool, fast and incredibly beautiful.
What a legacy. I love this bike, pure and simple. I
think you will too.
46KIWI RIDER