TRIUMPH THRUXTON R
“
THE THRUXTON 1200R
IS MY ABSOLUTE
. HEADS
TURN EVERY DAY IT’S
PARKED IN PUBLIC
MODIFICATIONS
I have made some minor mods, I removed
the large plastic indicators and replaced
them with smaller brighter LED versions
from Triumph’s catalogue, and opted for
the tail tidy, removing the rear mudguard
and exposing the rear a little more. I have
also added a tiny flyscreen to the front.
The difference such a small piece of
equipment can make is revelatory. Not a
windscreen as such, it defects the laminar
flow of the wind in a smooth upward
stream, that means all wind buffeting
ceases and becomes smooth, delivering
clearer vision at speed and easy riding
for the arms and torso.
Original specs saw it arrive with Diablo
Rosso Corsa tyres, superb when hot and
dry, but a trifle terrifying in the wet. The
frugal bastard in me made me change
them only when I’d worn them out, and a
happy day at Hampton Downs saw to that.
I replaced them with Mitas tyres, which
were supplied for a test, and was very
happily surprised by their performance on
the road, wet and dry. I got 8000 excellent,
safe, kilometres out of them and have
recently fitted Michelin Road 5s. I particularly
like the tread pattern, the profile is less
peaky, and the traction impeccable, I’m
told to expect quite remarkable mileage;
time will tell, and then I’ll tell you.
I tend towards 200km rides on this bike,
most weekends see me out with likeminded
friends in a tight group, but I do
get tired after two to three hours in the
saddle. At times I hanker for another bike
to do long distance runs, but like most,
KIWI RIDER 39