First of all, hello everyone. Normally, I would have liked to introduce myself in the appropriate section with some good photos of my bike, but I’m afraid that, for the moment, it won’t be possible as I’m still trying to make up my mind… let’s see if some kind soul can lend me a hand (or add even more doubts).
The fact is that after many years without riding, I’ve decided to treat myself and get a road bike for very occasional use. Initially, I was looking at a custom, so I was considering the Triumph America, but a friend showed me some photos of a Thruxton, and I fell in love with the bike, so here we are… actually, I wanted to spend just a little money and have a bike to tinker with as well as to ride, but you know how it goes… you start with X, and end up with X+Y…
Roughly speaking, I was looking for a flashy bike, easy to maintain (the kind where you do everything yourself), reliable (more than reliable, with simple mechanics, because at this point I am convinced about reliable bikes being mythical creatures), and that I could keep for the foreseable future, if not for the rest of my life, if it convinces me (I’m the kind who gets attached to bikes).
The thing is, having decided on the Thruxton, I have several possibilities… which I will narrow down to two to make it easier, let’s see if you can help me decide:
1-Carburated Thruxton. In principle, very well cared for. Pros: it comes with quite a few extras, it’s well maintained, and it’s the carbureted model which I prefer. Cons: no ABS, and especially the clip-on handlebars, which I’m not sure I’ll manage with (I’ve never had an R in my life, I come from cross, enduro, and custom bikes, so a very different position).
2-Thruxton Ace. Quite new, no add-ons or extras. Pros: it has ABS, the handlebars are in a much higher position (which is the main thing that worries me about the carbureted one), fewer kilometers. Also, it’s a limited edition, which is always appealing. Cons: it’s stripped down, doesn’t even have the rear seat cowl, which I love, it’s fuel-injected (not that it’s a problem, but it has that fake carburettor imitation that I hate, just like the useless fins being water-cooled), and I have a feeling it has had a rougher life (although it has fewer kilometers).
Price-wise they’re about the same… honestly, I’m leaning more towards the carbureted one, having seen that I can put on higher handlebars by changing the top yoke from one of the later models, I’m not sure how feasible that will be… I’m a bit scared because the bike is already old and I don’t see the conversion kits that people used to use anywhere anymore, besides the fact that the model is no longer made and I don’t know how difficult it will be to get the parts to change these handlebars…
Opinions? Anything I should consider? Thanks in advance!
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