Triumph Thunderbird

[Cousin Jack]

Anyone know anything about Triumph Thunderbirds, the 885 cc version? Seen one locally that looks ace, but it is somewhat elderly.

[KungFooBob]

My dad had a Thunderbird Sport for many years, when he couldn't hold it up with my mother on the back he fitted a chair.

As far as I know the motor is pretty bullet proof if you keep the battery topped up so it doesn't spin back and knacker the spag clutch. The Sport was a very heavy motorcycle, so I imagine the standard Thunderbird is just as heavy if not more so.

[Dodgy69]

I had one, N reg 96 I think. British racing green. Different pipes on mine and sounded fantastic when winding it up. However, had a terrible wobble from about 70/80. Bloody frightening and got rid.

[Ditchfinder]

Get on the t300 FB groups lots of advice on there, but don't try and start it with a duff battery.

You can put the cams in from other triples to up the power, carbs might need bigger jets, but if it's the single front disc version you might not want to.

Coils can go dodgy as they're getting on now but there are coil over plug conversions available.
If it cuts out when hot it's usually the crank position sensor.

Check inside tank for rust and make sure the pipes are not rotten, especially the headers as those can be harder to find.

Neutral switch might not work but can be bodged with a washer most of the time.

Rear calipers usually need a rebuild if been sat.

[Ian]

Don't know Thunderbirds specifically but a guy up the road from me said his 855 trident was unmanageably tall and top heavy (and he's a lot taller than me) so if it's the same frame get a ride on it first

[Ditchfinder]

They are a bit top heavy but I'm 5'7" and I can manage. They are a pain if you have to push them around a lot but once up to walking pace they are fine.

[Taipan]

I had a 865 Thruxton and loved it and was very sorry to see it go. One of the few bikes you can ride and know what your riding just by the exhaust note, something I never get from Jap bikes.

[Wossname]

I had a 1959 650 Thunderbird. Mrs W and I went to a wedding in Edinburgh from Cornwall in about 1978, and saw an ad in the Evening News. Bought the bike for £120, took the front forks off, loaded it in the back of my Mk2 Escort estate work car and took it back to Cornwall. Put it back together, but sold it (£160) to part fund an MGBGT which we owned for 30 years. The Escort never really recovered, and my wife still hates the smell of petrol!
That’s my Thunderbird story.

[Cousin Jack]

Saw it in the flesh yesterday. Hmm, looks pristine in the photos but in reality it is an old old bike. It has been looked after well, and would probably be good for polishing and cherishing, but with my standard treatment it would be a shed in 12 months. So that's a no from me.