|
| Steve | | Set |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 480 | | Location | : | Chesham, United Kingdom |
|
| | Posted : 19 Oct 2014 - 17:56 Post title : Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions | | | Picked up my new commander on Saturday morning and said a tearful goodbye to my trusty 1600 which has been, and still is, a beautiful bike.
Firstly, before you ask picture:
The Commander is gorgeous, I just love this paint job.
I also like the front end, especially the lack of clutter:
Look no wires here
or here.
The handle bar clamp has a hollow space at the front and the wires come out the bars and down through the top yoke out of sight. It makes for a very clean front end.
OK riding, this is what I found:
There is a video which I put some music on, but the sound has been muted due to copyright.  Oh well I'll have another go when I get time without the music so you can hear the bike.
Link
This is my first bike with feet plates and toe heel shifter so that took a little bit of getting used to. Automatically went to shift up with my toe until I trained myself out of it so missed a few changes at first. I'm getting better though. I also found that I was expecting the rear brake to be under my foot as it was on the 1600 so that's a bit of adjustment required of me too. Though the foot boards are a lot more comfertable to ride with, I might become a fan. 
The bike handles really well, much more stable at slow speeds than the 1600 and feels lighter and more willing when going into corners.
I didn't find that there was any greater tendency to ground the footboards when cornering, though new shiny tyres on wet roads I wasn't inclined to throw her about too much.
Plenty of power, but you'd expect that with 1000ccs more. edit: maybe this was a bit subconscious wishful thinking
All in all I'm loving this bike and I'm really glad I went with it.
I have a screen on order and some new hard bags to go on the easy brackets for touring.
I'd planned to get a key cut for the but plug but it won't work  these bikes have transponders in the keys for the immobiliser.
| | Post edited by Steve on 19 Oct 2014 - 21:10 |
|
|
|
| daz | | Zeus | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,718 | | Location | : | United States |
|
| | Posted : 19 Oct 2014 - 19:59 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: Steve) | | |
Steve wrote:
Plenty of power, but you'd expect that with 1000ccs more.
|
|
100 more, not 1000. if it was might have to do a trade in.  Anyways, it's the 1700's cams that makes most of the difference, not so much the 100cc. i do like the paint on those. Very nice bike.
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
|
|
|
|
| Swagger | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 15/04/2012 | | Posts | : | 1,103 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
|
| | Posted : 19 Oct 2014 - 20:29 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: Steve) | | | Ah so you're the fella! Seen you cruising around a couple of times. A friend of mine was looking at your old bike a couple of weeks ago. He saw you roll up and thought it was me. Then as he was walking back to his place I coincidently turned up. You may have seen my Captain America around but then again probably not.
That Commander is nice BTW!
| The Force is strong in this one
| | Post edited by Swagger on 19 Oct 2014 - 21:03 |
|
|
|
| Steve | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 480 | | Location | : | Chesham, United Kingdom |
|
| | Posted : 19 Oct 2014 - 21:23 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: Swagger) | | | I've not seen a captain America tbird around. I saw one sitting outside a place in Chesham last year, around the corner from me, but never managed to see it again.
I used to see a black one up around Aylesbury on my way to work but I've not seen that many out and about.
I'll keep my eyes open.
Thanks by the way.
|
|
|
|
| Swagger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 15/04/2012 | | Posts | : | 1,103 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
|
| | Posted : 19 Oct 2014 - 21:58 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: Steve) | | | Yeah that was mine in Chesham. Normally over there a couple of times a week with various blends of bikes, cars or trucks.
| The Force is strong in this one
| | Post edited by Swagger on 19 Oct 2014 - 21:59 |
|
|
|
| edbob | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 04/04/2012 | | Posts | : | 931 | | Location | : | United States |
|
| | Posted : 19 Oct 2014 - 23:46 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: Steve) | | | I like how those contrast-cut wheels look.
| "You will ride eternal shiny and chrome"
| | Post edited by edbob on 19 Oct 2014 - 23:46 |
|
|
|
| Bender | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 26/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 684 | | Location | : | Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia |
|
| | Posted : 20 Oct 2014 - 07:42 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: edbob) | | | were did Triumph put the Horn ? nice looking Bike BTW.
| BENDER Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.
Thunderbird 1600, Foran exhaust,cat eliminator,Twin T Bars, K and N filter, Led Headlight, Rivco driving Lights, Viking Bags,quick release sissy Bar,.Joker oil pressure Gauge met-cruise seat Dyno Tune + more
|
|
|
|
| intimidator32 | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2012 | | Posts | : | 913 | | Location | : | lexington, ky, United States |
|
| | Posted : 20 Oct 2014 - 10:12 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: Steve) | | | Sweet ride Steve will be interested in hearing how the factory screens do as far as the buffeting goes and how the bags lineup with the different rear fender. Keep the pic's coming as you add stuff please
| currently on a slow Harley but will have another Triumph eventually 
|
|
|
|
| RC65 | | Chaac | | | Reg. Date | : | 19/05/2011 | | Posts | : | 679 | | Location | : | Redmond, Washington, United States |
|
| | Posted : 20 Oct 2014 - 14:12 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: Bender) | | |
Bender wrote:
were did Triumph put the Horn ? nice looking Bike BTW. |
|
Huh, you'e right...that area's empty. 
Not a fan of the rear-signal assembly and the floorboards, but otherwise that Commander model is a sexy beast....very nice, congratulations.
| Thunderbird Riders in Puget Sound (TRiPS) / Seattle
-- co-holder of the title of the United States' Largest Thunderbird Flocking!
https://www.facebook.com/thunderbirdridersinpugetsound
|
|
|
|
| Steve | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 480 | | Location | : | Chesham, United Kingdom |
|
| | Posted : 20 Oct 2014 - 18:58 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: RC65) | | | The horn is here.
Being black it's unobtrusive. I've not sounded the horn yet, I hope it's like my original horn, sounds like a truck and makes pedestrians get out of the way quick , the one that came with the dresser bars was right wimpey in comparison. I'll have to try it tommorow.
I wasn't sure about the art nouveau inspired tail light thingy, but it's growing on me. I'm starting to think it looks good, rose tinted glasses and all.
I'm rapidly becoming a fan of footboards, they are much more comfortable on the motorway. I find that I can get my knees on the tank without burning my calf on the casings. They bring my feet further back and for a vertically challenged guy like me they're definitely an aid for doing distances. I feel much more planted on the bike.
|
|
|
|
| Steve | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 480 | | Location | : | Chesham, United Kingdom |
|
| | Posted : 20 Oct 2014 - 19:05 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: edbob) | | |
edbob wrote:
I like how those contrast-cut wheels look. |
|
Yea me too, they should be a lot easier to keep clean as all of the shiny bits that need polishing are on the outside of the wheel where you can reach them.
|
|
|
|
| Steve | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 480 | | Location | : | Chesham, United Kingdom |
|
| | Posted : 20 Oct 2014 - 19:16 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: intimidator32) | | |
intimidator32 wrote:
Sweet ride Steve will be interested in hearing how the factory screens do as far as the buffeting goes and how the bags lineup with the different rear fender. Keep the pic's coming as you add stuff please |
|
I've ordered the MRA V-FLOW SCREEN 'Z' from a place in the UK, waiting on the dealers stock coming in this week. They're sending them next day delivery so I'm hoping to get it this weekend. After my first trip to work around the M25 the screen can't come quick enough.
I wouldn't touch the Triumph bags with a barge pole after my experience with them on the 1600. There's already a few guys on the other site with LTs that are starting to get sag already. I've ordered some hard bags from the USA. Just paid the import VAT so they should be here soon too.
I'll post some pictures when I get them all fitted.
Thanks for all the comments
|
|
|
|
| RC65 | | Chaac | | | Reg. Date | : | 19/05/2011 | | Posts | : | 679 | | Location | : | Redmond, Washington, United States |
|
| | Posted : 21 Oct 2014 - 02:43 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: Steve) | | |
Steve wrote:
I wasn't sure about the art nouveau inspired tail light thingy, but it's growing on me. I'm starting to think it looks good, rose tinted glasses and all.
|
|
While I'm not a fan of the rear-signal assembly, I *am* a fan of that new larger/fuller, curved rear fender. Fills in and finishes that area nicely, in a more refined fashion than the straight rear fender of the 1600...I like the way it even ends at the same parallel line of the bottom of the side cover...my eye tends to like design uniformity of that sort.
| Thunderbird Riders in Puget Sound (TRiPS) / Seattle
-- co-holder of the title of the United States' Largest Thunderbird Flocking!
https://www.facebook.com/thunderbirdridersinpugetsound
|
|
|
|
| kball1300 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/09/2014 | | Posts | : | 99 | | Location | : | Lake Elsinore, California, United States |
|
| | Posted : 21 Oct 2014 - 04:02 Post title : Re: Thunderbird 1600 to Commander - my first impressions (Re: RC65) | | | I'd kill for that art deco style rear light set-up.....maybe Triumph will offer it as a bolt-on for 1600s. That and that damn legendary seat.
| "Life sucks. Get a F#&!in' helmet."
2012 Thunderbird 1600 ABS, 1998 Thunderbird 900
|
|
|