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Archive for May, 2011

Review Of The Triumph Thruxton 900

Just as much as it is a motorcycle in its own right Triumph’s Thruxton is a time machine. Just admiring a Thruxton from afar will get images of black Brando jackets oilspattered leather boots and striving to break ‘The Ton’ flitting through your mind while actually taking one for a spin gets the nostalgia flowing in a torrent.

The lowset clipon ‘bars the gleaming chrome of the bullet headlight and the rasp of the tapered silencers all play their part in sending you back through the decades when the term ‘Caf Racer’ was born on London’s busy city streets in biker haunts like the Ace Caf and the Busy Bee.

Fortunately although its styling harks back to the days when the British bike industry was king the Thruxton has its wheels planted firmly in the present.

With an electric start disc brakes front and rear and modern suspension this retro street racer gives you all the thrills with none of the heartache if you’re a true purist you’ll even have to place your own pool of oil under this one…

Launched in 2004 and named after the historic British circuit the Thruxton is basically a caf racer version of the marque’s leading retro classic the Bonneville but with tweaked suspension brakes and steering geometry clipon ‘bars megaphone exhausts a ‘shorty’ front guard and a seat hump the latter simply a cover that comes off to reveal space for a pillion.

The faithful will scorn the lack of a kickstarter but a press of the button sees the Thruxton readily fire and quickly settle into a steady throaty burble care of the optional factory silencers our test bike came fitted with.

On the road its manner are pure modernday its preload adjustable suspension does a good job of smoothing the bumps its disc brakes haul it down from speed well and it tracks a line through a corner beautifully.

It won’t keep pace with the big multicylinders but its 69 horses are respectable enough especially when compared with the outputs of the bikes upon which it’s been styled.

Its carburetion is clean and although redline is an indicated 7500rpm there’s no need to reach these heady heights riding its meaty midrange is the order of the day.

For the nitpickers there are still a few Thruxton foibles. Firstly in an absentminded moment it’s possible to cook your left knee on the cylinder head although this isn’t such an issue if you’re wearing leathers.

Secondly the separate steering lock means it’s possible to ride off with the steering lock on. Just like the old days granted but we’ve moved on in this respect for good reason.

Finally the tank filler cap isn’t lockable. Maybe not such an issue back in the day but perhaps a little too tempting these days for some lightfinger with too much time on their hands even if their aim is purely to cause annoyance and aggravation…

For those with an affinity with caf racerstyle bikes of the 60′s and 70′s the Triumph Thruxton 900 offers a truly modern package with the style and edge of yesteryear. It’s a potent combination and one that I’m sure will keep the caf racer ethos alive and well for many years to come.

SPECS: Triumph Thruxton 900
Engine: 865cc aircooled fourstroke DOHC eightvalve paralleltwin
Bore and stroke: 90 x 68mm
Compression: 9.2:1
Fuel system: twin Keihin carburettors
Power: 69bhp 7200rpm
Torque: 72Nm 6400rpm
Transmission: fivespeed
Frame: tubular steel cradle
Front brake: single 320mm disc with twinpiston Nissin caliper
Rear brake: single 255mm disc with twinpiston Nissin caliper
Front suspension: 41mm forks adjustable for preload
Rear suspension: twin shocks adjustable for preload
Wheels: spoked alloy
Tyres: Metzeler ME33 Laser; 100/9018 front 130/80R17 rear
Seat height: 790mm
Wheelbase: 1490mm
Claimed dry weight: 205kg
Fuel tank: 16.6L
Price: 13990 plus ORC
Colours: Tornado Red or Jet Black
Warranty: 24 months/unlimited kilometres

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;InsureMyRide operates across Australia and only provides motorcycle insurance products to riders. We deal directly with customers online and over the phone. So if you’re a broker we can’t fix insurance for you.

InsureMyRide only covers private motorbikes.

Renault Looks To Overtake Bmw Sauber

Last year Renault took the constructors title for the second straight year. After that season though when their ace driver Fernando Alonso jumped to McLaren after the Spaniards departure Renault is yet to take a podium finish this season. But the team recently announced that they are making improvements and are looking to overtake the thirdplace BMW Sauber.

At the North American leg of the current season Renault earned as many points as BMW Sauber did. Both teams took nine points at the two Grands Prix. For BMW Sauber it came with the second place finish by Nick Heidfeld at the Canadian Grand Prix and Sebastian Vettels eighth place finish at the United States Grand Prix. For Renault it came from Finnish Formula One rookie drover Heikki Kovalainen who placed fourth in Canada and fifth in the United States Grand Prix.

BMW Sauber though did not have the services of Pole Robert Kubica who was sidelined for the United States Grand Prix after his highspeed 75G accident in Canada. Nevertheless Renault claims that they are improving and is in a position to catch up with BMW Sauber.

I think it’s indicative of the fact the tide is turning we are very close to BMW now and racing them hard says Pat Symonds the Renault engineering head. Without a doubt we have upped our game and pulled out of the midfield bunch we were in to stand on top of it and there’s still more to come. Seven races in the current Formula One season is already over and there are ten races left.

We take a lot of comfort from the fact that after a poor start to the year we are pulling it back so rapidly said Symonds. Renaults season started with a fifth place finish for Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and a tenth place finish for Kovalainen. While Renault cars have not yet been forced to retire due to a malfunction they are still lagging behind BMW Sauber. BMW has already four retirements this season including Kubicas accident in Canada which would have definitely snapped a BMW timing belt.

Other teams are not having a great season and not pulling it back as we are. There is plenty to be proud of in what we are doing continued Symonds. Other teams that have been underperforming is far are Williams Toyota and Honda. Renault though is looking to break with the middle pack which saw Renault pitted against Williams and Toyota. With good performances at the Monaco Canada and United States Grands Prix Renault is looking to increase their lead over Williams and close the gap between them and BMW.

Renault is currently fourth in the constructors championship standing with 25 points to their credit. The team is trailing BMW Sauber with 39 points Ferrari with 71 points and McLaren already with 106 points.

The team is looking to perform better at the upcoming French and British Grands Prix. As we better understand the problems we have been suffering from we are able to improve the car said Symonds. There will be enhancements for France and Britain and that’s in addition to continuing the push with our normal development processes. There are a lot of new bits coming for the car and you can be certain we will keep on fighting.

About the writer:  Anthony Fontanelle is a 35yearold automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

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About the writer:  JB Racing