A Retro Cafe Racer Motorcycle Review of the 2009 Triumph Thruxton

Cool. That’s the first word that will invariably come to your lips the first time you set your eyes on the 2009 Triumph Thruxton. Like the Bonneville, the 2009 Triumph Thruxton harkens back to a time when motorcycles were simpler, unpretentious, and not worried about anything but riding. The engine isn’t a colossal beast, and by all accounts, the 2009 Triumph Thruxton isn’t a large bike, but it is big on personality, and carries with it a heritage that just can’t be matched by other motorcycle manufacturers. What really stands out about the 2009 Triumph Thruxton, and perhaps the thing that will throw you first of all, is how much this motorcycle looks like a 1960’s era café racer. Triumph planned it that way- from the spoked wheels to the low-rise handle bars, you are meant not to be able to tell on first glance what year this bike comes from. You’re just as likely to see a well-restored bike sitting beside it on any given day, and perhaps the sharp eyes will pick out the differences- brake systems and updated controls. That’s about the end of it. The 2009 Triumph Thruxton, more than simply a marvel of retro engineering, it is an homage to an earlier age, to a day when it isn’t so easy to find an unmolested early Triumph motorcycle, free of the chopper influence that came out of the 1970’s and late 60’s.

The 2009 Triumph Thruxton features an air-cooled Dual overhead cam parallel twin engine with 360 degree firing interval that displaces 865cc. While you’ll think you’re looking at a Triumph with a carburetor, the truth is that Triumph engineers designed a Multiport sequential electronic fuel injection system to fool your eyes. They’ve cleverly disguised the EFI system as an old-style carb setup, and only close inspection will reveal the truth of the 2009 Triumph Thruxton’s next-generation electronics. Everything that could be hidden was hidden. This engine is rated at 69 horsepower, and has 52 ft/lbs of torque, more than enough to scoot this 451lb motorcycle around corners at a sporty clip, and with a 4.2 gallon fuel tank, you’ll be able to take on many, many of those curves before you’ll need to stop off at a gas station.

A tubular steel cradle frame is sufficiently strong and retro-looking, performing flawlessly around curves and through straights, offering stability and bump-soaking comfort. Assisting with the comfort of the 2009 Triumph Thruxton are 41mm forks with adjustable preload for the front suspension, and chromed spring dual rear shocks also with adjustable preload. Braking is handled by a single 320mm floating front disc with dual piston caliper, and a single 255mm rear disc, also with a dual piston caliper.

The 2009 Triumph Thruxton is available in two colors, Jet Black with a gold sport stripe right up the middle, or Tornado red with a white stripe, and carries an MSRP of $8599. When restoring an original Triumph Café racer can run close to fifteen grand, that’s not too bad for a retro-style racer that comes with a warranty.