It tracks nicely even when pushed, and always feels solid and stable. The bike steers easily, and leans into turns quickly. So while the LT weighs in at just under 750lbs, it feels much lighter. Couple that with revised rake and trail specs, a wider 47mm Showa front fork, and the result is better comfort and stability on the open road. The steering neck is moved forward giving the LT a two inch longer wheelbase.
Unlike the base T-Bird, the 2014 LT also has a new frame. That’s because the Brits came over here to talk to cruiser riders at Sturgis, and Daytona and other venues, to get a feel for what Americans required in their road going cruiser bikes. You can tell that this is a bike designed for the American marketplace. Classic style tank badges finishes things off nicely as well. In addition, you get different coach lines, and fender trims, along with (an industry first) special Avon radial whitewall tires and spoke wheels. The LT model adds all the necessary touring accessories, like the huge, easily detached leather saddlebags, quick release windshield, passenger floorboards and sissy bar backrest, and auxiliary running lights flanking the single headlight. I like that, because when you’re spending hours on the road, a loud exhaust can become quite annoying. The exhaust note is muted, except under strong acceleration when you can hear the growl. There is more than enough power to pull ahead of cars at stoplight get-aways, with the power coming on smoothly, and the torque is always there to easily pass slower traffic on two lane highways without needing to downshift. Those tweaks dampen the power numbers a bit, but makes them more compatible for an open road cruiser. The new 2014 Thunderbird LT uses the larger Storm engine, but with some tuning tweaks, such as a larger airbox and more muted exhaust.
But after spending some time on the new T-Bird, the LT should stand for Long Touring, because this is a bike that begs to be ridden for long miles at a time. This year, Triumph has introduced the Thunderbird LT, or Light Tourer. lbs of torque, to add even more fun to the riding experience. Two years later the Thunderbird Storm (see review on this blog) was launched with a bored-out 1699 cc engine making 12 more horses and 7 more ft. of torque, it had plenty of performance and excellent handling and road manners. Powered by a 1597cc parallel twin, producing 85hp and 108 ft. When the Triumph Thunderbird was introduced a couple of years ago, it was an instant hit with the American cruiser crowd, and the motorcycle press. 2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT By Ken “Hawkeye” Glassman (Reprinted with permission)
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