TRIUMPH Thunderbird (2011-Present) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 2011, the British motorcycle manufacturer introduced the Triumph Thunderbird, a motorcycle that represented their first entry in the premium cruiser sector, with classic design combined with ergonomics and performance engineering.

For 2011, the Thunderbird had a wide range of standard and limited edition special color schemes. Standard colors included the popular Phantom Black, two-tone Pacific Bluw with a Fusion White center stripe, and Aluminum Silver with a Phantom Black center stripe.

The special colors were represented by Phantom Red Haze and Phantom Blue Haze with hand-painted schemes that changed colors from nearly black to red and blue depending on how the sunlight reached them.

Also, a highly graphical color scheme based on the Cranberry Red was available for 2011, and two other versions of Crystal White and Sapphire Blue with bold Triumph graphics.

The 2011 machine had standard features, such as a round headlight, a teardrop-style fuel tank, a two-piece dual seat, side-mounted rear shocks, a dual exhaust system with a silencer on each side, and five-spoke lightweight aluminum wheels.

Underneath its fuel tank, the 2011 Triumph Thunderbird had installed a 1,597cc four-stroke parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine with a fuel injection system in charge, delivering 85 hp at 4,850 rpm and 146 Nm (108 lb-ft) torque at 2,750 rpm.

The power produced by the engine was handled by a six-speed manual transmission with a wet multi-plate clutch linked to the rear wheel through a final belt drive, pushing the motorcycle to 189 kph (117 mph).