Triumph to Pull the Plug on the Thruxton in 2024, Final Edition Is Here to Bid Farewell

Café racers came about as the youngsters of the 1950s, not rich enough to buy themselves a car but not poor enough to not afford a motorcycle either, decided they needed faster ways to move between the café shops where they spent their hours.

So they took whatever they had at their disposal, be it motorcycles or motorcycle parts, and started making two-wheelers the way they needed them: two wheels, an engine in the frame, a single headlight, a seat just for one, clip-on handlebars, and rear-set footrests.

In their exploits, these guys and gals cared little about branding, so they used whatever they had available. When a stock bike was present, they modified that. When they wanted something more unique, they matched frames from one bike with the engine from another, and the results were always spectacular.

No matter which way they chose to make their unique café racer, builders of the time relied heavily on just a few motorcycles, generally the ones made by Norton, Triumph, and BSA. It was Triumph's Thruxton however that took center stage as the "original modern café racer," as its maker calls it now.

The bike was introduced by the Brits in 1964, initially as a limited-edition racer. It did what it was meant to do, winning a number of competitions in its first years on the market, including a 1969 500-mile (805 km) race, where Thruxtons filled all the positions on the podium.

Isle of Man TT followed, and there the bike became the first production two-wheeler to go around the Mountain Course at speeds of over 100 mph (161 kph).

The bike wasn't seen as successful enough to enter production for road use back then, but people adopted it and used its parts in their builds. It was launched as a street model in the mid-2000s, though, and ever since then has set a number of standards.

The Thruxton saga is however about to come to an end, as the British bike maker will discontinue it in 2024. To mark the occasion, but also as a means to give people enough time to get their hands on one, the Thruxton Final Edition was announced this week.

The range is based on the most recent evolution of the motorcycle, the RS. In fact, it is more or less the same stock Thruxton RS with an exclusive paint job and a series of rather decorative appointments. But it's definitely worth a closer look.

Like the model it is based on, the Final Edition uses the most powerful version of the 1200cc Bonneville parallel twin engine, rated at 104 hp and 112 Nm of torque. Three riding modes are available for the RS, namely Road, Rain, and Sport.

The bike spins 17-inch, 32-spoke wheels wrapped in Metzeler Racetec RR tires, fitted at the end of a well-built suspension system. It comprises fully adjustable Showa forks up front, and Ohlins gear at the rear. Braking power is handled by Brembo hardware.

Design-wise, the Final Edition has all the fittings of the bike it is based on. That means a single bullet seat, brushed stainless steel tank strap, anodized aluminum swingarm, and clip-on handlebars. LED lights can be seen all around, with a twin clock instrument cluster providing the rider with needed information. There's even a USB port for charging devices.

What, then, sets the Final Edition apart? First and foremost, that would be the Competition Green paint scheme. It's a hue exclusive to this bike and applied by hand, adorned from place to place with gold lining.

A series of extras, that cannot necessarily be displayed while riding it, are offered. The list includes a certificate of authenticity with the bike's VIN number, signed by all the Triumph people who were responsible for designing the Thruxton 1200, and by the company's CEO, Nick Bloor.

Additionally, for folks who plan to ride the Final Edition and get noticed, not hold on to it for display purposes, an engine badge with a special design is offered. And there is even an optional piece of equipment that can be had: an accessory cockpit fairing matching the color of the rest of the bike.

The British bike maker says the Thruxton Final Edition will start arriving at dealers in the spring of next year. No details are provided as to how many of them will be made, but we do know the starting price for it has been set at $17,995 – the same as the Chrome Edition. The company is already accepting orders for the bike.