Triumph Thruxton R review, test ride

Something I’ve always believed is that company-made café racers are somewhat of a misnomer. The whole point of a café racer is to take a production bike, strip it down, add lightness, make it go faster and do it all yourself in your garage. But the idea of mass production versions of these shed-built machines is something that has gotten into the heads of few bike makers, and it’s an idea that’s here to stay. Generally, I wouldn’t be too excited about one of these motorcycles, but ever since it was unveiled last year, Triumph’s new Thruxton R has sent me off on quite the tizzy. So riding the motorcycle through the winding hill roads near Cascais, Portugal is just what the doctor ordered to calm my nerves.

What is it?

Just like the Thruxton before it, this is the café racer version of the Bonneville. But now that the new Bonneville range includes the larger engine T120 (with a 1,200cc parallel twin no less), it served as the perfect platform to get an extra bit of dash out of the Thruxton. And in its ‘R’ specification, this new bike comes with some top-notch equipment that can even put a few modern sportsbikes to shame.

Does it still have café class?

Tonnes of it and then some. A classic round headlamp, twin analogue instrument pods, aluminium bar end mirrors, a slim sculpted tank with a ‘Monza’ style filler cap, single seat with a cowl-like tail, all riding on 17-inch wire spoke wheels – this café racer looks more authentically classic than ever before. Then there are those twin throttle bodies designed to look like a pair or carburettors, bits of gold detailing around the engine, brushed metal crank covers, new mudguards and a centre panel that really make this the best-looking Thruxton ever. Apart from the obvious upgraded suspension and brakes, the Thruxton R gets a polished top yolk, proper clip-on handlebars, a stainless steel strap across the tank, footpegs nicked from the Daytona R, an anodised swing arm, brushed stainless steel exhausts and even a body-coloured rear seat cowl. The end result literally looks like a 1960s racing motorcycle made using 21^st century metallurgy and technology.