British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph released the Thruxton in 2004 in honor of the racing circuit in which the company excelled back in 1969. A no-frills standard bike, the Triumph Thruxton received no major updates for its fourth model year, 2007; it did get a broad center stripe flanked by two thinner stripes. Although lacking the zip or richness of features of many other standard bikes, the ‘07 Thruxton has more-than-acceptable performance, handling and practicality.
With a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $7,999, the 2007 Triumph Thruxton is officially known as the Triumph Thruxton 900. The three-digit suffix stands for its engine displacement, which is rounded up from 865 cubic centimeters. Using a parallel twin configuration, the four-stroke air-cooled two-cylinder engine pumps out 68 horsepower at 7,250 revolutions per minute (RPM) and 72 pound-feet of torque at 5,750 RPM. Relying on a double overhead camshaft configuration, the engine has four intake valves on each cylinder. The bore and stroke and compression ratio for each engine are 3.55 by 2.68 inches and 9.2 to 1, respectively. Two carburetors are present for blending fuel and air for the engine, and an electric starter is in place for convenient engine ignition. Each ‘07 Thruxton engine is paired with a five-speed manual, enabling the bike to achieve a top speed of 120 miles per hour.
Each 2007 Triumph Thruxton is 84.6 inches long, 27.4 inches wide and 43.1 inch high. The wheelbase -- which supports 36-spoke 18-inch front and 40-spoke 17-inch rear aluminum wheels -- is measured at 56.7 inches. The dry weight is 451 lbs., and each bike has a 4.2-gallon fuel tank. The one-piece vinyl seat on the ‘07 Thruxton, which supports the driver and passenger, is set at a height of 31.1 inches.
The 2007 Triumph Thruxton is available in several finishes: Caspian Blue / Silver, Jet Black, Jet Black / Silver, Racing Yellow / Silver and Tornado Red. The motorcycle is rather skeletal, with only a chain guard and fenders covering its steel frame. Its digital instrumentation is also sparse: with only a tachometer, trip odometer and speedometer. The standard halogen headlight and rearview mirrors -- implemented for enhanced visibility when driving -- are present, though.
For braking, each 2007 Triumph Thruxton has a larger, 320-millimeter dual disc in the front; and a smaller, 255-millimeter in the back. This brake layout is superior to the front-disc and rear-drum layout found on some bikes. For a smoothed-out ride, Triumph installs a front suspension consisting of a 41-millimeter telescopic fork and a rear suspension consisting of a twin-sided swing arm.
Those looking for a sportier and flashier standard motorcycle might be better off looking elsewhere. However, considering the price tag and reasonable design, the 2007 Triumph Thruxton is far from unworthy of at least consideration.