EICMA 2013: 2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT

Dennis Chung
by Dennis Chung

As we expected after reading California Air Resource Board documents, Triumph revealed a new LT version to its Thunderbird family, alongside the also-new Thunderbird Commander at the 2013 EICMA show in Milan.

Follow the rest of our 2013 EICMA show coverage

The 2014 Triumph Thunderbird LT adds a windscreen, additional lighting, removable leather saddlebags and a passenger backrest to the Thunderbird platform to provide light touring duties. The ergonomics are also different, with a new seat design that offers more lumbar support.

Sharing the same 1699cc parallel-Twin engine with a 270-degree crank as the Thunderbird Storm, the Thunderbird LT claims an output of 92 hp at 5400rpm and an impressive 111 ft-lb. at just 3550 rpm.

The Thunderbird LT and the Commander share a new chassis that moves the steering neck further forward than on the Thunderbird in order to accommodate pull-back handlebars. The seat height is the same 27.6 inches as the Thunderbird and Thunderbird Storm, but the uses a new dual-density material with wide, flared sides and improved lumbar support.

The suspension is the same as on the Thunderbird Storm, with a 47mm Showa fork with 120mm of travel and twin Showa rear shocks with five-way preload adjustability. Anti-lock brakes come as standard with Nissin supplying four-piston calipers with twin 310mm front discs and Brembo adding a rear two-piston caliper with a 310mm disc. The wire-spoke wheels are clad with what Triumph calls the world’s first white-walled radial tires, developed in conjunction with Avon.

The Thunderbird LT’s strong visual appeal is enhanced by detailing that closely follows classic touring cruiser tradition. The comprehensive list of premium details includes broad chrome embellishers on the deep, two-piece front and rear mudguards, generous chrome highlights around the windshield and yokes, single front headlight and auxiliary running lamps, wire-spoked wheels, one-off Triumph tank badges, white piping around the sumptuous seat, 1930s Art Deco-style rear indicator and LED tail light assemblies, and hand-painted coach-lines decorating the two-tone tank and mudguard.

Other features include die-cast aluminum footboards, adjustable heel-toe controls, a 5.8 gallon fuel tank and a claimed wet weight of 838 pounds.

[Source: Triumph]

Dennis Chung
Dennis Chung

Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.

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