Still puzzled about Thruxton bar clearance

[JimmyR]

I've had my '08 Bonnie for a few years now and have tried a few different handlebars on it. My favourites are the Thruxton bars - I've had them on for as long time now.

One thing I still don't understand is the clearance of the tank. I have been into the Triumph dealership a few times to look at Thruxtons and the handlebars have plenty of clearance of the fueltank. But on my Bonneville the clearance is much less, and at full lock I risk pain to my thumbs as they get caught between the tanks and bars.

I noticed that the Thruxton has higher risers than a Bonneville, so I put higher risers on mine. In fact my risers are a little higher than a Thruxton's now. But still clearance is not as great. I have angled the bars up at the ends so that the grips are parallel with the ground, and still I don't have the same clearance. And the bike looks way better with them angled down a bit too.

So I am confused. I thought everything was more or less the same with these bikes. I have looked at the bikes in the dealership and can't see how they differ.

Any ideas?

 

[BlueJ]

Hmm.. Thruxton bars? I thought Thruxies had clip-ons....

 

[bluesforchallah]

Hmm.. Thruxton bars? I thought Thruxies had clip-ons....

Thruxton switched to M bars with risers in '08.

 

[BlueJ]

I did not know that!

I have M bars on my '07 Bonnie without risers and they are just fine. I have them set at such an angle that there's *just* room for my thumbs between the bar and the tank, but really other than backing and filling to turn the bike around you *never* have the bars rocked that far over during actual riding.

 

[JimmyR]

Yeah it's only when I back the bike out of my studio that I squash my thumbs!

 

[bonZa]

don't have an answer to your question, but I have Thruxton M bars on my T100 with 1" risers and have very little clearance, just enough for my fingers to be squeezed a little.

maybe they have been fitted 'upside' down although I dont know if really makes much of a difference

 

[islander]

The reason the Thruxton bars work on the Thruxton and not the Bonneville, is because the lock to lock turning distance is much smaller on the Thrux than the Bonnie.

 

[JimmyR]

I wondered about that. So the tab which controls lock to lock is bigger on a Thruxton?

 

[KingBear]

Shallower rake of the Thruxton probably affects the clearance of the bars as well.

 

[JimmyR]

I thought the shallower rake was a result of the higher rear end and smaller front wheel? Aren't the frames the same?

 

[R.Hawks]

I thought the shallower rake was a result of the higher rear end and smaller front wheel? Aren't the frames the same?

They have different triple trees.

 

[JimmyR]

Aha! Thank you! This has bugged me for ages.