Charm Offensive

The Triumph Thruxton R is all kinds of retro cool. 

- Pablo Chaterji

IN MY EXPERIENCE, almost all the really great motorcycles I’ve ridden have also been among the best looking motorcycles I’ve ever seen. There have been exceptions, but a shit bike generally looks like the dog’s breakfast, and a spectacular bike will drop a supermodel at 20 paces. I’m happy to report that the Triumph Thruxton R emphatically occupies the latter category.

Motorcycles aren’t simply engines with some wheels and sundry body parts clamped on – or they shouldn’t be, at any rate. A bike needs to move you in some way, regardless of whether it’s a 100cc tiddler or a full-dress tourer; if it doesn’t, it’s not worth bothering with. The last bike that moved me (and broke me, in equal measure) was the Ducati 959 Panigale, and I’d put the Thruxton right alongside it, minus the breakage. Right off the bat, as soon as you lay eyes on it, you want to drop whatever you’re doing and ride it somewhere very far away (you’ll need to take breaks, but I’ll come to that in a minute).