Super-cool carbon-clad Triumph Thruxton R spied testing
Triumph caught track testing top-spec carbon model
Spyshots have emerged of a new Triumph Thruxton dripping in carbon-fibre and top components being tested. According to its inspection cover, the new bike appears to be called the ‘TFC’, which presumably stands for ‘Triumph Factory Custom’ in a similar vein to Harley’s Custom Vehicle Operations.
The most striking addition to the Thruxton TFC is the fabulous-looking, carbonfibre, Monza-style fairing, with its sweeping lines and subtlyintegrated indicators. The carbon continues elsewhere too, with its front mudguard and side panels. The bike has a premium feel throughout, with fully adjustable Öhlins suspension front and rear, Brembo monobloc calipers and more sports-focused tyres. That little lot suggests that Triumph are looking to improve the Thruxton’s ride for committed riders, rather than just creating a posing piece. And the fact that Triumph are testing it on track suggests there could be performance upgrades and that the engine will get a bit more oomph, too.
Triumph also recently unveiled the Speed Twin, which has a modified version of the Thruxton R engine that weighs 2.5kg less and spins up quicker. We imagine that Triumph will have fitted this new engine to the TFC to improve the performance. The test bike also sports a pair of new exhausts that should release further horses that might even push its output over the magic 100bhp.
Given the bike’s finished look we imagine production isn’t far away, but Triumph have had a very busy 12 months, so a mid-2019 release is most likely.
Given the high level of spec on display, we also expect it to command a considerable premium over the standard (£11,700) Thruxton R, so you’d best get saving.