Triumph Thunderbird LT vs rivals: specifications comparison

Triumph Motorcycles recently launched its Thunderbird LT in India, which has to compete against the big Harley-Davidsons of today, its immediate competitor being the charming looking Heritage Softail Classic, and the finely-crafted Indian Scout, that will soon be on our roads too. Let’s take a closer look at their specifications.

Studying the spec sheets of these brilliant machines, it is soon apparent that the Triumph Thunderbird LT holds a capacity advantage, its liquid-cooled engine displacing 1699cc. The Harley-Davidson Softail Classic comes in close behind at 1690cc with air-cooling, while the Indian Scout engine is a four-stroke, 1133cc unit with liquid-cooling.

The Triumph Thunderbird LT makes 15.4kgm of torque at a most immediate 3,550rpm, where the Harley-Davidson Thunderbird LT makes 13.2kgm of torque at a still more accessible 3,000rpm. The Indian Scout is slightly more relaxed, but in no way lethargic, producing 10kgm of torque at a leisurely 5,900rpm. The three cruisers receive six-speed gearboxes that transfer power to their rear wheels via belt drive systems.

The Triumph Thunderbird LT has the maximum fuel storage capacity, boasting a 22-litre tank, the Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic stores 18.9 litres, and the Indian Scout keeps 12.5 litres in its fuel-tank.

The Triumph Thunderbird LT is equipped with telescopic front suspension with dual shocks at rear, and is equipped with dual disc brakes in front and a single disc rotor brake at the rear, with ABS as standard. The Harley-Davidson Softail Classic uses telescopic front suspension as well, with its horizontally mounted dual shocks hidden away at the rear, as is typical of the Softail family. The big Harley also deploys single disc brake units front and rear, with ABS standard. The Indian Scout uses telescopic front forks and a set of dual rear shocks, similarly equipped with a single disc up front and back, but the Scout loses out for not offering the option of ABS, a pity on a heavy and powerful motorcycle as this.

The Triumph Thunderbird LT is also the heaviest cruiser in this comparison, weighing in at a portly 349kg, while the Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic weighs 326kg, and Indian Scout weighs 244kg — the lightest of these rivals — a whopping 105kg less than the Thunderbird LT.

The Triumph Thunderbird LT is also the largest motorcycle in this comparison, its length 2,546mm and seat height measuring 700mm. The Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic is 2,405mm long with a seat height of 690mm, a tad lower than the big Triumph. The Indian Scout is 2,311mm long and has a much lower seat at 635mm.

When it comes to pricing, the last but often most critical deciding factor, it is the Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic that costs the most, at Rs 17,93,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Triumph Thunderbird LT, Rs 15,75,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi) while the Indian Scout offers excellent value, and looks like a winner on paper here, for being priced at a more than attractive Rs 11,99,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

RAYOMAND DARIUS