Triumph America/ Speedmaster

[Jesh]

Anyone have any experience with these bikes? I`ve heard a lot of good about them. Anyone heard any bad?

[Sodbuster]

Haven't heard any bad .... I have read they are pretty bullet proof.  I only wish they were belt drive instead of chain.

[art]

I had an 03 america an loved it .My son got it for me from his triumph dealership. I sold it after a few years as my wife was not going to ride it with me.She was mad at me for buying it ,oh well.They handle good and had a lot of get up an go.I would buy another one if I could but would prefer a bigger bike like the thunderbird.They do attract a lot of attention.The only thing I didn't like was the chain drive but it will last if you take care of it.Chains are made better today compared to 30 years ago

[ken shaw]

Both are similar bikes the America has a forward leg seating position where as the Speedmaster more upright, the seat height is low so great if you have short legs, they are realy comfy and my friend gets no problems after a 600k ride with tents and bags. They both run on almost the same engine about 800cc but don't let that put you off the fact that they are quite a light bike means the power to weight ratio is fine/adequate. They rev a little higher than the standard twin and as the torque is not as high as a v twin so the gear box needs to be worked but if kept below 128k/hour 80miles/hour you should get about 17k to the ltr. 55miles to the Gallon and a range of  260k to reserve.   

Hope that helps

[C908]

I test rode one a couple years ago, I liked everything except the chain drive.

[Jesh]

Thanks for all the input!! 
The chain drive is the major obstacle. Great looking bikes though!

[ken shaw]

Try a thunderbird 1700 6 speed 140 ft ld torque a bat out of hell but pricey. I would not worry about the chain drive with a scot oiler I found on my Bandit the life of the chain was extended three fold and after 3000miles only one quarter turn tension required . Remember that with a Prop you loose about 10% of the engine power on the wheel where as a chain hardly is lost any hence the reduced BHP on the America is delivered more efficiently, If one bike is required It commutes well and does distance. All that being said I will always cruise a Valk, and commute on a Bandit.   

[Jesh]

Thanks Ken, did a demo on a 2010 Thunderbird and loved it. Not sure I want to put out that much. I got a month or two to decide. Still leaning towards the America for price. Any experience with a VStar 1300 ?

[ken shaw]

I had a Drag Star 1100 for about three years lots of Low end torque very forgiving not a lot of top end speed funny thing was that although the bars are low the wind did not buffet me, good at cruising speed 70-80 good economy, realy comfy in the drivers seat slight forward feet position about the same as the america for the Passenger. A difficult call. 
I went for the drag star over the America as price was better the America was just coming out, I would not commute a drag star again though long wheel base, almost chopper, the engine gets hot in the summer when stuck in traffic the clutch then tends to go soft, but comes back when on the open road. Played with the oil as never took it out below 3 degrees and was a little better.

Hope  that helps