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The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy is a massive, 1,690cc cruiser that literally imposes itself on any road that it rides through. But what’s also insanely big, loud and a 1,699cc cruiser is the Triumph Thunderbird Storm. It’s a laid-back cruiser that grunts loud enough to wake up an entire neighbourhood. And when Triumph says that it’s more than just a cruiser, we wouldn’t disagree.
Because when you look at it parked on its side stand, it looks a tad bit menacing. The one that we rode came in a matte black paint job, with blacked out engine panels, twin-headlamps, blackened alloy wheels and a soft-tail rear end. The only clearly visible chrome bits were the exhaust pipes, mirrors, the front suspension and the clutch cover. Once you’re settled in the snug saddle, you’re greeted by a massive 22-litre petrol tank which has the console set into it, and you reach out for the wide handlebars.
You’d think, at this point, that a motorcycle that weighs 339 kilograms would be a bit on the sedate side, and have a heavy feel to it. You’d be proven wrong, just as we were. The liquid-cooled, 1,699 parallel-twin engine has a whiplash-like throttle. Tug at it more than you need to, and you’d have your heart in your mouth! The motor produces a peak power of 98PS @ 5200rpm, which is mated to a six-speed gearbox and is adequate for cruising on the highway. And the massive peak torque of 156Nm is accessible early at 2,950rpm.
And despite its gargantuan proportions the Storm is very agile and sure footed, at any given speed, although the big turning radius is a turn-off. The twin 310mm Nissin front discs and a single 310mm Brembo rear disc make sure that this mammoth has ample stopping power too.
The Thunderbird Storm is essentially a cruiser, but it can scare the daylights out of you with its power delivery. At the same time, it’s very manoeuvrable. And the naysayers might be a bit cynical about such a big bike in the city, but haven’t Harley-Davidsons been selling well in India? The Thunderbird Storm is priced at ₹13 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).
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