I’ve had this Thunderbird a few years now. I thought I’d just post it up here as it’s an unsung hero in the garage.
It’s very reliable, dependable and looks OK. However, the best part about this bike is that the 6T motor is so sweet. I’ve had Bonneville’s and people often say they prefer them because they pack a bit more punch.
I suppose it all comes down to what you’re looking for in a classic bike. I’m not sure I want to tear around on a bike so much these days, so I want low down torque and a fairly quiet engine. The larger single carb does the job efficiently too. Splayed head twin carbs are great on the right bike, but if you want a bike that won’t need too much fettling, then the Thunderbird is the way to go in my opinion.
Having said all of this, my next project in the garage is a 1947 Triumph rigid. It’s not matching numbers, so I’m going to install a nice close-fin ali T100 motor with twin carbs. It will certainly fly but I will still jump on the Thunderbird if I want comfort and low end grunt.
