Cruisers
2009Triumph Thunderbird
38 fields on record
The 2009 Triumph Thunderbird is a big British cruiser with a huge parallel twin. Its liquid-cooled 1597cc parallel twin makes 85 hp and 146 Nm through a six-speed gearbox and belt drive. A low 700 mm seat, 339 kg wet weight and 22-litre tank suit long, relaxed rides.
- Capacity
- 1597.0 ccm
- Engine
- Parallel Twin, four-stroke
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Dry weight
- 308.0 kg
- Seat height
- 700 mm
- Power
- 85.0 HP (62.5 kW)
What’s new for the 2009 Triumph Thunderbird
vs the 2004| Spec | 2004 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine capacity | 885.0 ccm (54.01 cubic inches) | 1597.0 ccm (97.45 cubic inches) |
| Power | 70.0 HP (51.5 kW) | 85.0 HP (62.5 kW) |
| Torque | 70.0 Nm (7.1 kgf-m or 51.6 ft.lbs) @ 4000 RPM | 146.0 Nm (14.9 kgf-m or 107.7 ft.lbs) @ 2750 RPM |
| Dry weight | 220.0 kg (485.0 pounds) | 308.0 kg (679.0 pounds) |
| Wet weight | — | 339.0 kg (747.4 pounds) |
| Seat height | 776 mm (30.6 inches) | 700 mm (27.6 inches) |
| Fuel capacity | 15.00 litres (3.96 US gallons) | 22.00 litres (5.81 US gallons) |
| Front suspension | — | Showa 47mm forks |
| Rear suspension | — | Showa chromed spring twin shocks with 5 position adjustable preload |
| Wheelbase | 1580 mm (62.2 inches) | 1615 mm (63.6 inches) |
| Compression | 10.0:1 | 9.7:1 |
Other years
1995
1996
1997
1998
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2000
2001
2002
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2004
2009
2010
2011
2012
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2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
How it rides
Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested- Best for
- Built for relaxed, torque-driven cruising and long highway stints rather than outright speed or cornering agility.
- Built for
- A big, laid-back British cruiser with strong low-end torque, a deep exhaust note, and a commanding, classic custom presence.
- Not ideal for
- Not a good fit for riders wanting sharp handling, off-road capability, or high-speed sport performance.
Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.
Will it fit you?
Worked out in your browser - nothing is sent to usEngine
- Capacity
- 1597.0 ccm
- Power
- 85.0 HP (62.5 kW)
- Torque
- 146.0 Nm (14.9 kgf-m) @ 2750 RPM
- Engine type
- Parallel Twin, four-stroke
- Power/weight ratio
- 0.2760 HP/kg (dry)
- Bore x stroke
- 103.8 x 94.3 mm
- Compression
- 9.7:1
- Cooling system
- Liquid
- Fuel system
- Injection
- Starting
- Electric
- Ignition
- Digital-inductive type via engine management system
Transmission
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Transmission type
- Manual
- Final drive
- Belt
- Clutch
- Wet. multi-plate
Dimensions & weight
- Wheelbase
- 1615 mm
- Overall length
- 2280 mm
- Overall width
- 810 mm
- Overall height
- 1190 mm
- Seat height
- 700 mm
- Dry weight
- 308.0 kg
- Wet weight
- 339.0 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 22.00 litres
- Oil capacity
- 4.20 litres
Chassis & suspension
- Frame
- Tubular steel, twin spine
- Front suspension
- Showa 47mm forks
- Rear suspension
- Showa chromed spring twin shocks with 5 position adjustable preload
- Front wheel travel
- 120 mm
- Rear wheel travel
- 95 mm
- Rake (fork angle)
- 32.0°
- Trail
- 151 mm
Brakes & wheels
- Front brakes
- Single disc
- Front brakes diameter
- 320 mm
- Rear brakes
- Single disc
- Rear brakes diameter
- 285 mm
- Front tyre
- 110/80-R 18
- Rear tyre
- 150/80-R 16
Specs last verified against published sources: .
Compiled from manufacturer documentation and user contributions, corrected on an ongoing basis. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What changed, year to year
Differences highlighted| Specification | 1995 | 2000 | 2009 | 2013 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 885 cc | 885 cc | 1597 cc | 1597 cc | 1597 cc |
| Dry weight | 220 kg | 220 kg | 308 kg | 308 kg | 308 kg |
| Seat height | 750 mm | 776 mm | 700 mm | 700 mm | 700 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 15 L | 15 L | 22 L | 22 L | 22 L |
Illustrative - generated automatically by diffing the year records already on file, not a manufacturer-published changelog.
Rider Reviews
Common questions
What is the engine size of the Triumph Thunderbird?
The 2009 Triumph Thunderbird has a Capacity of 1597.0 ccm (97.45 cubic inches).
What engine power does the Triumph Thunderbird have?
The 2009 Triumph Thunderbird has a Power of 85.0 HP (62.5 kW).
How many gears does the Triumph Thunderbird have?
The 2009 Triumph Thunderbird has a Gearbox of 6-speed.
What is the torque of the Triumph Thunderbird?
The 2009 Triumph Thunderbird has a Torque of 146.0 Nm (14.9 kgf-m or 107.7 ft.lbs) @ 2750 RPM.
How much does the Triumph Thunderbird weigh?
The 2009 Triumph Thunderbird has a Dry weight of 308.0 kg (679.0 pounds).
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