2015–2016 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
All Black, All Torque
The Nightstorm is the Thunderbird dressed for a night ride: black on black, ghost flames laid into the paint, and very little chrome asking for attention. Underneath sits Triumph's 1699 cc liquid-cooled parallel twin, good for 97 hp and 115 lb-ft at 2,950 rpm, driving a belt through six speeds. That torque figure is the whole point of the bike. The steel tube frame is long, the rear tire is a fat 200-section, and the front wheel is a 19-incher, so the proportions read power cruiser rather than boulevard ornament. ABS is standard, and it is the entire rider-aid list.
Peak torque lands just under 3,000 rpm, so you short-shift, sit in top gear, and let the engine haul all 747 lb (339 kg) along without drama. That makes it a bike for riders who measure a day in hours rather than in corners: rally weekends, two-lane routes, long hauls between towns. The finish holds up to a close look, which is where this one earns its keep. The caveats are real ones. There is no cruise control and no traction control, so interstate days and wet-road throttle work stay on you, and maneuvering at walking pace asks for genuine respect for the weight.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 97 hp (72 kW) @ 5,200 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 115 lb-ft (156 Nm) @ 2,950 rpm |
| Displacement | 1699 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front tire | 120/70-19 |
| Rear tire | 200/50-17 |
| Wheelbase | 63.6 in (1615 mm) |
| Seat height | 27.6 in (700 mm) |
| Wet weight | 747 lb (339 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.8 gal (22 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
Over the years I've collected what Nightstorm owners tell me: in the paddock, at club nights, over coffee at rallies, and in the messages riders send me directly. The picture is consistent. Owners praise the comfort, the look and how well it handles for its size. The complaints come from individual owners, and no pattern runs through them.
Riders consistently describe it as a bike you can stay on all day with a passenger aboard, and more than one calls it a recliner on two wheels. What surprises owners more is the chassis. They describe the ride as taut but compliant, and say the bike feels lighter and easier to place through sweeping bends than a cruiser this size has any right to. The styling gets its own praise. Owners like that it looks more like a hot rod than a showroom piece and stands apart in a crowded cruiser lineup.
The complaints each come from a single owner. One reports a worn-out belt at around 10,000 miles. Another had a fog light quit, and a third mentions the front end shimmying in long curves at modest speed.
NHTSA Recall 14V694000: ECU fuel injector malfunction
Improper ECU activation of fuel injectors could cause sudden power loss, increasing crash risk. Affected units built 2014-02-06 to 2014-08-07.
Front wheel wobble in low-to-medium speed corners
A wobble develops in the front wheel during sweeping turns; possible causes include tire wear, steering head bearings, or suspension setup.
Intermittent check engine light
The check engine light may illuminate due to faulty sensors or exhaust valve issues; sometimes resolves with ECU reprogram or oil level adjustment.
Excessive drive belt wear
Drive belt can wear prematurely even with correct pulley alignment; replacement may be required earlier than expected.
Where this Triumph Thunderbird Nightstorm pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Thunderbird Nightstorm is actually built for.
If your calendar runs from one rally to the next, this one turns up with the right stance, the right paint, and an engine that makes itself heard. It will stand out in a lot full of familiar tanks.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
For unhurried days on back roads and small-town stops, the low seat and lazy torque suit exactly that rhythm. Keep an eye on the drive belt if you stack up the miles.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
It will do big days and the 5.8 gal tank helps, but there is no cruise control and luggage is an extra. Loaded two-up, 747 lb asks for planning at every gas stop.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Triumph Thunderbird Nightstorm. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
