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Most men of a certain age were influenced by the romance of the

motorcycle during their formative years. And one didn’t need to be a

cafe racer, or even a biker at all for that matter, for the freedom and

sense of rebellion to plant a slowly germinating seed deep in the

brain.

Little wonder then that motor industry figures show that the 30- and

40-somethings represent the bulk of this country’s motorbike buyers.

Years of toil, respectability and responsibility are being repaid as

that seed of rebellion finally comes into bloom.

But the Japanese manufacturers have yet to fully understand the psyche

of this new breed of motorcyclist. Thinking that faster means better,

they were quick to bring out bikes capable of 150, 160, 170 mph.

Why then, ask the puzzled Orientals, do we buy temperamental Italian

Ducatis and Guzzis, ill-handling American Harley-Davidsons and

old-fashioned British Triumphs?

The reason of course is design! It’s impossible to look or feel stylish

at 150mph and no one can admire you at that speed anyway. The bike

culture is more about talking and walking while the saddles cool than

about achieving fame in the ’Gatso’ photo booths of the A4.

Japan’s sad attempts at retro styling have failed since they have so

little bike culture to revive, so they end up producing tragic

imitations of western cruisers with embarrassing names like Drag

Star.

The Brits, meanwhile, have decades of bike culture awaiting exhumation

and Triumph has done just that with its Thunderbird. But while the

cruiser styling harks back unmistakably to the glory years of Marlon

Brando movies, the mechanics are squeaky clean 90s with a smooth engine,

sweet gearbox and (well concealed) water cooling. With the optional

hands-free bike phone kit fitted, this really is designed for the man

who was born to be wild.