Test riding the Triumph Thruxton R

Pics/Sanjay Raikar

Gunning down the highway fresh from the twisties, we're headed to the Classic Rock Coffee Company, a popular café on the other side of town. We're negotiating traffic with a wide grin, astride the Triumph Thruxton R with the larger 1,200-cc parallel-twin.

Old-school.console, new-age attitude.

The Thruxton R's styling is essentially a café racer. Its metallic grey/silver hue and tank strip appear to be forged between the hammer and the anvil. With 120-mm travel suspension goodies: Showa USD front fork and Öhlins adjustable monoshock, and the wire-spoke wheels wrapped in ZR-17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsas, it has all the reassurance you need that attention to detail was not marooned. The racer fairing has a windscreen enough for what it needs to do and gels well with the flow of lines, making it seem like one lithe form.

270°.parallel twin's 112 Nm torque helps with the shredding.

Thumb the starter. The coming back to life of the motor is nothing short of the delicate sound of thunder. This iron maiden may look old-school but, underneath, the Thruxton R is every bit the awakened modern-day slayer of miles and tarmac. Clutch action is appreciably light. Everything falls into place with ergonomic precision and the gear lever slots first cog simply and unmistakably.

Tank strip adds to the raw appeal.

This is the new liquid-cooled 1,200-cc parallel-twin in its most potent form. The 270° specially-lightened crank leads the deliverance of 112 Nm of torque that peaks at 4,950 rpm - seven Nm more than in the T120 and 1,850 rpm higher - yet, there's no lack of grunt, with almost 70 per cent of the output available at 4,500 rpm and the ride-by-wire akin to natural selection. Every flame burns hard and powerful, releasing all 97 horses at 6,750 rpm. The ratios are spaced to perfection and the first four are all you need for most part. Fifth is to let loose. Sixth is interstellar overdrive.

Ohlins goodies on the Thruxton R is a welcome addition

With the advanced fuel-injection system disguised as carburettor barrels, every molecule of fuel is sentenced to burn. There's an even flow of power and at no point does it feel like a freak on a leash. It flows from one corner into the next with barely any effort. Even if the scenery becomes a little too animated all of a sudden, it's agile enough to swerve clear and power out of the situation no matter what gear you're in.

The ABS-equipped brakes deliver incredible feedback. Riding over the hills and far away is easier, knowing technology has your back. The 14.5-litre tank and the indicated 18.2 km/l efficiency figure promises a range of about 250 km. However, we didn't find anything negative to say about the Thruxton R.

With its abilities, it's not just hot in the city, but it's also a highway star. It's certainly not another brick in the wall. It's the ace of spades. At R11 lakh (ex-showroom) you will not want a single nickel back.

You could be perfect strangers at the start, but then, riding along, you don't worry about the way things might have been. Those big wheels keep on turning, and you keep on rolling. It's pure motoring, a hell-raiser. It was born to be wild and it will rock you.