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Movie Night @ Martin's

We need all the help we can get to keep the moto-flame burning on these cold, dark winter nights. So we're doing our part by presenting a motorcycle-related movie on each Tuesday night through March 16. The movie as well as the popcorn, ice cream and soda is on the house! Simply make your way to our mezzanine, grab some popcorn and relax.

Last Movie:

Mar 16 "From Dust to Glory"
A story about the Baja 1000

All movies start at 6:00pm and end before 8:00pm.

Click here to browse the bargains in our closeout store!

Our 9th Annual Triumph Night

is this Friday, March 19th!

Those that appreciate Triumph motorcycles come together every year since we've added Triumph to our family in 2001 to eat, drink and talk with a British accent. Our R.A.T. (Rider's Association of Triumph) Pack lays out their Saturday rides, discounts are extended on Triumph clothing and accessories and of course, we party! Live music by The Blues City Blues Band, food, drink and a ton of merry Triumph enthusiasts make this an event you shall not miss!
But you must RSVP here to attend!

My Day in the Sun by Joe Luppino

Our own Joe Luppino tells us about going to San Diego to attend a Triumph 360 Event and experience the new Thunderbird.

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a day with Triumph’s new Thunderbird. Triumph had invited several dealers to come to San Diego, CA to get some seat time riding their new 1600cc cruiser. At 1600cc (or 1700cc, more about that later) the Thunderbird is the mid size cruiser in Triumph’s lineup, sandwiched between the duo of Americas and Speedmasters at 900cc and the Rockets at 2300cc.
Our original route was to take us to high elevations (Palomar Observatory, 5600 fasl) but a prior week of severe storms in southern California left roads covered in mudslides and mountain passes buried in several feet of snow. That’s fine for an enduro but not really ideal for a big cruiser. The boys from Triumph did their homework, as the roads (sections of CA76 and CA79) were well suited to explore and exploit the big parallel twins’ power and maneuverability. Our 100-mile loop began gently weaving its way across the valley floor then we slowly began to climb our way through the foothills of the Volcan Mountains. Temperatures were cool (mid 40’s) by California standards, but rose throughout the day to the upper 60’s.
Triumph brought 30 T-birds for our little adventure in all three colors (blue with a white stripe, silver with a black stripe and all black), with and without ABS, completely stock, with gobs of chrome, with 3 different bars (stock, drag and beach), long and short pipes, solo seats, seats with a rider’s backrest, three sizes of windscreens, pegs and floorboards… you get the idea. In all, there are over 100 accessories currently available to make the Thunderbird your own. There were plenty of variations from which to choose and during the course of our ride we would switch bikes about every 15 miles. By the end of the day I had sampled 6 different variations of the Thunderbird, each one unique, each one fun to ride.
With a 63.5-inch wheelbase (1.6 inches shorter than the America/Speedmaster) and weighing in at 678 pounds (746 wet), the big Bird is agile. Not a term I would normally use when talking about a cruiser considering my daily ride is a Street Triple R. On our way back down the mountain, we ran through a series of esses, some were quick while others were long and sweeping. By this time I was feeling at home on the T-bird and it became easy if not addicting to grind the pegs through the corners. Don’t misunderstand; the Thunderbird is not a bike that will leave scars on your precious chrome on simple turn-ins. These were serious corners, sport bike corners, and the T-bird has the lean angle that inspires you to push on the bars. Ground clearance is excellent and when you do touch the peg tips, the T-bird feels solid, not twitchy.
Not to underestimate the allure of a windy road, but for most people who are looking for a cruiser, it’s all about the motor. Here too the Thunderbird does not disappoint. The 1600cc parallel twin mated to its 6-speed (true overdrive) gearbox is a true delight for the senses. First, it is a thing of beauty. It’s clean, uncluttered (no messy hoses or cables) and infinitely elegant in its simplicity. The Triumph engineers did a phenomenal job crafting a beautiful lump. In typical Triumph fashion, the exhaust note has a unique tone due in part to the motors 270¢ª offset. Add either the long or short pipes and the motor’s growl becomes a bit throatier. Of course, as you roll on the throttle, whether down a long straight or in the middle of a corner, the parallel twin lets its presence be known. One feature I found particularly appealing is the adaptability of the drive train. Whether you like to keep the revs up and the gears low or you prefer low revs in a high gear, the motor is up to the task building confidence along the way. For those who feel 85 horses and 108 ft. lbs of torque may not be quite enough, Triumph offers a big bore kit pushing the Bird to 100 horses and 118 ft. lbs. of torque. You have to ask yourself, do you need a 1700cc parallel twin? Maybe. But do you want a 1700cc parallel twin? Absolutely!
Riding down a tree lined two-lane with sunshine dappling the asphalt (don’t call it macadam as west coasters will look at you as though you have two heads), a glance to the left to catch the view of giant snow capped peaks reflecting in the still blue waters of Lake Henshaw, somebody pinch me. For an east coast rider, a sunny January day in southern California, cruising a ribbon of black top on a new Triumph Thunderbird, it surely doesn’t get much better. Check that road sign. I’m pretty sure it said now entering Heaven.