This paper deals with the long-term properties of the thermoelastic nonlinear string-beam system related to the well-known Lazer-McKenna suspension bridge model {u(tt) + u(xxxx) - (beta + parallel to u(x)parallel to(2)(L2(0,1)))u(xx) + (u - v)(+) + theta(xx) = f v(tt) - v(xx) - (u - v)(+) + phi(x) = g (0.1) theta(t) - theta(xx) - u(txx) = h phi(t) - phi(xx) + V-tx = 0. In particular, no mechanical dissipation occurs in the equations, because the loss of energy is entirely due to thermal effects. The existence of regular global attractors for the associated solution semigroup is proved (without resorting to a bootstrap argument) for time-independent supplies f,g,h and any beta is an element of R. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.