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My Trident T160 soon to be project

5K views 25 replies 10 participants last post by  Triumphguy 
#1 · (Edited)
Well I finally picked up my T160 after a long wait, with a bad ending. I've wanted one for a while and found one locally. Numbers matching, 18k miles, mostly original... That's where the good ends.

Here's the story on how I got it. Bike was purchased at Southwest Cycles in Albuquerque. FCCK that place and all the people who work there! I'm shocked it's been in business for as long as it has based on the shht service I've received.

About 14 months ago I went Southwest Cycles , motorcycle salvage yard and shop looking for parts for my Adventurer. I've heard a lot of good things about this shop and the owner and how he walks on water when it comes to Triumphs... No parts for the Adventurer but there was a T160 hanging out in the backyard. After talking to the "salesman" I struck a deal with the shop owner and "master" mechanic.

I bought the bike for 3,500$ and agreed to have the bike running and roadworthy for an addition 1,500$. The writen agreement was to go through the brake system, ignition system, carb rebuild and install new tires. The cash was paid in full the next day so work can begin or I was told. I was not expecting a restoration, I was expecting a bike that ran and had the carbs sorted out. I was promised the bike would be done in 2 months. Two moths turned in to 6, then 8 then a year. The entire time I went to the shop every other week to check on progress and was disappointed each time. Phone calls were not an option as each time I called no one there knew of me or the bike or cared to return a call. A refund was not an option, after explain to the asshooles about how unhappy I've been...

Fourteen months later I had enough of their BS and incompetence and picked the bike up yesterday, not running, no brakes and still no title. Well it ran for a little bit. It took the "master" mechanic and owner about 20 damm minutes to get it fired up, would not idle and I didn't even dare try to throw a leg over it.

I got it home and started looking it over. The carbs have an inch of dust on them, I believe their method of rebuild was looking to make sure there were three carbs installed. The original airbox was removed and installed the sweet eBay pod filters, the plug wires were split and barely holding on. The front rubber brake line is split, there's no fluid in the rear brake reservoir, the wiring under the seat in held in place with bubblegum and hope.

As far as I can tell the only thing done to the bike were installing the new tires, the absolute cheapest available, ebay pod filters and shockingly the gas tank was cleaned and rust removed. I've lost all interest and motivation for this bike, it's going to be difficult for me to must up the drive to get it going. This was the only time in my life I paid a "professional" to work on something for me, whether it be a car, bike, house or computer and I got fccked.

Long story short Southwest Cycles in Albuquerque sucks ass. Jokers and unprofessional. Fukk those people!

Here the pics! I'll keep this thread going as I unfcck this bike.















Rant over. Southwest Cycles in Albuquerque NM is shtthole don't go there, you've been warned!
 
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#2 ·
sorry to hear you have been shafted - glad that you have named the cowboy crew that profess to be experts - like a lot of members "of a certain age" on this forum i have always done my own work (started with a BSA Bantam in 1967)- its the only way to be sure a job is well done -- just bear in mind that sorting out your T160 is not a big job -- its a lot of small jobs -
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the support Wol. I'm going to give it a few days before I start working on it. My biggest fear is getting the carbs set up. I've mastered the Kehin carbs on my other bikes but I'm hesitant to dig into these, there isn't a lot of tuning information on the the Trident amals and they seem so simple I'll overthink and mess them up. First thing first I'm going to do a compression check and leak down test, the motor kicks over too easy and I'm worried about that.
 
#6 ·
I have a written statement of work, with dates. I do not have a title yet, so I'm weary to pursue legal action as I might be out of my money and a motorcycle. When I politely asked for a refund I was told this is a small business and we don't have the the money to pay you back. I'm glad my money went to a good cause...not!

It was a an expensive lesson learned on my part. Fock small businesses and if you want want something done right do it yourself.
 
#5 ·
I like it. It's in pretty good shape. Good price too. There are at least 2 T160 owners in here, myself & Stuart.

Stuart has a wealth of experience with the old T160.

Once sorted they are silky smooth & reliable.
 
#7 ·
I don't know about good price, I've seen several examples selling for about the same money listed on eBay as running. At least with eBay I have some legal course of action, PayPal is usually in the buyers corner.

I hope to get it reliably starting at least. While waiting for this bike to get worked on I purchased a few spare parts which I'll be using sooner rather than later.
 
#8 ·
Where I live (OZ) that bike would be worth a lot more as is. In good running order & with a cosmetic makeover it would be worth way way north of $A10K. They are getting more & more appreciated by guys with dodgy knees who can't kick start (like me).

Once you get it running & hear that howl, you will forget all about price etc, trust me :grin2:
 
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#9 ·
I rebuilt a T160 last year (first one) not really more difficult than a T140 -except the clutch adjustment which is a PIA -the carbs a real easy to work on - a good clean out is important - the short pull rods between the slides and the lift mechanism are a bit of a pig to assemble --- i agree with the howl comment
 
#12 · (Edited)
Although the language in the original post is pretty extreme (even purposely misspelled), I'll let it stand, as the sentiment is better conveyed with it left as-is.

Thanx for the warning to others.

Have not yet read beyond the original post, but small claims court should be your FIRST step. If they have not yet given you the title, there are serious legal ramifications for the shop.

If the airbox was previously with the bike, I'd demand it be handed over.

We'll get you set right soon enough.

By the way, I am also a T160 owner.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Or at least the $1500 for the extra work that never got done in a timely fashion. That fact that they are small and don't have your money because they spent it on something else is theft by deception. I would have this placed closed in no time. Seems like the OP has more money than fight when it comes to what's right and seems to have given up. You have the bike, possession is 9/10ths. I'm sure your paperwork shows an unfair price for the cheap tires they put on. This sounds like a no brainers to win. But then again I was recently in a rear end collision. The 83 year old guy claimed I hit him, his insurance wouldn't pay, even though the police report said he was merging from a center turn lane into my right of way, there was clear damage to the back of my truck and there was clear damage to the front of his. I had to sue and the judge dismissed the case saying "there was no evidence", WT*.
 
#15 ·
I wouldn't spend a dime or a single minute on a bike I didn't hold the title on. I've bought some on bill of sale but always cleared the title problems up pronto.
 
#16 ·
Sorry for the initial post and the bad language, I just wanted to get across how upset and angry I am.

The original airbox was in the near vicinity of the bike, it technically wasn't installed. I did tell the shop owner to install the original air box but I didn't get it in writing.

I have a bill of sale for the bike and I will pursue getting a bonded tittle for the bike before spending anymore money on the bike.

I don't want to deal with these people anymore or hear from them. I'll look into small claims court and see what happens if not I'm just going to eat the money and call it a lesson learned. Yes, I basically given in and got the bike out of there seeing how a refund wasn't going to happen and each time I went there to check on the bike I was having a hard time keeping my cool. I figured I should walk away before I do something I would regret.

The most frustrating part about this entire ordeal is the time I lost.
 
#19 · (Edited)
#26 ·
FWIW, I think you did OK even though you didn't get what you expected. It's a nice looking bike and has some good stuff on it. T160s tend to run rich unless they have had the 'economizer' kit installed (which yours should by now); the peashooters and pod filter might help that some. It looks like you have either a Boyer electronic ignition or a Tympanium regulator-rectifier unit tucked in behind the battery. If it's a Boyer, they are very sensitive to battery voltage and coil impedance because the coils are wired in series and all three fire at the same time. Stuff like the plug leads and brake lines are routine maintenance; replace the brake lines with braided stainless and make up your own plug wires with generic stuff from Summit. If you have mastered the Keihins then the Amals are a piece of cake; they are stone age in comparison to modern carbs. Try http://www.jba.bc.ca/Bushmans Carb Tuning.html for info.
I am on my third T160 and they are, when properly fettled, fantastic bikes. They are a little more finicky than the twins but it's nothing a committed do-it-yourselfer can't handle. Good luck with your project.

Best wishes,
Patrick in Ojai.
 
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