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How should my S3 run at low speed?

3K views 25 replies 17 participants last post by  Joe Houle 
#1 ·
Hi Guys,

I'm after honest feedback as to whether the S3 should be smooth at lower speeds. Or "that's just the way the bike is" !!!

Sitting at constant speed anywhere between 40-70 kmh (25-44mph) it feels a little jerky. Like going over a small bump every 1-2 seconds. Nothing too concerning, but annoying enough considering a performance machine. Pull clutch in and coast and the issue goes away.


The service dealer (two different ones) both give me "the computer says no, that's just the way it is" answer when I ask if there's anything wrong.

Is this really just the way S3's are? and it's a matter that they're tuned for higher revs/speeds? Or do I need to go back with some ammo and state my case again?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,

Jimmy
 
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#3 ·
Just the way it is??? Any street bike should be smooth at those speeds. Does the bump sensation match RPM or speed only? Does engine load affect it: high/low throttle, acceleration or deceleration?

I would have had someone there ride it.

However, there is a point where the transmission and engine are at close but not the same rotational speed, so you get this annoying chatter because of gear slop. Happens in any manual transmission vehicle, especially if it's old, which is all I've ever had.
 
#7 ·
Have they checked the chain and sprocket? Mine was like that when I bought it used so I took it to the dealer asking the same question. Someone rode it and said the chain was in bad shape. Changed the chain and sprocket and it smoothed out a lot. Might be worth having it looked at.
 
#19 ·
Thanks guys - set-up is stock according to dealer (don't know which map version, but he said it was the latest and he uploaded that about 12 months ago). Bike has also been lowered, but i don't expect that would affect power transmission. I notice the idle sound to have a frequent burble sound to it which in my mind corresponds to the slight lurching/jerkiness at constant low speed. Around 3,000-4000 rpm in second trying to hold it dead steady speed gives me the sh*ts !!!

Thanks for all your advice.....
 
#16 ·
Dealer told me that they come through very lean to burn clean, to pass emissions.
He put a new tune it. He would not tell me exactly because they, I guess are not supposed to do it. In fact where I bought the bike would not do it, but this dealer would.
It took him 10 minute, I took it down the road and it ran beautiful.
 
#17 ·
My 2010 S3 was an utter pig from new! Below 3000 rpm in heavy traffic it was jerky and the throttle was either on or off. When I closed the throttle even a small amount it was almost like applying the brake. It was awful to ride every day to work. It would only ride at lowish revs in 1st or 2nd gear. On the same ride on my previous 955 S3 I made the trip in 3rd and 4th at the same revs (up to 4000prm in heavy rush hour traffic). The 955 engine was much smoother. I have regretted changing to the 1050 every day for 18 months now. My dealer, who supplied the bike new, rode it, as did his mechanic and both said it was fine. Eventually I had enough and wrote a snotty letter and the dealers rode it again and said it was fine....BUT....they took some diagnostics and sent then off to Triumph who said that certain things needed fine adjustments. The throttle bodies and throttle position sensor needed adjusting and they asked that they check that an air box pipe wasn't pinched under the tank. There were some others but I forget what they were. The adjustments were made and it has been much better ever since. I can now use 3rd and 4th gear at lower revs in heavy slow moving traffic. It is not perfect though and the thottle is still like an on/off switch. I am now resigned to the fact that the fuelling as standard is sh**te and as soon as it is out of its 2 year warranty I am going to get it properly set up at a local dyno race tuner who worked on a Suzuki Bandit I used to have....now there was a smooth runner if ever there was one....carbs....much better and easier to adjust at home! In my personal experience fuel injection is a green con....all my FI bikes and cars have perfomed poorly at low revs.I remain disappointed that Triuph supplied me with a new bike that was so poorly set up and that the dealer simply fobbed me off for so long and was still unable to get it to run properly or maybe that really is just how they are....crap runners at low revs. It will be my last Triumph!
 
#18 ·
this bike still has a buttload of torque below 3krpm. With a racing throttle it is snatchy . Its not like some gutless 4 cylinder screamer which won't respond down below Stiff suspension amplifies the jerky nature over bumps. Get yourself tune ecu and a cable and download diff maps to see if it helps
 
#23 ·
I have a 2012 Speed that I purchased used with about 2500 miles on it. The first thing I noticed with the slight hesitation/engine vibration from anything below 3k rpms. I thought there was something wrong with the engine, but the tech said the factory map runs lean for emissions purposes.

Once I put the Arrow high mounts on and loaded up the tune with Tunecu, it completely eliminated all hesitation down low and the bike now rides super smooth!
 
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