Triumphrat

bridgestone175 · 10-24-2006

I spent 50 bucks to get a socket set to remove that huge nut on the SSSA. I removed the wheel and took it to a Kawasaki dealer to have a new tire put on. He said he couldn't balance it as it required a special tool. I called 2 other dealers and they said the same thing. (yamaha and Honda) So now I have to drive to the other side of town to a Triumph dealer just to have the tire balanced. Worse yet. If the bike had a flat on the side of the road, how would you remove the rear wheel? You gonna carry a huge socket and a 2 foot breaker bar around. All, repeat all of the bikes I've owned had tools in the kit that woukld remove the rear wheel. I think it's a huge step backward. Dan

Femural · 10-24-2006

Silly question but once youve got the wheel of at the side of the road what are you gonna do with it anyway?

Bit heavy to carry to a tyre dealer and I def wouldnt leave my bike by the side of the road!

So your gonna call someone out anyway and the chances are they will have the tools or will trailer the bike anyway SSSA don't come into it really

As for a Honda dealer being unable to do the job surely they have the equipment for the VFR which is SSSA?

At least the sprint has a centre stand so you can take the wheel of many bikes only have a sidestand so you def can't take the wheel of by the side of the road with any tools in your kit! (well not and leave it standing anyway :-D )

MickSprint06 · 10-24-2006

Puncture repair kits are pretty good these days so no need to remove wheel. Alternatively you could sign up for roadside assist to ease the paranoia. Certainly though it's not the sort of bike you would take to the wilds of Siberia as in LWR, still there's adventure in getting stuck and having to use your head to get out of trouble!

trotsky · 10-24-2006

I had to do a tire change while on a long trip when I scrubbed the tire down to the wear indicators over a thousand miles from home (hot summer California roads eat rubber). I had to go to a special race shop to get a tire since the normal tire dude said he could not deal with a SSSA...even though he rode an RS.

I have no idea why he couldn't just leave it on the center stand and take the tire off. I love the look of the SSSA and getting the wheel off to do a tire swap is a doddle. Much easier than on other bikes I've had.

As for roadside punctures...I always carry the puncture repair kit and a compressor in my side bags.

[ This message was edited by: trotsky on 2006-10-24 19:22 ]

bridgestone175 · 10-24-2006

Let's see, I now have roadside paranoia??? Maybe I think the SSSA is a step backward. Anyone tell me what's better about them? Why the Honda guy said he couldn't do it is a mystery. This wasn't a slam on my RS. Just don't get what I gained having an SSSA other than expense and inconveinience.

DFWBiker · 10-24-2006

I've had Kawasaki and Honda dealers mount and balance tires on my ST several times with no issues. I think you've got a dealer problem...not a SSSA problem.

mikey · 10-25-2006

I would get one of BMW's puncture repair kits they sell for bikes and carry it with me at all times.
I believe the kit has those small cartridges you put in soda siphon bottles and 1 should be enough to reinflate your tire.
Mike

SprintST · 10-25-2006

Stop & Go puncture repair kit, and an air pump and your good to get home. Unless there is sidewall damage there is no need to remove a tire on the side of the road on a trip.

As for the Honda dealer not being able to balance it. It's the difference in how the wheel mounts to the spindle. The VFR has 4 lug nuts, much like a car. As does the Goldwing and STs, I believe. A Ducati shop would have a much better chance of having an adaptor to fit, if a Triumph dealer couldn't be found.

trotsky · 10-25-2006

Quote:

This wasn't a slam on my RS. Just don't get what I gained having an SSSA other than expense and inconveinience.

Time saved removing the rear wheel when you want to take it in to have a tire replaced.

I can have the back wheel off in about 15 minutes on my sprint... whereas my Bandit would take a lot longer. You don't have to mess with the chain, removing brake calipers or any of that other nonsense. One nut and the wheel is off.

Nelson955 · 10-25-2006

I've taken the 46mm socket with me on my longer trips in Europe and it didn't take up much space in my luggage. It came in handy when I needed a new tyre in Andorra 3 years ago. I was able to remove the wheel in about 15 minutes whilst outside the shop and give it to their mechanic to allow him to fit a new tyre.