Triumphrat

Calliway · 04-26-2008

After reading all of this I am going to be off to the book store as well. This is my first sporty bike and I really need to learn how to ride it better. Cruiser experience is worth nothing when it comes to the theory and practical riding of a bike that can actually hang in corners....

I always thought myself a moderatel hard rider but I will say that that is bogus and I am more just unskilled in the art of sport riding. I took an auto race course and it was very helpful in how to corner but only about 1/2 the theory transfers over to motorcycles....

sincity337 · 04-26-2008

Guys,

FWIW, I was lucky enough to be able to attend a Lee Parks Total Control course here in Las Vegas last weekend and the "problem" with the throttle became readily apparent to me. One of the first exercises of the course is to learn very fine throttle control in order to NOT upset the grip of the tires. I had a hell of time going from idle to some amount of throttle, back down to idle and then on to more throttle. I did manage to figure out that when I kept my little finger on the bar end, it gave my hand a place to apply some friction to the throttle, helping to SLOW the transition from idle to some throttle and then back again. It did help get rid of that lash somewhat.
Later in the course while going around tight circles (trying to maintain body position, speed, lean angle) I kept the throttle just open enough that I missed that "flat spot", as any upset in the suspension would certainly have made for a bad day during these exercises.

1050STrider · 04-26-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannab

yup, with maintenance throttle it is not as bad. but with the bike parked in 1st gear, i can roll "slop" out of it about 6 to 8 inches each way. about a foot back and forth total (i'll measure later). i dont think it is ECU hesitation. i can hear and feel a "clunk", if i am not smooth coming out of the curves.

With all the great discussion on technique I keep coming back to what is mentioned above regarding slop. I did an eye ball test on my bike, put it in first gear, rolled it forward till it stopped then with the side stand down rolled it backwards watching the distance the side stand traveled till it stopped again. I got roughly 5 inches of movement. A foot, as mentioned above, seems excessive to me and I don't think I have ever owned a bike that has had that much movement rolling it back and forth in first gear. Me personally, I would be asking my dealer about that.

On a throttle note. My Sprint is my first fuel injected bike and I had some issues with throttle smoothness in the beginning, the throttle was very abrupt when rolling off then back on. I also had surging with just off idle slow speed riding that was very annoying. I took it in to the dealer and they checked the tune that was loaded. It had the original stock tune that was loaded at the factory and there was a newer tune that Triumph had released that addressed some issues, surging being one of them. The new tune not only got rid of the surging but it also helped with the roll off roll on abruptness of the throttle. If you have not done so already, you may want to verify that you have the latest tune for your setup. Won't help with the lash but it may help with the throttle control.

Speed Safe,
Don

oldndumb · 04-26-2008

Ditto wot 1050STrider said about keeping up to date with Triumph tunes.

I don't know the release date or any specifics, but my service department notified me that an updated Sprint tune was available. I don't know if they meant it was specific to the TOR tune, or the std tune, or both.

wannab · 04-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1050STrider

With all the great discussion on technique I keep coming back to what is mentioned above regarding slop. I did an eye ball test on my bike, put it in first gear, rolled it forward till it stopped then with the side stand down rolled it backwards watching the distance the side stand traveled till it stopped again. I got roughly 5 inches of movement. A foot, as mentioned above, seems excessive to me and I don't think I have ever owned a bike that has had that much movement rolling it back and forth in first gear. Me personally, I would be asking my dealer about that.

On a throttle note. My Sprint is my first fuel injected bike and I had some issues with throttle smoothness in the beginning, the throttle was very abrupt when rolling off then back on. I also had surging with just off idle slow speed riding that was very annoying. I took it in to the dealer and they checked the tune that was loaded. It had the original stock tune that was loaded at the factory and there was a newer tune that Triumph had released that addressed some issues, surging being one of them. The new tune not only got rid of the surging but it also helped with the roll off roll on abruptness of the throttle. If you have not done so already, you may want to verify that you have the latest tune for your setup. Won't help with the lash but it may help with the throttle control.

Speed Safe,
Don

i went a little "overboard" with the guess-timate it is more like 2 and 1/4 inches in first gear. total travel from end to end. but just enough for a little uneasy feeling for someone coming from a powercruiser for the last 4 years. nothing wrong with the sprint, it is me. once i get used to maintenance throttle again. there will be peace in the valley. already telling a huge difference in smoothness. I have just gotten lazy / spoiled over the past few years with the belt drive. i am going to take the extra slack out of the throttle cable though, and run down to my triumph dealer to check for the latest tune. thanks all for your patience.

TattooedRedHead · 04-27-2008

Chain backlash....

Really useful for throwing your annoying pillon rider off the back when they've pissed you off.

--Kory

Simmo · 04-28-2008

I have had an 01 and now an 06 Sprint. Drive line back lash was about the same for each (strange that) and in terms of rider feel and comfort etc is very dependant on chain adjustment. I try to have minimum chain slack but still retaining some free play at tightest point on chain. This helps. I think that its probably caused mainly from when fuelling cuts in and out and lowest throttle settings.

I have found it most annoying when travelling at moderate speeds and particularly with a pillion. Best way to overcome the on and off the throttle business I think is to continue to apply the rear brake whilst braking and slowly introduce throttle while still braking to take up drive line slack. Then when the corner is clear and the braking is done release the rear brake and power off to the nesxt corner. A bit odd to be applying a bit of throttle whilst finishing the braking off but for me it works. However for 06 Sprint the rear brake pedal effort is very high. This adds to the brain confusion a bit ie heaps of pedal pressure and opening the throttle - uugh - it sort of doesn't compute, but as I said for me it does work. Higher speed stuff for me is not a concern.

Cheers, Simmo