Triumphrat

Torque addict · 05-04-2008

fFirst post....woohoo!!

And first weekend with my new Sprint...she's an 08, Graphite in color...perfect!! I live close to Ottawa...Canada!! The local dealer was supposed to get three Sprints in this year, ended up getting one, and it had long since been presold..so the dealership told me I was SOL till next year. I ended up calling around in the Toronto area, finally found one in London. So this weekend I Took a short flight into London and rode her home.

Not two minutes from leaving the dealership the skies open up....and I mean open up...its pouring!! I have a 6 hour ride ahead of me...I'm doing my best to break this baby in...not droning down the hightway....varying the throttle and all that stuff, all the while I'm getting used to a new bike in a torrential downpour!! Still havin fun though!!

So heres my question....my first question here!!!

At my first gas stop, about two hours in, I notice a ticking sound from the engine, Best description would be that it sounds like a noisy lifter....or could be an exhaust leak....I swear I didn't hear this when I was warming up the bike at the dealer. I'm also suspicious that its running a little rough at low rpm...but this motor does have a little ''character'' and maybe isnt as smooth as the inline 4 that I'm used to.

I'm now a few hours from the dealer...but I call anyway, speak to the service manager who is a huge Triumph fan....He says they've yet to have an internal problem with a 1050 motor....suggests that it could be water got to a coil? or a bad injector...likely water related, said he test road the bike himself...and it was fine. I agree, when I left the dealer I remember it being quiet..except for the exhaust note!!!

He advices, based on what I've told him, to carry on home, if its water related it may sort itself out...when it stops raining! Which it never did by the way!

It is still ''ticking'' today after a few hundred kilometres of dry riding. I'm wondering if this isn't normal?? Is it characterstic of this engine?? Otherwise it seems to be running fine, idles well, accelerates like it should..! and is smooth at constant throttle. But when idling or just taking off from a light you can hear a singular ticking sound...so its not a whole valve train noise...but just a constant tick, tick, tick....from the engine...stick my head inside the fairing (not my whole head) and its definately coming from the motor.

I guess ultimately I'll take it to the local dealer...and let one of the mechanics listen, take it for a ride. But wanted to seek advice here first.

Any thoughts??

MickSprint06 · 05-04-2008

Hey, good choice of bike new guy!

Not normal for it to be making that sound, I can't ever remember a ticking noise when I was running my '06. It could be any number of things, take it back to the dealer and let them sort it out.

4N099 · 05-04-2008

Welcome Torque Addict!

What a way to have to inaugurate your bike on it's shakedown cruise!

Seems like the rain always knows when you HAVE to get home doesn't it?

No help with any diagnosis I am afraid but I too questioned the noises from the motor after I got mine home and got a few hundred on it.
The good folks here told me they aren't exactly a quiet motor and it's part of the character of the Triumph, which I have found to be true.
Mine has about 2600 miles on it at present and I've been hearing new sounds as it continues to age, one being the reeds in the intake (can't think of what they are called at the moment) setting up a sound like a vibration buzz at certain rpms when going through town.

Hopefully yours is just normal engine noise and you've got a sound motor.
Again, welcome to the forum!

Calliway · 05-04-2008

Wait, wait wait.... It is very hard to diagnose a ticking noise through posts. There are many different ticks a bike can make. If youhave a bit of an exhaust leak you will get a little ticking from where ever the leak is. Your valve train will tick a little as that is the normal sound of an overhead cam motor that is inches from your head. Its not a real ticking noise at it is a light metal on metal noise (with oil of course).

Does the ticking get faster with rpms? Does it stop when the rpms get up? What about when you pull the clutch in? If it really bothers you then make sure you take it to you dealer for a listen as it is officially under warranty.

In the end you made a great choice and welcome to the forum. These bikes are really great.

Torque addict · 05-04-2008

The ticking does increase with rpm's..although at some point you lose touch with the sound as the exhaust and intake noise will drown in out. Its there regardless of clutch in or out.

I did wonder about what was mentioned above...in that it is or could be a noisey motor...with a lot of valve train noise. But...this is an individual sound...one ticking...not the whole valve train.

My instinct is that its a an exhaust leak...at least I hope thats what it is. I've had valve issues in old automobile engines...and if its a lifter...or a hydraulic lifter thats not getting oil....its usually a lot louder than this. I'll get it into the dealer this week.

Other than that...yeah, this things a freakin blast!! and its not hard to look at!! I've caught myself looking over my shoulder as I walk away from it a few times now!!

DaveM · 05-05-2008

Hi and welcome Torque addict,
welcome to TriumphRat.net and our Sprint forum.

I am sorry to inform you; you are going to love that bike and will make you ride it all the time!!!!!

I hope you enjoy this place as much as the rest of us.

I am asking all new peeps to do this so don't think you have done anything wrong please.

As soon as you can please read the "forum posting etiquette" sticky, it is helpful and has an amusing video link.

Also could you please take a moment to put your motorcycle and model in "fav bike" in your sig and stick your location in there too please.
Not compulsory of course but it makes it easier for other members when they respond to your posts.

enjoy the forum

DaveM

4N099 · 05-05-2008

TA is it a real loud tick that you can isolate, left side, right side, front/rear when the bike is idling or when you run the throttle up a grand or so when bike is standing?
Mine makes some pretty good ticking sounds when it's hot after a ride. I've gotten to where I do a quick walk around and listen to it at idle and some revs when I get up to the garage. These motors make a pretty good clatter even encased in a fairing.

They are hard not to look at aren't they?

Personally I think it's a beautiful design and one of the
best looking bikes on the market.

Torque addict · 05-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4N099

TA is it a real loud tick that you can isolate, left side, right side, front/rear when the bike is idling or when you run the throttle up a grand or so when bike is standing?
Mine makes some pretty good ticking sounds when it's hot after a ride. I've gotten to where I do a quick walk around and listen to it at idle and some revs when I get up to the garage. These motors make a pretty good clatter even encased in a fairing.

They are hard not to look at aren't they?

Personally I think it's a beautiful design and one of the
best looking bikes on the market.

I can't isolate left side right side...but I could possibly say front of the motor....considering that sound is bouncing around inside the fairing...I could be a little off on that. What makes me thing that it might be an exhaust sound is that it seems to go away for a sec after closing throttle.

Its not super loud....if you walk away from the bike..you'll hear the exhaust not the tick....but if your sitting on it you can hear the sound coming up from the the front of the tank...opening in fairing.

Sounds like to me...that it shouldn't be there!!

Wintermute · 05-05-2008

Mine (08 Tornado Red) does the same thing from time to time, mostly when she's hot. Don't worry about it and just ride her like you stole her. Almost 4.000 klm of pure joy in 2 months, and I only really drive her on the Weekends.
Even tried a track day with my new baby and she does everything without complaining at all.

Just enjoy her mate.

monkinwitz · 05-05-2008

Torque addict,you just have a bike with a unique sound

Dont worry they are a noisy motor just ride it till the first service and let the dealer do the rest,you will enjoy many moments on the bike,sometimes when you buy something new you always hear (THINGS) its a common problem with us Humans