Triumphrat

mr1bienvenu

Looking at spending 3 months on my Bonneville so I have been doing a lot of reading here and I want to replace things that are the most common problems that may leave me on the side of the road. (not normal wear items)

So far I am looking at looking for high quality parts to replace these...

1)Rectifier
2)Igniter/CDI
3)Coils

Anything else I should think of changing ??? And any suggestions on the brands and places to buy the above?

PS. Yes, I know I can't change everything that MAY break. Just looking for MOST common issues with recent bikes like mine.

PopPop

That's a great idea for a thread, I'm a firm believer in preventative maintenance. If something is prone to failure it's a good idea to have one on hand - that has helped me out of jams more than once. I've got about 17K on my Bonneville and I suspect it will go strong for another 17K, but I'm going to be watching this thread carefully.

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Even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road. -- Stephen Hawking.

SCbonneville

I've done nearly 100k miles between my two Bonnies (crashed my first one)... three long trips between them... and I've never had a failure of any sort...

That said... because I have them form a project Bonnie I own, I take a spare ignitor, coil & plug wires and a crank trigger sensor... The reason that I do, is that those items are not easily sourced anywhere except through a Triumph dealer. And there isn't one on every street corner... But, those parts have always just "gone along for the ride"... never leaving their spot in the saddle bags...

Ok, since you have an '09 and I take it an EFI model... if so, then you do not have an ignitor, you have an ECU... Either way, you can buy used spares of the three items you listed through Pinwall Cycle Salvage on ebay (just search Triumph Bonneville under the motorcycle parts category) quite inexpensively. They are probably the largest Bonneville "breaker" around and are great to deal with. You could always go with one of the MOSFET upgrade rectifiers if you want. Brand new, they're not much more than a used one....

Personally, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it... Your '09 is probably just gettin' broken in good about now...

Forchetto

Mechanically these bikes are bulletproof, having benefited from a decade of development. The smooth engine characteristics and consequent lack of vibration means that chasis components get an easy life. No breakages or bolts dropping off have been reported so far. The only exception being the gearbox sprocket nut. A few have been found to come loose.

The EFI bikes like yours are blessed with many more Japanese electrical items than the previous models. This equals reliability.

All sensors, ECU, coil, injectors, fuel pump etc are made by the likes of Nippon Denso, TEC, Keihin, etc.

The two vital EFI relays are German and are a good quality sealed item made by Omron (Fuel pump and ECU relay).

The regulators and the pick-up coil (also called crankshaft position sensor on EFI models), appear to be the same components that's been used on Bonnies from the beginning and have given trouble in the past so they're potential sources of grief.

The only other things are trivial items like the fuse box where vibration from rough roads can make the fuses move out gradually until they don't make good contact. A lump of firm foam stuffed inside the fusebox lid keeping light pressure on the fuses is cheap insurance.

The only other item is the starter or headlight relay. Those are unsealed items, more suitable for the protected environment of cars and can give trouble. Replacements are very cheap and easily obtainable at car shops.

Battery voltage can drop and make the ECU disable the starter circuit. This has been the most troublesome item so far. I recommend this mod:

http://www.triumphrat.net/twins-tech...start-mod.html

beemerrich

Sidestand switch. Easily solved on the road by stripping/twisting the wires together. To avoid a roadside repair, I removed the switch, wiring, and grounded ignitor pin #10 to take this whole system out of the loop...also eliminated the clutch switch interlock while streamlining the wiring harness/doing the MOSFET regulator upgrade.

FWIW, I also carry a spare ignitor/pickup coil when traveliing.

Regards,

--Rich

mr1bienvenu

Do you know of a good place to get the regulator and the pick-up coil at a good price ?

As for the battery/starting issue, even with all my bad luck that has been one thing that has never happened to me even though I let it sit for two months during winter.

I guess just tightening the gearbox sprocket nut would fix that part ???
I will also do the foam thing for the fuses.

Nickwiz

I'd fit a chain oiler. That way you won't have to keep greasing the chain.

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind......Dr Seuss

bonza

I have often wondered the same and have considered carrying a spare coil, pick up coil etc. but 70k later and no failures to date. guess I have been lucky

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2007 B&W T100.
AI & Snorkel gone, Dom Tourers, 40/120/1 shim 3 turns, TTP stage one, Dart screen, Pingel fuel valve, Monza gas cap, Avon Roadriders, Triumph fabric saddle bags sometimes

Easy13

Nah, you just haven't been unlucky. Like most folks here, I'd carry a spare coil, pickup coil and ignitor, just for peace of mind. I'd also consider a spare timing cover gasket, in case it gets messed up replacing the pickup coil, and a can of Seafoam to use as an occaisional fuel additive. Ditched the sidestand switch a long time back, along with the OEM rectifier in favor of a MOSFET kit.

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"Cognito Ergo Wrenchum"

mr1bienvenu

I take it there is no aftermarket pickup coil, I'm stuck with a spare OEM. Forchetto says my bike has no igniter so I'm good there. I'm going to change the rectifer and remove the kickstand switch before I leave. Never needed that anyway. And I will carry a spare coil just in case.