Triumphrat

mistermellow001

After reading these forums, and reflecting on my own bike, it seems to me that Triumph does not have a consistent philosophy when it comes to quality. Some things I have observed or heard from others (not all-inclusive - others may wish to add or disagree):

High Quality:

• Engine and transmission
• Frame
• Fork tubes
• Wheels & hubs
• Headers
• Electrical
• Paint and design

Questionable Quality:

• Clutch cable (lever end)
• Stock tires
• Stock (and TOR) silencers (baffles rust loose)
• Rust-prone steel parts (bolts, mainly)
• Coil and plug-wires
• Seat cushion
• Instrument mountings (off-kilter speedo)
• Carburetor manifold clamps
• Zinc/cadmium plating finish

Cheesy:

• Plastic signal and tail light housings
• Paper-thin wobbly rear fender (not a problem on Thrux because shorter)
• 2007 plastic sprocket cover (if what I read is true)
• Entry-level rear shocks
• No right-side petcock
• Battery strap

Corporate/Dealers (some dealers, not all):

• Pre-delivery inspection & setup
• Technician know-how/workmanship
• Good website, but seems lacking (nothing I can put my finger on)
• Triumph Reps seldom, if ever, approve good-will, post-warranty problems (problems that have obviously been there since day one, but not discovered until after warranty expired)

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Guy

AAAANDYK

I find your list and philosphy Slightly off center.
High Quality:
Engine and transmission- WITHOUT QUESTION
Frame-WITHOUT QUESTION-BORDERS ON OVERKILL
Fork tubes- N0 ADJUSTMENTS
Wheels & hubs- BROKENS SPOKES
Headers- BLUE & GOLD...wheres the chrome?
Electrical
Paint and design
Questionable Quality:
Clutch cable (lever end)WHAT?
Stock tires-JUNK
Stock (and TOR) silencers (baffles rust loose) NOT A PROBLEM...but I have early TORS
Rust-prone steel parts (bolts, mainly) BESIDES HEADER STUDS AND NUTS...NADA
Coil and plug-wires WHAT?
Seat cushion- ITS POOR
Instrument mountings (off-kilter speedo) WHAT?
Carburetor manifold clamps
Zinc/cadmium plating finish
Cheesy:
Plastic signal and tail light housings
Paper-thin wobbly rear fender (not a problem on Thrux because shorter)
2007 plastic sprocket cover (if what I read is true)
Entry-level rear shocks
No right-side petcock WHO CARES
Battery strap WHAT
Corporate/Dealers (some dealers, not all):
Pre-delivery inspection & setup THEY ALL SUCK
Technician know-how/workmanship TRIUMPHS ARE ALWAYS second and third lines...
Good website, but seems lacking (nothing I can put my finger on)
Triumph Reps seldom, if ever, approve good-will, post-warranty problems (problems that have obviously been there since day one, but not discovered until after warranty expired) GOOD WILL repairs...LOL....yeah right. THEY WONT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE SPOKE PROBLEM. OVERALL THE QUALITY OF THIS BIKE IS OUTSTANDING. TRIUMPH NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE DEALER ISSUES. THEY NEED TO ACCELERATE PARTS AVAILABILTY AND THE PRICE OF PARTS.
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Brooksie

Never had a problem with the tires, but there is a set of Pirelli Sports coming. If you upgraded everything that is "budget" stuff on the Bonnie, you'd be paying 10k for it.

Baltobonneville

Fork springs are marginal.
Horn is pathetic.
Tires are alright, but I don't push them as some do.

The web site, while slick and good-looking, has changed to a ... dynamic? ... display of accessories that is irritating to navigate even with my high-speed DSL connection. It's so irritating that I usually go to a dealer site to browse the old static display.

PS What's with the clutch cable complaints???

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Marty
2005 Bonneville Blue 790cc, AI removed, Staintunes RC, Unifilter, no snorkel, 120/40/Thrux needle/1 shim/3 turns, fly screen, tacho, D9 gauge panel, center stand, Ikon 7610s, Hagon fork springs, gaiters, Pirelli Sport Demons, 3 seats.

mistermellow001

Marty, the metal sheath that is crimped around the end of the cable housing tends to open up over time, allowing the cable to droop instead of being fully supported. Cables that do that tend to fray in that spot. I've seen it on a few other Bonnies and it just doesn't look high-end to me. A minor thing, really.

I guess the point of my post was to simply say that even though the Bonneville is a thoroughly modern and well engineered bike, there are parts of it that seem like after-thoughts. Brooksie made the point that it would be costly to upgrade these things. From what I've read here, and in talking to other Bonnie owners, that seems to be the norm, and for me as well. $$$$

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Guy

Stealth

Guy you nailed it with your list. By the way I went though two clutch cables and your right on about the metal end. First replacement was a Honda cable that was the same size. That snaped in the middle of no where, second cable used a bonneville America cable worked out fine. It could be the riser that I installed. I also don't like the cheap crap grips. Also replaced the battery strap. What's up with the rubber?

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Put your arms and legs inside the ride at all times!

Stealth

125 main /42 pilot /Predators /K&N air/Mobil1 oil & filter

mecscc

Sorry. Haven't had any of those problems. Only put about 13000 on it in the last year and a half (put another 10 K on another bike of mine) so maybe they'll pop up sometime. I sold the other bike so I should be up close to 20K on the Bonnie by the end of the year, so I'll let you know. Maybe I'll pull the plugs by then and let you all know what they look like. Nah..........

Part of the problem you have here, Guy, as on any other site like this one, is that we tend to gripe a lot. First, it is easier to get responses to problems, and, after all, what a lot of this site is about is to discuss problems and how to fix them; and second, if you don't write about problems almost nobody will comment on what you write. Problem solving is fun; reading that there are no problems is boring. And, finally, if you don't have problems how can you justify spending about as much money on mods as you did for the bike in the first place?

There are things on the Bonnie that I don't care for, but they are not major and are not particularly unique to the Bonnie. Every model or brand specific web site forum tends to be loaded with complaints about the same litany of issues and problems.

Anyway, that's how I see it; but if you've been around here for a while I guess you already know that.

Take care,

Monte

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Monte

"The Old Ohio Preacher Man"

mistermellow001

Monte, like you, we all take the good with the bad. Otherwise we'd all sell our Bonnies. The "litany of issues and problems" on this forum has indeed been recited time and again. But those of us who are un-tenured in this forum haven't necessarily heard it or shared it.

I find it interesting that even though we all talk about basically the same things, most posters bring another perspective or nuance to the discussion. And it is a discussion. If we all just got on the forum, did a search for what kind of tire to buy, what jets to use with what silencers, etc., we would have our answers and wouldn't need to talk to each other.

I want to know what new Bonneville owners discover about their machines, even if someone else discovered it first 30,000 posts ago. And if they have a problem for which they have no answer, someone will help. I don't know what else to say.

Peace...

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Guy

RonD

personally i think theres not much wrong with the bike, the things that are wrong are only minor, as a rule the cheap plastic bits can be replaced, the only things that i would like to see changed would be if they do something about the spoke issue, its always on my mind on a long trip and a tank with more fuel capacity would be nice, but on the whole its a great package for the money..
p/s some people have had engine problems but thats a small minority and all manufacturers have that happen..

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Regards Ron
Hurricane pictured(Harry)

webonnielad

I was perfectly happy with my bike stock.

Sure I've modified it and I think it has improved it both performance, handling and cosmeticly.

But the Great thing about the Bonnie is exactly that , you can do as little or as much as you like and make this very much your own bike.
It retains the true spirit of motorcycle ownership.

If you just wanna ride and have the dealer take care of it fine, If you like to wrench that's fine too. I'd say most of us are slightly older than the crotch rocket brigade, with time consuming commitments, so it's what ever floats your boat.

I've been riding bikes since the mid 70's, I started with old Britsih stuff, tried a Harley, resorted to Japanese, But the New Bonnie has given me back "The True Spirit of Motorcycling".

I feel like James Dean every time I even look at my Bonnie.

Jon (UK)

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790cc 2003 T100 Bonneville. 18T Front Sprocket, AI Removed, 125 Mains, 40 Pilots, Thruxton Needles, 1 Shim,3mm Air Hole, Mixture screws 3 1/4 turns out left carb, 3 turns out right carb, Unifilter, NH Belmouth, NH Classic Togas with no mutes inserted, Stock Ignitor Unit. Hagon 320mm rear shocks & progressive fork springs. Last measured. 61.60 hp, , Max torque 48.40 in 5th gear at the rear wheel at 7200 rpm, 105 mph in 5th at 6500 rpm.