Triumphrat

bikesunriver · 10-10-2007, 12:14 AM

I just cracked 400 miles on my 07 America which I have very much enjoyed so far (except for the concern in this post). I'm about ready for the first service and it appears to be a good thing - sooner rather than later. A concern experienced about 6 times over the first 400 miles occurred again today. When I attempted to downshift from 5th or 4th gear the foot shift wouldn't move, there is a distinct feeling and sound that the bike is "in-between or only partially in gear", and I've been forced to pull over to the side of the road in order to get things back in order and achieve a shift. Once stopped with the clutch lever held in, and sitting still (clutch lever still in) for about 15 -20 seconds I've been able to eventually get the foot lever to shift and get back into a lower gear to resume the ride. The first couple times this happened I thought perhaps it was just something that may have been a freak new bike occurrence, possibly attributable to a less than fully firm shift with my foot, or break-in issue. But I've been very careful to do things right and it happened three times today on about a 40 mile ride. The last time coming while arriving at a high speed highway stop light (from fifth gear) and needing to make a slower left turn across traffic. Created a little anxiousness (and irritation) for this newbie rider when I had to come to stop to turn on the busy road left lane, still in fifth gear and uable to get to first (or any other gear) for the turn. Any thoughts or similar experiences from other America riders?

midlifecrises · 10-11-2007, 09:03 AM

Sounds to me like you should get the cycle back to the dealer ASAP. What you describe is not normal.

Steve7527 · 10-11-2007, 09:18 AM

Could be something bad, but it's surprising how much effect a properly tensioned chain can have on the gear change, dunno if you've checked it?

Other causes can be simply leaving all your changes too late. As much as possible I try to select the right gear for the speed as I slow down and also if you don't completely release pressure on the gear change between gears it can get a little lost momentarily.

The gears have been a little "quirky" after my jap bikes but nothing thats caused me concern even though I've had similar experiences with my America. I don't think the long gear change link helps but I think it's just something to mention at the next service in case you have a loose or badly adjusted linkage or something.

trashcanman · 10-11-2007, 09:51 AM

If it's getting hung in gear. Something is wrong. Carry it back to your dealer.

bikesunriver · 10-11-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trashcanman

If it's getting hung in gear. Something is wrong. Carry it back to your dealer.

Thanks to all for the comments.

I dropped it off at I-90 Motosports in Issaquah,WA today for its 500 miles check up (426 miles) and provided an explanation and my concerns. They listened to the issue but at drop off time couldn't offer an explanation or speculation. This will be the first test of the service I get; I hope it is good and they pin down the problem, and verify via a test ride with several 1-5 gear cycles. I had no problems getting there in gears 1-4, I didn't need to get to 5 on the short 8 mile ride on slower roads. I really love this bike and have had a sinking feeling since repeats occurred on this issue. My worst fear is they won't find anything and it will happen again at an inopportune time and become a hassle to get the bottom of it. I'm certain this is a NOT a newbie rider shift execution issue, based on all the training I've received and a non-aggressive approach to riding - smooth shifts, moderate windouts etc.

I've been looking forward to a dry fall day, leaves turning, back roads riding on Saturday - probably not too many such days left this fall in Washington State. I hope this doesn't stand in the way.

bikesunriver · 10-15-2007, 02:32 AM

Got my 07 America back from first service at 426 miles. The service department at I-90 Moto-Sports in Issaquah seemed to think it was my shifting method that was at fault - believing I must have been trying to shift down more than one gear at a time from 5th without releasing the clutch lever between gears so that each gear fully engages one at a time back down to first. I can't say for certain I have never bumped the foot lever down twice without engaging after the first bump but it hasn't been my intended practice. I made a special effort to be very careful on my post service rides. Had a 30 mile ride immediately post service without incident but during an 85 miler on Saturday it happened twice -when I pulled in the clutch in 5th, hit the foot lever to try to move it down a gear to 4th the foot lever wouldn't move and I could feel something amiss in the clutch area. Tried pulling the clutch lever in and out while slowing, variable speed etc. couldn't get anything to happen. Ended up having to pull off to the road shoulder twice, stop, let things settle down (with clutch lever in; letting it out caused the engine to die in 5th) Eventually (15 -20 seconds after stopped) the foot lever allowed itself to be moved and I was able to get it back through lower gears down to first. The second occurrence was on at the entrance to a curvy uphill grade that I wanted to enter in 4th from 5th and eventually even go down to 3rd. Minimal road shoulder ahead for the next few miles. Not a good scene to be in again stuck in 5th. I had asked I-90 to test ride to see if they could replicate the problem. They said they gave it a ride but with my odometer only 1 mile different from drop off it couldn't;t have been the simulation I was hoping for. It may be another week til I'm able take it out again. A bit unsettling as I'm fairly certain I'm doing everything right. Kind of what I feared might happen - like feeling sick and the doc can't figure out what is wrong, must be something you are eating! One question for readers - do all of you make sure you fully engage each gear one at a time on each slowdown? What about rapid stops with clutch in. Say you were in 4th and came to a sudden stop and were in 4th with the clutch in, how would you fully engage each gear at that point from a stop to get to first? I want to get this issue behind me - takes a bit of the fun and excitement out of this new adventure.

Gregger · 10-15-2007, 02:35 PM

Hello Bikesunriver, glad to hear you purchased a Speedmaster. Great bikes!

From what you are saying and what I have experienced, you definitely have a problem with the bike.

I have no problems with my America getting stuck between gears. I can come to a stop in any gear, pull in the clutch and swiftly depress the shift lever down into 1st, no matter what gear I'm in. I've had to stop quickly without being able to downshift. Never a problem ratcheting through the shift spectrum with the clutch in. I never have to engage each gear, then release the clutch as you stated. Triumphs are known for their excellent shifting transmissions.

Having no experience with motorcycle transmissions, I can only guess. I've looked at the pictorals of the transmission and there appears to be a selector drum that moves the shifter forks back and forth. These mesh with the selector dogs which in turn engage your gears. Any of these items could be hanging up. One of them could be a little tight. I guess there is a chance the problem could go away with time but... the safety aspect begs fixing ASAP.

Also take a close look at your transmission gear selector linkage. Is it possible something is a little bent or out of shape?

If you can't see anything obvious on the outside, the problem belongs to your dealer. It might be a tricky one to diagnosis. The mechanic will probably have to drive the unit until it happens to him....

Keep us posted so we can all learn.

trashman · 10-15-2007, 06:39 PM

The dealer may be right. When I first rode my 07 SM I was having Problems upshifting and downshifting. This isn't my first bike so I was sure it couldn't be something I was doing wrong. I spent some time reading past posts, I think it was on this forum someone had experienced the same problem. You really need to make sure you release the shifter completely between shifts. I tried shifting alittle slower to make sure I was releasing and that solved the problem, no problems since. Hope thats all it is.

Hoffo · 10-15-2007, 07:30 PM

When I took delivery of my first America (07 Model), I noticed that my foot was getting jammed between the footpeg & shifter as the shifter was adjusted too far down, this resulted in poor selection and missed gears, not to mention that it was downright dangerous trying to remove my foot off the peg to downshift. I just adjusted the shifter so that it was about the same angle as the brake pedal and problem went away.

trashcanman · 10-15-2007, 11:05 PM

It may just be new and a bit tight. But, It still should not be getting stuck in gear as you described. And as to your shifting method, thats just plain B S. You should be able to click down through all the the gears. fifth to first without releasing the clutch. I do it all the time. If sport bike racers were forced to do this, there would be violent uprising. I hope for yoursake that its just a new bike and the trans is still a bit tight. Mine was a bit. But I don't recall it ever getting stuck in gear. Had a few hard times getting it to neutral at stops early on. Anyway I think your dealer didn't spend much time sorting this for you an deserves a good bit of bad mouthing. I went through a similar problem with a polaris ATV some years back. They wanted to say it would get better with time. It didn't. It got worse. Finally they hired a new mechanic. That I happened to know. And he sorted it out for me. It was as simple as an improperly adjusted clutch. But this guy was the first one at the dealer who actually had the time, or took the time to find out what was going on and how to fix it. Never had another shifting related problem after that.