Triumphrat

gandy dancer

OH MY --another question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if I change the exhaust on a new bike how will it affect the warranty---does the Dealer have to do it??? as always THANKS

mecscc

There is the technical answer and the real world answer.

The technical, lawyerly, answer: ANY mod of ANY thing could void the warranty.

The real world answer: many dealers will actually do the mods for you and/or will not have any problems with you doing small mods, like silencers, jetting, etc. yourself.

The key actor here is the dealer, or another dealer you might use: will he/they support a warranty claim with Triumph that you make after you have made any mods? That depends on the dealer and your relation to him. I think that most would support the claim. But, without dealer support you will have a long and tedious battle getting satisfaction, and you may not get it at all

The "belt and suspenders" conservative way to go is to make no changes until the warranty runs out. The realistic way to go is to talk to your dealer's service manager and get a straight answer.

In my case, though I do no mods, I was curious and asked the closest dealer (not the one I bought the bike from) what their views on it were, and that service manager said that if the claim would not logically have been affected by the mod you made that he could care less. He modded his own Triumph before it ever left the shop.

So it probably pays to have a good relationship with the dealer if you are concerned about the warranty.

__________________
Monte

"The Old Ohio Preacher Man"

Kramocker

I have to agree with mecscc on both points. I have a great relationship with the Service manager and the main tech at my local dealership (also NOT where I bought the bike). These guys are interested in anything I do to the bike. I make it a point to stop in and have a chat as often as I can just to keep the vibes good. Besides...who can wait two years to start modding!!!!?


Cheers,

__________________
2007 T100 T&O - AI's off, ARK, K&N's, 42 pilots, 140 mains, 2 turns out, D&D silencers, ACR Adjustable Clubman's, KYB's, WP springs, Thrux gel seat______________________________________________
Who's that little old man with Paul?

peastick

I asked my dealer/supplier the same question, and he said that "judgments of whether a fault was a warranty issue or not are made by dealership, and not by Triumph HQ" and he was absolutely clear that he would not void a claim because I had after market pipes, removed AI or rejetted. I went ahead and did those mods, happy that the dealership was the the place I'd bought the bike and he would honour his word.

bonnieblackinfl

Understanding the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975.

Nearly everyone has heard about someone who has taken a vehicle that has been modified with aftermarket parts to a dealer for warranty service, only to have the dealer refuse to cover the defective items. The dealer usually states that because of the aftermarket parts the warranty is void, without even attempting to determine whether the aftermarket part caused the problem.
This is illegal.

Vehicle manufacturers are not allowed to void the vehicle warranty just because aftermarket parts are on the vehicle. To better understand this problem it is best to know the differences between the two types of new car warranties and the two types of emission warranties.

When a vehicle is purchased new and the owner is protected against the faults that may occur by an expressed warranty - an offer by the manufacturer to assume the responsibility for problems with predetermined parts during a stated period of time. Beyond the expressed warranty, the vehicle manufacturer is often held responsible for further implied warranties. These state that a manufactured product should meet certain standards. However, in both cases, the mere presence of aftermarket parts doesn't void the warranty.
There are also two emission warranties (defect and performance) required under the clean air act. The defect warranty requires the manufacturer to produce a vehicle which, at the time of sale, is free of defects that would cause it to not meet the required emission levels for it's useful life as defined in the law. The performance warranty implies a vehicle must maintain certain levels of emission performance over it's useful life. If the vehicle fails to meet the performance warranty requirements, the manufacturer must make repairs at no cost to the owner, even if an aftermarket part is directly responsible for a warranty claim, the vehicle manufacturer cannot void the performance warranty. This protection is the result of a parts self - certification program developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).
In cases where such a failed aftermarket part is responsible for a warranty claim, the vehicle manufacturer must arrange a settlement with the consumer, but by law the new - vehicle warranty is not voided.

Overall, the laws governing warranties are very clear. The only time a new vehicle warranty can be voided is if an aftermarket part has been installed and it can be proven that it is responsible for an emission warranty claim. However, a vehicle manufacturer or dealership cannot void a warranty simply because an an aftermarket equipment has been installed on a vehicle.
If a dealership denies a warranty claim and you think the claim falls under the rules explained above concerning the clean air act (such as an emission part failure), obtain a written explanation of the dealers refusal. Then follow the steps outlined in the owners manual. However, if this fails, then phone your complaint in to the EPA at (202) 233-9040 or (202) 326-9100. If a dealer denies a warranty claim involving an implied or expressed new car warranty and you would like help, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint, you can call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the online complaint form. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies worldwide.

You can view a slightly more detailed legal explanation of the Magnuson - Moss Warranty act of 1975 by clicking on the following link: http://www.pipelin e.com/~rmantis/webdoc14.htm

Baltobonneville

You could keep the original silencers and put them back on if you have a problem. There doesn't seem to be much of an aftermarket for the stock pipes anyway.

__________________
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.