Triumphrat

Dangermouse

I've got a new '08 Thruxton which has a noticeable wobble in the front from about 45 MPH on. I posted the problem last week and got some advice. Here's an update -- and any info anyone can give would really be appreciated.

The first dealership attempted balancing the front wheel. No change.

The second dealership said the head bearing needed adjustment (and charged me $61). It was a little better, but the wobble was still there. I was told it was at maximum torque, so it couldn't be further adjusted.

They tried putting different wheels on it from another Thruxton. Problem is still there.

They are now doing a head bearing replacement. I seriously doubt this will fix anything, but hey, it's warranty work this time for once.

Any ideas?

I'm thinking the frame is misaligned from the factory.

And I'm also feeling like a **** fool for trading in my Yamaha that never had one moment's problem. These dealers have been a nightmare. I've looked into my local state's attorney general website and found out that lemon laws do apply to motorcycles in Maryland. I have a feeling that's where it will end up. I'm getting all my documentation together for that inevitability.

From where I'm sitting right now, I would never buy another Triumph product in my life. I feel like I've been taken advantage of.

Good luck, y'all. From my experience, you just might need it.

scramboy

Wow, a little front end shake, and you give up on a product that is generally very good.
Sounds like you deserve to be a Yamaha rider........

amanger

I ve had 2 Yamaha s (XS650,TRX850 both twins) and they were both excellent bikes.
Have you tried checking the fork oil ? I had a bike (the XS650) with the same sort of problem and one of the forks was nearly dry.

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07 865 Silver Bonnie....Bobbed Guards, Tacho, Grab Rail, Lucas Tail light, Mini Blinkers, Dart Screen, LSL Sport Bars, 1" Longer Hagons, 10mm Raised Forks, K&N Pods, Staintunes, 140/40 3 1/2 turns + 1 shim......etc....etc...

Dangermouse

Wow, sounds like you have no sympathy for someone who spent over 8 grand for a defective product. Somehow I think you'd have a different opinion if your bike was shaking like a paint mixer.

Step off the brand loyalty stuff. I just want this fixed.

thruxtonerich

Check back wheel and tire, suspension.

Jimi_X

I can't believe it's not the tire,... but you say it has been changed, even the wheel was swapped. Hmmmm, Do you think the dealer would let you test ride another Thrux from the showroom floor? Especially the unit they borrowed the front wheel from. Just so you can see how it feels. Of all the posts about symptoms like this, (there haven't been many) you're the only one that it hasn't been solved for. I know that is of little consequence at this point.

My bike when new, tracked perfectly at all speeds. Now, with a 75% worn out front tire, if I let go of the bars there is a shake between 80 & 90 kph (approx 45 to 55 mph). Above, and below that speed it tracks perfectly. The cupping is now visable and you can feel it by running your hand over the tire.

Don't give up. You're probably more frustrated with the dealer than the bike. These are great machines. Hang in there. This could end up being something simple. The idea about the fork being low on oil is a good place to start.

When I read the line about "shaking like a paint mixer" I thought it was another Harley bashing thread.

HOOPLA

Hi Danger,
Well I for one have sympathy for you, that dealer and Triumph should be doing handstands to make you happy.. the dealer system seems too have some bad holes in it, lucky if you happen upon a goood one.
I mention alignment cause I spent some time this past winter developing a method using a lazer to align my tires. If you search under Bonniebob, you'll find a description. I found that you could not trust the alignment marks and others have said similar.
Aside from this, the fork oil level is a real thing to have them check as are the seals.
Did they check the rims to see if they were true? My front rim after 7 years was out 50 thou, and I could feel this when I encountered a seam in the road with a slight wobble. Probably in conjunction with improper wheel alignment this was unsettling. It's the reason I developed the lazer alignment method.
Another thought is tires, could have bad rubber.

I would suggest working with triumph and the dealer together to sort this out, the dealer may not be doing some things as he may think triumph may not support warranty wise, just a thought.

If you get the problem resolved, you'll love your bike.

Good luck
HOOPLA

Dangermouse

These are all good suggestions -- thanks.

They said that after they replace the head bearing, if the problem persists they will start looking at the forks. It's a new bike, though -- I really can't imagine that's the issue, but of course it's possible.

The thing that's bugging me is that I HAD a motorcycle, then I spent a lot of money, and now I DON'T have a motorcycle. Translation: this has ruined my summer vacation plans. We were planning on a road trip to a couple of bed and breakfasts. Now we'll be driving in a cage. Blech.

The thing about the front end theories is that I **think** (read: I'm not sure) that front end problems would cause a rattle or a shake, especially upon deceleration. This isn't only on decel -- you can feel very strongly accelerating on turns. And it doesn't feel rattley -- it feels like an osscilation. My gut and whatever physics I remember tells me that the problem is in the back wheel -- and that it's manifesting in the only part of the bike with a hinge; the head. I suspect it wants to go a little off-center because the wheels aren't true to each other and that it snaps back in the head because there's nothing else to give. That's only a hunch.

But they have measured to make sure the rear wheel is mounted true to the frame. Problem is, what if they are aligning it to something that isn't straight? Don't the frames go all the way from Hinckley to Thailand? Could there have been a shipping issuse that bent the frame slightly? Maybe, right?

It's just really, really frustrating that I've only had the bike a month and it's been in the shop half that time. A good percentage of the miles on it have been back and forth to the garage.

And yeah, the dealer seems to be acting like they are going to have trouble getting Triumph to pay for warranty work. I did some user-group searching about initial quality issues and apparently Triumph, though well liked by their customers, did apparently have issues (at least early in the 2000's) with warrany claims.

We'll see. I suspect that I won't have the bike until August at the rate this is going. Of course I get the honor of paying for it all summer. Oy vey.

And the funny thing is, I was totally ready to be a 100% company man with Triumph. I was buying t-shirts and riding gear from Triumph -- I've been going through all the aftermarket stuff trying to decide which things I'm going to be doing. I was totally prepared to be an enthusiast. Heck, I wouldn't know about this board unless I was really excited about this bike. And there IS a lot to be excited about. The engine is fantastic (so far, knock on wood). Of course it's just a gorgeous bike, too.

We'll just see.

Skull Crusher

It's kind of hard for me to have any sympathy for someone that didn't check the bike out he was buying and find this before it was purchased (Caveat emptor).

The headshake or wobble is generally rider induced especially in turns. Body transitions, handlebar movements, quick transactional changes, all lead to headshake or wobble. I can get any bike to wobble or headshake with these movements, I don't care how stiff the chassis is. I to admit that wheels out of alignment, improper suspension setting, misaligned forks, untrued rear wheel, bad rubber will aggravate the problem, but most is rider induced and especially not a problem with a tweaked frame. This would mean that the frame gig was out of alignment and would effect more than just your bike. Relationship between the steering head and the frame can be out as much as 5% and not cause a problem with wobble. So the likelyhood of a tweaked frame is pretty remote.

What you need to do first, is ask yourself if you set the suspension up correctly for yourself and your weight? Do you pull on the bars alot? Have you taken the time to check the wheel alignment? These are just some of the tendancies we as riders forget to do or not do. Have you had the fluid level checked in the forks? Remember, this is a single spar frame not a twin spar, so it's more sensitive to rider input. It's inherent with this style frame. It comes mainly from torsional movement which we apply from too quick a movement, road irregularities, improper suspension adjustments and wheel settings.

I had a similar minor wobble in the front end and after all the adjustment and tweaks a steering damper and fork brace cured the problem. IE., rider induced.

What bothers me is you've taken to two different dealers. You didn't give the first dealer the chance to isolate the problem and repair it. You aggravated the situation when you took the bike to another dealer that you didn't purchase it from. Most dealers, will not give their best efforts to someone that purchased the bike from one dealer and then expects still another dealer to repair a problem.

Infact as human nature goes, I wouldn't doubt, judgeing by your response here, that you spoke quite badly about the first dealer to the second dealer,because they didn't solve the problem, but we haven't heard both sides of the story about the first dealer and they aren't here to defend themselves, now are they!! In any case, this never helps, dealers generally don't like problem customers and especially problem customers with nothing but warranty work.

It takes time to find problems of this nature and in the mean time they have to dedicate a mechanic to your issue. This usually means that other paying customer must wait. So they expect some patience from their customers. By all indications you've not given them this patience or time. Doesn't make it right but that's the way it works.

The dealership makes no money on warranty work, period! Usually, they are paid in parts credits only. So warranty work, especially what your describing, takes a back seat to paying customers. Dealerships don't stay alive on warranty work! The dealership usually loses money on the warranty work, this is why they offer a maintenance program when you first purchase the bike. I'm not saying this is good or bad but with shop rates a $65.00 an hour + these days, it's something to consider. Customer loyality is important to a dealership, primarily because they look at you as a steady customer and income. When you jump ship and take it to another dealer and they find out about it, the next dealer is generally less apt to go out of their way to assist you. Believe me, they know which bike serial numbers have been allocated to what dealer and can readily find it on the computer. I wouldn't doubt they probably corresponded with the other dealership to find out what was done there, so they wouldn't have to duplicate the work.

All things considered, you came to this forum not to support or show loyality but to voice your personal and total displeasure with your choice, without letting Triumph solve the problem. Customer loyality doesn't mean buying tee shirts, riding gear etc.! You either are and enthusiast or your not! Anyone can by the Tee Shirts and accessories. It's about being favorable of the product even when you are having problems or honoring it's exsistance and heritage. Joining Triumph groups and displaying the product to potential customers "as your personal choice". Riding togather as a cohesive organization, giving of your time and patience etc. Enjoying the bike for what it is, not what it isn't (a Yamaha). If you are so easily ready to give up on Triumph after so little personal input, then I would suggest that you stay with the rice burner, you'll probally be much happier and Triumph will probally be also!!!

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Quote by Dangermouse:

And the funny thing is, I was totally ready to be a 100% company man with Triumph. I was buying t-shirts and riding gear from Triumph -- I've been going through all the aftermarket stuff trying to decide which things I'm going to be doing. I was totally prepared to be an enthusiast. Heck, I wouldn't know about this board unless I was really excited about this bike. And there IS a lot to be excited about. The engine is fantastic (so far, knock on wood). Of course it's just a gorgeous bike, too.

We'll just see.

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If this is what it takes for you to be loyal to Triumph, then it isn't ever going to happen!! As with the old Triumphs and their problems with leaking oil, carb problems just to name a few, you'd have never been Triumph Loyalist!! Funny thing is there are plenty of members here who still have one and still try to find one!! Now that's loyalty man!!!

Now, if you'd have come here and calmly dicussed your problem as part of the forum and asked for assistance instead of displaying your total displeasure with Triumph, then maybe you would have add a little validity to your situation.

As it stands, I personally hate whinners who won't take the time to work through a problem but are quick to blame (Triumph in this case) without letting or helping them solve it adquately to your satisfaction. All of us spent well over 8 grand and some way more than that so we are all in the same boat here and that's not in play!!! It's hillarious that you're the only one here I've read, that has such a grave dislike for something you personally chose of your own free will!!!

Yea, I've already ready the part of the thread about you wanting to envoke the "lemon law!", which is more of you showing us that you have no loyality towards, Triumph!!

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Quote from Dangermouse:

"From where I'm sitting right now, I would never buy another Triumph product in my life. I feel like I've been taken advantage of."

"Good luck, y'all. From my experience, you just might need it."

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I support Triumph and this forum with my loyality, time, money and efforts. Looking to share answers to problems, loves, likes and dislikes in a manner which is suitable for all others that support the product and it's heritage. If you don't want to do this then why not go elsewhere. This kind of idol banterring has no place here and is not warranted!! You might as well go find a Yamaha forum and badmouth the Triumph there, cause it's not appreciated here!!!!


With this said, I'd appreciate the moderater closing this thread so we don't have to listen to anymore of your ill will towards a motorcycle that we really love!!!

Cheers

Jeff

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"Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither.

Jimi_X

OK, Hold the bus,... We need some things clarified,...Did the dealer replaced "both" front and back wheels at the same time? Did they let you ride the other Thrux to test it? Did they put your wheels on the other Thrux and test ride it? This isn't that difficult to solve, especially if it shakes as bad as you described.