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57 Posts
All-
Im at the point where i want to sell my bike, so if the GURU's could read this, i know its long, i would REALLY appreciate it-
I need your expertise. Please dont be freaked out by the length of my post - This all started this past fall when i took my bike in for an inspection and tire change. I dropped it off, and picked it up with a new set of tires (only had 6000 miles, but the rear was worn and the front had a flat spot) and a fresh inspection sticker. This is where it all starts.
As i left the dealership, i thought the ride felt "rougher" than when i dropped it off, but i attributed it to fresh stiff tires. My bike came with the Lasertech / MEZ2 combo, and it was initially replaced with the Bridgestone Battlaxe combo. After getting the bike on some smooth roads, i realized that something wasnt right. I thought for sure the tire balance was the culprit. The problem i was feeling was an up and down oscillation, or vibration, that would come and go on about a 5 second period at 50 mph. 5 seconds would pass, then the seat would vibrate, then the handgrips, then the mirrors, then it stops. After 5 seconds goes by again, it starts again in the seat.
This problem is COMPLETELY speed dependent and does not change at all with RPM. You can put the bike in neutral, shut it completely off, and roll dowhill at 50 mph and feel it very clearly.
So i take it back to the dealer, and they tell me my rims arent true. They are outside of the factory spec. They true'd my wheels after two different visits to the dealer. This didnt fix it. Then they replaced the tires with another set of Bridgestones. No change. Then the swapped my wheels / tires out with a factory set. This made it better, but it was really hard for me to evaluate because they would only let me drive around the block with the showroom wheels.
Next they switched to Pirelli sport demons, and it is better now than it has been so far, but at typical tire pressures, it is still very evident. If i reduce the pressures to about 32f 33r it gets better, but is still noticable.
The dealership supposedly had triumph ship a new set of wheels to try, but was informed that if they installed the wheels on the bike and sent my wheels back, and no problem was found with my stock wheels, that the dealership would be backcharged 3000 dollars for the new wheels. They wouldnt do anything with these wheels because they didnt want the chance of getting stuck with the bill.
Finally, aggravated, i picked up my bike along with a letter from the dealership stating basically that they feel they are returning to me a bike which has vibrations typical of any bonneville, and to them is perfectly adequate.
My bike rode smooth as glass before i dropped it off, even with the worn tires. Now it does not. I must say, however, through all this i still only paid for 2 tires and an inspection. I get the impression they tried, but just couldnt get it.
NOW, i basically didnt ride for the rest of the season because riding and feeling this vibration pissed me off so much, it wasnt even fun anymore.
Regardless i had some winter mods planned, and moved forward over the winter. I completely disassembled the rear end, checked every bushing, ditched the airbox, and reinstalled everything. I also pulled the front forks to install gaiters, made sure everything was torqued properly, adjustted the steering head bearing, etc. I see no MAJOR runout (radial or axial) in either rim.
Cliff notes:
Bike vibrated up and down at speed. Worst is about 55 mph or so. This vibration starts in the seat, moves to the bars, and finishes in the mirrors. It is a cyclic type vibration, speed dependant, irrevelant of engine, and is about a 5 second repeating cycle.
Bike tracks well and has absolutely no tendency to bar wobble (left to right) at all. With the throttle locked at 55mph, i can completely let go of the bars and the bike tracks straight and true, absolutely NO bar shake side to side at all. Only this up and down hopping feeling.
Things that have been done / checked :
two sets of bridgestones and 1 set of sport demons
wheels trued
wheel bearings inspected
rear end disassembled, inspected, reassembled to proper torque
front end same
steering head bearing adjustment
double check wheel balance.
Im COMPLETELY out of ideas. This wasnt like this before, and it is now, and its killing me.
Its gotten me to the point that i want to trade it on a Concourse 14. I absolutely love this bike though, i love the style, and i used to like how it road.
PLEASE HELP ME!!:??!??!?
I REALLY appreciate your help-
Thanks guys-
Brian
Im at the point where i want to sell my bike, so if the GURU's could read this, i know its long, i would REALLY appreciate it-
I need your expertise. Please dont be freaked out by the length of my post - This all started this past fall when i took my bike in for an inspection and tire change. I dropped it off, and picked it up with a new set of tires (only had 6000 miles, but the rear was worn and the front had a flat spot) and a fresh inspection sticker. This is where it all starts.
As i left the dealership, i thought the ride felt "rougher" than when i dropped it off, but i attributed it to fresh stiff tires. My bike came with the Lasertech / MEZ2 combo, and it was initially replaced with the Bridgestone Battlaxe combo. After getting the bike on some smooth roads, i realized that something wasnt right. I thought for sure the tire balance was the culprit. The problem i was feeling was an up and down oscillation, or vibration, that would come and go on about a 5 second period at 50 mph. 5 seconds would pass, then the seat would vibrate, then the handgrips, then the mirrors, then it stops. After 5 seconds goes by again, it starts again in the seat.
This problem is COMPLETELY speed dependent and does not change at all with RPM. You can put the bike in neutral, shut it completely off, and roll dowhill at 50 mph and feel it very clearly.
So i take it back to the dealer, and they tell me my rims arent true. They are outside of the factory spec. They true'd my wheels after two different visits to the dealer. This didnt fix it. Then they replaced the tires with another set of Bridgestones. No change. Then the swapped my wheels / tires out with a factory set. This made it better, but it was really hard for me to evaluate because they would only let me drive around the block with the showroom wheels.
Next they switched to Pirelli sport demons, and it is better now than it has been so far, but at typical tire pressures, it is still very evident. If i reduce the pressures to about 32f 33r it gets better, but is still noticable.
The dealership supposedly had triumph ship a new set of wheels to try, but was informed that if they installed the wheels on the bike and sent my wheels back, and no problem was found with my stock wheels, that the dealership would be backcharged 3000 dollars for the new wheels. They wouldnt do anything with these wheels because they didnt want the chance of getting stuck with the bill.
Finally, aggravated, i picked up my bike along with a letter from the dealership stating basically that they feel they are returning to me a bike which has vibrations typical of any bonneville, and to them is perfectly adequate.
My bike rode smooth as glass before i dropped it off, even with the worn tires. Now it does not. I must say, however, through all this i still only paid for 2 tires and an inspection. I get the impression they tried, but just couldnt get it.
NOW, i basically didnt ride for the rest of the season because riding and feeling this vibration pissed me off so much, it wasnt even fun anymore.
Regardless i had some winter mods planned, and moved forward over the winter. I completely disassembled the rear end, checked every bushing, ditched the airbox, and reinstalled everything. I also pulled the front forks to install gaiters, made sure everything was torqued properly, adjustted the steering head bearing, etc. I see no MAJOR runout (radial or axial) in either rim.
Cliff notes:
Bike vibrated up and down at speed. Worst is about 55 mph or so. This vibration starts in the seat, moves to the bars, and finishes in the mirrors. It is a cyclic type vibration, speed dependant, irrevelant of engine, and is about a 5 second repeating cycle.
Bike tracks well and has absolutely no tendency to bar wobble (left to right) at all. With the throttle locked at 55mph, i can completely let go of the bars and the bike tracks straight and true, absolutely NO bar shake side to side at all. Only this up and down hopping feeling.
Things that have been done / checked :
two sets of bridgestones and 1 set of sport demons
wheels trued
wheel bearings inspected
rear end disassembled, inspected, reassembled to proper torque
front end same
steering head bearing adjustment
double check wheel balance.
Im COMPLETELY out of ideas. This wasnt like this before, and it is now, and its killing me.
Its gotten me to the point that i want to trade it on a Concourse 14. I absolutely love this bike though, i love the style, and i used to like how it road.
PLEASE HELP ME!!:??!??!?
I REALLY appreciate your help-
Thanks guys-
Brian