T120 got towed (parked illegally) - side stand is broken

986 Views 25 Replies 17 Participants Last post by Windingroad, 5 d ago

eurochien

Discussion Starter · 15 d ago (Edited)

2

I went to a show down in Denver the other evening and parked my 2017 T120 illegally, tucked away in a corner of a private lot (there are signs that I chose to ignore - I won't do that again) - for you Denverites I'm talking about the Wendy's lot on Colfax. I rested the bike on the side stand, locked the steering and went to see the show. When I got out a few hours later the bike was gone, I figured it was either stolen or towed. Called the towing company that's posted on the parking lot signs but all I had with me was the VIN (couldn't remember my plate #) so they said they didn't have it.
Took a cab home $$ and quickly found through an Internet search using my plate # that my bike had been towed to a facility north of town. The next day I take a cab $$ up to the facility (nasty, nasty place), pay my fee and walk to where my bike is, look it around for obvious damage/signs of being dropped, which I do not see. Then I sit on the bike, insert the key in the ignition to unlock the steering, straighten the bike up and pull up the side stand. It feels extremely loose. I put it back down, then back up and as I look down I see that the spring is basically detached from the stand's lower leg (there should be a tab/hook, but it's broken off!), but still attached to the top end of the stand. And then I notice that one end of the spring looks completely twisted, mangled and overextended.

So the towing company brutalized that bike to lift/transport it to their facility to the point that I can't ride it out of the lot. They do not allow repairs on premises (honestly I wouldn't want to work on my bike there, this is as close to a prison yard as I want to be). The cab was waiting for me so I took the cab home $$ and filed a damage claim with them, as well as with my insurance company. I'm not sure what to do now, these people charge a daily fee and they're not exactly motivated by doing the right thing. I don't want this to drag on and on, I want the bike out of there and fixed so the other option is to call my dealer and ride with them to the towing lot and get my bike the hell out of there but at what cost? I have a feeling that if I do that, the towing company will wash their hands of the whole thing and I'll be out several hundreds of dollars. I also wonder what kind of unseen damage they might have done to that great bike.
Anybody have any suggestion? Thanks

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doxbike

· #2 · 14 d ago

I think you answered your own question, parked illegally, they get to move it how they want. Get it out of there by whatever means and get it fixed. a few hundred $ loss is to be expected

Reactions: 4

FLY-TRI-GUY

· #3 · 14 d ago

I am familiar with shady tow yards, get your bike out of there asap And let your uninsured motorist policy cover it……FTG

Reactions: 3

nnervous

· #4 · 14 d ago

If the frame mount is undamaged, not cracked bent or broken, you’re in for a replacement stand and some springs. Maybe the mounting hardware. Not great but that’s the situation. If the mount has issues things get more complicated.
No center stand?

eurochien

Discussion Starter · #5 · 14 d ago

nnervous said:
If the frame mount is undamaged, not cracked bent or broken, you’re in for a replacement stand and some springs. Maybe the mounting hardware. Not great but that’s the situation. If the mount has issues things get more complicated.
No center stand?

On a 2017 T120 the center stand came stock. No idea if there's damage to the mount. The whole side stand assembly itself looks like it's under $ 100.00 so that's not terrible, the real issue is to get it out of that horrible tow lot (can't ride it with the stand in the down position obviously) AND have those scumbags be accountable for what they did. Sounds like I need to just cut my losses before they get even worse. That's just revolting. 25% of ALL Denver Better Business Bureau towing complaints are with this particular company.

Reactions: 2

nnervous

· #6 · 14 d ago

eurochien said:
On a 2017 T120 the center stand came stock. No idea if there's damage to the mount. The whole side stand assembly itself looks like it's under $ 100.00 so that's not terrible, the real issue is to get it out of that horrible tow lot (can't ride it with the stand in the down position obviously) AND have those scumbags be accountable for what they did. Sounds like I need to just cut my losses before they get even worse. That's just revolting. 25% of ALL Denver Better Business Bureau towing complaints are with this particular company.

Can you just zip tie or bungee the stand up in the short term? Use the center stand to hold things up. Does it run? The side stand switch could be an issue as well.

Reactions: 5

eurochien

Discussion Starter · #7 · 14 d ago

nnervous said:
Can you just zip tie or bungee the stand up in the short term? Use the center stand to hold things up. Does it run? The side stand switch could be an issue as well.

Not sure if zip tieing or bungeeing the stand that close to a hot pipe would last more than 1/2 mile before it melts off? I did think about it, but ultimately jerry-rigging a bike that way doesn't sound safe to me. I'd have to ride that bike on the highway for 10 + miles to take it to the dealer or 25 miles to my place. Too risky.

JimBoy

· #8 · 14 d ago

How hard can this be? Zip tying it or wiring it on is cheap and quick, and will last without melting. Buy 10 zip ties and put them all on, buy a roll of wire to wrap it securely, (take a wrench with you and take the stand off. Lots of options. 10+ miles is only minutes.

Reactions: 5

eurochien

Discussion Starter · #9 · 14 d ago

JimBoy said:
How hard can this be? Zip tying it or wiring it on is cheap and quick, and will last without melting. Buy 10 zip ties and put them all on, buy a roll of wire to wrap it securely, (take a wrench with you and take the stand off. Lots of options. 10+ miles is only minutes.

It's not a question of DIFFICULTY it's a question of SAFETY.

lopsided

· #10 · 14 d ago

GET IT OUT OF THERE ASAP. Grab a handful of large zip ties (preferred) at an auto supply or hardware store to make it rideable out, that's not really a repair so just do it there. Or if you really think they can melt, bring some wire?

T2084013 is the part number you need, should be around $100 USD. T3500210 is a $2 circlip that the service manual says you should replace during the reinstallation. T2202513 is the exhaust gasket you will need if you want to follow the book to the letter, as you need to remove the intermediate pipe to gain access and that is the exhaust gasket ($8) that they recommend you replace.

Should not be a hard fix, it's cheaper and quicker to do it on your own. Once you zip tie the side stand (and remove and save the spring for the later fix) securely you can ride around indefinitely just using your center stand while you park.

Once you get the parts subscribe to triumphtechnicalinformation.com for one month to see the full uninstall/reinstall procedure ($8 a month, can cancel after a week or whatever you need)

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Reactions: 4

tahtye

· #11 · 14 d ago

eurochien said:
It's not a question of DIFFICULTY it's a question of SAFETY.

If you don’t think JimBoy’s recommendation is safe enough, maybe you could have someone weld it in? Just make sure the magnet gets lined up…

xorbe

· #12 · 14 d ago

Get it out of the lot ASAP whatever it takes. Towing companies are predatory af, probably intentionally broke your stand to get an extra day out of you. Take wire and zip ties and bandaid it and get it the f out of that lot. You're lucky they didn't just push your bike over and drag it onto the truck bed on its side.

Reactions: 5

Jkeg

· #13 · 14 d ago

I would be getting the bike out of there asap too. Zip ties or wire to hold the stand up. If you are worried they might melt you can get stainless steel zip ties like they use on exhaust wrap.

Reactions: 3

D-Johnstone

· #14 · 14 d ago

Wire and zip tie stand up …. too easy! Repaired many a muff in my day … with baling wire! Ride on!

Reactions: 1

Terry Colley

· #15 · 14 d ago

Sorry mate but heck, talk about making a 🗻out of a molehill.

Reactions: 4

Enoch

· #16 · 14 d ago

Just push the bike out of the lot and remove the stand at the side of the road..ride home.

Reactions: 5

DavidinClearwat

· #17 · 14 d ago (Edited)

Definitely like all others stated, get it out of the lot ASAP. The fees will add up quickly

Reactions: 3

FLY-TRI-GUY

· #18 · 14 d ago

Is there a gas station close by or a safe lot or store close by u can put the bike and get someone to pick it up for u.
If anyone is familiar with S.J. , Ca.” City Tow “yards they were the shadiest. Years ago They had the contract for all cop calls for bike tows went to them and u couldn’t get them out until all your bike legal issues or fines or court appearance were straightened out. Back then they didn’t have the mandatory 30 impound yet. Then eventually they did impose the automatic 30 day impound so the tow yard could make some extra bucks out of your wallet too And after 30 days u didn’t pick up the bike it would go to auction.
They would steel stuff off bikes and cars and never take fault, they damaged my wind screen and broke a mirror from the tow, I did nail them for that and got compensated.
BUT here’s the biggest scam the police had with the tow yard.
Cops that were motorcycle Ryders would scope out sweet bikes and pull them over knowing there would always b something they could find a reason To tow them.
then once the bike was at the yard after the automatic 30 day impound was over they had deals with the tow yard to buy the bikes for themselfs before going through the auction process. Talk about shady, and this is the absolute truth.
Get your bike out right away My man even if u have to push it out of there…..FTG

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Reactions: 4

ClassicVW

· #19 · 14 d ago

Jesus man, you want to get it out so zip tie it and you’ll be down the road somewhere to either rig it a little better or get it towed out from that spot before the pipes get too hot.

Or, Why not get a metal hose clamp of the proper diameter and use that to get you home? It won’t melt.

Reactions: 1

eurochien

Discussion Starter · #20 · 14 d ago (Edited)

OK thanks y'all, heading up there this morning with another taxi cab $$, got zip ties and wire.
Done, got it home.

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