Made a mistake, now sanity prevails

[FJR Bill]

Too bad you had all these problems with the Trophy Ken. Unfortunately, not the first time these problems have surfaced on the Trophy and Explorer.
Good luck with the new ES!

--G

Even the Trophy's vintage around 1999 had stalling problems.The bike would just quit when it got hot. Seems it's not one of Triumph's best models for reliability. Good luck mate (Aussie speak) with the FJR, hopefully no issues.

Bill

 

[Fred W]

Too bad you had all these problems with the Trophy Ken. Unfortunately, not the first time these problems have surfaced on the Trophy and Explorer.
Good luck with the new ES!

--G

Even the Trophy's vintage around 1999 had stalling problems.The bike would just quit when it got hot. Seems it's not one of Triumph's best models for reliability. Good luck mate (Aussie speak) with the FJR, hopefully no issues.

Bill

That was part of the Brit Electrics problems. I too had a Hinkley Triumph Trophy, a 2001 900. The bike was beautiful to my eye, and the triple cylinder engine was visceral for a 900 in a relatively heavy chassis. The ignition coils they used in that era were crap. I replaced the three of them with aftermarket (at considerable expense) and changed the pilot jets up a couple of sizes, and the bike ran beautifully. Except it was the hottest bike I've ever ridden in the summer months. Take note here: I own and love my 1stgen FJR. It is a cool customer compared to that Triumph.

Welcome back to the fold Q Ken. :thumbsup:

 

[Queensland Ken]

Thanks Fred,

I have never left, still have my 07, sooner or later it too will find another owner.

 

[Queensland Ken]

The first of the Aussie 2014 E's is on it's way to the dealers today, I hope ?

I returned his missed calls yesterday when I was still whacked out in the recovery room at theaters.

I can't remember too much of the conversation.
I may have to totally embarrass myself and ring him again this afternoon.

Not sure if it arrives tomorrow or Monday, either way it's a 500km ride there and the Weather Gods aren't looking too kind at the moment.

Apparently the panniers can arrive a few days after the bike, so I'll time the ride for when they are there.

If the weather still crook next week, I'll ask the to assemble the bike, so long as they take some pics.

 

[BkerChuck]

Triumph ran through a batch of defective coils back around 2000-2002 here in the states. Dealership I work for at that time was a Triumph dealer. There was a recall on them and it turned out the replacement coils we'd been issued were just as crappy as the originals. Drove our techs nuts for awhile putting on new parts and the problem got worse. They started bench testing them before even doing any installs after that. Not much fun telling customers we couldn't fix their bikes until new parts arrived from manufacturer. I don't know how Triumph is now but back then their dealer support was terrible. I still like the bikes and enjoyed riding them but would never have bought one after seeing my side of the parts counter and the trouble we had.

 

[Biquer]

I've owned a few Triumphs, old and new. Currently I have a T100 Bonneville. I've had it a few years with no problems whatsoever.

Now, if you want a long list of failures and problems I'll tell you about my BMWs!

Joe.

 

[Ed Sidders]

My 79 T140E has some serious problems , have to change tires about every 7 years.......now on second chain and sprockets....

 

[Queensland Ken]

The Trophy may well turn out to be a good bike....... but I'm running out of time.

My Chrohns will finally nail me and I'd rather stick with a far more reliable bike that I already know.

Riding the Trophy a few thousand kms from home wondering when the gear lever will break or what the next recall will be ?

 

[FJRRider08]

The story my buddy is going through with his Explorer:

On another topic, while the Explorer is a great bike when everything is working properly I feel that Triumph has overshot their limitations with the Explorer and certainly the Trophy. Since the ECM swap under the Triumph recall the bike has developed a couple of serious flat spots the the fueling. One just off idle, which has been driving me nuts, and another one just under 4k RPMs. I don't know if its a mapping issue or what but before the ECM swap the fueling was perfectly linear with no flat spots or surges anywhere. Also, at just under 2 years and just over 10k miles the centerstand is seriously starting to rust out. 10 plus years on my 2001 Sprint and absolutely no rust on the centerstand and perfect fueling. ****, if Triumph could do it 13 years ago on a bike that cost me just under $10k why can't they do it now? This Explorer cost me more than any non-Harley motorcycle I have ever bought and it's spent the most time in the shop!

 

[palerider]

Looks like I have ordered the first Aussie 2014 out of the container.
Short story is that on the last day of 2013, I bought a 2013 Trophy SE

I wanted more of a touring bike with some creature comforts, esp the electronic suspension. (mainly for my post-op gut operations)

It really is a good touring machine, great fuelling, fantastic MPG good slushy suspension for our great roads over here.

But as with some 1st generation of bikes, the list of little niggling problems are raising their head.

Started off that Triumph Australia said my bike had the centre stand recall done, to stop the bike overextending the stand, it hadn't.

My bike wasn't idling properly and stalling out when coming to a stop, the local dealer could only book me in in a few weeks time.

I was soo pissed off, I pulled the plastics off the bike, only to find the throttle bodies had blown off the manifold.

It was the prelude to the ECU recall, electrical interference on the ECM caused the engine to backfire and blow off the throttle bodies.

And the dealer sold me the bike running like that, I didn't know any better, having never ridden a big 3 cylinder.

Most of my travelling is all highway Kms.

To top it off there is a service bulletin to do with the upper valve train. If the owner think the motor is noisy, which mine is, take it to a dealer and let them decide if the top end needs replacing. The local dealership has just lost it's Triumph dealership status and Triumph Australia hasn't returned my calls

Now the forks are leaking.

Just what you expect for a new bike, NOT !!!

Now there's reports of the gear lever pivot bolt breaking where the thread enters the frame.

The lever pivots on a shank of a bolt, nothing else, the entire weight of your foot is taken by the bolts thread as it enters the frame. You have to remove the part of the support for the sub-frame to access it the pivot, then try to easy out the thread.

The real scary thing is that the rear brake pedal has the same arrangement.

And don't talk to me about maintaining the bike, it takes about 4 hours just to remove the plastics to get to the air filter & plugs.

Don't even want to contemplate doing a valve check or drive splines.

So I finally contacted Yamahaha Australia and it was confirmed that Yamaha isn't importing the ES into Australia.

I found a dealer in NSW that sells Triumphs and Yamahahahah's and have done a deal on a 2014.

The first shipment of 2014's went to selected dealers a few weeks ago and my bike is the first out of the next container.

I'm happy with the deal and to get rid of the Trophy.

I will be de-farkleing my 07 as well, installing the accessories that will fit the Gen 3 and then selling my old girl.

Sanity prevails

Wow. What a sad story. But with a happy ending.

 

[Queensland Ken]

I will not be sad for much longer, could well be riding to the dealer today if there isn't another recall on the Trophy lol lol lol

Weather Gods look good, just hope the panniers have arrived as well.

The panniers come through a different supply chain for some reason ?

 

[Queensland Ken]

Bike is there, the dealer is making esquires about the panniers.

I said to do the predelivery without me and to take some pics.

They are just as excited to have a Gen 3 E as me lol lol

 

[FJRRider08]

 

[SoCalFJR1300]

I had a 2009 Street Triple which I ended up trading for my FJR. The Triumph had lots of problems such as:
Defective Regulator Rectifier

Blown Stator

Defective Water Pump

Lost confidence and much happier with the FJR now

When I had my new 2006 Triumph Sprint ST1050 I used to go to the Triumph Rat Board a lot. (forum)

There were a lot of complaints about "no start" electrical issues with the Speed Triples. (2006-2008)

A riding bud had a 2007 and first a piston broke at about 4,000 miles and they tried to say he ran it low on oil....he didn't. (guy is in his 60's and been riding all his life)

Finally fixed it under warranty after he called Triumph and fought with the dealer.

Then it developed the "no start" problem......totally dead bike.

Dealer had it for months and couldn't find the problem, he told them he wanted his money back. They offered him a new bike but he said no the attitude of the dealer sucked and he wasn't taking a chance, he wanted a refund.

Dealer and Triumph said no, so he got a lawyer....couple months later he got a refund check from the dealer.

I also had a lot of issues with my 2006 Sprint, that's why I traded it in for my 2007 Suzuki Bandit1250.....not ONE problem in 40,000 miles, great all around bike.

Motor on the Sprint was very smooth and vibe free, best thing about the bike.

 

[Queensland Ken]

 

[SunRider]

BIG TRIUMPH QUESTION FOR THE FORUM:Is this typical of Triumphs? I know nothing of the reliability of their newer machines. I've got several friends considering Triumphs. Ya gotta admit, the specs and the pics are impressibe: the question is, HOW'S THE RELIABILITY? Time to weigh in here, fellas.

Gary

darksider #44

My buddy in FL loves his '14 Daytona 675, but it has been in the shop repeatedly for oil and coolant leaks.

New model year teathing problems, it appears.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Tease!

--G

 

[eatpasta]

To top it off there is a service bulletin to do with the upper valve train. If the owner think the motor is noisy, which mine is, take it to a dealer and let them decide if the top end needs replacing. The local dealership has just lost it's Triumph dealership status and Triumph Australia hasn't returned my calls

Holy crap that's a lot of problems on a new bike..... and that's the really strange thing is that these motors are not new things for Triumph.

I absolutely love my Speed Triple and *kncok wood* havent had any issues with it in a few years - and I havent exactly been easy on the old girl either.

Glad to hear that you're getting out from under that lemon of a bike!

 

[eatpasta]

I had a 2009 Street Triple which I ended up trading for my FJR. The Triumph had lots of problems such as:
Defective Regulator Rectifier

Blown Stator

Defective Water Pump

Lost confidence and much happier with the FJR now

There were a lot of complaints about "no start" electrical issues with the Speed Triples. (2006-2008)

Motor on the Sprint was very smooth and vibe free, best thing about the bike.

I have heard some of the newer ones have some issues.....I love mine. Love. It's the single most exciting motorcycle I have ever owned. The motor is incredible - the power the SOUND

My bucket list contians ordering a new bike and watching it being uncrated! This is awesome!

 

[Queensland Ken]

Have the suspension set for Slushmatic, see how kind it is for my guts on the ride back home.

The dealer even swapped out the BT023's to the Angel GT;s for me, pays to ride the kms to find a good dealer.