Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge My presentation, and a few questions...

Hi everyone!!!

I'm planning getting back into this exciting world of 2 wheels, or at least that's what I pretend...

I'll make you a quick run, and then the big question in order to get your wise advice.

As I've writting before in some Forums such as triumphrat and other spanish ones, in 2012 I bought a beautiful America of which I fell in love as soon I saw her. Unfortunately all the love I felt for her, has dissapeared as soon I've ridden her. As I said in several threads, the damn snatching, together with the constant stuttering between 2000 3000 RPM prevented me from enjoying this beauty at least at slow speeds. After taking her several times to the dealer's shop and getting the same answer over and over (it's the bike's normal behavior, nothing's wrong with her, bla bla bla), after blocking the SAI, removing the O2 sensor, fitting long TOR's pipes and remapping a thousand times the ECU, I got tired and decided to sell it, as the situation improved somewhat, but not entirely...

I've ridden other 2 Americas (both EFIs), and both have the same problem that I had in mine (even more obvious in 1 of them), so I can't say it's due the fact mine was faulty, but simply have to believe this is the usual character of these bikes.

I read many forums and everyone complains about the same. Many do not matter because they got used to it, others just don't notice it at all, but in my case (I came from a very ruthless bike), it was unbearable.

After that, I got a beautiful Tiger 800XC from which I can only tell good things, and a few months later, I sold her because I had other projects. Since then, it's been almost a year with no bike ... for now!

Well, after this brief introduction, I tell you I'm looking for carbureted Speedmasters or Americas, preferably the 865 cc version, although I wouldn't mind getting a 790 cc if she's in good condition.

After reading a lot, I'm planning having some mods on her. I intend to fit long high flow pipes (TORs were a great experience on my former America), block the infamous SAI, fit a high flow K&N air filter (or just pods), and rejet it with jets of about 140/45 (according to jets calculator), but it would be a matter of testing different combinations.

As I'd read, after these changes the carbureted SM/America, significantly improve rider experience, increasing power (this is not what I'm looking for) but most important, improving response at low REVs, being more docile and smooth with no snatching nor stuttering.

Alternatives such as Vulcan, Intruder or even HD, are not true options for me, as I'm still in love with these Triumph cruisers.

And here's the big pot question... Do you think if I get a carbureted SM/America would be able to fully enjoy riding it, or on the contrary, the fact that it's carbureted doesn't matter and bike's behavior would be pretty the same than EFI's and I should better forget them forever?

Thanks in advance and free beers for everyone!

Welcome to the site, and because i sit at a desk all day and frequent the site a bit i guess i will go first. Its to bad about your experience with the EFI model, i have heard the same complaint before but i was pretty certain people had figured out a work around for that, maybe i am wrong. If you enjoyed the bike otherwise you will enjoy the carbed model. Depending on the carb tune and the set up of the cables etc they can still be pretty glitchy, i have mine set up pretty sensitive like so if i hit a hard bump the bike will learch from time to time, but i can also dial it out if i want. I think you will like the carbed models just fine.

Forgot something. The only time i do not enjoy my bike as much is if i am travelling and changing elevations a great deal, then you end up dealing with the lien and rich mixtures from time to time. Otherwise its all good.

Thanks for your response, edmspeedmaster.

I'm riding almost all the time at sea level, so dealing with A/F mixture shouldn't be a problem.

The only downside I see, is the pretty lousy mileage a get with carbed SM/America comparing to EFI models. But I'm willing to accept that if snatching and stuttering completly dissapears.

Thanks again and hope you enjoy your desk woek!

Hello and welcome,
I test rode a 2005 carb and an EFI version America before I bought my carb 2007 and I did notice was a little hesitation/snatch with the EFI when in first gear at walking speed.I don't have it on my carb 2007.At least not that I'm aware of.The petrol mileage is lower than the EFI though.I was getting 20+ KPL before I did the air filter/re-jet and I get about 18KPL now.Less if I hammer it.I believe the EFIs get more.

I have a carb 2006 America and starting from a stand still, she pulls nice and evenly. No stutter. Also re-jetted and added long TORs. Don't know what the mileage is but I can do about 150 miles (240 km) on a full tank.

I ride an '03 carb 790. No issues at all. It's got TORs and has been rejetted (to what I can't remember). Otherwise it has a K&N air filter but that's about it. No issues at different elevations. Nothing but smooth running and flawless performance. Some say the 790 has better cams than the 865. I don't really know... I'm not that technical. Carbs present no problems for me. I have nothing negative to report other than I had to replace a coil once (so I replaced them both with Nology), and the stator went early on. Hope this helps.

Thank you people!
I'll keep you in touch and hope I could upload a few pics soon!
Cheers!

That's odd. May be an issue endemic with the EFI , mine is an 05 cared and has NO issues at all. No stuttering, sputtering or muttering.

Welcome, sorry your experience has been unpleasant with your EFI America. I also dealt with a snatchy throttle but I wonder about this,

Quote:

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As I said in several threads, the damn snatching, together with the constant stuttering between 2000 3000 RPM prevented me from enjoying this beauty at least at slow speeds. After taking her several times to the dealer's shop and getting the same answer over and over (it's the bike's normal behavior, nothing's wrong with her, bla bla bla), after blocking the SAI, removing the O2 sensor, fitting long TOR's pipes and remapping a thousand times the ECU, I got tired and decided to sell it, as the situation improved somewhat, but not entirely...

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I do not want to sound critical and maybe just a bit more information might help.
By "constant stuttering between 2000 3000 RPM" are you saying it stumbled as you would accelerate/decelerate through this range or were you trying to cruise at that RPM?
Just asking. That is a range I pass through from start and may re-enter on deceleration but would not hold constant throttle. Would feel like I was lugging the engine as being so far down on the power curve of the motor. May also be staying at or very near the open/closed throttle operation transition point with such small throttle opening making it far more of an EFI issue than for carbs.

These engines like the highers revs, shouldn't lug it down.

With this being said,

Quote:

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I like to travel at low REVs, and cuoldn't achieve this on my former America, unlike I had to shift down and rev a little more the engine to ride at low speeds, and I don't like this kind of behavior.
Thanks!

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Sounds like the Triumph America/Speedmaster may not be the model you need. If your below 3,000 RPM with this motor (bore & stroke type stuff) your in too high a gear and need to down shift. There are many good motorcycles out there and I'm sure you can find one. While Harley would be the most likely, there are other low revving motors from other brands.

Not having EFI I had no clue this was even happening. can be pretty annoying in traffic I suppose.

Cruising at 2000-3000 rpms?! That is way too low! Granted mine is a 2003 carbed model but these motors like to spin. I cruise around betweem 3500-4000 rpms and most of the time I don't even shift out of first until I hit 4000 rpms.

They like to spin high? I don't get that. My carb bikes are smooth at all ranges. I can ride in 1st all day at 2500.

So Triumph makes then have to be over 3k to run right? Seem like a pretty major waste of gas in high traffic cities.

my bike likes to sit in that 3-3500 range when crusing around the city, usually means third gear for 60 or so kph and it runs real well. 2500 would be to low and franky if you needed to get out of a spot in a hurry it would not be there for you without gearing down.