Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Broken nipples anyone!?

Usually look the bike over every few days for potential probs but have been a bit remiss in my duties lately so since we have what appears to be a good stretch of nice weather coming I decided to give it a going over. Everything looking good till I go to put air in the tires.... at first I didn't know what I was looking at, was looking for the valve stem and I thought it was snapped off.. No, there it is....what the?! Found one of the nipples for the spokes sheared off flush with the rim. The spoke that let go was jammed into the rim about a quarter of inch forward. Thinking how bad does this suck, I look the whole wheel over and find ANOTHER!!
Any of you come across this yet? I'm still under warranty, suppose this applies? Took the handle of my screwdriver and played a little tune on all of them and all the rest of the spokes, front and rear seem fine but I just find it really odd that two would shear off like that.

Steve

OK, you know a title like that is gonna' get some kind of response. Who doesn't like a good nipple?

I haven't seen anything like that on my bike. I am certainly gonna' take a look now. Thanks for scaring the shite out of me. Not like I have enough to worry about as it is. Ahh, I'll just relax and have a homebrew! Maybe I'll think about nipples while I'm at it.

Sounds like a warranty issue to me. I remember reading about a broken spokes on a Tbird once- guy was on a road trip- checked the rest of them, finished his trip and then went to the dealer. Can you lift up the offending wheel and spin it to check if the wheel is straight? Just wondering if you whacked on of those city potholes?

nipples... huh, huh, he said nipples....

You mean you have not yet bought your heated "nipple covers " from Brent. Look like pasties complete with the Union Jack emblazoned on em.

Sometimes hitting a hard bump will blow a spoke. I don't suppose you have any potholes there in Chi-town, do you?

Cody

It seems to be a huge problem for the standard Bonnie guys. They are constantly complainng and reporting broken spokes over in the NTBF. It seems Triumph is well aware of the issue, and with a little nice schmoozing, one can get them replaced for free even if the bike is out of warranty.

Check your spokes!

Well talked to the dealer today and am taking it in Saturday but they tell me it will be a few days before I can get it back. Potholes?! Here?! Have to tell you I wished in a way that I had hit a pothole, wouldn't even think twice about the busted nipple. After 20 some years of riding in the city I have developed a third eye that only looks for potholes as well as the flying plastic grocery bag. Haven't hit anything even close to a pothole in ages and definitely not with this bike.
Heated nipple covers? Does that just splice into the wiring somewhere or do I need the accessory plug? hehe

Steve

No, but I got drunk one time and a fat girl..........
never mind.