Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Reliability

Hello folks, I'm the new guy here although I'm a geezer.I'm
getting ready to part with my Vulcan 750(ugly but fast) and I have been thinking about replacing it with a used BA. So with that in mind I have been doing a lot of research over the past couple of weeks and I find this to be a good site.
However the more I read, the more tenative I become what with CDI problems, cams having to be removed in order to change shims, other bad electrical and sensor problems. I mean nostalgia is great but I don't want to go back to the Lucas days. Am I over reacting or are the machines an improvement over the old days. What do you all think about reliability issues? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

well I think if you go to any site simmilar to this you will hear the problems, What I mean is each time a cdi fails it will get posted and that could make it look like failures are common. All I can say is I have not run into any electrical gremlins...or any other gremlins thus far.

Welcome Dewars,
My 04 TBA has been 100% with nothing but routine maintenance. Much better then the '74 74" stupid glide I had back in 'the day'. always had to put something back on to get home.......

11,000 on mine and 6,500 on Wendys bike neither one of us have had a single problem.

My 2002 America is new to me, but both previous owners are longtime friends. For a documented 4 years, there's never been an issue which I can't say about the Honda I used to have.
I'll 2nd that any forum will have posts of issues that "some" people have, but I think that's the exception rather than the rule when it comes to Triumph.

Just my .02 cents.

I've found this Triumph to be the most reliable bike I've ever owned. I changed out 4 valve shims at 12,000 miles, not a major issue, replaced the chain twice, rear tire 4 times, front tire 3?. I checked the valves about a month ago, and had a exhaust valve clearance just out of tolerance, loose. I bought the bike new in 2003, and have close to 30,000 miles on her. I've never had her back in the shop for any work, never did any of the recalls, the Triumph dealer is just to far away. This bike is as close to plug and play as I've ever had. And what a joy she is to ride. I don't get the compliments most seem to get on this site, but that is because everyone here rides Harley's {mostly prison guards}. I think its great being different, but they don't see it that way. My other ride is a touring Yamaha, the Venture, which I bought to be different again, the only one I have seen up here too. I used to ride Harleys, until I did some time for practicing self medication. Had to change my life at that time and have never looked back. I found out there are some great bikes out here, British and Rice, and most have been easier to maintain then the Motor Company. You won't go wrong if you choose the Triumph. The reliability issue with these new generation bikes is no issue at all! Buy the bike that floats your boat...

No problems at all since I bought it Nov '03.

Out of the 2641 registered users here, I think I have only heard of four or five electrical problems that were because of faulty parts (like the CDI).

Soren

This prison guard has nothing but good things to say about my America. Although mine is almost brand new (3000 miles) I've had no issues, and having owned one of the more glitch-prone models (79' Bonneville 750) all I can say is these bikes are a vast improvement over past models. Everyone will encounter some problem or another sooner or later, but from what I've seen here, most are minor. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

3 years and 25,000 miles. No problems yet.

going into my 3rd year and have not had one problem and i have 17,000 miles. the valve adjustments are not that bad to do either

Frank

Currently my bike's for sale - but I don't know how interested I am in selling it - even though I bought a new one. Here's why. It's the most reliable scoot I've ever had (out of nearly 20). It just doesn't break.

The valve adjustment issue is nothin - I had mine done by the local Yamaha dealer (the Triumph guy is 5 hours away), set me back $150 and the bike runs super.

Easy to ride, great gas mileage (regular gas btw), handles great and its fast. What's not to like?

I've got 11,000 trouble free miles.

roadie

Everything can have problems, but as someone further up said, it's only those of us who yell the loudest about our faults are the one you'll hear. 95% have no problems.

Leonard, I noticed that you mentioned that you replaced the chain twice. Isn't that an unusually high amount? I ask because I am picking up my new TBA on Monday, and I have only had belt and shaft drive bikes in the past and have no experience with chains. I thought they lasted a long time, but I guess not. What does a chain do that lets you know it is time to replace it? Thanks.

A chain does normally last a very long time. Have to keep it adjusted and most important LUBED. It will also decrease the life of a chain if you ride dirt roads alot. The dirt acts as an abrasive.

Dewars, to date, over 23,000 miles on my '03 with the only 2 problems being a lens coming off for the neutral indicator, and a broken speedo cable. The cam/shim thing is just normal maintenance, yeah it would be "nice" not to do it, but on the flip side, it gives me a chance to take a peek inside my engine every 8000 or so miles, something I most certainly fear doing on my Volkswagen!!!
Fear not, take the plunge!

It's easy to see how many people visiting this site would get the wrong idea. One of the best functions of this site is getting input and help from problems or potential problems. So, it might appear there are a lot of problems.

Even though I have had a CDI replaced on warranty, this has been the most reliable bike I've ever owned (43 years). The overall record of these bikes is in the top percentile of reliability. The percentage of members with any problem is likely to be extremely low.

This site would get really useless (overwhelmed) if everyone wrote in constantly to say how great their bike was doing or how little or no problems they've had.

Where in SC are you? I have had my 04 for almost 4 years and it has been in the shop twice for other than oil changes. The first time I had to have the air box replaced and the second time some kids put dirt in my gas tank and I had to have every thing cleaned. I bought it new from the shop in Augusta Ga. But now use the dealer in Batesburg.

Over 11,000 miles and the only thing that broke was the speedo cable loop. I just cut off the loop and left the rest to plug the hole cause I got no problem with the cable being too close to the exaust. This bike is reliable.
I've changed tires,rear brakes and oil as regular maintance.

Minimal maintenance will get you 20,000 miles out of a chain. Some have gotten twice that by taking very good care of them. You can tell when they are worn because they tend to wear unevenly causing them to alternately tighten and loosen as they go around the sprockets. In turn, this causes the bike to rhythmically “surge.” When it first started on my first chain I thought I had engine problems. There is an aftermarket belt kit available through Brent that avoids that and will probably last 100,000 miles. But, it’s not cheap and manufacturing delays can be lengthy.

Since June of 2004, no problems on my '04 Speedmaster, and well over 30k miles now. I do my own maintenance, including checking the valve clearances, but so far mine have been within spec so no adjustment needed.

These bikes are easy to work on, and I enjoy doing on the bike what I uased to enjoy doing with my old 1965 Rambler Classic. Modern cars just do not allow most of us to work on them anymore, unless you are into NOPI Tunervision crap....

I have replaced both tires twice now, and changed out the chain and sprocket set once. The chain would have lasted longer had I maintained it better early on. As for the chain drive - get a Scott Oiler. Well worth the small expense, and easy to install. Once a new chain has been "rode in", it will not require a lot of adjustment afterwards as long as it is periodically cleaned and kept properly lubricated.

I made a $20 bike lift when I bought the bike, and it gets the rear wheel off the ground for easy working on a level bike (not leaned over on the side stand). I found the $20 bike lift link right here on this forum. Easy to build.

This forum is the best tool we could ever hope for. Everyone here seems genuinely interested in the other member's well being, and there are tons of useful information already archived for the do-it-yourselfers and troubleshooters. Something happens to one of us, and yes, we usually are going to post it here to get an opinion, and/or a solution. I doubt that you could find another similar forum for any other bike, that remains as active and healthy as this one is. This forum is a refuge for most of us that have been on here for any length of time, and hope it will be to the new owners as well. If I can't check in 2-3 times a week or more, I feel like I have missed something. The Photopost is also something I think we all look forward to checking frequently as well.

I never rode anything before, and this forum sold me on the Speedmaster (on TRIUMPH) when I was convinced that what I had to have was a HONDA VTX. There is a soul in these machines you will not find in most others. I have no regrets about my decision to buy the SM, and though I can appreciate other types of motorcycles now, and look forward to owning more, I could not conceive of parting with the SM ever. In fact, when considering most other motorcycles, other than off-road bikes, I can not justify buying another that would not do much better at anything than the SM already does.

Like the latest CYCLE WORLD article says:

"Aproachability and ease of use". That means you will do a lot more riding than you would on a heavy cruiser, and can have a heck of a lot more fun doing it.

Thanks all for your encouraging responses..with your positive input I'm going to give it a fling and try to locate a good used BA. Have had Honda, Yamaha and a couple of Kawas, and all have been reliable...it's a pretty good feeling when you have the confidence that your bike will get you back home. I'm glad to know that the BA and SM are not British Harleys. My locations are Richmond or Charleston.

The long and short is it is a mechanical device. At any point it can and some point will- fail.

All bike have issues- my Honda's (both) ended up with flat cams, Yamaha had starter issue, Concourse (Kawai) leaked oil from the input shaft of the shifter- every 10k miles need a reseal.

these appear to be grat bikes. Triumph ranks at the top in overall lowest operational costs. Mine is a yerar old. so far only the speedo cable has been as issue.

Wow like those comments...I think the fever is building !

Blackwind I have an old 9.50" lift from an old Honda, can you or anyone else tell me the ground clearance on the BA. If my old one won't work I could sure build one, maybe with some of my scrap lumber. I've always been intrigued by the Scott Oiler but have never ordered one..glad to hear it works.

Guitarted you couldn't be more right about mechanical
failure can and will happen at any time. If anyone wants proof.... take your wife out in a boat when an approaching storm comes up. Not the most pleasant experience.

By the way I'm a firm believer in the midsizes bikes, I guess I'm just to old to understand 2 liter 900lb motorcycles.

Thanks to all for your input and your welcomes.

Five years and 31,000 miles with only a couple problems that weren't due to changes I made. First the dreaded speedometer cable loop (easily fixed/replaced) and the rear brake light switch died and was replaced under warranty.

Whoops, I forgot: an evaporative control valve was replaced under warranty as well.

Glad I could help and welcome to the treehouse.

The second chain was totally my fault. I replaced the OEM with a much cheaper non o ring (racing) chain because I was told it would allow more horsepower to the wheel. I replaced it just before heading up to northern California for a 2000 mile ride. I thought I lubed it enough, as well as you can while sitting on the bike, but when I got back there was rust on the inside of the plates and rollers. It seemed that as soon as the rust showed the chain went quickly, had tight and loose areas, impossible to adjust. I believe I paid 56.00 for that chain. I now have the chain kit which came with both sprockets on now, purchased online from a Triumph dealer. I was told by the shop where I bought the cheaper chain that if I had properly lubed it every 200 miles and replaced the sprockets when installed, it would have lasted as long as a O-ring chain. I don't know. I believe the O-ring or the newer Z-ring are a better product, although a lot more expensive. I've never really maintained my chains much, sometimes not lubing for months at a time. I'm heading for the garage today and putting the bike on the lift to change the oil. (and lube the chain if I can find the chain lube)

The O , X or Z ring chains aren't better and even have a lower breaking strength in most cases they are just less maitinence due to the seals Aproporly lubed standard chain will last as long or longer than any of the fancy ring chain but you MUST lube it regularly. I have run the standard chains for 30 years and they last the life of the sprockets easily.I am talking about a good name chain not a junk chain. I mean a chain like D.I.D.

Same here, no problems since June '03....

-------------------
Hank

That's what the guy at the shop told me.

20,000 miles in 2 years, no problems except for the ones caused by my own tinkering. Was thinking maintenance costs were high, but it depends on how much you ride it. Mine seem higher than someone that rides 3 or 4K a year.

My bike will be fifteen months old May 19th. 18,031 miles on the odo. It has not stranded me a single time. I expect to do a sprocket chain R & R at or around 20K miles. I lube once a week like clockwork usually on a Saturday morning. Chain seems to have held up well so far.

The only think I worry about at all as far as getting left on the side of the road is potentially the CDI going out at some point. Hard to determine the statistical failure rate of those things. In reality it may not be very high and its just that we read about those failures here amongst our membership. I wonder how many Americas and Speedies are out there in these United States..that get ridden at least 12K or so a year since 2002 alone?

I have gotten to the point I dont have a problem with the weekly labor of love to do simple maint like chain lube/ wash/wax/shine up the pipes etc. It actually seems thereaputic. And I have not read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maint!

It would be interesting to know how many are actively being ridden across the country.

I wonder how many have been sold in the US alone since the bikes first hit the market.

I replaced a CDI, but was never totally stranded because of it. Usually, there are signs: misfiring, one cylinder temporily quits, etc. long before it stops completely or won't run at all. I did limp home on one cylinder once. My biggest fear is a flat tire. With tube tires there aren't the quick fix options that you might could do with a tubeless tire. My guess is with watchful maintenance, a flat is about the only threat with these bikes that would stop you out on the road.

I'll have to look to find where I saw it but I found a little 12V compresser thats the size of your palm. If you carried patches and small tire irons (like came stock with my old BMW and mini hand pump)and that mini compressor. No more worries . Have to carry the tools for the rest of the job too though. A center stand would be a huge help but big rock or low wall or some other objet would do it. I am going to get one of them and since I run tubeless all I need besides that is tire plugs.

I thought about getting one of those to carry on trips. I think this is what you're talking about:

Inflator

I'm not too sure about the slime stuff in tube tires, though. The air pump does look pretty cool and I already have the same plug on my battery that connects to my Battery Tender.

17,000 miles on my 2002 Triumph America. No problems. Just as reliable as a couple of Boxer BMWs that I used to have. I passed by a BMT/Triumph dealer in Birmingham, AL. I asked them what typical maintenance cost on BMWs now. He said if you have to ask, keep the Triumph as they are by far the cheapest to maintain. (I had no thought of separating from my Triumph.) This America is a good a bike as I ever had, and I have had a couple of dozen of them.