 America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34 |
I know you all love your Americas' but I'm not sure I care about my new 2011 America at all  Had it one month and have had issues which are causing a lot of pain and little chance to ride the bike in the nice weather we're having here. 1. Datatool alarm goes off itermitantly - especially at night! 2. Engine stalls often at idle or when de-accelerating - try letting out the clutch but engine does not pick up, just slows the bike down. 3. Went for a 50 mile ride yesterday trying to balance the throttle to prevent stalling. Very little stopping so battery should have been well charged. This morning electrics dead. RAC came out to try get me started with jump leads. Guy couldn't. Solenoid just clunked with not enough current to turn engine. Bike being picked up and transported to dealer 50 miles away. Spoke to dealer on the phone, seemed reluctant to offer deliver bike back to me. Not sure I want this bike anymore. If they have to take it to bits to sort this out then I consider the bike seriously second hand! This bike has serious elctrical problems  ONE MONTH OLD!  Sorry guys but I wish I had kept my Honda Shadow Hope I have the legal right to get a refund. Alan 
Last edited by alanrco; 06/11/2011 7:20 AM.
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those that understand binary and those that don't!
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419 |
That's hard when you want your new bike to be a good experience.
Did you take it back to the dealer about the stalling like we advised?
The stalling when decelerating is not normal and has nothing to do with clutch or idle speed or throttle control. Those may contribute to stalling when pulling away under load - but not decellerating. The dealer should have fixed this (under warranty of course). It sounds like you are not getting any charging as a result of a faulty connection or something has failed (R/R or stator maybe).
Don't be too disheartened. Your bike is unlikely to be taken to bits. A good auto electrician should find the fault fairly quickly. It really is a great bike. You just need to get this glitch fixed - and realize that Triumph have not always put the 'best available' parts on as OEM - they have to keep to a budget. But overall the quality is right up there.
Perhaps the alarm false alarms may be due to the low battery/charging issue also. Personally I would not bother with an alarm. I have heard to many bad reports from those who had them and got rid of them.
Cheer up mate. I think you really only have one problem that is manifesting in a few different ways.
Cheers, Richard
~~~~~~~~~~~~
09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
Maybe you got the "Friday Afternoon Quit Time Limited" edition?
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419 |
Don't make him feel any worse than he already does. He's only got one glitch - probably easily fixed.
Cheers, Richard
~~~~~~~~~~~~
09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
I'd be disheartened too. Here's hoping your dealership will sort things out in a positive manner.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Sorry to hear of this, Alan. However, I'll bet Richard's guess about the alarm system draining the battery will in fact turn out to be the culprit here. Whatever it turns out to be, I sure hope your dealer's techs will be able to locate and rectify the exact problem so that you'll be able to then give your America a second chance at putting many a trouble-free and enjoyable mile on her in the future. (...I mean, sometimes one must wait until Act II to see if they're really going to like how things play out, ya know!) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 372
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 372 |
Alan. I too had to have expensive warrenty work done to my 06 America, ($2,500.00) soon after I got it, but since then its been a great bike. Give the dealer a chance, you may be glad you did. By the way I too had a Honda before the Triumph, I'm not loyal to any one brand so I'm not sure what my next bike will be.
'06 America, Raask foot controls, the bike use to be Graphite and Silver, now its Red and Black.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34 |
Quote:
That's hard when you want your new bike to be a good experience.
Did you take it back to the dealer about the stalling like we advised?
The stalling when decelerating is not normal and has nothing to do with clutch or idle speed or throttle control. Those may contribute to stalling when pulling away under load - but not decellerating. The dealer should have fixed this (under warranty of course). It sounds like you are not getting any charging as a result of a faulty connection or something has failed (R/R or stator maybe).
Don't be too disheartened. Your bike is unlikely to be taken to bits. A good auto electrician should find the fault fairly quickly. It really is a great bike. You just need to get this glitch fixed - and realize that Triumph have not always put the 'best available' parts on as OEM - they have to keep to a budget. But overall the quality is right up there.
Perhaps the alarm false alarms may be due to the low battery/charging issue also. Personally I would not bother with an alarm. I have heard to many bad reports from those who had them and got rid of them.
Cheer up mate. I think you really only have one problem that is manifesting in a few different ways.
Thanks for all your replies...
I did take the bike in for the stalling issue. When I rode the bike home I got stuck in heavy traffic and it was only then that I realised they had increased the idle speed to around 1250rpm which I think is a bit high for an air-cooled bike and in the warm weather we are having. When I got home I turned the idle speed down to about 1050rpm - a tad above 1k anyway which I think has been recommended here on this forum. The dealer told me that more than that had been done to stop the stalling issue. However it still has stalled a few times since. I don't feel very confident about the dealer's ability to do the job.
Think this bike has stalled more times in one month than all the years of having other bikes. Three years and 8k miles on my last bike; the Honda Shadow without a stall tells me this is definitely an issue with the bike.
I feel really angry because I was going down the coast with a mate who has a Harley, so a weekend ruined. He thought my new bike was 'cool' so I said to him "Yeah, very cool and even cold". He laughed and I, well <sigh>
Alan
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those that understand binary and those that don't!
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,715 Likes: 4
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,715 Likes: 4 |
If the charging system isn't keeping the battery at normal voltage, the engine will die just how you described. I've had weak battery before and had to keep the rpms high so it didn't stall out until I got home. It's probably even more critical on an EFI bike. You have an electrical gremlin, I bet you don't have a gremlin bell, do you? Could have avoided all the problems. 
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419 |
Quote:
However, I'll bet Richard's guess about the alarm system draining the battery will in fact turn out to be the culprit here.
Sometimes I don't explain myself very well - I do not think the alarm system is the cause, but a result of the charging gremlin. The battery isn't getting charged and it doesn't help that the alarm is an additional drain while the battery is not getting charged at all.
I suspect the gramlin is the stator, R/R or a faulty connection in the charging system.
Cheers, Richard
~~~~~~~~~~~~
09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
I can't beleive the dealer isn't all over this! Sigh, often a sign of the times....Perhaps a lot more serious bitchin to him would do the trick?
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,186 Likes: 55
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,186 Likes: 55 |
I would lean to the faulty connection.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 828
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 828 |
I'm not sure how the Triumph alarm is set up but some alarms have an internal battery and will go off when the main battery is disconnected as an additional deterrent. If you have a charging issue or a bad battery then this could make the alarm "think" that someone is trying to get around the alarm by disconnecting its main power source. I understand your desire to keep the bike relatively safe by installing the alarm but I have to say that I haven't heard a lot of good things about the OEM alarms working nicely with our bikes.
Remember, always be yourself.
Unless you suck.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150 |
Well my 2 cents worth. I bought my alarm new off eBay 5 years ago and Only had one issue which if I had read the manual would have been sorted on the spot. I'd be forgetting about the alarm and starting to focus on offering some constructive advice. In fact I agree with the comment about the alarm actually being a symptom of an electrical issue. My gut feeling is, the dealer needs a kick Up the ar*e, pull his finger out and fix the faulty electrical component rather than just twirling the revs knob. It sounds like you're not being looked after and your issue should have been sorted already. Stick in there and try to not feel like throwing the baby out with the bath water, even if you do feel let down. In the big picture this is nothing even though it doesn't feel that way at the moment. 
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,685 Likes: 20
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,685 Likes: 20 |
It is the little things that get you down. Tow trucks, pushing bikes, cell calls for help. If we had to push or tow our new cars as much as our bikes we would be furious. Hang in there bud, hope it works alright for you. Maybe this will be the last trouble you have an not a beginning of troubles. (glass 1/2 full thing)
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Sorry guys but I wish I had kept my Honda Shadow
I came to my Triumph from a Shadow and the handling was so far superior and incredibly exciting that I've let a few niggles slip by without much nashing of teeth. Once, if ever, you get this bike sorted out you'll find it to be far superior to the Honda.
That said, reliability is a premium desire and if you can't trust your bike and the dealer you aren't ever going to be very pleased no matter how well the bike handles. Nothing handles well if it's parked all of the time. It's a shame, too, because this is the exception to the rule and not the normal state of affairs. If you can hang in there and force the dealer to make it right, please do, you'll be glad you did.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,685 Likes: 20
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,685 Likes: 20 |
That is very good advice.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Quote:
Quote:
Sorry guys but I wish I had kept my Honda Shadow
I came to my Triumph from a Shadow and the handling was so far superior and incredibly exciting that I've let a few niggles slip by without much nashing of teeth. Once, if ever, you get this bike sorted out you'll find it to be far superior to the Honda.
That said, reliability is a premium desire and if you can't trust your bike and the dealer you aren't ever going to be very pleased no matter how well the bike handles. Nothing handles well if it's parked all of the time. It's a shame, too, because this is the exception to the rule and not the normal state of affairs. If you can hang in there and force the dealer to make it right, please do, you'll be glad you did.
Well put, Ed.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
What's the name of that dealer, collectively, the B.A.C. community could harass the sh!t out of them to make this right, strength in numbers
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 202
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
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.....sounds like a similar list of problems I once had with my america.....turned out to be a loose battery connection.....
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
.....sounds like a similar list of problems I once had with my america.....turned out to be a loose battery connection.....
That was my first thought when I started reading this thread.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34 |
I really would like the dealer to sort this. I'm not sure of his commitment to deal with it. I know the America performs well when I'm travelling country lanes and motorways. It's the urban traffic situations that cause the problem. Having to juggle the throttle when using the front brake should not be neccessary to keep the engine running. I've been reading this thread: http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/forums/...part=1&vc=1What I don't understand is why this is such an issue. The 8k miles/3years I did on the Shadow had no battery issues and I never had to charge it once. That bike had EFI and an immobiliser and also had to supply power to 4 sparkplugs. The lights came on when the ignition key was turned, you didn't have to pull in the clutch to start the bike and it would start with a mere blip of the ignition button. Takes about 3 seconds with the America. Is the America let down by its electrical system? I'm convinced that the bike generally is great and considered it looked awesome the first time I saw it. Thanks for all your input BTW 
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those that understand binary and those that don't!
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 176
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 176 |
If you're not happy with the dealer - go straight to Triumph.
Tell them the problems you're having and the lack of interest / ability of their local representative and ask them what they are going to do to solve their problem.
CHAOS, MAYHEM, DISORDER ................................ my work here is done
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
Dawn the helmet and gear then ride that bad boy staight through the front window of the dealership in grand movie hero style.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,186 Likes: 55
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,186 Likes: 55 |
I own 2 04 Triumphs a BA and a SM and neither one has ever given me any trouble.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
What year has the starter breaking thing.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,586 Likes: 1
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2008
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,186 Likes: 55
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,186 Likes: 55 |
That starter issue worries me, if that ever happened and Triumph refused to fix it the bike would stay broken.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Quote:
early 05 speedmaster
And before I think too, Marty.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
Is it the early 865 motors?
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 663
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 663 |
Quote:
If you're not happy with the dealer - go straight to Triumph.
Tell them the problems you're having and the lack of interest / ability of their local representative and ask them what they are going to do to solve their problem.
I agree with morethanenuff - I think the problem lies more with the dealer than the bike. Yes, glitches happen, but these should be fixed immediately. If the dealer is not competent to do this, another dealer needs to step in.
My 09 America has been flawless BTW.
2013 Speedmaster Matte Black
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,685 Likes: 20
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,685 Likes: 20 |
I thought it was early 05 and back on the 790s
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643 |
Who is your local Dealer Alan?
Ray(UK)
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 109
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 109 |
Quote:
Alan. I too had to have expensive warrenty work done to my 06 America, ($2,500.00) soon after I got it, but since then its been a great bike. Give the dealer a chance, you may be glad you did. By the way I too had a Honda before the Triumph, I'm not loyal to any one brand so I'm not sure what my next bike will be.
I've had my Speedmaster just two weeks, and I must sympathize with Alan. I have not had any problems with mine, though, and would hope that his is the exception.
I, too, own a Shadow VLX and I had not been planning on selling it since it is so reliable. I think that the Speedmaster makes more evident the VLX's shortcomings, especially in steering/handling and ride comfort.
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34 |
Quote:
Who is your local Dealer Alan?
Sorry Ray, I'm not going to name and shame dealer yet. Going to give them a last chance. They now say that the problem was the Datatool Alarm/Immobiser which was drawing too much current. The Datatool had been causing problems with the alarm going off randomly. They now have road tested the bike and all seems well. Can't pick it up yet as dealer is 50 miles away and we have heavy rain in the area atm and possibly all weekend.
I've decided not to have a replacement Datatool alarm and will rely on a disc lock instead. Dealer has refunded in full the cost of the alarm. Just hope the throttle idle behaves from now on.
Alan
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those that understand binary and those that don't!
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816
Freelance Jedi Knight
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Freelance Jedi Knight
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816 |
datatool alarm is EVIL .....don't ask me how I know
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,610
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,610 |
So in another post, you said you road it home in the rain.
And.....?
Stewart
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"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34 |
Quote:
So in another post, you said you road it home in the rain.
And.....?
It was a 50 mile run home in windy/showery weather. Maybe too soon to be sure everything is okay now. It certainly seems to be. I had to wait in traffic through a small town as my daughter, who took me to the dealers, was following and she was unsure of the directions. During the stop start periods, the bike did not stall. So far so good. I'll just give it a few more days then report back. If the problem has gone then, as the dealer said, it was a problem with the Datatool alarm/immobiliser.
Alan
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those that understand binary and those that don't!
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Once you gain confidence in the bike you're not going to want to stop and get off :-)
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: America - not the bike I expected :-(
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34 |
Did 120 miles yesterday. Seems like a different bike - no stalls - bike performed perfectly. Now I'm really enjoying the experience. Guess it was the Datatool alarm/immobiliser after all.
Alan
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those that understand binary and those that don't!
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