Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Almost, but not quite.....

I've been looking for another TBA.... as I've previously been droning on about.
Because my requirements are so specific this hasn't been as easy as I'd hoped.
I need the last of the proper ( as opposed to squashed looking) petrol tank models....so round about 2006-8.
It also needs to be well cared for and lowish mileage.
And it also needs to have the later strengthened crankcases for peace of mind.
I've seen some real dogs recently...but got my hopes up with a dealers 07 Speedmaster so took the 200 mile round trip to see it.
Shame...petrol tank and mudguards were a slightly different shade of red...closer inspection revealed scuffs on h/light rim and a curious looking blob of weld at one of the fork ends.
" Has it been shunted then!"
'" Oh no, one careful owner."
" I guess then that one of the other owners wasn't quite so careful."
Oh well, it was a nice ride up to Norfolk ( UK) from Kent on my Thunderbird.
The search continues........

On this topic...I've just seen another ' not quite good enough' TBA today.
However what I can see advertised is a 1530 miles from new 09 Speedmaster.
It's a bit later than I want but it's apparent factory fresh condition appeals to me.
Does anybody know whether the 09 EFI models have the dreaded speed limiter which cuts in at 97mph ...cuts out one cylinder till you slow down.
I really don't want that again...I sold my last TBA LT because of that.
Anyone know for sure?
Thanks
Al

I have an 09 America here in the US. Think our models EFI transitions were a year behind you. I do not have the speed limiter, but I also still have the speedometer driven from the front wheel. I think it may have coincided with the later generation change to CANBus communications stuff.

I have a 10 America here in the US also, and I haven't purposely run it out to see if the speed limiter is there. I have gone past the indicated 100 mph on a long pass on the highway, I didn't notice anything cutting out, in fact it seemed like it was still pulling hard.

Full disclosure, I was passing a line of traffic going down hill, fwiw...

=)

Re: the speed limiter, I did a search and found this on Triumph Twin Power:

"The later CANBUS America (from VIN 611105) and Speedmaster (from VIN 617261) models (roughly 2012-2016) have a factory imposed 95mph speed limiter built in to the EFI tune. We have found a way to remove the speed limiter for these models by installing a Scrambler speedo and then programming a Scrambler EFI tune (no speed limiter) in to the America/Speedmaster ECM."

Apparently they installed it in 2012's on up...

Thanks folks for all those thoughts.
Looks to me that the safest option is to stick with a machine that's got the white faced clockwork Speedo.
TTP were helpful to me when I had my LT...but at that time they hadn't been able to devise a work around for CANbus bikes..though they have now it seems.
Your thoughts appreciated.
Al

Some would say that the last of the "real" air cooled SM's have twin front rotors anyhow.

THE SEARCH IS OVER... I'VE GOT ONE.
at last...just been to see an 07 Speedmaster in dark red...865 with carbs.
Someone's put twin headlights on it but otherwise immaculate...and only 7 k miles.
Nice guy selling it too
If I can ever work out how to post here I'll put a picture or two up.
Thanks for your thoughts everyone.
Al

Woo hoo!

Sounds like a match to my previous Speedy great bike, enjoy!!

Thanks folks.. really looking forward to being back on one again.
I'll need a TBA dualseat for it if I'm to remain married.
Can anyone recall whether a later TBA seat will also fit as they seem more commonplace to buy?
From memory I think they should fit with the exception that the centre latch will be redundant.
Anyone know for sure?
Al

Having had an '04 for 9 years (and sold it) and a '10 for four, if memory serves, the seat attachments all look the same. Can't say for certain, but I think a newer seat will work on your 07... Hope somebody will direct knowledge will chime in soon. Meanwhile,

Congrats on your new ride!

Thank you for that. It confirms my own belief that they'll fit.
Perhaps if anyone knows differently they'll say?
The other thing I'll do when the bike arrives on Thursday is to remove the excellent Triumph long haul seat from my 1600 Tbird and see whether one of these can be made to fit( I have my doubts though). It's really comfortable and can still be sourced ...it has thicker padding in the riders section which I'm starting to appreciate these days.
Al

T-Bird seat definitely different enough not to work. I did have a T-Bird LT front seat that I removed from the stock pan and switched to the America 's front seat pan and it worked well, but the pillion seat would not go on without a major mod.
I have an '08 & a '14 America and interchange seats often.
The '14 (LT) has a baronet mount though, so if you can do a little playing around with it, you'll have no problem.

Thanks for that...yes I've owned two Tbird LT's and the seat is longer thanthe one on my current 1600 tbird...so I'm still hoping there....but you're probably right...it's just that my tbird is comfortable with the long haul and if I can get one to fit the speedy that would be perfect..
If not it sounds like I can get most TBA seats to fit eventually.
Well I'll find out soon enough...my Speedy arrives tomorrow.
Al

2007 ,the finest vintage SMs and BAs[I might be biased though.]

Why, I do believe that I detect the very slightest hint of owner bias here.
But, hey, it's what I want to hear.
In the past I've usually sold a bike when I've bought another.
That's been my big mistake with TBA/SMs.
I've always missed them and hankered for another one.
So,Al, repeat the following mantra.
" Don't, Don't, Don't,Do it again."
Anyhow my Triumph family will now be complete.
6 hours till delivery.
Like waiting for Christmas.
Al

Me too...USA spec 2007 SM was the last of the "classic" tank, & SM got the updated 2 tone mag wheels that year. Mine is a keeper.

It's Here!
Woo Hoo.
It's lovely.

Pics or it didn't happen

I would, believe me, but I can't get my elderly head around how to do that.
Sorry...if anyone can explain to a techie imbecile, I'll have a go.
Al

A question...the bike I've bought is running standard exhausts. The seller has included TORs...jetting is I suspect for the standard pipes as it runs perfectly on these with no flat spots, popping etc( yes it still has the sai..for now).
My friend reckons he ran his similar bike with TORs on standard jetting for years without problems.
I'm cautious....what's been other folks experience?
Thanks
Al

Which TORs, specifically? Model #'s are stamped into each silencer body.

I won't know till I pick them up next week...they look like a set of standard long TORs and the previous owner has used them on this bike. When I asked him about jetting he just looked blank.
Interestingly I was looking at another set on eBay and though they were quite clearly Triumph branded and with the original box the part number didn't correspond to any carb or efi TBA or Speedmaster I could see.( I usually use world of triumph parts site to check out part numbers)
Oh well...life is full of interesting little mysteries.

Well you can try them out & see how they perform. With a 13 year old bike, one never knows if the carbs were tuned, hacked, or altered, unless actually verified. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky.

Or maybe I'll put the new exhausts up on eBay. I bought them ' just in case ' but these days I usually run my bikes standard. I took the Tors off my Tiger 955i as it irritated me on long journeys.
I bought TORs for my 1600Tbird but never fitted them.
So this continues my tradition.

Getting there, I think.
Looks like I'm heading for an Amerimaster.
Gone is the silly 'gunslinger/ bunfighter' or whatever it's called seat....yes the later one piece dual seat fits straight on....as did the sissy bar and rack from an 011 efi TBA.
Going next week hopefully is the awful twin headlight conversion.
Also gone however are the cush drive rubbers..looks like this bike spent it's youth in the city traffic.Replacement ordered (£64...ouch!).
Currently looking for original pannier rails but these were apparently machined from pure unobtainium....I've bent a spare set of my tbird rails to fit...for now that'll have to do.
As my bikes live outside and it's raining that'll have to do for a couple of days.

The OEM cush drive rubber is crap...I replaced mine with one intended for a TBS tripple. Much tighter fit.

I'd heard that....maybe next time.. probably won't be long in coming.

Re the cush drive, here's a fix:
Go most of the way down the page.
https://www.triumphrat.net/threads/...ds-and-tech.95532/page-3#post-2004096709

Thanks...that's a help. I may well try that one.
At the moment my usual supplier isn't listing cush drive rubbers for the TBS model...and is listing for my 07 Speedmaster...so I've ordered that for now but will look at a more satisfying longer term fix in the near future.
Interestingly this is my 4 th TBA/ SM and the only one to have suffered this problem to date...and at only 7k miles too.

This is the part # for the "better" cush drive: it fits a bunch of models OEM: T2012211

Thank you.
I'll get it sorted.
Al

Still waiting for the cush drive rubbers...but at least I managed to change the twin headlights back to standard.
Strange, getting old.
Even ten years back I'd probably have liked the twin set up....but I notice I'm these days gradually bringing all my bikes back to more or less standard trim....e.g. the Tiger 955i was running a TOR when I got it...but the noise irritated me on long runs so back to standard it went.
I even bought a set of TORs for the Tbird but before I'd fitted them I thought " you know what, I don't think there's anything wrong with the standard set up' so never fitted these .
Now the new bike is running standard pipes and came with a set of TORs....I'll probably fit them just to see then change back ...my memory tells me that a set of TORs on a TBA/SM doesn't sound that much better to justify the bagpipe drone on motorways.
Oh and a set of Progressive 412s is on my shopping list....they're not standard are they?
Maybe some after market stuff is an improvement after all.

Re: the 412s

I put them on my 2010 and it improved things. Kinda. It's better than stock I think and probably a best buy for our bikes, price-wise, unless you're interested in investing serious money. Then I'd consider Progressive 444s since I had an earlier version (440s) on my 04 and they were very nice. Hagon shocks have nice options as well.

412's? Meh. 444's? Sure. Hagon 2810's? Proper spring rate is crucial with the 2810's, since they only have 3 step preload. If the budget is tight; I suggest the 2810's instead of the 412's.

412's? Meh. 444's? Sure. Hagon 2810's? Proper spring rate is crucial with the 2810's, since they only have 3 step preload. If the budget is tight; I suggest the 2810's instead of the 412's.

That's interesting...thanks for the insights. I must admit I'd dismissed the Hagons as some folks didn't reckon they made any difference from standard..though they weren't talking about the 2810s....I'll take a fresh unbiased look at those.
Ideally a set of Progressive 444's would be great but my budget isn't unlimited...maybe I should just hang on to stock whilst I save my pennies.
Whilst we're sort of on the subject of mods...I think I'd prefer the standard TBA bars to the Speedmaster ones... just a question of looks really.
I see from the world of triumph parts list that brake line and cables use different part numbers for Speedmaster and TBA models of the same year. Has anyone changed Speedmaster bars for TBA ones? If so, can I get away with retaining the original fitted cables and brake line or is my aesthetic preference going to cost me even more money?
Thoughts appreciated.
Al

A simple riser change might do if for you. I prefer the SM bar with Lightning Productd Euro (curved with backset) risers. My LP Euro risers have 4" rise (measurec to bottom of bar) & somewhere around a 1" backset. OEM SM cables fit.

Thanks...yes I'll try that first I reckon.
Just ordered some Hagon 2810 shocks.... Updated model apparently and a 2-3 week delay in building these.
Spoke to Dave at the company who was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful with checking weight of rider/ pillion, intended use etc.