Featured What you been doing with your TRIUMPH today??

Took a test ride on my new Metzler Tourance’s. Added a tank bag I got off eBay.

 

Loosing a slight amount of engine coolant I investigated why it was doing so, well it has turned into a lot more than intended, the cause was easy to detect, a very minute sharp piece of stone had pierced the rad core, resulting in a very slight leak from the radiator, easy repair, carefully removed the cooling fins, cleaned up the damaged area and neatly soldered the damaged area, after a thorough clean and flush through, I primed it with high temp paint and then applied high temp finish, it now looks good and pressure tested so no leaks. One coolant hose was badly cracked so a new one was purchased, these are now made in India, and it has to be said the quality is very poor, what the heck are Triumph doing. Anyway I decided to have the header pipes Cerakoted, along with a Scorpion link pipe and clamp, I went for Glacier Titanium, the work is on a post for Cerakote Up North. Onwards and upwards so to speak, and I have stripped down all manner of items for a thorough clean, although I completed a full 12,000 mile service not long back, it is new coolant again as I will not re use what came out. 1 exhaust stud was badly corroded and it took 3 hours to remove it, run a die through the remaining studs, and a tap through the head for the new stud, rush these jobs and you will probably end up with it snapped in the head, the stud is less than £2, also a full set of securing nuts, various new fasteners, gaskets etc etc. Unfortunately I am not able to build it back up for a few weeks due to one thing and another. Once back together I will strip out the rear swing arm for inspection and replace anything needed, also I will re grease (again) the suspension bearings etc. What I did notice was how lean the engine is running, blasted Euro Emissions, however I will soon sort that when it is up and running, along with some tasty goodies from UK Race Support. My wife said "I thought you were selling it, and getting a Ducati", Ah I have a plan B, as I have put so much into this machine. I will post some more pictures. Ride safe all from an ageing Rocker.

 

Was the damage caused with or without a radiator guard ?

 

Having done the brake pads I decided to do a fluid change (bought a Dealertool as it has the ABS) and got it sorted today. Easy enough and I reckon it’s been a long while since the ABS module has been bled.
Did the rear first


And then the front


You actually bleed each system 3 times - normal first, then via the Dealertool and then normal again.

 

With an Evotech radiator guard, the small stone fragment hit the rear of the radiator (nearest to engine), unusual so could have been worse.

 

Like you I only use the Dealertool.

 

Well Triumph seem to outsource many of their parts, look at the different countries of these parts I received this week. The hose is inferior compared to the original one. What an earth are Triumph doing, I sincerely hope the parts made in India are not exploiting the labour market, at least the head studs and nuts are UK made.

 

A little more work today.

 

Not what you would expect. Really bad luck there.

 

Another frustrating issue, my machine was serviced at my local Triumph Dealer whilst under warranty, thereafter I have maintained and serviced it myself. Upon removing the expansion tank I found the holes that secure it had a small section on each cut out, it wasn't from being overtightened at the factory and the plastic split, it had been cut, now I know something happened to the bike on it's first service as the Yoshimura link pipe was badly dented, I only found this out months later, the dealer denied being responsible (they fitted the exhaust brand new), I strongly suspect it had been dropped, as the left hand panel had been replaced. I used to trust this dealer but no longer. The moral is do it yourself and know the work is completed to a high standard.

 

Yes it's just one of those rare occasions that happen from time to time.

 

Why cut through the lugs? Doesn’t appear to be a wide enough gap to be able to slip over the fixing threads . Most dealers are paying the minimum, charging the maximum and pushing through as much work as they can. Even if the techs know how to do it correctly, I suspect at least 9 times out of 10 they do the quickest job they can get away with.

 

Who knows, but the fact is someone did it and I very much doubt it came from the factory like that. The tank will pull over the fixing bolts, I did try it once I had removed it, and the plastic expanded no problem. My guess would be that it was removed for reasons related to the fall whilst in the workshop. However it is all supposition as only the technician really knows and it is clear they were never willing to own up in the first place. As an old school mechanic in a previous life I would never have dreamt of turning out poor work. Whilst a machine is under warranty my view is take it to a trusted independent workshop and keep the receipt and have the service book stamped, that way the warranty remains in place. Triumph have confirmed to me in an e mail, that if an individual owner self services their machine whilst under warranty, then it will be invalidated, immaterial if the owner is a qualified mechanic.

 

I will only let the dealer do the first service which is little more than an oil change which they shouldn't mess up ? This will then ensure a 12 months warranty before I start owner servicing and invalidate the rest of the warranty. Personally I will not ride a bike unless I have maintained it myself.

 

Well put Triple X, it is a sad state of affairs that we as bikers have lost trust in a lot of dealerships. If people have the skills to repair and maintain their machines themselves then at least you know it is done right and gives greater satisfaction.

 

I noticed an oil leak on one of the forks so I decided to change the oil and seals on both of them, it must be my lucky day because nothing went wrong.

 

Been buried with my new job, but ran a site for the NZ Bike Show last weekend.
We had James Bond Scrambler 93/250 worldwide alongside a matching pair of Rocket 3s. Granddad was '71 BSA and Great Grandson a 2023 R3 GT.
400 bikes in the show and 100s outside
Must mention the supercharged 2011 Thunderbird alongside mine inside the "garage"

 

Out for a run yesterday with eldest son and his mate.
A sort of anticlockwise loop of York using 90% back lanes, around 90 miles altogether.
Here's a vape stop for them two, at Aldwark Bridge.

 

Wee jaunt out on the Tiger while it was dry.freezing cold roads with wet leaves just dying to catch you out.milage now on 141 miles ,more than I managed on the speedy all summer. Heated grips worked well ,easily as good as the ones on the GS I owned.Heated seat was ok,took the chill off but wasn't on for long,so will reserve judgement for the time being.Turn by turn navigation isn't much use, so i will bite the bullet and get a quadlock for my phone and use maps.

 

@Pedro1340
Quadlock and Google maps will do you right but fit a usb socket to the handlebar as you may as well charge as you go.
The charging rate beats the drain so your phone is ready for cafe stops etc.

I use a short lead (150mm) to connect and for some reason, now unknown, I put the usb socket on the right of centre on the 765. This means the phone sits in landscape with the camera lens nearest to the clutch lever..... bad idea!
The run out above has again damaged the camera lens. This is the 2nd time this has ocurred. The first time it chipped the actual lens hence after replacement I fitted a lens saver.
Hopefully this time its only the protector as I've just ordered the replacement.
£2.99 protector
Lens last time, was £20

On the StreetTwin I'd set it up the other way around so the clocks protect the phone camera area.

I've now modded the 765 accordingly.

Beware!