Dozers Dad, My local T dealership have agreed to replace the chain, half price. So good on them for that. But still £155 I'm going to get the old chain from them and decide what to do after!
It's good of the dealer to stump up half, but at £155 you could buy a better quality chain complete with sprockets for less money : https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...neville+T120+chain+and+sprockets+set&_sacat=0
I wonder if the chains are going on the bikes at the factory with too many links, reducing the wear adjustment If the chain is lifting off from the teeth on the rear sprocket then the chain is worn, if it is just at the full reach of its adjustment but not worn, then too many links. I would certainly ask for a DID ZVMX heavy wear chain, would last twice longer than those cheese strings supplied by Triumph
Just using fingers only. A new chain and sprocket won’t really be able to move much or not at all, a worn one will pull away enough to see a good gap between the chain and sprocket it’s sat on where, a really bad one will show the top of the sprocket tooth
I agree, it's a difficult one to prove as a rubbish quality chain. Think they've just lost a good customer. I've had many Triumph bikes (last was an Explorer) but penny pinching and a refusal to admit they may have got it wrong is just outrageous to me!
There are lots of areas where design engineers and cost accountants creep into the finished product. Brembo brakes might sell a model where a generic, cheapo chain is not a deal breaker. I remember being a bit surprised to discover a Ka rear drum and wheel bearing was all one assembly. Not great for maintenance but, for something with a design life of maybe 7 yrs, cheap and easy to assemble in the factory. Profit!
Prior to buying my T100 I wrote to Triumph about this very thing as I had a look at a T120, T100 and Street Twin at the dealers and noted that most of the available chain tension adjustment was already used on bikes awaiting purchase. They replied to me stating that was indeed the case but had not proved to be an issue in normal operation. Beginning to sound like Triumphs response to the rear wheel spokes not breaking on the air-cooled models and headstocks definitely not fracturing on T595's . Geoff.
I'd agree - got mine from a little shop near me. It being a 2005 obvously second hand. After months one of the oil seals on the front fork was leaking. Was remedied without contest and for no cost.
T120 chains have been replaced elsewhere with new chains having two links removed so the adjuster isn't maxed out https://www.triumphtalk.com/threads/2016-t-120s-and-street-twins-chains-are-too-long.43099/ Brand new T120's on the shop floor have their adjusters maxed out Bit of a scam by Triumph if you ask me, sell a bike with a chain that is too long so the adjuster is maxed out, then when it needs adjusting, sell the customer a new chain!
Certainly looks like a scam to me. I got over 20000 miles out of the original chain and sprocket on the Tiger 800. Chain and sprocket only £125.00 from Triumph!
Hugh only had a small amount of adjustment from new and when I commented was told "they're all like that - it will still be fine for a very long time" by the salesman. The same salesman that assured me all dealer-fit T100 centre stands don't actually life the rear wheel off the ground on the '17 onwards model, despite our man Tal having one that does. In for first year's service in just over a week so will mention the chain needs taking up a little and see what they say. To be fair I have not touched the adjusters at all myself as yet in three thousand miles, thankfully, as I don't have the canted spanners to do it so would have to remove the exhausts...
I've seen a zero mileage showroom floor model running a 37 tooth rear sprocket with the rear axle midway on the adjusters so either it's swinging arm design had been tweaked or the number of chain links had been reduced. One thing that does cause accelerated chain wear is sprocket misalignment. You should be able to see daylight down the gap on both sides of the rear sprocket and the inner chain plates when spinning the wheel backwards. If the chain is running up against either side of the sprocket teeth the load will not be distributed evenly across the chain pins and bushes which rapidly accelerates chain wear.
UPDATE. After reading your many very helpful content on this blog, just want to say thanks to everyone; I complained to Triumph and got nowhere, my Triumph dealership however (Newcastle Motorcycles) came to the rescue. I bought a new, very good quality DID chain and sprockets for under £100 (as suggested) and dealership fitted it but with a link less to give me some room for adjustments. Thanks to Newcastle Motorcycles and you for that. Happy days.
I deal with Newcastle Triumph also and find the service manager, Paul, a really good guy. May I ask have you noticed any difference in the handling with the new chain. My reason for asking is that I have a theory that Triumph may have gone done this farcical route so as to optimise the handling/stability of the chassis with the maximum wheelbase they could attain. Geoff.
Hello Jeff, not really any noticeable difference except perhaps slightly more grunt in the drive chain, sounds a bit louder when doing a standing start with rapid acceleration. But could be my imagination! But as said I was disappointed with Triumphs respnce which leaves a lot to be desired.
I deal with Newcastle Triumph also and find the service manager, Paul, a really good guy. May I ask have you noticed any difference in the handling with the new chain. My reason for asking is that I have a theory that Triumph may have gone done this farcical route so as to optimise the handling/stability of the chassis with the maximum wheelbase they could attain. Geoff.
Thanks for that, I have just email Triumph and will let you know if I get a response, don't hold your breath. Geoff.
