Noob Questions

Discussion in 'Bonneville' started by tim scott, Sep 12, 2021.

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  1. tim scott

    tim scott Well-Known Member
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    Aug 30, 2021
    72
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    Kent
    Evening gurus - couple of quick questions - I have searched the forums for these queries as there’s nothing worse for you long timers than posting links to the same old questions … but here we go

    1 speedo flicker - at low speeds the speedo needle on my T120 flickers slightly at the tip - is this normal ?

    2 Low speed throttle response - my 2017 T120 (6k miles) has a booster plug which I fitted after what can only be described as dreadful low speed response. It has made a noticeable difference to the sensitivity experienced at lower (sub 30mph) speeds. I have also recently reset the ECU following a bout of what I can only describe as flat throttle response - the bike was on a brief run out and felt like it was going to stall, so much so that I felt I had to keep revving the engine just it to keep it moving, though when I got home it sat on the drive ticking over without stalling. I thought it might be contaminated fuel so I filled it with a fresh tank of super unleaded and took it for a thrash up and down the local dual carriageway which seems to have sorted the flatness and potential stall feeling but the throttle response is back to being exceedingly sensitive as per the pre booster plug install.

    I’ve read about the necessity for sensitivity due to adherence to the current Euro legislation but wondered if there was any words of wisdom from the more experienced out there or whether I’m looking at a decat or re gear as per the other threads - which I’d struggle to justify to the good lady after just buying it

    thanks in advance & apologies also to those whose eyebrows went up (again) at my lack of experience
     
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  2. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

    Aug 8, 2018
    6,912
    1,000
    New Zealand
    Hi Tim, I have found that using rain mode for urban riding has solved similar issues.
    I have removed cat, added booster plug, and high flow exhaust which has helped and improved performance.:heart_eyes:
    I still regularly use rain mode for city travel :cool:
     
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  3. joe mc donald

    Dec 26, 2014
    13,874
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    Tim Scott
    Welcome to the family. Do hit the upload a file button bottom right and show the steed. Your problem i am not to sure about.
    Joe.
     
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  4. tim scott

    tim scott Well-Known Member
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    Aug 30, 2021
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    Kent
    Morning Dartplayer & Joe

    Thanks for the quick response - i genuinely thought the rain mode was for, well when it rained ? As a fully paid up member of the fair weather biking gang (and OCD freak) didn't think i'd ever need it given the amount of chrome i seem to have accumulated :) I'll give it a whirl & report back - who'd have thunk it !

    Joe, thanks - its good to be amongst learned and likeminded individuals - i posted a pic of Belinda on the show us your bike thread (pg67) - but will put up a couple from a coastal bimble last weekend later when I have access to all my drives

    Anyone have a clue about the speedo needle - its more a tremor than a flicker but never used to happen on my '99 plate SV :)

    Thanks

    TS
     
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  5. tim scott

    tim scott Well-Known Member
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    Aug 30, 2021
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    As promised

    04BCEA15-34F6-4881-9633-9A4E720EBCAE.jpeg

    E5DCF0D9-FD51-48B6-AD76-67CE701C45BE.jpeg
     
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  6. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
    818
    243
    Cheshire UK
    My Street Twin is the first fuel injected bike I've owned, so throttle response was particularly noticeable. In comparison to my other bikes, with well set up carbs, the throttle action was nowhere near as sharp, particularly at low speeds. Like you, I fitted a fuel booster which, to be honest, didn't seem to make a lot of difference. It wasn't until I decatted the bike (Motone X-pipe) that things got better...a lot better. Much quicker throttle response and now the bike doesn't feel like it's about to stall when ticking over. So if the problem still bothers you I would highly recommend junking the cat.
    Another mod which has made a huge difference is the TEC camshaft. However I realise that the 1200cc engine may well give you as much power as you need, but Triumph's restriction of the 900cc engine to 55 horses (in the 1st gen bikes) was ridiculous. My brother has a T120 (no mods) and now we're much more evenly matched, but he can't keep up with me on the tight, twisty stuff because the ST is a tad lighter, more manoeuvrable and now has that sharper throttle response. And of course I'm a far better rider than him anyway..but don't tell him I said that ;)
     
  7. tim scott

    tim scott Well-Known Member
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    Aug 30, 2021
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    Cheers Beerkat, i'm obliged
    I'll hold off the decat for now and see what rain mode brings - if Mrs S discovers I'm considering spending hundreds after just buying the bike then there may well be fireworks in my future - there's a difference between brave & just plain stooopid :)
    Tyres are already on my list & possibly Hagons too ....... but one of those is essential (the front is very low after 6k & I'm considering Spirit St's ) & the other desirable for someone of the, shall we say 'kidnap resistant' persuasion
     
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  8. sprintdave

    sprintdave Nurse,he's out of bed again

    May 25, 2014
    1,491
    750
    Birmingham
    Just had Spirit STs on my t509 Speedie. Very pleased with the grip and sure footed handling.
     
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  9. Gear1

    Gear1 New Member

    Hello, Tim,

    I think that Beerkat and I are the only ones so far to report installing the TecBikeParts camshaft. That, along with the decat, really transformed our 2018 T100 Bonneville - much more power, better throttle response, and scary fast for a noobie. On top of that, a very nice exhaust note without being too noisy.

    As to your tachometer needle "wiggling" at low rpm, mine does the same when light throttle on-off at low rpm in lower gears. I attribute the tachometer wiggles to the slop in the gear train and chain slop and a very sensitive digitally driven (analog) tachometer sensing the very small drop and increase in the rpm when throttle off or on decelerates and accelerates through the drive line slop.
    Craig
     
  10. tim scott

    tim scott Well-Known Member
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    Aug 30, 2021
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    Kent
    That’s really helpfully thanks Craig - just wanted a bit of affirmation re the speedo, never noticed it on the 120 black I took out for a test before committing to buy and was always looking at it squint thinking “should that be doing that “ ?

    also thanks Dave for the feedback re tyres - it’s all over the forum that Avon’s are the way to go, though the much maligned Pirelli’s are much more responsive that the OEM Metzellers I had on the SV to be fair, but it does notice on paint and uneven surfaces so I’ll go for the switch when it’s time
     
  11. tim scott

    tim scott Well-Known Member
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    Aug 30, 2021
    72
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    Kent
    Hi again guys

    I just wanted to update with my 'findings' post your help, having just read a thread about annoying posts that don't actually 'conclude'. therefore please allow me :)

    Since the responses I've used the bike quite a few times, as the weather has been (til this morning) so nice - rude not to really

    I've done easy rides to work Saturday morning, Wednesday evening regular ride outs (including the occasional bout of less sensible riding) & taken Mrs S out for a spin too, covering about 3-400 miles.

    Re the twitchy throttle experienced at 20-30mph in road mode

    Rain Mode - this is the answer. The throttle response is far less sensitive and makes the 20-30mph judder or jerkiness almost non existent. The bike is also far less responsive when rolling on the throttle which makes it perfect for a bimble about on country lanes (or having the Mrs on the pillion)

    Issues arising - only one, so far. When switching back to road mode for a bout of hooliganism the display seems to flicker between rain/road for several seconds before stabilising in what ever mode it was in before (IE not actually changing) - IDK if you need to be travelling at low speed to make the switch? It seems fine if selecting road from stationary but of course that rather defeats the object having to get back up to speed through the dodgy 20-30mph zone.

    Traction Control - I did try turning the TTC off before setting out for the customary Wednesday night ride a week or so back . The throttle response seems to be similar to riding in rain mode, but i don't like the idea of riding without it. This makes no sense whatsoever. My 99 plate SV650 had no TTC & particularly horrible Metzeller tyres for a large percentage of the 20 years I owned it so why, oh why is my tiny excuse for a brain telling me that TTC is a safety feature that should remain on ! Its weird but I guess that's what 50+ years of neurosis do to a chap?

    Re the twitching speedo needle

    I've not noticed it since I realised my Bonnie wasn't special or likely to blow up due to a flickering needle - thanks, just needed the affirmation !!
     
  12. tim scott

    tim scott Well-Known Member
    Subscriber

    Aug 30, 2021
    72
    68
    Kent
    Hi again guys

    I just wanted to update with my 'findings' post your help, having just read a thread about annoying posts that don't actually 'conclude'. therefore please allow me :)

    Since the responses I've used the bike quite a few times, as the weather has been (til this morning) so nice - rude not to really

    I've done easy rides to work Saturday morning, Wednesday evening regular ride outs (including the occasional bout of less sensible riding) & taken Mrs S out for a spin too, covering about 3-400 miles.

    Re the twitchy throttle experienced at 20-30mph in road mode

    Rain Mode - this is the answer. The throttle response is far less sensitive and makes the 20-30mph judder or jerkiness almost non existent. The bike is also far less responsive when rolling on the throttle which makes it perfect for a bimble about on country lanes (or having the Mrs on the pillion)

    Issues arising - only one, so far. When switching back to road mode for a bout of hooliganism the display seems to flicker between rain/road for several seconds before stabilising in what ever mode it was in before (IE not actually changing) - IDK if you need to be travelling at low speed to make the switch? It seems fine if selecting road from stationary but of course that rather defeats the object having to get back up to speed through the dodgy 20-30mph zone.

    Traction Control - I did try turning the TTC off before setting out for the customary Wednesday night ride a week or so back . The throttle response seems to be similar to riding in rain mode, but i don't like the idea of riding without it. This makes no sense whatsoever. My 99 plate SV650 had no TTC & particularly horrible Metzeller tyres for a large percentage of the 20 years I owned it so why, oh why is my tiny excuse for a brain telling me that TTC is a safety feature that should remain on ! Its weird but I guess that's what 50+ years of neurosis do to a chap?

    Re the twitching speedo needle

    I've not noticed it since I realised my Bonnie wasn't special or likely to blow up due to a flickering needle - thanks, just needed the affirmation !!
     
  13. andyc1

    andyc1 Lunarville 7, Airlock 3

    Feb 4, 2017
    2,858
    1,000
    N. Ireland
    Hi Tim, you need to pull the clutch and let go of the throttle while the mode is flashing whilst on the move.
     
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  14. Wessa

    Wessa Cruising

    Apr 27, 2016
    11,317
    1,000
    North West England
    Hi and welcome @tim scott , I'm a bit late to the party. However, I'm glad you have got solutions for the issues you raised. :)
     
  15. tim scott

    tim scott Well-Known Member
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    Aug 30, 2021
    72
    68
    Kent
    Thanks Andy - every days is a school day :)
     
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