T120 Loud Noise Under Braking

Discussion in 'Bonneville' started by Mach1, Apr 13, 2017.

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  1. Leo

    Leo New Member

    May 23, 2017
    7
    3
    Eastbourne
    Good tip, many thanks.
     
  2. King Norre

    King Norre New Member

    Aug 19, 2017
    3
    3
    Antwerp, Belgium
    Hey guys. I was wondering if you have been able to find a solution for the noise yet. I'm considering buying a T120 but I heared stories of people selling their bike because of the braking noise. Do all T120s have this problem or is it just a certain batch/production lot?
     
  3. Leo

    Leo New Member

    May 23, 2017
    7
    3
    Eastbourne
    As far as I can tell not everyone has this problem, and to be honest I still haven't changed my pads to EBC as the problem has not really reoccurred to any extent since I rubbed my discs down with 'wet or dry' paper (the noise returns occasionally, but not as loud and constantly as before). I replied to a Triumph survey a couple of weeks ago asking me how satisfied I was with my T120 & I made it quite clear that I was unhappy with the brake noise situation. I will update if they reply to me, but suspect I won't hear anything from them.
     
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  4. King Norre

    King Norre New Member

    Aug 19, 2017
    3
    3
    Antwerp, Belgium
    Ok. Thanks for your reply Leo! I just got a phone call from the dealer yesterday to tell me the demo ride has arrived. I'll be testriding the T120 soon. I'll probably end up buying one . First I wanted the Thruxton more because of its look, but somehow I just know I'll be better off with the T120. It suits my riding style better and, let's face, it's a beauty also
     
  5. Leo

    Leo New Member

    May 23, 2017
    7
    3
    Eastbourne
    King, the T120 Black I own now is the 4th Bonneville I've owned since my first one in 1982 (prior to that I owned a Honda XL125S from 1976-78, and a Honda CB400T from 1978-82). It is a fantastic bike to ride in terms of a great riding position, very comfortable seat, and heated grips for autumn/winter, as well as immense power; the acceleration is tremendous! The bike also looks great in all black, just wish the rear shocks were black as well! The ride by wire throttle control is much smoother then my previous 2014 model, and the clutch is incredibly light. All in all a great bike apart from the aforementioned brake noise!
     
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  6. King Norre

    King Norre New Member

    Aug 19, 2017
    3
    3
    Antwerp, Belgium
    Yeah, the all black looks fabulous. Btw, there's someone on the TriumphRat forum who found a solution for the braking problem. Here's the link (I hope it is allowed to link to another forum. If not, please just delete my post mr. moderator).

    http://www.triumphrat.net/water-coo...-installing-floating-brake-discs-on-t120.html
     
  7. Leo

    Leo New Member

    May 23, 2017
    7
    3
    Eastbourne
    King, the T120 Black I own now is the 4th Bonneville I've owned since my first one in 1982 (prior to that I owned a Honda XL125S from 1976-78, and a Honda CB400T from 1978-82). It is a fantastic bike to ride in terms of a great riding position, very comfortable seat, and heated grips for autumn/winter, as well as immense power; the acceleration is tremendous! The bike also looks great in all black, just wish the rear shocks were black as well! The ride by wire throttle control is much smoother then my previous 2014 model, and the clutch is incredibly light. All in all a great bike apart from the aforementioned brake noise!
    King, the link works fine, many thanks, & a very interesting modification. I'm still going to wait to see if Triumph reply to my e-mail before making any changes myself as I feel it should be down to Triumph to make the changes under warranty. Also, if you make a major mod like this it may invalidate the 3 year warranty itself. Hopefully if this mod does work Triumph will approve the change & carry out the work at the dealerships, as I'm sure they'll be monitoring all these online conversations on the various forums. Again, thanks for the info.
     
  8. Dorset Biker

    Dorset Biker New Member

    Sep 27, 2017
    12
    3
    Bridport UK
    I am picking up my new T120 next week. I've studied this and a number of other posts with interest, so firstly thanks to everyone for all the advice that has helped me to ask some sensible questions. I asked my dealer about the brake noise and was shown that later bikes have a kind of damper fitted to the inner rim of the front discs that is reckoned to prevent the disc vibrating and making a noise. I tested one with this fitted and despite my best efforts couldn't get any sound from it when moving slowly or at speed so maybe this is the fix? I really hope that Triumph do the honourable thing and make it a FOC retro fit for anyone still suffering.
     
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  9. Leo

    Leo New Member

    May 23, 2017
    7
    3
    Eastbourne
    Thanks for this info. I'll get onto my dealer and ask if they know anything about this mod. Unfortunately it looks as if Triumph are prepared to ignore purchasers of earlier models otherwise they would have had a recall by now.
     
  10. nowyoutellme

    nowyoutellme New Member

    Jun 26, 2017
    4
    3
    66104
    Update here....advised my dealer in KC of the noise and didnt get much feedback. Out of the blue a month or so later the dealer calls and says Triumph has agreed to replace not only the brake rotors and pads, but also the wheel! Now just waiting for parts. If that doesnt eliminate the groaning/squealing, I wont know what else to try....
     
  11. Mach1

    Mach1 Member

    May 10, 2015
    37
    18
    London
    A definitive answer at last! There is a solution but it looks like it is being arranged on an individual basis.

    My bike is due for service on Wednesday so I emailed Triumph today to see if there was any update.

    This is the reply...

    "We do now have a solution for this issue, it includes replacing the front wheel and brake discs on your model.

    I will arrange for a kit to be dispatched this week to Metropolis Motorcycles, however it will be down to them if they can accommodate you this week to fit them."


    I then spoke to the service guys at Metropolis who didn't sound like they were aware of the issue but were very helpful & are going to fit the parts when they arrive.

    So, there is a solution but I haven't seen anything regarding a recall so it looks like you will have to speak to your dealer, and possibly Triumph after sales ([email protected]), to get anything done.

    Hope this helps.
     
  12. Leo

    Leo New Member

    May 23, 2017
    7
    3
    Eastbourne
    Had my front wheel replaced with the modified wheel/discs today. Rode over to the dealer (wet weather) and brakes squealed at nearly every set of red lights despite my last attempt to clean discs with wet/dry paper. The ride home was a real pleasure with no noise from the front discs at all! Fingers crossed that the problem is now cured.
     
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  13. crispey

    crispey crispey creme de la creme

    Nov 6, 2014
    7,194
    1,000
    Uk
    Great stuff, I hope everyone else gets theirs sorted too. Result!
     
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  14. BonnieCat

    BonnieCat Crème de la Crème

    Feb 20, 2016
    3,423
    1,000
    Netherlands
    Not sure if mine has been modified. Not done that many miles ( < 500) but my T120 makes no noise at all when braking. Perhaps I'm just lucky or it hasn't developed yet
     
  15. Leo

    Leo New Member

    May 23, 2017
    7
    3
    Eastbourne
    All the new bikes are fitted with the mod, so I assume yours is one of those if you purchased it recently?
     
  16. Ken walburn

    Ken walburn Noble Member

    Jun 28, 2017
    888
    300
    Essex
    I.e we know what the problem is but we're not going to change every T120 brake pads under warranty, coz we don't need to coz it's a wear & tear friction lining problem. Total B****cks! Come on Triumph get a grip.
     
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  17. Leo

    Leo New Member

    May 23, 2017
    7
    3
    Eastbourne
    Ken, too true, they know it's a problem, and they have to change the wheel with new modified discs fitted, which obviously is expensive. If it was just a brake pad problem they would have done a recall, which would have been a whole lot cheaper. Hopefully mine is cured now. By the way, it takes about 2 hours for the changeover if anybody else plans to get theirs done. Must log off now as I've got a film to watch and several cold beers to drink!
     
  18. Ken walburn

    Ken walburn Noble Member

    Jun 28, 2017
    888
    300
    Essex
  19. Sprinter

    Sprinter Kinigit

    Aug 17, 2014
    6,026
    1,000
    uk
  20. rodmcm

    rodmcm New Member

    Jan 31, 2018
    1
    3
    Auckland New Zealand
    Gentlemen
    I realise this is a late reply from me as a newbie but you may like to look at
    this.. Basically a guy in the US and me in NZ have had burnt up back brakes on new T120s, and both have had bad responses from the agents

    Search 2018 T120 Brake Problem on the forum at triumphrat.net

    I am of the opinion that the return spring is not man enough for the job and the brake lever keeps the brake a little on all of the time

    The constant small amount of breaking would explain the pads wearing out at 6K mileage and why everything is dry in the calliper

    Will upload photos asap
     
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