Triumph you rock/suck?

**Luckylegs** · 8th November 2010, 20:06

Had to take the tail piece off my 675 for the first time last week. Imagine my excitement when four allen head bolts later it just lifted off. All my previous bikes (including a similarly aged ZX6R) all required some form of tilt, bend, slide, tilt again and then pull so I was stoked and still praising the the pride of hinckley when I discovered that the next 6 bolts removed from it were all rusty and someshat seized in their respective nuts and or threaded recepticles. Given the bikes age Im assuming sub standard components but has anyone see this before on a newish bike....

**SS90** · 8th November 2010, 23:19

Originally Posted by Luckylegs

Had to take the tail piece off my 675 for the first time last week. Imagine my excitement when four allen head bolts later it just lifted off. All my previous bikes (including a similarly aged ZX6R) all required some form of tilt, bend, slide, tilt again and then pull so I was stoked and still praising the the pride of hinckley when I discovered that the next 6 bolts removed from it were all rusty and someshat seized in their respective nuts and or threaded recepticles. Given the bikes age Im assuming sub standard components but has anyone see this before on a newish bike....

I can relate.

It comes down to substandard plating on the substandard material fasteners, its been a problem with all the major manufacturers since the late nineties.

Its frustrating for a mechanic to TRY to explain to a customer that several of his fasteners (which have never been turned from new) on his 3 year old bike have been so hard to remove that they need to be replaced (and.... there is an extra hour on the service bill), due to corrosion.

It, unfortunately is a "fact of life" in the mass produced, profit driven market, and, I agree, it sucks.

If it is any consolation, at work we have a €21,000 VW van, that is 4 years old, and, by all means could be considered "luxury", even with such an expensive van, the plating on the rear door lock (clearly made in china) is completely gone (only 4 years old), and rusted solid.... a part the size of a NZ 50c piece,(made in china) and it costs €48 for a new one.... SIGH.....

"Not like when I was a lad" (Blah Blah)

**Owl** · 9th November 2010, 06:41

Like SS90 said, it's not uncommon and we often come across rusty factory fitted items at work.

Just this weekend, I removed my partner's mirrors (11 month old Bonneville SE), only to find one chrome thread starting to rust. I coated them with Prolan anti-seize, which I'm finding great for items rusty.

Never found a rusty fastener on my S3 though.

**Luckylegs** · 9th November 2010, 11:33

...Glad its not just me. I certainly hadnt seen anything like it on my 06 ZX6R so was surprised. Luckily they are on seldomly removed bits, although this may make it worse I guess.

**White trash** · 9th November 2010, 12:15

Triumph would have to be the worst of all the "high end" manufacturers IMHO.

I've seen a friends Annivesary T100 when it was only a few weeks old and never seen a wet road, front wheel rim covered in rust spots. From memory the handlebars did the same.

**Luckylegs** · 9th November 2010, 12:26

Originally Posted by White trash

...
I've seen a friends Annivesary T100 when it was only a few weeks old and never seen a wet road, front wheel rim covered in rust spots. From memory the handlebars did the same.

Thats really interesting. A guy at work has been looking at these too. As much as Ive been encouraging him (to get him back on bike). I'll be sure to let him know that.

...Blardy british huh ? Its this sort of attention to detail that see's the "empire" getting snaller and smaller

**trumpy** · 9th November 2010, 12:58

My Speed Four is now six years old and there are no rusty bits on it anywhere (probably 'cause most if it is plastic...). The chrome seems to have stayed on all the nuts and bolts and anywhere else it should be. The bike doesn't often get ridden in the rain (because I'm an old fart who hates getting wet) and generally gets washed and shoved in the garage to dry off over the next day or two.....
Maybe I'm just lucky and got a good 'un.

**Devil** · 9th November 2010, 13:51

Originally Posted by trumpy

My Speed Four is now six years old and there are no rusty bits on it anywhere (probably 'cause most if it is plastic...). The chrome seems to have stayed on all the nuts and bolts and anywhere else it should be. The bike doesn't often get ridden in the rain (because I'm an old fart who hates getting wet) and generally gets washed and shoved in the garage to dry off over the next day or two.....
Maybe I'm just lucky and got a good 'un.

Long time no see!
Yep, my Speed Four was fantastic in that regard. No rust/corrosion issues in the 70,000km that I had it for.

**Owl** · 9th November 2010, 16:18

Originally Posted by White trash

Triumph would have to be the worst of all the "high end" manufacturers IMHO.

I've seen a friends Annivesary T100 when it was only a few weeks old and never seen a wet road, front wheel rim covered in rust spots. From memory the handlebars did the same.

I've heard a similar story, but in this case it was the rear and the owner took it back to the dealer. Problem was blamed on salt spray during shipping and rear end was replaced under warranty.

**Toaster** · 9th November 2010, 18:48

Originally Posted by Owl

I've heard a similar story, but in this case it was the rear and the owner took it back to the dealer. Problem was blamed on salt spray during shipping and rear end was replaced under warranty.

Salt spray during shipping? Yeah right!

Closed containers prevent that, unless it was "shipped" on the back of a ute that used the beach as a highway.

**tri boy** · 9th November 2010, 19:07

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...hroming-Skills.

Faults appear in all brands.
I wouldn't say Triumph are better/worse than most of the major brands, but I will say that apart from a front wheel being not up to scratch, 40000kms later the scrambler hasn't missed a beat mechanically, (hasn't even required a valve shim yet).

Anvils sometimes have a slight imperfection also. The comparrison is worthy.
Triumph still rocks, my faith is still intact.

(Fooking I-tie parts are another story)

**AllanB** · 9th November 2010, 19:43

2 non rusty bolts and a pair of clippy things on the Hornet to remove the tail. Mind you that's after you undid two fasteners to remove the side covers (does that count?)

I've not found any rusty nuts etc in 3 years, mind you I am pretty anal with cleaning the bike

hell I even clean the underside of the engine every now and then

My name is Allan and I am a cleanaholic.

Re rusty - rode a demo Guzzi a couple years back - rusty bolts and nuts everywhere.

If you read the British bike mags it sounds like they cover the entire bike in WD40 on a regular basis - that will stop rust!

I'd buy a Triumph. Anyone got some spare money to donate to me?

**davebullet** · 9th November 2010, 20:50

Originally Posted by Owl

Like SS90 said, it's not uncommon and we often come across rusty factory fitted items at work.

Just this weekend, I removed my partner's mirrors (11 month old Bonneville SE), only to find one chrome thread starting to rust. I coated them with Prolan anti-seize, which I'm finding great for items rusty.

Never found a rusty fastener on my S3 though.

The screw that holds on the headlamp cover (underneath) has rusted on both headlights on my 3 month old Speedy. Will find a stainless replacement. I won't bother with a warranty blah blah as they'll probably just replace it with an equivalent substandard screw

**F5 Dave** · 17th November 2010, 13:25

Bleeding RoHS showing it's unwelcome head again. Many of the goodstuff we enjoyed in cleaning, platings, petrol & all sorts are now not legal to use.

Triumph could hardly be called 'High End'. They sell their bikes incredibly competitively, so the accountants have had a huge part to play in parts specification.