Featured Is it all bad ?

I'm with ya John.

I bloody love my Thrux R.

 

I've got a new T120Black on order and I've been getting a bit worried about the quality issues that have been raised recently, but your post has helped to allay some of my fears. Thank you!

 

Yes, very good point Andy, thank you. Nothing will put me off getting the T120, I'm sure, and I'm sure you're right about the bad things being posted and not enough of the good. Your post is very positive which is great! Cheers. Pen.

 

Hmm! Wasn't aware there was any kerfuffle about quality and corrosion on the latest bikes. I've a 2016 Street Twin and a 2015 Tiger 800, both recent purchases that'll be parked outside under Oxford Aquatex covers when not being ridden. I'll let you know, but don't expect anything out of the ordinary for bikes that get hosed down after winter rides once they've cooled off with a good dosing of FS365 afterwards.

 

As long as the dealer recognises there's a problem and deals with it I don't have any issue with these niggles, it's when you're fobbed off with excuses and lengthy delays get my back up. I've had excellent service from my dealer and they've dealt with everything with no delays.

I'm with Bonzo, I love my R and I forgive it for the 'new model' teething problems. I wouldn't swap it for anything else on the market.

I think some of the problems with the finish on the wheels, spokes, casings and throttle bodies is some of the cleaning products we use, just some water and a microfibres cloth is all I use.

 

I would agree that the T120 is a great bike but after a lifetime of Japanese quality I find what Triumph have given us in the T120 range just isn't good enough. Take the corrosion, I have had slight corrosion on spokes and wheels that I've sorted for the time being using ACF50. Since I've done this it's sat in my heated shed. My 8 year old Yamaha, apart from using ACF50 on electrical connectors gets no such treatment. I've no worries about taking that out in the rain for fear of it rusting.

The 2 seats on my FJR1300 clip into place and after 50,000 miles have no movement. The seat on the Triumph feels like it's ready to fall off. The clocks that were replaced due to steaming up fit just as badly on the rubber mounts as the originals did.

There are people who have experienced corrosion of other parts, it's already had a fuel pump wiring recall and it's rumoured that there will be a recall for throttle sticking.

There are maybe some that think that all of the above are OK. I don't and I certainly won't be singing Triumphs praises.

I will keep the T120 for the foreseeable future because it does exactly what I wanted it to do in terms of riding it, but I will never buy another Triumph. I work in manufacturing and some of the issues with the T120 are just plain sloppy.

Penelope - Getting a new bike is great and you will love your T120. It is indeed, from a riding point of view a great bike and I love riding mine.

 

My 2012 Bonnie EFI with cast alloy wheels is still in VG condition and I use it daily unless it drops below 2deg C or is chucking it down.
It sleeps outside under a JDC bike cover and I spray protect it with Scottoiler FS365
The alloy bits do quickly show signs of 'furring' if not cleaned in this weather, as do the zinc plated components, and yes I do believe the plating could be better quality.
But if cleaned and protected regularly they are okay, a lesson I learnt from last winter.
The new Bonnevilles are a beautifully engineered motor cycle, I would not hesitate recommending any of the models.
It puts a smile on my face every time I ride it, and handles superbly.
A few mods to personalise it is all part of owning a bike.
Just be prepared to clean and polish regularly, which I generally do on a lunch time at work.
Summary: A great bike to be proud of!

 

Hey JohnT

No its not all bad. Its better than it has ever been with motorcycles

I have been riding continuously since 1974. I had a few of the old Bonneville T40V's and a 1975 Trident - now they had build issues believe me After any ride, of any distance, you would need to check nuts bolts oil leaks etc etc. My Bonneville would destroy the front mudguard stay with the vibration on a regular basis!

I have also had a few BMW Rt's and K bikes and they all had issues, some minor and not so minor.

The new Bonnevilles, in my opinion, are extremely well built and have high quality finishes. Sure, they are mass produced and as such there will always be issues of some kind somewhere, but compared to older motorcycles there really is no comparison.

Everyone will have horror stories about this brand or that brand; things falling off, not fitting properly, rattling, leaking, corroding but that is the nature of mass production. All of the Japanese manufacturers, European as well, all of them, are subject to the same problems with their bikes. I am not one to worship Japanese bikes as the motorcycling nirvana.


Just my 2c worth ( for whats it worth)

Cheers
Gary

 

I've never own a bike before may 2016, and my Ramona (Bonnie T100 Black) is my first bike.
Besides the Kawa on training and licence, the T100 is the only bike I've ridden so far.
But the babe just spent the whole damn winter under 2 tarpaulins outside, and I've seen she end up being drenched anyways after a strong rain.

Nevertheless, with a little help from ACF 50, the bike is basically free from rust (expect the disk brakes but that was before me) and after being left in the cold for 3 months, she started Sunday like if I was riding her yesterday.

As far as I am concerned (Then again, a newbie) The Bonneville is a comfortable, reliable, sturdy bike. I looks amazing and seems to perform quite damn well so far. I don't know if Triumph is going down, but it seems pretty high standard for me...

 

I don't see the grass is greener on the japs side. But that's my opinion. I have done over 100 000 km on the classic series. Startet with a 07 Thruxton, then a couple of Scrambler's and now a T120. Never ones have I had any engine problems, I also want to flag the low cost on service. Compared to my old Ducati and Bmw GS I think Triumph is on the low cost service side.

I have owned 2 Honda's, on NSR and one Vfr800. The Nsr had a total engine breakdown, and costed 3000 GBp to rebuild. All my years riding Triumph will not add up to that cost as a total . The VFR gearbox break down, and it was a fabrication fault. The Toyota quality is up for a debate IMO I have a XT 660 for use in winter and authum, and it has so must rust on it that no camera will catch it, is like trying to take a picture of a black hole

But back to the rust on the spokes and instrument leak on the Bonnie. That is not good reading and I fully understand the complains here. Hope that will sort out I have notice the instrument problem and will follow it up before the warranty ends. I have not experienced the spokes corrosion and the weather is not all that sunny here in Norway.

I will have the excuse to order a set of tubeless Alpina wheels if the corrosion starts on my Bonnie oem wheels. <
Thinking about it, I hope they do

 

I normally keep my bikes for a long time and maintain them rigorously, including thorough cleaning and paint protection etc.. The bike has never been subjected to salty roads and has been washed and dried thoroughly after every dirty ride.
The rust that showed on my spokes and wheel is not lack of care it is poor quality manufacturing processes. Anyone who would argue otherwise is simply wrong. I refer once again to my 40 year old Suzuki - it is far from concourse condition but the chrome rims and zinc plated spokes have no trace of corrosion.

"Is it all bad?"

No it isn't all bad but from where I'm sitting it isn't all good either.

 

Do a wheel swap with old git, Henry and then youre both sorted

 

I have to agree with you there. I have used my T120 since November and have been out in some very poor conditions but I have always used lots of scotoiler 365 after each ride after a good wash with cold water to get salt off and a wash with good quality car/bike shampoo/wax before 365 is applied... I've been riding and running approx 40 bikes in me and my wife's biking career and I have to say my beautiful T120 is fab and I think the Finnish is of a very high standard . In my experience all bikes are fine if looked after, all year not just in summer, and all bikes will show signs of corrosion if we miss a little bit then put it away. I do feel for people who have experienced quality issues and that must be very annoying but that is not to say that this is a problem that will affect everyone.
I just wanted to share my view as I was worried that a very special bike was getting a bit of a beating and I have to say mine is one of the best bikes I have owned , and as I've said I have had many in my time.

 

Ive got one of those little bike hair dryers that blasts all the water droplets out of the nooks & crannies after a wash, then a coating of FS365 (avoiding brakes & tyres etc) and all is good so far.

 

So rigourous cleaning after every ride, polish and a coating of expensive oil = no rust and corrosion. Well, that's pretty obvious!! Unfortunately that's not what I bought the bike for. Yes, I do clean the bike, in the recommended way, every couple of weeks, and I do still think that the corrosion I'm seeing after 6 months of normal usage is unacceptable.
Had a 'customer survey' email from Triumph this morning. Filled it in with mostly postive ratings but did make clear my feelings about this issue.

 

Been reading with some interest about the quality issues and that prompted me to go check on my thunderbird LT. Like many on the forum I wash the bike after a ride in anything but dry weather and then treat with FS365 before putting it away in the garage. So when I looked today I have found some rust on the front wheel rim (the spokes seem to be ok as is the rest of the bike), it is not a lot but it certainly is starting to corrode! The bike is only 8 months old so I'm a little concerned and will be mentioning it when I take the bike in for its service. I will post the response from the dealer.
Wessa

 

I get the feeling that some people think this is acceptable . It's very much not acceptable - it's shite!! Triumph have announce record profits and normally I'd say congratulations but not when they put out bikes with poorly made parts

 

For the record, though I haven't experienced any corrosion problems myself (yet!), I agree entirely - it is not acceptable on a new (and expensive) machine.

Dealer/manufacturer need to sort the issue.

 

Thanks very much for your thoughts, I've got my heart set on it now, but I'll definitely bear in mind your input and hope that my bike is as niggle-free as possible. Anyhow, I'm really looking forward to riding it!

 

Way back in 1985 I bought a brand new BMW K100RS - which was top of the line as far as motorcycles went in those days apparently. I paid the enormous sum of $4995 Australian dollars ( equivalent to approx $20,000 today ) and the first thing I noticed was the instrument housing fogged up . Man was I pissed off. The dealer 'fixed it' three times then BMW put out a Service Bulletin with a 'permanent fix'. No such thing - they continued to be fogged up in certain weather conditions until the day I sold it.

Moral of the story - all makes ( and I mean all makes) have some issues which are a result of mass production. Our bikes are so much better than the 'good old days' which I lived and rode through.

Again just my 2c worth

Cheers
Gary

 

Hi all....I'm sorry but I remember my old bikes Gs750 Suzuki springs to mind...the Finnish on them as opposed to today's Bikes was shite, you could watch them rust before your eyes. I think there is a lot of rose tinted glasses being worn here. I also remember that about 3 years ago quite a few councils in the uk got caught with their trousers down re salt reserves for spreading and since then ( in my opinion) have been gritting more frequently which means there is more on the road. But besides all that people were not as picky in the 70s and 80s and didn't expect bikes that were used regularly to look pristine.. Also the type of bike and look has a bearing on how you look after it. My T120 is the two tone black and white which has a lot of chrome etc...I bought it knowing I would have to keep on top of it more than my last bike which was a Honda cb1300 as the Finnish is different... Scotoiler fs365 isn't expensive at about £8.00 per litre and will prevent the problems I'm seeing here .... I think you pays your money you takes your choice. I think the new Bonnies are akin to Harley Davidsons fantastic looking bikes designed to shine but they need some TLC or they will (like all bikes of that type) show some signs of use....You do see some 30 -40 year old bikes looking great but most of them have been fully or partially restored, had parts re chromed by specialists and most of the fastener replaced with stainless which wasn't used on them originally, or they have been kept inside and never used in rain or much at all ..
That's my experience and as I've said I've been riding bikes since 1979 and had over 40 bikes as they were my first mode of transport for many years