No Service Book And Often No Handbook

Plezier · May 22, 2024

Today has proved to be fruitless one in that when we managed to find someone who could and more importantly "would" speak to me in English and agreed to speak to someone at another of their branches that has a Triumph Sprint ST in stock and find out about the service history but it seems they don't have either the handbook or the service book they also said they have had it in stock for a year but on one web site the advert was first placed in 2022. Anyway went onto another sales web site looking for a suitable bike but this one covers Europe and found several that look interesting in Germany but nearly all of them said no service book in the advert so am wondering what is going on! Now there is a Triumph dealership in Sophia but they don't seem to list used bikes and have to wonder if they are capable of servicing the older T300 900's and 1200's will try to speak to them and ask.

sprintdave · May 24, 2024

I'm sure there must be some bikes out there with a service book and handbook, my t509 has both in a folder which has passed through all owners from new. Granted most older bikes have big gaps in their servicing too.
I wouldn't expect a Triumph dealer in Sophia to be able to look after the old t300 bikes. Here in the UK we have to rely on independent garages as modern workshops have little or no knowledge of the older technology, there's nowhere to plug in the code readers and carbs are a thing of the past.

Pegscraper · May 24, 2024

Virtually every bike I've owned since 1986 will have a "gap" in it's service history, simply because I've done my own servicing since then but they were all sold with the OEM service books, owner's manual and a seperate record of servicing and maintenance I performed. The only two owners manuals I kept were from my first Fireblade and first Street Scrambler which were both written off. Obviously franchised Triumph dealers will only have a record of servicing performed by franchised dealers and entered on the bikes record. Maybe self servicing is more popular in Europe than here in the UK? Personally, I would expect any dealer capable of servicing the new bikes to be more than capable of servicing the older models, they are not complicated machines. Wether they can be bothered of course is another matter.

Plezier · May 24, 2024

sprintdave said: ↑

I'm sure there must be some bikes out there with a service book and handbook, my t509 has both in a folder which has passed through all owners from new. Granted most older bikes have big gaps in their servicing too.
I wouldn't expect a Triumph dealer in Sophia to be able to look after the old t300 bikes. Here in the UK we have to rely on independent garages as modern workshops have little or no knowledge of the older technology, there's nowhere to plug in the code readers and carbs are a thing of the past.
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Sadly am not finding this and my expericinces with main dealers is not good though that was with the car it spent the first 3 1/2 months after purcahse in different workshops before we bit the bullet and had it transported to a main dealer in Ruse who had it for 2 weeks before they even looked at it and then did not listen to a word I said. Had even bought a refurbished electronis SAM unit that was in the load area and after 3 weeks they told me when I phoned to find out what was happening they said the front SAM is not good ........ Told them that and a replacement is in the back Doh!! Turns out the refurbished one was not good as well. Eventually after over a month can get the car back to find out that now the parking brake is buggered so drive carefully home 90km home that is and get a local reliable-ish mechanic to get the parts and fit them already had the rear calipers replaced as they were rusted to hell so he gets new discs, parking brake shoes and fitting kit but doea not get new pads !!!!!! For some reason they just will not listen to what is said. Now some of it maybe the language barrier but let's face it after the experience it dealing with garages and salesmen am now very wary. Plus Sophia is far further away than Ruse big service would mean overnight stay in Sophia which bring logistical problems for me dealing with home..

So looks like no Hinkley or any other Triumph for me unless there is a sudden windfall and can seriously up the budget which is unlikely so currently looking at Suzuki S 650 and Ducati Multistrada 620 from about 2002-2006 both are lightweights compared to the T300 and weigh around 400lbs and with my wrists and knees that is something I have to consider and something had not done until now one reason was looking at T140's but to get a decent one is beyond the budget and then there is the hassle of shipping, of visitng the UK to collect, and then registering it here. Bikes from the EU countries are far simpler to deal with now after Bexit. Damn now am feeling a bit down.

Plezier · May 27, 2024

Plezier said: ↑

Sadly am not finding this and my expericinces with main dealers is not good though that was with the car it spent the first 3 1/2 months after purcahse in different workshops before we bit the bullet and had it transported to a main dealer in Ruse who had it for 2 weeks before they even looked at it and then did not listen to a word I said. Had even bought a refurbished electronis SAM unit that was in the load area and after 3 weeks they told me when I phoned to find out what was happening they said the front SAM is not good ........ Told them that and a replacement is in the back Doh!! Turns out the refurbished one was not good as well. Eventually after over a month can get the car back to find out that now the parking brake is buggered so drive carefully home 90km home that is and get a local reliable-ish mechanic to get the parts and fit them already had the rear calipers replaced as they were rusted to hell so he gets new discs, parking brake shoes and fitting kit but doea not get new pads !!!!!! For some reason they just will not listen to what is said. Now some of it maybe the language barrier but let's face it after the experience it dealing with garages and salesmen am now very wary. Plus Sophia is far further away than Ruse big service would mean overnight stay in Sophia which bring logistical problems for me dealing with home..

So looks like no Hinkley or any other Triumph for me unless there is a sudden windfall and can seriously up the budget which is unlikely so currently looking at Suzuki S 650 and Ducati Multistrada 620 from about 2002-2006 both are lightweights compared to the T300 and weigh around 400lbs and with my wrists and knees that is something I have to consider and something had not done until now one reason was looking at T140's but to get a decent one is beyond the budget and then there is the hassle of shipping, of visitng the UK to collect, and then registering it here. Bikes from the EU countries are far simpler to deal with now after Bexit. Damn now am feeling a bit down.
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Of course to make things worse today (Monday) as was perusing the for sale listings what do I spot but a 1999 Triumph 900 Sprint that's been recently imported into the country and it's offered at a really good price. No mention of service history etc of course as this is the sole information given:-

"October 1997 , Tourer, Used motorcycle, new import, In good condition , Manual gears, 80,000km, Gasoline, 80hp, 900cc , Four -stroke, Red metallic"

Looks quite good in the photos but of course it's needs looking at in person and of course it's not local i fact it's a good 4 hours drive away which means it's not really a do in one day thing that is always assuming that the seller can speak to me, language barrier issues, all I can do is try and phone andseehow it goes.