That’s all Folks 2

I also follow the Triumph Speed Twin forum.
I have a triumph dealer 35 miles from me and like the new speed twin and will probably get one sometime.
But, I also see on the triumph forum all the problems they have as well with assembly and quality issues.

Yeah, I like the SpdTwn too and was going to get one this spring before the IRS gave be a financial colonoscopy.
May do it next year if I have the cash.
One owner on the Triumphrat forum had warped brake discs on the front.
New replacements were warped too.
Thinking is that Triumph may be ordering thinner spec rotors from Brembo.
If true, not good.
 

I wouldn't even worry about Triumph reliability.

Proofs in the pudding.
Just coming up on 20k and had just 1 issue. The wiring loom was a bit too short with optional fairing fitted. This eventually caused trouble, but the bike was well out of warranty. When I called the local Dealership, they were concerned and said "Don't ride it, we'll come and pick it up"
All fixed at Triumph's cost.

The new Triumph MotoGP triples have really put Triumph on the map. So far they have not even had a hiccup and the riders love them, very powerful.
You are doing ok when you can put the likes of Honda Racing Division in the shade!

Glen
 
Well, mine was an exceptional build for sure. But the quirkiness drove me nuts! My last longish ride was a 50 mile run around Cape Ann in Massachusetts with an old friend riding a '76 BMW 600. We were traveling at speeds no faster than 40 MPH and often from 20 to 30. My Norton 961 was having fits at those speeds!

Had I been riding my Triumph Speed Triple instead it would have been a bit lurchy. But it would have indulged me on the repeated slow down/speed up forced upon us by this back roads route.
 
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Fultonrn, it would be great if you could get a little more info on the Street failures. I can’t see any m chai cal difference between the Street and other 961s. I’m wondering if that 2:1 pipe is causing issues ?

What issues did you have with your 2018 bike?

It’s a very bad sign if Teasdale fall out with Norton, they’ve been a big and well respected Norton dealer for a good while now...
 
Yeah, I like the SpdTwn too and was going to get one this spring before the IRS gave be a financial colonoscopy.
May do it next year if I have the cash.
One owner on the Triumphrat forum had warped brake discs on the front.
New replacements were warped too.
Thinking is that Triumph may be ordering thinner spec rotors from Brembo.
If true, not good.

Forums are the worst thing ever for eroding confidence... just look at this one, it’s got owners with perfectly trouble free 961s paranoid! Whether it’s restaurants, hotels, or motorcycles, if you read all the posts you’d never go anywhere, eat anything or buy anything!

I’m sure Triumphs aren’t perfect, but they do have a strong reputation and you’re never that far from a dealer in the event there is an issue...
 
I imagine the margins are tight for dealers on the sale of a bike,only need a few to many gremlins & they start being less than enthusiastic & prob just send bikes back to Norton ,shame & disappointing for all,especially when u have to tell yer mates the bikes back at the menders again.
5 year Parts & Labour/servicing / warranty package please !
 
Don’t panic Clive, I believe that Hesketh are no longer, or at least not currently, building bikes.

Clive, I have bad news (for your sanity), Hesketh ARE very much alive!

Order now for Jan 2020 delivery, £35k depending on final spec and finish...
 
Forums are the worst thing ever for eroding confidence... just look at this one, it’s got owners with perfectly trouble free 961s paranoid! Whether it’s restaurants, hotels, or motorcycles, if you read all the posts you’d never go anywhere, eat anything or buy anything!

I’m sure Triumphs aren’t perfect, but they do have a strong reputation and you’re never that far from a dealer in the event there is an issue...

It's all just information.
Not true or false, until you do your due diligence and research to determine it's veracity.
The stories don't effect my confidence, just prepare me for what I might expect.
Because I know I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna get a SpdTwn, Just don't know when I will have the cash to do it.

No one has to tell me Hinckely Triumphs are good machines, I've owed and fiddled with one for 13 years.
They're like Jap bikes with a British accent (Please no nasty responses, it's a joke.)

In terms of confidence (maybe misplaced confidence):
I was one of the first 3 people this side of the Atlantic to buy a 961.
Even worse, I am a long term owner of a 850 Mk3.

If anything I'm fault tolerant to the extreme, and quite possibly masochistic.
 
Japanese bikes with a British accent...

Or British bikes with a Thai accent...?!

Sorry, couldn’t resist. And ditto your point... ITS A JOKE Y’ALL...
 
Fred....and the dealership you bought from refuses to work on them and probably wont take it on trade. Our only two dealerships left in the US only take orders. None in stock.

Bum bum bum...another one bites the dust.....
 
Fred....and the dealership you bought from refuses to work on them and probably wont take it on trade. Our only two dealerships left in the US only take orders. None in stock.

Bum bum bum...another one bites the dust.....

Well, what do we do?
We need a Long Suffering Norton 961 Owners Liberation Front.
This could be how we refer to Matt at CNW.
If he would start 961 Restoration business to complement his classic rebuild business.

What could he offer for the 961?
Replacement of the Jenvey throttle bodies, with Keihin, or Bosch, or Magneti Marelli units, and unlocked ECU's for proper tuning
Or
Eliminate all of above and go to 39mm FCR's, Triumph Scrambler igniter box ignition.
Rebuilding crank and balancer shaft to correct timing precision to reduce vibration
Correct oiling issues with rockers
Performance improvement parts, pistons, big valves, valve springs, porting, better air box design, etc.
Replacement steel tank, coated with zinc chromate to prevent internal rust
Marvic classic Morris style mag wheels to improve handling, eliminate weight
The usual Bitchin' CNW paint job.
 
What could he offer for the 961?
Replacement of the Jenvey throttle bodies, with Keihin, or Bosch, or Magneti Marelli units ....

Out of curiosity, what's wrong with the Jenvey throttle bodies? I couldn't find any complaints on the net.

-Knut
 
Out of curiosity, what's wrong with the Jenvey throttle bodies? I couldn't find any complaints on the net.

-Knut

Well, vintage car guys like them, they work real good on high rise Edelbrock intake manifolds.
But as we have seen on 961 threads, the ones used on 961's have a single IAC line which causes problems during idling, with one cylinder robbing the other of fuel through the lone IAC line.
Other manufacturers use throttle bodies that have separate IAC lines for each cylinder.

Also, the Jenvey TBs are mounted directly to the head's intake port without any neoprene boot or heat insulator.
This can cause high/wild idling when the throttle body becomes over heated.
Recently Norton have started supplying a thin silicone insulator for this purpose.
Look at Keihin, or Magnet, or Bosch throttle bodies and you will see that they mount to the intake manifolds with neoprene boots.
This insulated the TB effectively from both heat and vibration.

The advantage to using the Jenvey TB's is that it increases the % British component valve to the 961.
 
Had a spin out today, started at 8am got back at 1pm, lovely in the morning but roasting at about 32 degC at 1pm. Visited Webbs Triumph dealer at Peterborough amongst others. Fair play to Triumph, great range of bikes and selling in big numbers, but when I look closely at the finish of the bonnies/thruxtons, although there is nothing wrong with them, the 961 just looks so much more substantial, the thickness and finish of the components. Good choice
 
A good mate of mine bought a new triumph two years ago. Kept it garaged and polished. One year later it looked like a piece of shit. Wheels pitting, fake chrome wearing and pealing. All with about 3000 miles on the clock. My 961 2014 now has 8000 miles on it looks as good and maybe better than the day I bought it.
Extended warranty I don’t know about the rest of the planet but in Australia it’s not worth the paper it’s written on.
Too many exclusions!!!!
 
A good mate of mine bought a new triumph two years ago. Kept it garaged and polished. One year later it looked like a piece of shit.
And...
My Triumph Sprint was often kept outside, ridden through two winters (salt, potholes, general crap on the road) not cleaned too often.. but it was treated with anti corrosion products before winter.
Not a speck of rust, pitting or damage and when I traded it in the showroom commented on the “as new” appearance.
My Norton 961 was cleaned, polished and garaged between the middle of October and the end of March in 2018 and emerged in Spring 2019 with serious aluminium oxide deterioration on the rear wheel [just the rear wheel mind) - Rob Jameson advised that the only way to really get it back to condition was to replace the rim of the wheel.
Good and bad components from everywhere - remember the infamous “Friday Ford” which went wrong all the time?

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For our overseas members....

In the UK the Ford manufacturing and assembly plants in Halewood and Dagenham finished earlier on a Friday; those who were so inclined had a couple of extra pints at lunchtime because they only had an hour left to work when they went back. Hence, the Friday afternoon or “Friday Ford” was a label attributed to those cars that frequently broke down or went wrong.
 
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I have a 3 year old and a 14 year old Triumph. Given a mornings work I can detail them both to showroom appearance.
But isn't the way the thing runs ( or doesn't) more important than the look of it?
 
Well I'll go along with nopdog. I can't speak for the 961, still making my mind up about buying one of those, but the finish on my Bonneville Scrambler, chromium plating in particular, was deteriorating within just a couple of months from new - and yes fake chrome wearing. I've managed to keep it in check with constant care and attention, including replacement of some fake chrome bits, but it still niggles me. I have a 42 year old Honda that, given a mornings work, I can bring to showroom appearance (no spokes or chrome rims though, which make life easier) - and it's never had special attention as cleaning bikes is a chore I hate.
It's not just that though, it's how the manufacturer deals with the problem within warranty and Triumph's attitude was disgusting.

Furthermore I've noticed that Triumph often seem to use the cheapest components they can lay their hands on to maximise profits. I now have to consider do I want to keep the bike? I've been putting off spending hundreds improving the crappy suspension, snatchy throttle etc. etc. I already had to pay extra for a locking fuel cap, toolkit, and centre stand amongst other things.

I must admit though, the new Speed Twin does look good - but it's no sportsbike so why no centre stand? (and I believe there is no way of fitting one).
 
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