My most reliable motorcycle was a Honda Interceptor, that was a great bike but still not as fun as the Daytona900 it replaced.
Honeymoon Over?
- Thread starter Dr.D
- Start date
Tal
Living Legend
.....I have to add that ive owned 7 Triumphs over the years and have never had a problem that i havnt fixed myself...meaning that there were no serious issues really, just small things that with a little patience and time...sleeping on it...using Mr Google for ideas etc, ive fixed myself.
I'm careful with my tyre pressures too...42 rear, 38 front and am always checking them and get real good mileage from them...i have an electrical pump that i plug into a fitting on the bike so i can correct the pressures should i need to. I dont ride like i stole it cos i havnt...it's my investment...my cash paid for it so i look after it.....maybe i'm just lucky in this respect. There are wee things that will go wrong with every machine..its because they are machines.
I'm careful with my tyre pressures too...42 rear, 38 front and am always checking them and get real good mileage from them...i have an electrical pump that i plug into a fitting on the bike so i can correct the pressures should i need to. I dont ride like i stole it cos i havnt...it's my investment...my cash paid for it so i look after it.....maybe i'm just lucky in this respect. There are wee things that will go wrong with every machine..its because they are machines.
Vector
Supercharged
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2023
- Messages
- 452
This is my 5th Triumph since 2001. 2012 Trophy SE was garbage, had Triumph buy it back after loosing power multiple times and almost getting run over. The Bonneville variants I have had were great bikes and easy to maintain. I've only now reached 550 miles and completed the R3's first service. I am hopeful I have few if any problems.
All brands have issues, no mechanical product is perfect.
From when I started biking in the 70's I only ever had Jap bikes (...well apart from a brief spell with Bultaco Sherpa 250 in 82' ) and I had some but extremely few problems over all (There was one major one in 87' Kawasaki GTR1000).
Fast forward to 95' and I deviated from the norm and went full blown Italian by having several Moto Guzzi's exclusively for over a decade. Everyone in the mainstream thought I was in for a whole load of trouble, but actually what I experienced was that the reliability statistic was pretty much the same as with the Jap bikes.
In 2006 I went all orange with a KTM 990 Adventure and was massively impressed with the quality and engineering design. It was an incredible bike, but even 'it' let me down by the side of the road in the second year of ownership. Turned out to be a loose battery connection, which I discovered by chance and fixed thankfully, but I was convinced at first that it was going to be expensive.....was I lucky? Maybe.
On my next bike (Harley Davidson XR1200) I ended up properly stranded in the middle of nowhere with a collapsed front wheel bearing but not much else. (Was very frustrating at the time though).
Prior to buying this Rocket 3R, i'd not heard of any significant reliability problems with Hinkley Triumphs. I have a mate who has had his 1997 Triumph Daytona 995i 'forever' and he rides it all year round most years and he's not had any major issues with it and regards it as a faithful friend. I keep thinking that it's getting worn out by now but it just keeps going just fine.
I do have a gripe though, about the latest bikes......all this electronics, sensors, software....gizmos.........I wish it wasn't necessary. Is this stuff making bikes better??
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Tal
Living Legend
...yes...lol
Journeyman
"And this one is just right" ~ Goldilocks
As long as there are no problems the gee whiz gadgetry is fine, but I'd really be just as happy with a key start, analog display, and the bike locked in Sport mode (i.e. no rider modes). It's the way it handles and responds that makes me love this bike, not the bells and whistles.
Journeyman
"And this one is just right" ~ Goldilocks
I have 80K miles on my '11 Roadster. Problems along the way, but I'd say for a motorcycle that gets heavy use it's been good to me. With that bike and the 3R I have had the same experience as Tal doing my own repairs. I hesitate to say this (superstition), so I'll word it carefully... The last time I had my bike at a dealer was to put tires on my 2007 Bonneville years ago. Many bikes later (mostly Triumphs) I've learned along the way to do my own repairs, including my own tires.
Motorcycles, especially high performance bikes (Rockets), require much more maintenance and attention than cars. Unless you are a weekend fair weather rider you just have to expect lot of time doing maintenance and problem solving. Once you start doing your own work you'll feel more "in tune" with your bike. It can actually be pretty satisfying.
Worldwide High Mileage Rocket III 50K & 100K Club Listing
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www.r3owners.net
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The mid to late 90's were a magical time for Triumph. The machines were low-tech bulky motorcycles that needed resources to keep them going. Back then we all were either great mechanics or highly dependent on their dealer (like me). In those days there wasn't a wrong choice in any model, they were all going to create comfort issues somewhere, you just picked one and went
I was at the private convention when the Bonneville was first shown to Triumph Dealers, and knew it was going to be a major seller, but felt that "generational" anxiety that comes with change.
Tal
Living Legend
Sorry, i wasnt laughing at you but yes it makes things better...its cool having old school but better having things like current fuel usage..ABS brakes...different ride modes..indicators that turn off..heated grips...traction control...etc etc....its real nice having modern stuff.
