Wilde
Standard Bore
Well in 30 years of touring Europe I have been blessed and never had a malfunction on any motorcycle taken (including the Harley) until June this year that is on my Rocket. I bought her with 2,ooo miles on the clock and six months old, its now about six yrs old and only18,000 miles accrued predominantly in Continental Europe including Croatia etc. This year my loyal and persevering wife decides we should try Spain, ride towards Portugal over the Picos Mountains and double back through France to cross the channel home. Bliss I thought! Now this bike is spoilt rotten and molycoddled to the point my wife thinks I prefer it to her. Although the events were overcome- for a better word- I was miffed and decided to change the machine once home, and at that point I couldn't see getting home happening or my marriage lasting cos she was both melting in the heat/or soaked in a downpour and so furious that I had spent so much time with this bike its still had the nerve to let us down. What happened you say? Well at Plymouth she was overheating badly and blowing coolant out the overflow. I couldn't do anything until I reached Spain on the ferry 24hrs later, so off ferry and top up fluid, check fuse which was ok and all connections from fan etc as the dealer had the tank off a few days prior to adjust the shims, not being able to find anything I hit the motorway to our hotel, all ok on fast ride as cool air but once in the mountains she blew her top again (bike not wife). So searching on the mobile found Triumph Bilbo a great crew who after two hours found it was a relay found under the left side panel. They pronounced me fit and off we went to the hotel. Once there a beer and a chance to explore. It would not start again So tow trucked back to Bilbo about 65 miles and another day sorting and getting there. They were horrified and got to work straight away and as I say genuine nice guys. I was resigned to a hire car organised by the RAC which is another story for two days. Then a call to say all ok but its weeping coolant from somewhere still and the problem was they had put my original duff relay from the fan into the place for the fuel pump etc or management system I know not. If only they had replaced the offending part and not relocated it I would have been fine. I test bike around streets in all the heat, say ok as I want my holiday back, and return hire car get back to garage collect bike and go to get wife whose mellowed somewhat supping cool alcoholic drinks. Now we wiz about and ignore weeping which is only when its cooled by the way and from behind the oil tank. Great shortened Spain trip and off to France to get drowned, but what the heck the bike is running ok. So all ok, Nah. A huge blow out in the rear Avon Cobra so big a spoon could fit in it. Call a very old mate, collect bike as no 240 section was anyway soon and lift home. New Metzeler tyre new spare relays and back in love with the bike.........just one of those things eh? And the weeping? It was the thermostat housing that has probably expanded in the heat when over hot and not settled right, so a little nip up to torque and fine.
