Howdy Folks and thank you for allowing me to join your forum.

[JohnJ]

A little over a month ago I bought a 2017 Triumph Bonneville. It was from a Triumph dealership approx. 50 miles from my home. It had never been registered hence it sold with a New bike with the full factory warranty. When I purchased it, it seemed to me that there was a problem in the drive train. To me it seemed like there was excessive play in the chain drive to the wheel. It felt like if you has the throttle and released it that there was a, I don't know how to explain it but when you went from a coast to the throttle that the excess play inn the chain would jerk the bike when the slack was taken out of the drive chain. it would jerk pretty bad. Mind you this is my first bike so I'm not to familiar as to weather this is normal or not. Bare in mind that I have been an auto mechanic for 45 years. To me if I were to experience this on a car or a truck, I would be looking for a problem in the drive train. Ie. driveshaft, universal joints or differential issues. Not having been a former bike owner I only have my auto repair experience to suggest that there is a problem and doubt that this is a problem. Hence my being here asking if this is normal. Bear in mind I did adjust the slack in the drive chain. And for a short while the problem seemed much better. But 1000 miles later the problem has returned and worse than before. The chain drive has no excessive play in it so I know that is not the issue. I only ask because I know how dealerships work and in a lot of cases they will tell you Oh that's normal. But if this were a car of truck I would know better. If I put the bike in gear with the engine off and rock the bike back and forth it will move 2 to 3 inches back and forth until where ever that slop is coming from has been removed. Am I being overly cautious here or am I correct in assuming that there is a problem here. The problem seems far worse at very slow speeds such as when you are doing low speed maneuvers. U turns figure 8s ect. I just don't want to drive 100 miles round trip to the dealer , only to have them tel;l me Oh that is normal.
Any input on this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Thank You John Stocum 2017 Bonneville T100

 

[Qship]

Welcome to TT from Eastern Canada.
Hard to say what is going on. As it is your first bike maybe someone nearby that is familiar with chain driven bikes can look at it for you and offer some insight.

 

[CarlS]

Welcome to TT from the Sunshine State and congrats on the Bonnie.

Not having ridden your Bonnie but having ridden bikes with chains for 62 years, I will make a couple of suggestions.
1. There is always a little slack in a chain drive system. It is something you get used to and learn to minimize the jerking by the way you shift, accelerate, etc.
2. Check the adjustment of your chain following the instructions in you owners manual. Experience will teach you how to make this easier. You do not want a chain too tight! Nor do you want a chain too loose. Strive to keep your chain adjusted properly to minimize the jerking and to decrease wear on the chain and the sprockets.
3. I am old school, When it comes time to change the chain, change the sprockets also.

 

[JohnJ]

Welcome to TT from the Sunshine State and congrats on the Bonnie.

Not having ridden your Bonnie but having ridden bikes with chains for 62 years, I will make a couple of suggestions.
1. There is always a little slack in a chain drive system. It is something you get used to and learn to minimize the jerking by the way you shift, accelerate, etc.
2. Check the adjustment of your chain following the instructions in you owners manual. Experience will teach you how to make this easier. You do not want a chain too tight! Nor do you want a chain too loose. Strive to keep your chain adjusted properly to minimize the jerking and to decrease wear on the chain and the sprockets.
3. I am old school, When it comes time to change the chain, change the sprockets also.

I did a chain adjustment, and for a while the issue seemed much better. But seemingly it has returned and the chain is still within acceptable adjustment. I went to the dealership I purchased it from and as I figured , they told me it was normal. Yet I can stop the engine in gear and rock the bike back and forth 3 to 4 inches. I am by trade an auto mechanic of 45 years I know nothing of motorcycle mechanisms , but if a car or truck had the same issue I would be looking for drive train issues .

 

[Qship]

A bike rocking back and forth a few inches when in gear sounds pretty normal. It is hard to diagnose the issues over the net without actually seeing a video. Remember they also have a cush drive in the rear hub to reduce drive train pulses. That may cause some of the slack.

 

[CarlS]

I agree with Qship.

 

[sikatri]

Welcome!

 

[triumph david]

TO TT from Mississippi.