Your Daily Rant

[sikatri]

Not exactly a rant, but I wish for more tolerance not here necessarily, but in life and the greater world outside of our forum lives. Help those that need assistance and look after those that can’t look after themselves. Seek to understand and not judge. Probably the old Boy Scout in me, do a good deed daily.

 

[Rocky]

Not exactly a rant, but I wish for more tolerance not here necessarily, but in life and the greater world outside of our forum lives. Help those that need assistance and look after those that can’t look after themselves. Seek to understand and not judge. Probably the old Boy Scout in me, do a good deed daily.

Nice post

 

[Vector]

Nice post

The only solution is above mankind’s ability.

 

[Qship]

My rant for today; Why are good mechanics so hard to find? I went to one of our local bike shops, a Yamaha and a few other brand dealer to have a new rear tire installed. I purchased the tire there as their price was impossible to beat. Guy changing my tire says there's a problem getting valve stem with TPMS to seal. Threads are stripped. Great! He tries using JB Weld to connect two pieces back together after having it overnight to get the valve to seal. No joy.
Now I don't know if the tire changer at the last shop did this or this new mech did. I had the rim swapped out three years ago when a bad pothole damaged my rear rim and I had to replace it. The TPMS sensor and valve would have been swapped over then as well and possibly stripped then, OR the mech who was installing my new tire now stripped it. Why he felt he had to remove it to install the new tire is beyond me, but he did.
Now comes the fun part. I started calling all the nearest dealers and then broadened my search across the country. Nothing, Nada, Zilch! No one had any stock and according to the Triumph site nothing could be available until after April 1st. They had no info whether the part was going to be available or not. Didn't sound too promising so I continued my search into the US of A, Called Hermy's in PA, and they had nothing but gave me a dealer in Idaho. Called and they had one. All I needed was the 90 degree valve stem and collar that attaches the TPMS to the rim. Ended up having to purchase the TPMS as well as they would not break up the kit. The parts were listed separate that I needed, But again NO ONE has it.
So now I had to pay for someone else's screw up 'cause I cannot point out whodunnit.
BTW, these TPMS kits ain't that cheap. $150 USD + shipping.
Rant; off!

 

[sikatri]

My rant for today; Why are good mechanics so hard to find? I went to one of our local bike shops, a Yamaha and a few other brand dealer to have a new rear tire installed. I purchased the tire there as their price was impossible to beat. Guy changing my tire says there's a problem getting valve stem with TPMS to seal. Threads are stripped. Great! He tries using JB Weld to connect two pieces back together after having it overnight to get the valve to seal. No joy.
Now I don't know if the tire changer at the last shop did this or this new mech did. I had the rim swapped out three years ago when a bad pothole damaged my rear rim and I had to replace it. The TPMS sensor and valve would have been swapped over then as well and possibly stripped then, OR the mech who was installing my new tire now stripped it. Why he felt he had to remove it to install the new tire is beyond me, but he did.
Now comes the fun part. I started calling all the nearest dealers and then broadened my search across the country. Nothing, Nada, Zilch! No one had any stock and according to the Triumph site nothing could be available until after April 1st. They had no info whether the part was going to be available or not. Didn't sound too promising so I continued my search into the US of A, Called Hermy's in PA, and they had nothing but gave me a dealer in Idaho. Called and they had one. All I needed was the 90 degree valve stem and collar that attaches the TPMS to the rim. Ended up having to purchase the TPMS as well as they would not break up the kit. The parts were listed separate that I needed, But again NO ONE has it.
So now I had to pay for someone else's screw up 'cause I cannot point out whodunnit.
BTW, these TPMS kits ain't that cheap. $150 USD + shipping.
Rant; off!

Likely the last person working on it broke it. There’s no reason to take one of those off for a tire change. The only time one of my MINI ones came off was when I replaced a damaged rim. I dread having someone work on any of my vehicles. Sorry you went through this BS.

 

[shanered6]

That sucks ! .. i do all my own work so i dont have that trouble , but i must also say that triumph back up for spares is getting rubbish even here in the UK .

 

[sikatri]

That sucks ! .. i do all my own work so i dont have that trouble , but i must also say that triumph back up for spares is getting rubbish even here in the UK .

So what’s your thought on the parts availability issue? Why the scarcity? I would have thought any past production issues from the past few years would be getting worked out by now.

 

[CarlS]

TPMS is just one more electronic to go wrong. That said, the parts supply is getting bad across the board, not just Triumph.

Automotive and motorcycle manufacturers like all of these electronics. However they don't seem to stock the parts to repair them. And Triumph customer service appears to be declining.

 

[sikatri]

TPMS is just one more electronic to go wrong. That said, the parts supply is getting bad across the board, not just Triumph.

Automotive and motorcycle manufacturers like all of these electronics. However they don't seem to stock the parts to repair them. And Triumph customer service appears to be declining.

My sense was the the recent shortages were across the board in many sectors as well. On my MINI the odds are if I go to get parts some will always need to be special ordered. I don’t think they keep supplies other than what goes in regular service at dealership anymore. I have not been to our local Triumph dealer for over a year and they’ve since relocated to a new facility a bit further away. No idea how their service is now, but it was good before. I really don’t deal with anyone but the parts counter people, so no idea how the service side is. Electronics is the weak spot of all modern vehicles. If critical components get damaged and there’s no replacement parts the vehicle is down and out until parts are available.

 

[shanered6]

The problem is now no one wants to pay up front and carry stock ( apart from run of the mill service items ) its easer to order as required , then there's no out of date stock to loose money on .
I get it ! ... but its still a bloody pain in the butt when you breakdown and then have to wait for parts to come .

 

[sikatri]

The problem is now no one wants to pay up front and carry stock ( apart from run of the mill service items ) its easer to order as required , then there's no out of date stock to loose money on .
I get it ! ... but its still a bloody pain in the butt when you breakdown and then have to wait for parts to come .

That’s exactly what’s going on.

 

[Qship]

It's all about the Almighty Buck and saving a few. I get having to run lean these days to try and stay afloat, but NOBODY having this part in stock(they can check nationally via a Triumph portal), and no date IF it was to become available again.
I like the TPMS as it displays all the time on my screen, but I have no problem checking tire pressures once a week or daily during a long trip. It came with the XRt package on the Tiger Explorers then. All I really wanted was the electronic self leveling suspension of this model as I ride pillion and solo frequently, so did not want the be adjusting spring rates all the time.
I may be rethinking this soon and going simpler(read, less tech).

 

[CarlS]

It's all about the Almighty Buck and saving a few. I get having to run lean these days to try and stay afloat, but NOBODY having this part in stock(they can check nationally via a Triumph portal), and no date IF it was to become available again.
I like the TPMS as it displays all the time on my screen, but I have no problem checking tire pressures once a week or daily during a long trip. It came with the XRt package on the Tiger Explorers then. All I really wanted was the electronic self leveling suspension of this model as I ride pillion and solo frequently, so did not want the be adjusting spring rates all the time.
I may be rethinking this soon and going simpler(read, less tech).

I definitely agree with less tech. That is one reason I went with the Bonneville T120 instead of another Tiger.

 

[Qship]

I really like my Tiger and the versatility, go almost anywhere capability, but would like something simpler for daily trips. Really like the newer T120s. Trying to convince my pillion we'd be better off with two options is a hard sell.

 

[CarlS]

I really like my Tiger and the versatility, go almost anywhere capability, but would like something simpler for daily trips. Really like the newer T120s. Trying to convince my pillion we'd be better off with two options is a hard sell.

Practice your selling skills.

 

[sikatri]

I really like my Tiger and the versatility, go almost anywhere capability, but would like something simpler for daily trips. Really like the newer T120s. Trying to convince my pillion we'd be better off with two options is a hard sell.

As CarlS said practice your sales pitch. LoL. You can do it! Exploit her weakness, I bet you have some ideas that will get to want to spoil you! LoL.

 

[shanered6]

I have been on the same lines lately thinking of somthing more simple , my tiger 800xca is awsome but in the back of my mind that TFT dash and all the electronics worry me .
If the TFT goes thats £975 new there are second hand ones now and then but there £5 - £600 and then theres the switch gear , my joystick already has a fit now and then and sticks and thats £350 or so new .

I have been looking at a 2014 explorer without the power screen and suspension they have just enough tech but not over the top , but then i think am i pre emptying something that may never happen so im thinking IF and when it breaks just fix it and stop worrying about it !

 

[sikatri]

Technology is great until it fails. I would worry a lot about which component would go next and when. I would say it’s fine if there’s a long warranty period, but after it’s gone it brings up the idea of getting rid of it. So one is at the decision another new one or something less complicated. I suppose there’s information on how often some of these components fail so the incidents are likely not that common. Still I like simple.

 

[CarlS]

I have been on the same lines lately thinking of somthing more simple , my tiger 800xca is awsome but in the back of my mind that TFT dash and all the electronics worry me .
If the TFT goes thats £975 new there are second hand ones now and then but there £5 - £600 and then theres the switch gear , my joystick already has a fit now and then and sticks and thats £350 or so new .

I have been looking at a 2014 explorer without the power screen and suspension they have just enough tech but not over the top , but then i think am i pre emptying something that may never happen so im thinking IF and when it breaks just fix it and stop worrying about it !

I wrestled long and hard about what to replace my 2012 800XC with. I eliminated a new Tiger because of the electronic gadgets that I didn't need. I strongly considered a used Tiger 800 and found a couple of good 2016 models. After my crash, I was weaker and knew at my age I would never get back to where I was. I don't like the T plane engine in the 900 Tiger. If I wanted an HD, i would have bought an HD. Therefore, I decided I didn't need another tall, relatively top heavy bike. Also I wanted a bike with a steel frame to which I could mount a sidecar when the day comes that I cannot safely ride two wheels.

That led me to the T100 or T120 Bonneville since I had owned T100's in the past. I chose the T120 over the T100 primarily because the T100 does not offer electronic cruise control. I don't do as much off pavement riding as I used to and with the proper 90/10 or 80/20 tires, the T120 will handle gravel and unpaved two tracks. Also the T120 certainly has the power to pull a sidecar.

I am making my T120 into a touring bike as I am a distance rider. I toured over half of the US on my 03 T100. I am planning a touring trip for early summer this year.

 

[sikatri]

I wrestled long and hard about what to replace my 2012 800XC with. I eliminated a new Tiger because of the electronic gadgets that I didn't need. I strongly considered a used Tiger 800 and found a couple of good 2016 models. After my crash, I was weaker and knew at my age I would never get back to where I was. I don't like the T plane engine in the 900 Tiger. If I wanted an HD, i would have bought an HD. Therefore, I decided I didn't need another tall, relatively top heavy bike. Also I wanted a bike with a steel frame to which I could mount a sidecar when the day comes that I cannot safely ride two wheels.

That led me to the T100 or T120 Bonneville since I had owned T100's in the past. I chose the T120 over the T100 primarily because the T100 does not offer electronic cruise control. I don't do as much off pavement riding as I used to and with the proper 90/10 or 80/20 tires, the T120 will handle gravel and unpaved two tracks. Also the T120 certainly has the power to pull a sidecar.

I am making my T120 into a touring bike as I am a distance rider. I toured over half of the US on my 03 T100. I am planning a touring trip for early summer this year.

This is so important, to evaluate the riding one does and what advances in technology are a real benefit.