NHTSA Complaint #10134949 — 2001 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE

DT: WHILE RIDING A 2001 TRIUMPH, BONNEVILLE MOTORCYCLE THERE IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM OF THE SPOKES BREAKING OFF ON THE REAR WHEEL. ON THE REAR WHEEL THERE WERE FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPOKES, THE SAME SPOKE KNOWN AS THE OUTSIDE LEFT HAND SPOKE WAS THE SPOKE THAT CONTINUED TO BREAK. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO THE MOTORCYCLE OR WHEEL. IT SIMPLY OCCURRED ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, THEY REPLACED THE SPOKE. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL OR RIM. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 70 MPH, AND THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A FLAT TIRE. A CRASH WAS SOMEHOW AVOIDED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED TRIUMPH DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER COULD NOT OFFER A REASON FOR THIS FAILURE. CONSUMER BECAME CONCERNED AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE ISSUE. TRIUMPH, AMERICA WOULD NOT OFFER ANY REMEDY FOR THE CONSUMER, THEY STATED THIS WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OR SOME SORT OF ROAD HAZARD. THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM ON THE MOTORCYCLE AT THIS TIME. TRIUMPH AMERICA,MODEL OF BONNEVILLE, 2001. *NM