2010 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALIGNMENT NEEDED TO BE READJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.

TURNING RIGHT FROM A SIDE STREET ONTO A MAJOR ROAD, I BEGAN ACCELERATING AND THE THROTTLE BECAME INOPERATIVE, SNAPPING IMMEDIATELY BACK TO IDLE SPEED. SUBSEQUENT TURNING OF THE THROTTLE GRIP HAD NO EFFECT. THERE WAS TRAFFIC ON THE MAJOR ROAD THAT FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN IN RESPONSE TO MY UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED. THE ATTACHMENT FOR THE THROTTLE CABLE SNAPPED OFF OF THE THROTTLE GRIP ASSEMBLY. MY GRIPS WERE AUTHENTIC OEM TRIUMPH ACCESSORIES - HEATED GRIPS. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A NOT AN INFREQUENT FAILURE. TRIUMPH HAS SUPERSEDED THE ORIGINAL ACCESSORY KIT WITH A LATER PART NUMBER, BUT COULD NOT TELL ME IF THE SUPERSESSION INVOLVED A MATERIAL OR DESIGN CHANGE FOR THE THROTTLE GRIP ASSEMBLY. THE THROTTLE OPERATED PERFECTLY AND THEN FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE WAS NO EXCESSIVE FREEPLAY IN THE THROTTLE LINKAGE, NOR DID IT BIND IN ANY WAY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE.

THIS HAPPENS WHEN SHUTTING THE THROTTLE OFF TO MAKE A CORNER OR A STOP LIGHT, OR TO ADJUST SPEED IN TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE BACKFIRES THROUGH THE INTAKE OF THE THROTTLE BODIES AND THE AIRBOX UNDER THE VEHICLE SEAT AND DIES. THERE IS NO WARNING THIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AND THE ENGINES DIES AND YOU ARE STRANDED IN TRAFFIC WHILE YOU COAST TO A STOP, FIND NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE USUALLY STARTS AS NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AND RUNS NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. *TR

THIS HAPPENS WHEN SHUTTING THE THROTTLE OFF TO MAKE A CORNER OR A STOP LIGHT, OR TO ADJUST SPEED IN TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE BACKFIRES THROUGH THE INTAKE OF THE THROTTLE BODIES AND THE AIRBOX UNDER THE VEHICLE SEAT AND DIES. THERE IS NO WARNING THIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AND THE ENGINES DIES AND YOU ARE STRANDED IN TRAFFIC WHILE YOU COAST TO A STOP, FIND NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE USUALLY STARTS AS NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AND RUNS NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A LONG STEEP INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH,AND DOWN SHIFTING TO SLOW THE MOTORCYCLE,THE MOTOR STACK FIRED THRU THE THROTTLE BODIES AND QUIT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AS LUCK HAD IT,THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. HOWEVER,IF I HAD TO ACCELERATE AT THAT INSTANT TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE,IT WOULD HAVE CREATED A TENSE SITUATION TO SAY THE LEAST. WHEN I GOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL,I LET THE CLUTCH OUT TO RESTART THE MOTOR WHILE THE MACHINE WAS STILL MOVING AND WAS SUCCESSFUL. ALL WAS WELL AFTER THAT AND THE PROBLEM HASN'T OCCURRED SINCE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, BUT GIVES YOU A LITTLE RUSH AS FAR AS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE GOES. I UNDERSTAND OTHERS WHO OWN THE SAME MOTORCYCLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR