500 kms on the 5th gear - gear pedal and clutch

[baltazar]

Last Wed. I was on a 750km route from Bodrum to Istanbul (this has been a regular route for me for business purposes this summer). Just after about 250kms, around 1.00 am in the morning, I tried to shift up from 5th to 6th but felt like the clutch was not disengaging. I tried again, but the gear pedal was not responding. After the third try gear pedal went loose.

I took an emergency stop from 120km/h. I was in the middle of nowhere, on the dark roadside, late in the night and had no idea what to do. I went down the bike to see what had happened. Apparently, the pivot bolt that connects the gear pedal to the engine block was broken. (Yes, I have read about it on few topics afterwards)

I called a friend that leaves close by, but his cell was turned off (who turns of their phones these days, right? )

I thought of walking back to the nearest gas station, but it would not make sense to leave the bike there on the roadside totally invisible to any approaching trucks. Besides, the changes of finding a replacement bokt and tools to remove the broken one seemed very little. 

Then, I considered calling a tow truck or moving the bike to a much safer position. The nearest Triumph dealer was at least 100kms away on the reverse direction to where I was heading and I did not have the luxury to wait for the morning. (had to be at work the next day )

I thought, I should push the bike to a safer position before making any decisions. I started by pushing it, then I decided to give it a try to get it moving on the 5th gear. With a half engaged clutch and a lot of starting revs, I managed to get the bike moving. I pulled it on the road side to a safer location, but it just came to me: could I go 500kms on the same gear, why not?

Remembered the riding rules "one gear no break" of some of the drills that we used to do on track while we train with California Superbike School. The aim is to isolate the rider's mind from thinking about breaks, clutch and gears and let him only concentrate on the gas control. I knew the road is not a race track, but it was still worth the try.

I got the bike back on the road and got going. Once I got used to ride on the same gear, it started to felt like a scooter. I stopped once for a coffee break and gas, couple of times on the traffic lights (challenging), on and off to a car ferry (lucky or stupid) without any incidents.

At 7.00 am in the morning, after 500kms on the same gear, I pulled over in front of the Triumph dealer in Istanbul, hide the keys behind the headlight bulbs, emailed them and took a taxi back home.

The bike needed the servicing anyhow since it came to 25k (16k miles). They have fixed that broken bolt of the gear pedal and have undertaken the other necessary works. I called to check if I could collect the bike yesterday, but one of the mechanics told me that there is an unusual sound coming from the clutch basket (yes read about the similar topics on the forum).

I asked him what he thinks that needs to be done and he told me that the clutch basket has to be opened and checked immediately, otherwise any loose parts or malfunction in there could cause a series of problems reaching all the way to the crank shaft. I asked why he didn't just opened and checked the clutch, and he answered that it was a very hard job that requires a lot of pieces of the fairing and the engine to be taken apart. So, he wanted to check with me first (guessing this has smt to do with the labor cost that I am about to face )

I asked if it is a chronicle problem known for the Trophy and he said no, but considering how rare the Trophy sells in Turkey I am guessing he could not have much of an experience on this model. I He offered me that I could go and collect the bike and take it back in case of any other problems and I said I would not ride that bike after what I just heard. I told him to open up the bike and let me know what is wrong. I did had a clutch disengagement issue since I bought the bike. It was never feeling like fully disengaged when the lever is pulled, and when you leave the lever on neutral it was feeling like trying to catch a gear with a slightly higher engine noise compared to clutch lever pulled in.

As many of you who read so far could feel the same way, I am now very nervous about what would have happened. Also, considering to tell the service just not to open the clutch and sell the bike as is.

If anyone has anything to offer, I am all ears and eyes. 

[DaMonk45]

I guess I dont see what the issue is.
You broke a bolt and rode in 5th.
So?

If you are concerned change the oil and ride it.

[baltazar]

Originally Posted by DaMonk45

I guess I dont see what the issue is.
You broke a bolt and rode in 5th.
So?

If you are concerned change the oil and ride it.

Thanks, I guess you haven't read the last part about the clutch basket issue that came up later. My question was about that.

[threeup]

You could sell the bike as it is but what would you get for it? It would (IMHO) be worth getting it fixed then carrying on with it if you have confidence in the mechanics working on it. They sound OK to me as they are the ones that raised it with you. A less professional mechanic would have fixed the immediate issue then kept quiet. Any bike can have issues (just read some of the forums with other makes - they give me nightmares!) but once fixed professionally I would expect this machine to continue to give good service

[w8d4it]

First baltazar I commend you on the way you handled your breakage problem.  I don't think it very easy to ride 500KM in 5th gear especially as you had to start and stop at least 2-3 times.  I've never tried to take off in 5th gear but I imagine that it required quite a bit of clutch slippage. 

As for the clutch it does sound to me as if you are in good hands with the dealer where you left the bike.  I mean an untrustworthy dealer would have either 1) ignored the sounds and let you find out the hard way when you broke down later on the roadside or 2) just gone ahead and taken the bike apart charging you a lot for labor and leaving you no choice but to pay them to fix it.  So it sounds to me as if this dealer is honest. 

It is hard to offer further advice until you are sure what is wrong with it and what it will take to fix it.  Certainly I wouldn't give any thought to selling it until you have all the data.

Interesting story and I appreciate you sharing it with us.

[baltazar]

 Many thanks for the comments w8d4it. I also believe the dealer have done the right thing by letting me know. I have read in a few topics that the unusual sounds from the clutch has been picked up by other users (there was even a video in one), but the general advise was it being normal and just to be left alone. That's why I was thinking if I would just gonna face a big amount of labor cost for nothing.

Obviously, the decision has been made. So, I will just wait and see what the problem is once the dealer gets back to me. The thing is there is only one Triumph dealership in Istanbul and they are not the cheapest both in labor and parts compared to other brands.

I will post here when things progress.

[cropbiker]

Yes Balthazar... you handled things very well.... To ride that distance in 5th showed a good degree of skill. It sounds to me that your mechanics know what they are doing and I would let them get on and do the job. Breakdowns happen and I wouldn't take it as a sign that you cannot trust your Trophy and use it as an excuse to get rid of it.

  Well Done! 

[Stelyn]

  +1 on that,  well done........