Considering Getting Rid Of The TTSE

[Zebraranger]

After being on this forum for a couple years and reading about all the issues from the tight wirng harness pulling apart, final drive issues, gear shift bolts breaking, rotors, wheel baring's, low voltage, coolant leaks, TPMS failures, the head issue recall, not to mention the other recalls with the fuel cell, center stand, ECU and such. The list just goes on and on and is much longer than what I've just mentioned. Sure, the TTSE isn't an old model and there are going to be a few issues with a new model, that's to be expected. But after riding for almost 40 years, many different makes and participating on many other bike forums over the years, there shouldn't be this many issues considering they are only 3 years old at the most. This gives me big concerns and doubts about my own 2013 TTSE. Once I don't trust the reliability of a bike, for me its time to go.

I've participated on this forum for the last couple of years to keep abreast of the latest issues and going ons with our TTSE's, but the longer I've been here and the more I read, the more my concerns continue to grow. I just read in the mechanical issues section here that a member from Australia just suffered an engine failure, He thinks possibly a timing chain breakage with 60,000 KM (37,000 miles) on the bike ( personally I think it could possibly be a head failure, just guessing because its a 2013 and the described noise that it made when it quit). That's not a lot of miles for a touring bike. Yeah, that's only one issue, but look at all the issues as a whole and it paints a totally different picture. The Blood Bikes in the UK are being ditched because of reliability issues, it just keeps going. After This old head issue for instance. They only issued a recall for them in the UK and no where else in the world. What the hell is with that. Giving directions to the US dealers to only address the problem, if the customers complain about the noise?. This very much annoyed me, but I overlooked it because I've been a big Triumph fan and riding Triumphs for the last 15 years. BMW stepped up to the plate with their global recalls, Triumph should have done the same on this issue. So, with my confidence level standing where it is right now, I've started looking at other touring models and I'll probably be getting rid of the old TTSE pretty soon. I really like this bike, its been one of the more enjoyable rides that I've ever owned. But with that being said, I have to have confidence in what I ride. With this models track record, I personally don't think that Triumph spent the necessary time or money on R&D before bringing it to market, and its cost them dearly in warranty repair costs globally. This could be an added reason other than poor sales history for the rumors of the TTSE possibly being discontinued after the 2017 model year. I know this post is going to receive a lot of grief here, but I'm just saying what's on my mind with the very short history of this bike.

[atrophy]

I hear you.  Those thought enter my mind too.
As a former BMW owner I would disagree with them stepping up to the plate.  Yes they did the recall when the shocks could break.  But it took the at least three years to recognize that the gas tank was cracking and another 18 months to actually decide to do something about it.  I think they paid 3 million in fines on that for not recalling sooner.
The Fuel Pump controller failed twice on me.  Once at 70 MPH on an interstate.  It was a bad design.   
The ABS pump failed on me.  It was expensive.
The drive shaft broke, again at 70 MPH.    Could have been fatal.  It was not the first one the dealer had replaced.  Heard of any recalls on those?
My fuel gauge worked properly but others had many (like 6) replaced.  Want to run out of fuel in the middle of no-where.  I was in the middle of no-where last week.  80 miles between gas stations.
I have two Triumph dealers within 60 miles of me.  One is good, the other should find another business.  The closest BMW dealer is over 100 miles from me.
I like how my BMW preformed and how my Triumph preforms.  Not sure if I would be happy with any bike that can't match what these bikes do.

[1150newguy]

You could have saved a lot of time and typed just the one sentence. "Once I don't trust the reliability of a bike, for me its time to go." That says it all. I am fortunate with 42,000 on my TT and no issues, but in the 45 years I have been riding I have had two bikes that I really liked and I sent them down the road due to trust issues. No grief from me, I've been there. It's your bike and your choice.

[DaMonk45]

Yeah, it could have been a single sentence.

If you don't trust it, move on.

I just hope you find a bike you can trust.

[Gar]

I can totally empathize/understand the thought process in this thread. After living through two total bike failures in my early years (one in the middle of nowhere and one in a large unfamiliar city in the middle of the night), reliability is very high on my list of attributes. That said, my 2013 TTSE has been very good to me so far. Minor oil leak on the left side from loose bolts and low TPMS battery that I replaced...and that's it. It certainly lives up to my performance and comfort expectations, time will tell if it also lives up to my reliability expectations (fingers crossed).   

[twowheeladdict]

Not having a dealer close by to take care of my issues is what is driving me to look at trading.  Less plastic from now on for me.

[earthman]

I can totally empathize/understand too, having owned nothing but Japanese bikes before, taking on a Triumph seemed/seems a risk, only time will tell.

To be honest I think that all modern vehicles have become way too complicated, far too many electronics etc to go wrong in the first place, you could end up with a 'lemon' from any of the well known brands.

The 'basic' hardware like drive shafts etc is a concern though, no company should be getting this wrong by now and for Triumph to say that the whole thing needs to be replaced just because of a leaky oil seal is crazy.

[Coconut]

I rented a brad new ( few months old ) Harley Davidson Road King in Phoenix
a good gfew years ago, and it let me down big time when the throttle cable snapped
in the middle of nowhere ( Eastern Rim of the Grand Canyon )
leaving me and my pillion stranded.

Fortunately I managed to cobble together a repair,
but that single experience meant I would never ride, let alone buy or rent,
a Harley ever again, so I ca fully empathise with your thoughts.

The main thing is to enjoy your riding, and Stay Safe - whatever you're riding