My First Ride (A Disaster)

[GaryWWhite]

   Well I took delivery of my shiny new black TTSE this morning and almost got it home when the rear brake seemed like it wouldn't engage.  I was jacking with it while stopped at a turn signal and the bike was leaned over too far for me to right it and down I went on the asphalt.  Hey, I was wondering when I would scratch this thing and now that it's over it probably won't happen again.  I sustained a pretty good scratch to the right pannier and a slight but visible scratch on  the right lower fairing.  I'm probably taking it back to the dealer to see if they cosmetically reduce some of the appearance damage without any type of serious body work.  I want to find out why the rear brake when depressed (which I am) felt like it just bottomed out and wouldn't brake or braked very lightly.  I also found out that I hate the panniers and top box.  Will take these off and only use them when needed.  Our bike Chapter has a weekend trip to Branson, MO on September 29th.  My wife will ride in her cage behind me in the group.  When I feel skilled enough to let my wife ride on the bike I will reinstall the top box with its backrest.  All this time thinking I'm never going to get a scratch on this bike after totaling my HD and now this.  I went out and set everything on the computer I could. Still don't know how to change Trip 2 to look like Trip 1.  Probably something simple and I will figure it out.  I hooked up my GPS by a RAM mount to the mirror receptacle and the Triumph's computer says its paired.  I hope it plays out of the external speakers for directions but haven't had an opportunity to check yet. I haven't had the opportunity to buy a bluetooth headset.  My dealer didn't even give me a full tank of gas (how rude) and I will take the bike out later today to fill it up and check the GPS.  I truly hope you all have better success then I.  I wish you all the best!  I will now ride around on my duly baptized bike. Please pray I don't tear this beautiful machine up! Please 

Best Regards,
Gary

[earthman]

Sorry to hear that you had a disaster, did the rear brake work when you left the dealership at the start?

[Lannis]

Gary -

Sorry to hear about the bad "first ride".

On MY first ride on my new SE, I pulled into a store to get some gas, and when I tried to start it (key on, in neutral, clutch in) it gave one "click" and then nothing.

I was pretty annoyed that my brand new bike was doing me this way, but my wife was with me and said "You can figure this out - it's either something you need to do that you don't know about yet, or something real simple."

I went with the "something real simple" and got the manual out to find out where the battery was.   Turns out it's in a lovely easy-to-reach place in the right side of the fairing, so took off the seat, got out the toolkit, there was a hex wrench the right size for the battery cover, took that off, wiggled the battery cable connectors and the positive side was loose.   Another wrench from the toolkit tightened that right up, put the cover back on, put the tools away, and fired right up.   Someone somewhere hadn't tightened down that terminal when they installed the battery ..... !

Haven't dropped my yet but that might be easy to do, she's a heavy bugger ... !   

Hope you stay with it until you "bond" with your SE!

Lannis

[GaryWWhite]

Hey Earthman,

I didn't really notice anything until that last stop where I couldn't seem to get it to engage.  I took it out a few minutes ago to fill up the tank and didn't notice much.  I still am going to have the dealer check it out to be on the safe side!

Thanks for your input!

Best Wishes!
Gary

[GaryWWhite]

Hi Lannis,

Thanks for giving me the input on your first experience.  I am not mechanically inclined at all and would have had to have it hauled.  Good instincts on your part thinking the battery was the cause.  Why these bike makers don't place the battery where it can be easily accessible I'll never know!!  I took off my panniers and my top box and rode it to a filling station.  It said I had no gas at all and the fuel light was on.  I put 4.6 gallons in it.  The manual says the low fuel light will come on when there is 1.9 gallons left.  I guess that would be about right as it allegedly holds 6.9 gallons  

I am going to stick with my bike for better or worse like my 44 years of marriage.  I had a Simoniz finish put on my bike and want to make sure they can do something to cover the scratched area and put on some more of the protectant.  I'm really glad that the pannier absorbed the brunt of the lay over.  I will only use those on trips where my wife will be 2 up!

The dealer won't be open on Sunday or Monday so I will run the bike in bright and early Tuesday A.M.  Maybe it won't cost a fortune to do some cosmetic repairs!? I hope!

Best Regards and Wishes!
Gary

[trophied]

First off, ask them to bleed the brakes just in case there is air in the system, if not you may need to get used to the fact that the rear brake on the Trophy doesn't seem so powerful.  Bikes other than cruisers tend to rely more on front braking power (another issue all it's own as far as low speed handling), since that's where most of the weight and traction is under braking.  I usually only use the rear brake at very slow speeds in town and don't rely on it for serious stopping power, only a bit of additional force, gently applied.  My K1600 also didn't seem to have serious braking power on the rear compared to the front.  This is a whole different world of motorcycle compared to a cruiser, but the payoff is learning to handle it and enjoying what it CAN do when the roads get twisty.  Bear in mind I'm not an aggressive rider, but I do enjoy the capabilities on my own terms.  Just had a couple of hundred fun miles in the Texas Hill Country earlier today, as a matter of fact.

[atrophy]

Hi Gary.
You can buy a new pannier cover for "I think"  $79.00.  It is held on by four screws, simple fix.  You can guess how I know that.

The gas tank is 6.6 gallons.

Yes, rear brakes on sport touring bikes are not powerful.  90% of your stopping power is from the front brake.  Rear brake is used for very slow speed turns and to brush off a little speed if your find you are entering a turn just a little fast for comfort.  I had two BMW RT's and they were the same way.

When you get a little more confidant with this bike you will find it handles very well.
Good luck.

[trophied]

Forgot that my RT was the same as the K16 and the Trophy, seemed a little weak until I was accustomed to it and learned to ride again after years without a bike.  Key word LEARNED.  I probably should have gotten small dirt bike first after being without for 25 years, but the Norton Commando syndrome got the best of me again.