need advice please, safe choice on Triumph repair, won't idle symptom...

[lucydad]

All,

So I was hoping for a nice Triumph ride this afternoon.  Bike started up, rode out to Hwy 90, everything ducky.  Doing about 60, clutch in to drop gears to make a turn:  bike just dies--oil light on...coast to stop.  Black truck behind me--also stops.  I fuss with bike, trying to restart, and it will do that, but not idle,  just dies. Checked oil and gas: all fine.   Guy in truck is off duty copy, ex-Marine:  asks if I need help.  After a couple minutes I figure out I can finesse the throttle enough to ride home.  He controls traffic on this fast, heavy traffic stretch.  Indeed I make it home, bike dying couple more times when I struggled to keep throttle open enough to keep engine running.  Bike does fine as long as rpms above idle.

Ok, so never had a problem with the STRX Triumph of any kind.  Posted on Triumph forum, no replies.  Dealer is open Tues-Saturday.  So first dry day when Ms. LD not working I could ride the bike down the freeway, deal with the congestion near dealer --and hope their service department can fix the bike.  It is still under warranty. 

Here is the question:  would I be taking an unacceptable safety risk riding the bike in?  Or, would I be smarter to pay the money and time and such to have bike trailered into dealer?  No idea who does that, the dealer might, dunno.

Been a really crap day.  You don't want to know about the Alzheimer's close call this morning. 

Advice solicited from this very experienced group please...and man I hope the fix is not some hard to find, hard to fix sensor or intermittent issue. 

[Jim Rich]

Call the Triumph shop and see what they say. 

[trippah]

I hope your Alz day wasn't like the last time my mother came to visit: my Newfie woke me up at three am notifying me that mom had "left the building".  Found her a block away saying this house doesn't look familiar.

Far as the Triumph goes, as it is under warrantee I'd call the shop and do what they tell ya: really no longer enjoy breaking down in traffic.  Hope tomorrow goes much better for you. 

[CalVin2007]

 Look it over closely first....may be as simple as a vacuum hose came off. Can't hurt!

  Terry

[Kev m]

No CEL?

I'd check it over looking for obvious culprits.

Loose connectors, pinched wires, etc.

Won't idle could mean a sensor or whatever idle control mechanism it uses is malfunctioning.

If airbox access is ready I might remove the air cleaner and have a look engine off, then engine running.

If you don't find it, give them a call.

I wouldn't ride it in if you can't get it to idle (unless you could set a throttle lock to keep it just above idle at release).

[drlapo]

my 11 Tiger did the same thing.  it would however straighten itself out if I let it cool a bit then restarted.
the dealer fixed it in a few minutes with a map upgrade.
my bike was ride able but it would stall on a closed throttle.
I was able to ride it to the dealer; its been fine ever since

[lucydad]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your comments.  Did a quick bike check before dinner.  Did find a loose clutch adjust nut, so I checked freeplay and tightened the nut.  Found nothing else obvious, but the Klingon Warbird does not expose much as the old school Guzzi.  Think I will try a start outside the garage and see if anything changes.  If not, I will call dealer.  Frankly, I think I can nurse the bike into the dealer ok.  Frustrated as the STRX has been totally reliable up until this point.  And a highly anticipated ride turned into a piece of crap.  Kudos to the police officer that stopped, wish I had gotten his name and badge number to send a complement and thanks to his Captain.

Alzheimer's event:  mailed two packages (jacket and projector per Guzzi trade section), took Grandpa Larry with me to get him out of house.  Walking from Post-net to my red Mazda, he disappeared in a wink.  WTF?  Found him inside and sitting, with door closed of white SUV similar to my wife's white Lexus.  Owner had left it unlocked.  I had about 30 seconds of not so happy adrenaline rush...then found him.  Glad nobody was in car, or owner confrontation, etc.  Had a bit of a battle getting him out.  Chaos.  Said more than I should.  He goes "home" tomorrow, we have had nearly a month of dealing with this nasty disease.  A lesson in empathy and patience for me....we do our best, but this is one of the worst days I have had since retirement....

[Guzzistajohn]

MY Tigger did something similar too. They said the three throttle bodies weren't opening @ the same time (out of sync) but it wasn't really a problem, I got to ride a new Sprint while it was getting fixed. Randy was a great Triumph dealer!

[LowRyter]

computer bike, plug it in.   No check engine light? 

sounds electrical, computer or sensor. 


wazda Triumph forum say? 

[oldbike54]

computer bike, plug it in.   No check engine light? 

sounds electrical, computer or sensor. 


wazda Triumph forum say?

                                                           Sound of crickets

  Dusty

[kingoffleece]

My 2010 Tiger acted the same.  Turned out to be a fuel pump on the way out.  Bike ran great on throttle but was hard to start and zero idle.  Replaced under warentee and fine ever since.

[guzzipete]

Does Triumph still use Lucas electronics?

[molly]

Does Triumph still use Lucas electronics?

The Prince of Darkness was slain many moons ago.



There is a free diagnostic software tool called TuneEcu for Triumphs that uses the Guzzidiag cable.
http://www.tuneecu.com/TuneECU_En/index.html

[Vagrant]

just a wild ass guess here but if it's ride by wire it wouldn't hurt to disconnect the battery for a minute ( I always then turn the key on and press the brake to drain the computers internal battery) it might just need a reboot.
keep us informed. the Street triple is on my short list for when I sell the wing.

[PJPR01]

How many miles on it Greg?  If the dealer tells you an outrageous price for trailering it there, just ping me, I've got a trailer.

Did you happen to tank up at a new gas station by any chance?

[PeteS]

What year is your bike? My 2011 had an issue with stepper motors used to control the throttle bodies at idle. Software upgrade fixed it.

Pete

[lucydad]

Bike is 2015, has about 3300 miles on the clock.

Paul:  no new gas station, same old Shell near home.  Thanks for the trailering offer, I think I will be ok riding it in.

I remembered I have a throttle lock gizmo, sort of a manual cruise control.  Just fitted it on the bike.  I think it will make the ride into the dealer a lot easier.  I will set the throttle for a fast idle, and be careful with the clutch. Need some dry weather, and day when Ms. LD not working. 

Yeah, I hope it is simple.  The bike has been such a joy.  Better day today.  Alzheimer clinic closes shortly, and that helps everything.

[N.Y.zee10]

Sorry to weigh in so late...but... you asked for advice and here is some. Do not void your warrenty by messing with a relatively new bike - hands off. Some dealers are off the hook for any repairs because the owner got anxious and messed with things. Why would you even consider riding a malfunctioning machine? You may do further damage, endanger yourself , and endanger others on the road and make matters worse. Many dealers offer pick up-drop off services as part of warranty work. Sometimes we bring chaos on ourselves, slow down and think things through yourself.

[LowRyter]

I see no harm in riding it so long it will go unless Triumph gave specific instructions or warning not to ride it.

It is a transportation device.  Jus' my two cents

[Cam3512]

Do you have AAA that includes motorcycles?   If so, they will tow it to the dealer.

Why would you ride it in that condition?   Have you already forgotten how crappy the trip home was?