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Mr Triumph

7669 Views 32 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  hannibal
I was painting my garden fence yesterday, when a Rocket 3 rode past and pulled over a ways down the road. Now I live on a quiet country lane that leads nowhere. I reckon the guy must be lost so I walk up to see if I can offer to give him a hand. I turn up just as he's taking a leak; better not offer to give him a hand then.
After us both having a laugh we got to talking. It turns out this guy is a tester for Triumph and the bike is a test bike. It's got charts and forms taped to the tank.
Now I live MILES from the Triumph factory. So I ask what the hell He's doing down here and he says Triumph are making some changes to the Rocket 3. When I asked him what they were and he said he'd have to kill me if he told me. I told him I'd heard about clutch problems and he admitted that's one of the changes. He said they where really surprised that there have been problems as they really nailed the bikes in testing with no problems at all.
Anyway he asks what I ride and I tell him a Rune and he gets excited. He says he's never seen one in the flesh and asked if he can see mine. I take him to my garage and the guy REALLY flips out. He says it's the most impressive machine he's ever seen. He goes on to say that the quality makes the Triumph look like a shed and then he tells me that Triumph bought a few Valks for testing before they made the R3 and that was the bike they were original gunning for; apparently lot of the geometry of the R3 came from the Valk.
He told me all the testers loved the flat 6 engine and although the triumph engine is more powerful the testers all still preferred the Honda engines' characteristics.
When I told him I had one of the first R3's reserved but eventually went for the Rune he genuinly said I'd made the better choice; I was amazed.
He eventually says that when he goes back he's going to suggest Triumph gets a Rune for testing/ideas.
When he left I was grinning like a Cheshire cat
Who knows, maybe there might be a Triumph Runocket one day, if so you heard it here first :D
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That's a good story! Thanks for sharing it! I've always liked Triumph bikes but they've always been a little rough, not very refined with their look.
I get a flat 6

with a displacement of 2.3 liters. I think it would be a kick in the ass even though I find the Rune and my VTX for that matter plenty powerful.
Thanks for the great story. Thats one for the books!!!!
good story

I sat on one the other day and the bike is not to be comapared to the rune. The only thing i liked about it was that the bars were so easy to turn. other than that, the bike was really unattractive, especially the motor. the finish on the motor almost looked like plastic.
My Story of the Rune and the Rocket

Hi Steve,
I have my Rune in Sunny Essex. I did try getting one when they first came out but found it difficult and so ordered the Rocket as an alternative. I had delivered one of the first bikes in June. The Rocket is a great concept, but in reality it is a pile of crap. I rode mine for 600 miles and then sold it. The gearbox was like an old Fordson tractor with no sycromesh left....absolutly appaling especially after my VTX1800. The slack in the drive line was almost imbarrasing, and the noise when changing gear. In my 600 miles I must have frighten many a pedestrian by changing gear. The second big problem was the side stand arm that goes straight up your trouser leg when you come to a stop and put your foot down. I dropped the bike once because of this problem, which I subsequently have found well documented on the Triumph RAT forum.

Enough......I shipped a black Rune over from the US and love it. I spoke to Triumph about my issues. Their reply was to wear tighter trousers when riding (sic), and order a new Rocket for delivery next year when all of the clutch and transmission problems would have been fixed.....unbelievable.

That said, the concept is good, with the Rocket pulling like....well a Rocket. It does handle well also.

I suppose you can't expect too much from a bike made in China (At least 80% of the components are as evidenced by the Made in China stamped on nearly every box in the factory)!!!

The point I wanted to make is that while speaking to the supervisor at Triumph Customer services and explaining that I had bought a Rune, and further offered to send him pictures to show him the design of the Rune sidestand, he told me that they had already got one at the factory, and he considered the quality of the Rocket supierior to the Rune. I suggested he started to fly on pressurised airplanes.

The Triumph quality is cheap and nasty if you look close and certainly not even a third place to the Rune. I am sure you will agree.
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rocket

Hi, in my small town there is an Honda suzuky kavasaki triumph bsa yaamaha dealer.
j heard he has in show one rocket. so j am expecting to find first or later the bike on the road.
:D
j have a dream as bike not a coffeetoaster :D :D

ciaoooo
Rocket III

I was very close to buying a Rocket III. Hearing all the negatives, I have put it on hold. I am particulary concerned about the build quality and the transmission weaknesses. Thanks for the good info. Sticking with the Rune for now.

MalibuRune
Well than no Rocket for me

Minimarval, thanks for your review. I guess if Honda made a 2.3L anything with two wheels I'd buy one.
Firstly yes that is a very good story, I have always enjoyed a bit of fiction which this obviously is. Secondly in reply to the whiner that couldn't be bothered wearing appropriate clothing on a bike and then blamed the bike just get a life. His absurd comments that 80% of the bike is made in China is almost laughable, this is a fact because he saw boxes with made in China on them, does he need help feeding himself as well as getting dressed ? I'm sorry but Triumph have built up an enviable reputation for building a quality product which can stand easily beside any Jap bike and are largely British with parts from other parts of the world just like most other brands. I would guess that maybe 10% could originate from China. He got all bitter and twisted on the TriumphRat forum and now has seen a chance to rubbish the bike on this forum.
All negative comments really are irrelevant because lets face it guys it doesn't matter how good the Rune is it is just soooooo fugly.
Re: My Story of the Rune and the Rocket

I'm not sure if you really expect people on this forum to believe this crap but you are honestly trying to tell us that Triumph told you to buy a Rocket next year when the problems are fixed !!!!!!!! Yes it is unbelievable.
80% of the bike is made in China, do you hear yourself ? The majority of the bike is made in Britain with parts sourced from suppliers around the world. These guys may love all this rubbish but people who know the truth just treat it with the conempt it deserves. You got all bitter because Triumph wouldn't change the sidestand to suit you, why the hell didn't you just shorten the thing that was causing the "problem" ?
Triumph quality "cheap and nasty", I have never read so much bollocks from one person.
Some of you need to look at what real Rocket owners say about their bikes and get the real story or listen to this guy if it makes you feel better about spending far too much money on a Ruin.

Minimarvel said:
I spoke to Triumph about my issues. Their reply was to wear tighter trousers when riding (sic), and order a new Rocket for delivery next year when all of the clutch and transmission problems would have been fixed.....unbelievable.

That said, the concept is good, with the Rocket pulling like....well a Rocket. It does handle well also.

I suppose you can't expect too much from a bike made in China (At least 80% of the components are as evidenced by the Made in China stamped on nearly every box in the factory)!!!

The point I wanted to make is that while speaking to the supervisor at Triumph Customer services and explaining that I had bought a Rune, and further offered to send him pictures to show him the design of the Rune sidestand, he told me that they had already got one at the factory, and he considered the quality of the Rocket supierior to the Rune. I suggested he started to fly on pressurised airplanes.

The Triumph quality is cheap and nasty if you look close and certainly not even a third place to the Rune. I am sure you will agree.
Dear Triumph Rider.....

They say the truth hurts.......!!

I would love to tell you a different story but I too am British and would like it to be a different story. Judging by your use of "Bollocks" your could well be English also, in which case Triumph need to thank you for the support........unless of course, you work for them in which case?

Sorry mate but my story is true. Ask Ongar motorcycles. It also cost me £2500 in depreciation over a month and 600 miles. I could have kept the bike, but Triumph's attitute over these small issues, worried me in relation to their attitude over a possible larger claim.

Facts: They do have a problem with early clutch failure- they do have issues with the (Italian) Transmission- Many owners are complaining about the side stand issue and 80% of the components are made in China.
Yes shocked me too! Don't believe me.....ask Triumph. My phone number is 07836 626133. Give me a call and I'll find all the people and contact numbers to can call and verify my tale.

Sorry it hurts.........!!
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Oh and by the way it's spelt RUNE!

And you obviously don't own one and wouldn't want to and it's a rice burner and it's crap and too heavy and and and and.
Re: Dear Triumph Rider.....

I come from Australia so not much chance of me working for Triumph. It would indeed hurt if it were the truth. You became a laughing stock on the TriumphRat forum because of your complaining, don't get me wrong if there are problems with a bike then they should be fixed but when the "problem" with the sidestand could have been fixed yourself if it was causing you such grief why didn't you just fix it ?
The transmission isn't Italian, the shaft drive is made in Italy by the same company that makes parts for Lamborghini etc. Reading through Rocket forums very closely the only issues with transmissions seems to be that they are clunky and need a lot of breaking in as do most Triumph boxes, I haven't heard of any problems with them other than this. As for your absurd conclusion that 80% of the bike is made in China, the engine is mostly British, frame British, forks Japanese, that's just a few of the big bits which already makes up more than 80%. Now if you mean that some parts are made in Triumphs factory in Thailand then of course that's true, Thailand, China, what's the difference ? 80% 20% 10% what's the difference ?
Personally I think you did the right thing, the Ruin is nice and underpowered and should be pretty reliable and it's looks will definitely turn heads, enjoy.

Minimarvel said:
They say the truth hurts.......!!

I would love to tell you a different story but I too am British and would like it to be a different story. Judging by your use of "Bollocks" your could well be English also, in which case Triumph need to thank you for the support........unless of course, you work for them in which case?

Sorry mate but my story is true. Ask Ongar motorcycles. It also cost me £2500 in depreciation over a month and 600 miles. I could have kept the bike, but Triumph's attitute over these small issues, worried me in relation to their attitude over a possible larger claim.

Facts: They do have a problem with early clutch failure- they do have issues with the (Italian) Transmission- Many owners are complaining about the side stand issue and 80% of the components are made in China.
Yes shocked me too! Don't believe me.....ask Triumph. My phone number is 07836 626133. Give me a call and I'll find all the people and contact numbers to can call and verify my tale.

Sorry it hurts.........!!
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Re: Oh and by the way it's spelt RUNE!

I certainly do not ride a Ruin, I have far better things that I could spend a ludicrous amount of money on. They are as you say heavy, far too expensive, as ugly as a hat full of assholes and made by Honda so you wont see one in my garage.
In all honesty I don't care what anybody rides, Jap, Italian, German even American whatever but to hear people saying that Triumph quality is crap when almost every review praises them for their quality just gets my back up.

Minimarvel said:
And you obviously don't own one and wouldn't want to and it's a rice burner and it's crap and too heavy and and and and.
You know what Spondonash I agree with you the is Triumph IS a damn fine motorcycle. I've got four bikes sitting in my garage at the moment. A Rocket 3, a V-Rod, an 1800cc Valkyrie and a Rune. I know, I'm a lucky s0d. Two belong to my brother and two to me, I can ride whichever I want, whenever I want .
They're all fine motorcycles. However if Triumph had made the R3 to the same quality as the Rune then they would have had to have charged as much as Honda, simple as that. However, you've got some purchaise $$'s left over to do what you want with your R3.
I really don't like to dis anyone else's ride and if by starting this thread I gave that impression ( or indeed offence) then I apologise. I know when I see the Rune bashed on any other board I get really mad; and respond.
I speak from experience when I say the R3 is an excellent bike, but the Rune is also an excellent bike. It's the bike I choose to ride the most from all four. It's personal preference and I know that don't mean squat, but I get the most pleasure overall from riding the Rune.
You gotta love that beast of a Triumph though.
When I met the Triumph tester I was genuinely full of praise for the Rocket 3 (that's why I went over to talk) and he was genuinely full of praise for the Rune they're both pretty impressive machine in very different ways. I just reported some of his comments about the Rune. I guess he might ( if he was bothered ) report on how much a Rune rider he met was praising the Triumph.
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Spondonash and his love affair with Tryumps

Well that explains everything........You haven't visited the Tryump factory recently to see all the boxes of parts made in Tailand and obviously cunningly deguised with "MADE IN CHINA" lables placed on them to throw us off the scent. To relieve you of the pain, I should have gone on to suggest that perhaps most manufacturers have many parts made in China, including Honda, and after all, these days that's not such a bad thing is it? But then again they don't try and shove the "Made in England" tag down our throats either.

You obviously like Tryump products owning a Speed Triple and a 955i, and I thank you for the purchase as the UK economy does need the money!

I am sorry you think the Rune is ugly, you are entitled to think how you wish as we all are. What I really think is ugly is people who are so self opinioned they become blinkered, and I had hoped this wasn't you, however a little google search of your "Spondonash" name might suggest otherwise. With a little ego-centricity thrown in for good measure.

You are completely correct in that the final drive unit is made in Italy and indeed by the same company that makes parts for Lamborgini. I was wrong in trying to simplyfy it for you by generalising. Having been privileged to have owned 2 Lambos in the last 20 years, and lived with the problems, I do hope you weren't suggesting this to be a positive point.
Indeed what was your point exactly?

I am an engineer working in both manufacturing and in the aviation industry. I bought the Triumph because I liked it. I could have kept it, and the Rune and all the other bikes I own in fact, but it pi55ed me off so much I decided to sell it back to the dealer. On the engineering side, I know the problems that cause the slack in the Rocket Transmission (not all of them are as bad as mine was), and even how to correct them, and when prompted by other comments, I feel the need to report my experience. Sorry you can't handle it mate! I understood my position in relation to Tryump very well. I am not upset at all by the experience. Perhaps a little sad and diappointed but not bitter. In relation to their comments, it is this that amazes me enough to report it to others. I'm sorry if it upsets you and makes people on the RAT forum (remember it's your opinion creeping in again) laugh at me.

The frame coating on the Tryump is great, as is the paint finish. The casting on the engine block is bad and very variable. The (metal) chrome work sucks and the plastic chrome bits are a joke looking cheap and tacky, but then they had to cut corners somewhere to make a profit. The bike rides wonderfully, pulls strong and handles well for the size of machine and for the record, it's certainly a lot better dynamically, than the Rune....but then that isn't the whole story, is it? A bit like having greenfly on your strawberries. Maybe in your world we should all go out and buy Tryumps and then you would be happy....and the world very boring all liking the same thing.

What I don't get is why you are loitering about this forum at all...especially when you don't like the Rune and certainley don't own one. Indeed how can you even begin to look credible with your comments when you don't even own a Rocket...or are all Tryumps just Great...Mate!

May I suggest plucking live chickens would be a great way to relieve your built up tensions, meanwhile....Have a great day!

P.S
I am sure these postings do offer entertainment value to others, so do keep posting...it's fun!
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Rune VS Rockett

I think both of you need to take a breath, relax and chill. This is a RUNE Site, if you don't like it, we'll miss you..otherwise, save us the time of reading your mess. Just call or schedule a fight and get it over..Man to Man..
:evil:

I'm a Marine and like seeing the world, but I don't come in your site a piss all over the pages...
i hope this thread is about done now. Doesn't seem to be serving any purpose...other than stirring the pot. Lively debate is good....but haven't we now beat this horse to death?

Let's go back to arguing about whether there will be a 2005 model....or a 2006....or some other such junk, ok? :wink:

PS....Dave looks like a pretty big guy....you guys better take his advice :?
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