New Bonneville T100 with poor frame alignment
New Bonneville T100 with poor frame alignment
Author
Discussion

ash reynolds

Original Poster:

472 posts

222 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
quotequote all
I picked up a brand new Bonneville T100 last Friday (23/3) and when I came to wash it I noticed that the seat sub-frame tubes were not welded in the same place as each other. It occurred to me that the error may originate somewhere else in the frame and as the result of cumulative error, this being the end of the tube if you like, displays a greater misalignment. Have a look, let me know what you think...






Wacky Racer

41,407 posts

278 months

Thursday 29th March 2018
quotequote all
I wouldn't worry about it, as long as the bike handles like it should. These frames are made on extremely high tech computerised machines.

Mention your concerns to the dealer if you are really bothered about it.

Jazoli

9,700 posts

281 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
That is pretty piss poor, what is the gap when you put a straight edge across the top, 10mm?

ash reynolds

Original Poster:

472 posts

222 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
Jazoli said:
That is pretty piss poor, what is the gap when you put a straight edge across the top, 10mm?
I'll check that. The ruler in my head measures st! laugh

CaptainSlow

13,179 posts

243 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
They build these in India so hopefully not an indication of reduced build quality.

Pothole

34,367 posts

313 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
CaptainSlow said:
They build these in India so hopefully not an indication of reduced build quality.
No. They don't.

CaptainSlow

13,179 posts

243 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
Pothole said:
CaptainSlow said:
They build these in India so hopefully not an indication of reduced build quality.
No. They don't.
Apologies Thailand. India to start building local models soon.

Pothole

34,367 posts

313 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
CaptainSlow said:
Pothole said:
CaptainSlow said:
They build these in India so hopefully not an indication of reduced build quality.
No. They don't.
Apologies Thailand. India to start building local models soon.
Most other models also largely built in Thailand and yet the internet isn't awash with quality issues.

OP, if this is, indeed a new bike, take it back to the dealer and ask their opinion.

ash reynolds

Original Poster:

472 posts

222 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
Pothole said:
Most other models also largely built in Thailand and yet the internet isn't awash with quality issues.

OP, if this is, indeed a new bike, take it back to the dealer and ask their opinion.
It's due in tomorrow so they can open a case and take their own photographs. I'll have a communication for Triumph prepared for them to pass on since they've made it clear (acceptably so, they clearly do not plan to go above and beyond and are not obligated to) that they are the intermediary only. They have indicated that a new frame is likely to be the outcome which is something I'm reluctant to accept since the bike is only a week old today.

I'm recalling now the issue of stalling with the new Thruxton I bought last December. Triumph had an ongoing issue (2 years) with these bikes stalling when the throttle was closed and yet they continued to sell them while they posed a significant risk of accident to the rider, this was acknowledged by the DVSA although Triumph issued a formal recall before the DVSA could have one imposed.

These two bikes are my first Triumph ownership experience and I find it remarkable that I could get so unlucky with both purchases.


ash reynolds

Original Poster:

472 posts

222 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
What's happened is that tube has been assembled at the joint circled in red incorrectly orientated. It's rotated which has had the effect of lowering the tube end creating the gap and also a wider gap at the yellow arrow. The grab rail boss is also now not horizontal.


Wacky Racer

41,407 posts

278 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
I would certainly not accept a new frame, the numbers will not match the V5.

If you genuinely like the bike, request another brand new one.

Triumph probably will just sell yours at a discount to somebody.

Pothole

34,367 posts

313 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
As above, I'd be rejecting it and asking for a new one. Whatever Triumph say, or warranty they offer, the staff in Hinckley don't assemble these bikes on a regular basis so I'd be dubious about them swapping everything onto/into a new frame. Guess you'll have to wait and see what they offer first.

EireEng

113 posts

118 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all

OP, I'm not sure what grounds the warranty claim could be on; obviously the bike will still function as intended, there's no safety issue, and you can't see the
weld/alignment detail when the bike is all assembled. Your dealer may just put in a claim anyway and see, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

RE the frame number, the dealer has to cut the headstock off the bike and return it to the factory, where they'll take a blank frame and put your number on it so the paperwork stays legit.


Pothole said:
the staff in Hinckley don't assemble these bikes on a regular basis
The staff in Hinckley assemble plenty of them; production lines are just used for mass production, so the years of testing/development before that involves building loads of pre-production bikes.


Pothole

34,367 posts

313 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
EireEng said:
OP, I'm not sure what grounds the warranty claim could be on; obviously the bike will still function as intended, there's no safety issue, and you can't see the
weld/alignment detail when the bike is all assembled. Your dealer may just put in a claim anyway and see, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

RE the frame number, the dealer has to cut the headstock off the bike and return it to the factory, where they'll take a blank frame and put your number on it so the paperwork stays legit.


Pothole said:
the staff in Hinckley don't assemble these bikes on a regular basis
The staff in Hinckley assemble plenty of them; production lines are just used for mass production, so the years of testing/development before that involves building loads of pre-production bikes.
So you'd be happy, but I wouldn't. Opinions are like bums, eh?

EireEng

113 posts

118 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
Pothole said:
So you'd be happy, but I wouldn't. Opinions are like bums, eh?
Indeed!

I'm not saying I'd be happy; just saying I wouldn't hold my breath on a warranty replacement. The labour cost to pay a dealer to re-frame a bike is likely a lot, so I can't see it happening.

I'm actually in the process of rebuilding the engine in my own bike (which I think should have been a warranty replacement) but no joy, so I've got do do it myself. I'm not happy.

Unbusy

934 posts

128 months

Friday 30th March 2018
quotequote all
I would have thought they would be happy to replace it rather then have people seeing the build quality which could affect sales.
With the better riding days coming any wait for a repair isn’t cricket. Good luck OP.

AceOfHearts

5,958 posts

222 months

Saturday 31st March 2018
quotequote all
Does a couple of mm at the tail end really make any difference? If the seat unit isnt lop sided when fitted i can't see it being a problem and it may be within manufacturing tolerences.

Not everything can be 100% all the time (but this is coming from a Royal Enfield owner hehe)