2012 Triumph THUNDERBIRD problems and owner complaints

CONSUMER STATES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO APPLY FORCE TO BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE VEHICLE WOULD START SURGING. *AK

Look up ODI 10029460 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD MOTORCYCLE TO WORK AND THE ASSEMBLY THAT ATTACHES THE THROTTLE CABLE TO THE THROTTLE GRIP FROZE. I HAD NOT THROTTLE CONTROL AND HAD TO COAST THE BIKE TO A SAFE STOP ON THE LEFT SHOULDER OF A HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE OF THE FACTORY HEATED GRIPS. AFTER REPEATED HEATING, THEY GET BRITTLE AND THE ATTACHMENT TO THE THROTTLE CABLE BREAKS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN A YEAR. WHAT WAS PARTICULARLY SCARY ABOUT THIS INCI…

Look up ODI 10504318 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE RIDING HOME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE HEATED THROTTLE GRIP SUDDENLY BROKE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP IMMEDIATELY TO IDLE. I HAD TO QUICKLY TAKE EVASIVE MANEUVERS TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AS OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WERE NOT EXPECTING MY MOTORCYCLE TO SUDDENLY SLOW TO A STOP. THE GRIP BROKE WHERE THE THROTTLE CABLE ATTACHES TO THE GRIP INSIDE THE RIGHT SIDE ELECTRICAL CONTROLS HOUSING. THIS GRIP IS CONSTRUCTED OF FLIMSY PLASTIC. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER RIDERS AS EVIDENCE BY FORUM POSTING SUCH AS T…

Look up ODI 10554982 at NHTSA ↗

THIS HAPPENS WHEN SHUTTING THE THROTTLE OFF TO MAKE A CORNER OR A STOP LIGHT, OR TO ADJUST SPEED IN TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE BACKFIRES THROUGH THE INTAKE OF THE THROTTLE BODIES AND THE AIRBOX UNDER THE VEHICLE SEAT AND DIES. THERE IS NO WARNING THIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AND THE ENGINES DIES AND YOU ARE STRANDED IN TRAFFIC WHILE YOU COAST TO A STOP, FIND NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE USUALLY STARTS AS NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AND RUNS NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. *TR

Look up ODI 10691366 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING DOWN LONG STEADY HILLS WITH CLOSED OR PARTIAL THROTTLE, THE ENGINE BACKFIRES, STALLS, AND WOULD NO LONGER RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE. IN TWO CASES, THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON WHILE STILL MOVING. IN ANOTHER INSTANCE, REPEATED ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE TO GET THE ENGINE RESTARTED, AFTER COASTING TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

Look up ODI 10644914 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S MOTORCYCLE MADE AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE. THE NOISE WAS LOUD AND A DISTRACTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOTORCYCLES (515 W LAMBERT RD, BREA, CA 92821, [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TEST CAME BACK INCOMPLETE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTOR WAS NOT AS NOISY AS OTHER MOTORCYCLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT "THE MOTOR WAS NOT NOISY ENOUGH". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE …

Look up ODI 11221665 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A LONG STEEP INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH,AND DOWN SHIFTING TO SLOW THE MOTORCYCLE,THE MOTOR STACK FIRED THRU THE THROTTLE BODIES AND QUIT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AS LUCK HAD IT,THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. HOWEVER,IF I HAD TO ACCELERATE AT THAT INSTANT TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE,IT WOULD HAVE CREATED A TENSE SITUATION TO SAY THE LEAST. WHEN I GOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL,I LET THE CLUTCH OUT TO RESTART THE MOTOR WHILE THE MACHINE WAS STILL MOVING AND WAS SUCCESSFUL. ALL WAS WELL AFTER THAT …

Look up ODI 10648460 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING DOWN LONG STEADY HILLS WITH CLOSED OR PARTIAL THROTTLE, THE ENGINE BACKFIRES, STALLS, AND WOULD NO LONGER RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE. IN TWO CASES, THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON WHILE STILL MOVING. IN ANOTHER INSTANCE, REPEATED ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE TO GET THE ENGINE RESTARTED, AFTER COASTING TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

Look up ODI 10644914 at NHTSA ↗

MOTORCYCLE HAS DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED CARBON FIBER BELT DRIVE SYSTEM. BELT CAN EASILY BE INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BELT EDGE TO BE WORN AWAY, CAUSING BELT TO SNAP AT HIGH SPEED. BASIC PROBLEMS INCLUDE AN INADEQUATE ADJUSTING MECHANISM AND A CUSTOM BLENDED COATING ON THE DRIVE PULLEY THAT CAUSES THE BELT TO MAKE CHIRPING NOISES AND EVENTUALLY WEAR THE BELT AT AN UNREASONABLE SPEED IF IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED. FACTORY SPECS STATE THAT THE DRIVE BELT SHOULD RUN AGAINST THE OUTER RIM OF THE REAR DRIVE PULLEY RATHER THAN IN THE CENTER. NO…

Look up ODI 10794824 at NHTSA ↗

The contact owns a 2014 Triumph Thunderbird Motorcycle. The contact stated while riding 60 MPH, the motorcycle lost motive power with the throttle control grip being activated. The contact waited for 20 minutes to restart the motorcycle however, the failure recurred. There was no warning light illuminated. The motorcycle was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The motorcycle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the motorcycle was not included in a recall. The failu…

Look up ODI 11540156 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR BRAKES ON MY 2010 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD BEGAN MAKING NOISE. I TOOK THE BIKE INTO THE DEALER AND APPARENTLY THE BRAKE PADS ARE WORN TO NOTHING AND THE ROTOR IS WORN TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE BIKE ONLY HAS 4000 MILES ON IT AND THE FIRST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE CHECK ON THE BRAKES IS 6000 MILES. IN ADDITION TO THIS ISSUE, THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE BIKE HAS STUCK 3 TIMES BUT THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS THIS ISSUE AND SO THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER. IT WILL SOMETIMES SHOW A MUCH SLOWER SPEED THAN ACTUALLY…

Look up ODI 10422536 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING DOWN LONG STEADY HILLS WITH CLOSED OR PARTIAL THROTTLE, THE ENGINE BACKFIRES, STALLS, AND WOULD NO LONGER RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE. IN TWO CASES, THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON WHILE STILL MOVING. IN ANOTHER INSTANCE, REPEATED ATTEMPTS HAD TO BE MADE TO GET THE ENGINE RESTARTED, AFTER COASTING TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

Look up ODI 10644914 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V277000 (EQUIPMENT) AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR ANTICIPATED REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,400. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF UPDATED 11/28/11

Look up ODI 10412381 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR BRAKES ON MY 2010 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD BEGAN MAKING NOISE. I TOOK THE BIKE INTO THE DEALER AND APPARENTLY THE BRAKE PADS ARE WORN TO NOTHING AND THE ROTOR IS WORN TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE BIKE ONLY HAS 4000 MILES ON IT AND THE FIRST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE CHECK ON THE BRAKES IS 6000 MILES. IN ADDITION TO THIS ISSUE, THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE BIKE HAS STUCK 3 TIMES BUT THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS THIS ISSUE AND SO THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER. IT WILL SOMETIMES SHOW A MUCH SLOWER SPEED THAN ACTUALLY…

Look up ODI 10422536 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALIGNMENT NEEDED TO BE READJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.

Look up ODI 10904622 at NHTSA ↗