Bike needs engine work, what should I do with it?

[reks95]

I have a 2011 Street Triple. It went in 1k early for its 24k service (oil, filters, valve check, etc.). It was making some noise that sounded like a bearing just beginning to go bad to me but otherwise ran fine. Dealer did the service. The tech found some degradation in the interior of the fuel line and replaced it, He said the noise was just excessive chain noise and he adjusted the chain. When I picked up the bike it wasn't running right. I got them to look at it again and it turns out there's almost no compression in one cylinder (I think he said 90lbs vs 290lbs).

So the question is, what do I do with it now?
I'm not Kenn, so there was no talk of giving me a new bike .
Seems like the cost of repair at any dealer is probably close to the value of the bike.
I could try doing it myself, but that's well beyond anything I'd normally do myself and without cracking it open, I don't even know how bad it is.
There's a few people running these as track day bikes, I suppose I could sell it as a parts bike or part it out.

It's annoying and this will probably sour me on Triumphs for a while.
But the bike is probably worth around $4500, I have other bikes, and I'm not hard up for money.

Thoughts?

Of course the far bigger pain in the ass is that I was going to use it for the upcoming Tony's days at Thompson this weekend and now I'll have to try to put something street oriented on the KTM and take that. I figured take it in for the service. There's no way they'll take 3 weeks to tell me the bike is blown up.

[Chippertheripper]

Get a salvage motor out of a crashed bike.

[myzx6]

Just a long shot but a fouled spark plug could wash a cylinder dry and cause low compression, maybe dealer didn't plug a coil in all the way. Was it still making noise when you picked it up?

[butcher bergs]

It was running fine prior to the service and now it's not?

[nhbubba]

Did they adjust the valves? Or just check?
Which chain was making the noise? Final drive, or cam chain?

[tsorfas]

I have an EX650 motor with very light use and lightened piston I will let got for cheap. LOL

[sedanman]

09 10 11 12 Triumph Street Triple Motor Engine 30 Day GUARANTEE 3K Miles | eBay

[bryco13]

"COMPRESSION IS STRONG IN ALL 4."

Aren't we looking at a 3 cylinder motor? Maybe not the best folks to buy something from.

[Stromper]

There are a few simple tests to check compression

If they played with the valves it should be looked at

Also seafoam to free a sticky ring

[reks95]

Over the last couple months, I've noted that it was a little cranky in the morning - took two presses to start it.
Also noticed mpgs being down a bit (maybe 10%), but that could also be traffic sucking the big monkey dick lately.
Other than that, it was running fine prior to the service.

They checked the valves, but did not adjust anything.

It wasn't making any unusual noises when I picked it up.
If I opened it up, it felt fine and seemed to pull like normal.
If I tried to hold a constant speed and make small throttle adjustments, it would hesitate and surge.
Triumph triples run pretty hot, but after the service I felt like the thing was even more of a furnace than usual.

[SVRACER01]

My wife just got one of these this year. An 06. So far ive replaced the whole charging system, dealt with coolant and fork seal leaks. Its all been relatively easy stuff to fix but frustrating. Seems to be running good now. I should probably let someone whos ridden one ride it and see what they think. Its got over 30k on it.

In your case, id just get a motor off e bay and replace it.

[mojobreakfast]

I have also have a 2011 Street Triple (R), 9K miles. Only oil and coolant changes so far. Are you the original owner? What did the "bearing" noise sound like before you brought it in?

- You should duplicate the compression test results yourself, easy enough, or take it to someone who can. Absolutely get a second opinion on that.
- My bike (again, a 2011) has the original battery still but is starting to need charging on a regular basis. Bike WILL not start easily in this situation. I have been too lazy to replace the battery, I just keep charging it on a trickle charger, but I will do it soon. Check that your battery is OK.
- Confirm you had the regulator/rectifier recall done?

[Degsy]

Text me tomorrow (wednesday) 508-269-7196.

This all sounds a bit strange. I can do a compression/leak down test for you and diagnose this properly. These triples are known occasionally to score cams and drop valves. Either way, you aren't looking at thousands to repair that kind of thing.

[cdovego]

Text me tomorrow (wednesday) 508-269-7196.

This all sounds a bit strange. I can do a compression/leak down test for you and diagnose this properly. These triples are known occasionally to score cams and drop valves. Either way, you aren't looking at thousands to repair that kind of thing.

Trust this guy.

[reks95]

Answering questions since last night:

I'm not the original owner. I bought it used in 2012 (12 months old & 3k on the clock). I've put the other 20k on it. The original owner was pretty anal. I don't think he broked it.

I ride with ear plugs - always. Over the course of this season, I started hearing a noise that varied in pitch and volume with speed. Somewhere around 45-50mph it starts to compete with the induction noise. I replaced the chain and sprockets a few months ago and I didn't notice a significant difference before/after. I suppose it could be still be chain noise as I run it on the loose side. But after owning a couple subaru's and always having a wheel bearing going, everything that varies with mph sounds like a slowly dying bearing to me. I'm also willing to admit that it's totally normal and I've just forgotten what normal sounds like because the K60's on my KTM howl at speed and my wr250x makes a completely different set of noises.

I replaced the battery last summer as the "quick" fix when the stator went. I went with a lithium battery (EarthX ETX12B). It really doesn't have enough juice, especially when cold. I should have gone with a ETX18F. It very well might be the cause of my hard starting. Especially after being drained to 0 a few times during the stator debacle.

I don't think I've had the rectifier replaced. I suppose it might have been done in year 1. I should check that - thanks mojo.

I agree that these motors have known issues.
But it seems unlikely for those issues to rear their head during a service.
I'll be sure to ping Degsy.
Tomorrow.
After birthday drinking is done,
After I've achieved the life the universe and everything enlightenment
that's supposed to come with completing year 42.
And after most of the hangover has run its course.

At the end of the day, I rode it to a shop and it felt fine.
When I picked it up it was broke.
I'm still pretty ignorant about motorcycles and Triumphs aren't perfect.
But, I'm wondering if the simple answer is the most likely:

Some debris got into the cylinder somewhere during the service.

I took this to a dealer. I haven't mentioned the dealership by name (although you could guess), mostly because I was more interested in my options that assigning blame. Googling around seems to confirm Chip's recommendation. If the motor is really fucked, ebaying a salvage motor seems like the best option. This motor hasn't really changed in a long time and the bike is relatively popular - even (esp?) for a newish rider. So, there are more people crashing them than motors blowing up, even if it is British and not Japanese. Of course, it might not be fucked. I'll ping Degsy.

Thanks for the advice .

[zombie]

pretty simple to work on and degs knows his stuff.

[Stromper]

timing chain

perhaps just a tensioner if way out then out of time

[reks95]

I'll post a follow up after Degsy's had a crack at it.
Should be a good story.

[dankatz]

Subscribed...

[sveesix]

If it wasn't broken when it went in, and broken when it came out, you need to make the dealer fix what they broke. Plain and simple.

This is why they do what they do and get away with it. Don't let them.

[PinHead]

I heard that Degsy was born with a ratchet in his hand, true story!

[Kenn157]

Sorry you're having issues with Streety. Have Degsy check it. Hopefully itll be quite fixable.

[zombie]

I heard that Degsy was born with a ratchet in his hand, true story!

it was a hatchet not a ratchet

[PinHead]

[SVRACER01]

hows your ankle?