Broke down R3T in New Jersey.

Sorry to hear of your traveling woes.
Did you ever do the headlight relay add on? It's beginning to sound like a good idea in ALL R3's. You'd think Triumph would have taken care of this issue. How much would adding a relay add to the total cost? NOT MUCH.
Others do the keyless start mod, and eliminate the switch altogether.
You're not the first to have an alarm issue. I remember a year or more ago a guy in the UK had problems with his as well... but he disappeared thereafter and hasn't resurfaced since.
Luck and smooth roads with a tailwind.

I've ridden my R3T in over 100 degree temps quite a bit over the last 3 years. I've seen water temps in excess of 220 degrees running at 75 down the freeway. The only problem I've had in 22,000 miles is a broken throttle cable connector in the heated grip. Seems like quite a few have had that part fail, I've decided not to replace mine.

That said, after reading about all your problems I'm considering selling my bike.

GPMAZ said:

I've ridden my R3T in over 100 degree temps quite a bit over the last 3 years. I've seen water temps in excess of 220 degrees running at 75 down the freeway. The only problem I've had in 22,000 miles is a broken throttle cable connector in the heated grip. Seems like quite a few have had that part fail, I've decided not to replace mine.

That said, after reading about all your problems I'm considering selling my bike.

Click to expand...

WHY?????????????? just because A rider is having a very bad road trip...I have read of some of the troubles with this bike...."IT DID NOT STOP ME FROM BUY ONE" and if a few are are having trouble with there's does not mean.... I am going to run out and sell mine..

I love my RT3 and plan on having it for many years...

Ed

BIKER said:

WHY?????????????? just because A rider is having a very bad road trip...I have read of some of the troubles with this bike...."IT DID NOT STOP ME FROM BUY ONE" and if a few are are having trouble with there's does not mean.... I am going to run out and sell mine..

I love my RT3 and plan on having it for many years...

Ed

Click to expand...

Uh, sorry, it was a joke.

Although I have owned it for three years and that's generally the longest I have owned most bikes. I'm beginning to grow tired of the cruiser riding position, and the weight of the bike. That said, the power is still quite intoxicating and it has been very dependable. As I have yet to run across anything that piques my interest I suspect I'll keep it a bit longer.

well thats good to hear...but we could use a sarcasm smiley icon around here.. it would help out ...

Ed

I'm looking at it via the "cowboy riding across the desert" analogy. If I was planning on riding across a hot desert on a horse best defined as "iffy" I'd think twice about it.

I am seriously thinking about trading or shooting this bike....er, horse, and buying something I can depend on.

That being said, I'd put about 15,000 miles on it before I had any serious trouble. The ignition, the fuel issue (pump?), the alarm and now this have kind of soured me on this horse.

If a rider has confidence in his bike, he should stick with it. I wince when I think of having sold my Kawasaki Nomad,. I loved that bike. Never a minute of trouble in 9 years and 67,000 miles.

For now, I'm sticking with my BMW R1150GS until I can figure out what to do with my R3T. (But don't be surprised if you see it on FleaBay soon.)

BIKER said:

WHY?????????????? just because A rider is having a very bad road trip...I have read of some of the troubles with this bike...."IT DID NOT STOP ME FROM BUY ONE" and if a few are are having trouble with there's does not mean.... I am going to run out and sell mine..

I love my RT3 and plan on having it for many years...

Ed

Click to expand...

dandiego said:

For now, I'm sticking with my BMW R1150GS until I can figure out what to do with my R3T. (But don't be surprised if you see it on FleaBay soon.)

Click to expand...

Interesting. I sold an R1200GS to buy the R3T. Often miss the GS. But, never having had a cruiser type bike I felt I should give one a try.

I was recently looking at the R1200R (had an 1150R before the GS). The new motor seems pretty nice. But then, I've never owned an Italian bike, so maybe a Ducati or a Guzzi.

Too many choices, too little time....

After reading of Dandiego's (and other people's) troubles I wondered if I'd made the right choice getting an R3. The reality is that these forums are going to highlight the bad things, while there are thousands of us out there having no trouble at all. This is where you come if you've got a problem and want to see if others do too.

My R3 is a 2005, with beatle bags, crash bars, highway pegs, windscreen, accessory gauges and a Jardine exhaust. I paid $7,800 for it. I figure I can put a little in the R3 if needed, and still be okay. The previous owner said the engine was re-built within 500 miles due to a "cam-shaft recall". As long as the engine and tranny hold up, I shouldn't have too much trouble. The previous owner said it was supposed to have a PCIII on it. I sure can't find it. Wonder if the dealer took it off during the engine rebuild?

I looked at Electra-Glides and Goldwings with similar miles and year. All were at least twice what I paid.

I think I'll do the ignition switch relay mod ASAP. Then just get the noisy Jardines figured out and a proper tune to stop the snapping and popping.

All in all, I'm happy with mine. Hope it keeps going that way!

GPMAZ said:

Interesting. I sold an R1200GS to buy the R3T. Often miss the GS. But, never having had a cruiser type bike I felt I should give one a try.

I was recently looking at the R1200R (had an 1150R before the GS). The new motor seems pretty nice. But then, I've never owned an Italian bike, so maybe a Ducati or a Guzzi.

Too many choices, too little time....

Click to expand...

I too sold an 05 1150 GSA to buy the my Rocket. LoL I miss that bike a lot sometimes, it was definitely more fun in the twistys than the rocket just because of the high center of gravity. It was fun chasing down the squids on it that's for sure.

Gs /r3t

I didn't quite sell my BMW R1200GS for the R3T, but sold it due to space issues in the garage having bought the R3T. Only done a 1000miles on it so far, but did that in under 24hrs on the GS.