Gear Backlash on the R3R

Well I got the first 1000kms over and done with on the 2nd R3R and this bike is awesome. Can wait to get on holidays with it.

You lucky, lucky bastard; you get to experience a new bike twice.
Sounds like you'll need a double room!!

"You Luck Bastard" yeah right....what a pain in the ass. Yes I am on my 2nd 2011 Roadster but the first one was a piece of junk so I was quiet dissapointed with it...but now with the new one HOLY F***&^%Ken S***T is this bike awesome

Gaolbird said:

2011 Rocket Roadster

Has anyone ever heard a dealer talk about Gear Backlash in the transmission. When I roll on the throttle in 5th gear at 120kph pulling 2800-2900rpms there is a notiable clunking sound that is felt in the foot pegs. This clunking will go away once the rpms creep above 3200-3500rpms. The dealer relayed some info from triumph saying that the R3R uses straight cut gears and with an engine this size gear backlash is common. The guy working on my bike took it for a ride and he thought is was a broken ujoint, he rides a R3 Classic and he has never had that happen on his he said.

Anyone else experience this?
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The line about straight cut gears giving more backlash is B.S. No matter if they're helical, straight (spline), heringbone, spiral bevel, hypoid, they ALL have backlash. The difference in backlash between any type of comparable size is minimal, having more to do with the precision class of gear demanded and the diamteral pitch of the gearset. In fact, straight cut gears offer LESS torque yeild since the torque is spread to fewer teeth at a time during engagement. The benefit of using straight toothed gears is having no end-thrust on its supporting shaft.
I'm sure an engineer wasn't offering the response, that proved to be B.S. once they replaced it.

Just talked to the owner and founder of our nearest Triumph dealer last weekend. He recently visited England's plant and was sorry to report that there is nearly nothing produced in the homeland shop that isn't also produced in Thailand. That pretty little 3rd world country of cheap labor may be a fun vacation spot, but they're not known for an endless supply of experienced mechanics and machinery builders.

Gaolbird said:

2011 Rocket Roadster

Has anyone ever heard a dealer talk about Gear Backlash in the transmission. When I roll on the throttle in 5th gear at 120kph pulling 2800-2900rpms there is a notiable clunking sound that is felt in the foot pegs. This clunking will go away once the rpms creep above 3200-3500rpms. The dealer relayed some info from triumph saying that the R3R uses straight cut gears and with an engine this size gear backlash is common. The guy working on my bike took it for a ride and he thought is was a broken ujoint, he rides a R3 Classic and he has never had that happen on his he said.

Anyone else experience this?
​

Click to expand...

My 2011 R3R has done this since new I have nad it back to the dealer 4 times over 10000 klm's every time they sent someone out for a ride they come back and said thats normal they all do that. Last thursday my bike was finally back together after having $6000 crash damage repaired. When a mechanic test rode it he came back saying something is wrong with top gear and proceded to describe aclunking sound that is felt through the foot pegs from 2500 to3000 revs.they will be back on wed after break are going to pull down gearbox and final drive and have a look. Same result as Gaolbird would be nice but I don't like my chances as bike is now 12 months old.