Throttle problem

Hi guys, 29k+ on my R3T now and had a small problem a week or two ago i thought you might like a "heads up" about if it hasn't been posted already. Whizzing round our wonderfull M25 on the way to Shropshire with three mates, at the back as usual, when, ping, no throttle! It felt like a broken throttle cable, (snapped a few over the years) so i coasted over to the hard shoulder and kept going on tickover (idle). Managed about 20 mph in 2nd and 3rd till came across a slight uphill section but once in 1st the Rocket pulled me off the motorway, to a place of saftey so i could investigate further. I split the switch gear to find the cable intact, what had failed was the twistgrip where the pull cable nipple slots in. The plastic part had broken away leaving no pull on the cable, feeling for all the world like the cable had broke, which it hadn't. A quick phone call to my (superb) dealership who said if i could get there they sort it out. So rather than be recovered by van, i cut away the broken part of the nipple holder, removed the push cable and cut a slot in the plastic for the pull cable to fit into the push cables holder. This gave enough throttle, about 60/65 mph to get to the dealer, who as soon as they cleared the job they were on, sorted my bike with a new twistgrip, including heated grip at no cost to me. Apparently they may have been a few failures of this part on some Rockets and Tigers, so if this happens to you, you make a temp repair to get you home or to your dealer. Just try a full throttle take off before need to, to see how much slower it could be, i'm guessing i got 1/2 throttle or less. Hope this me be of use to someone in the future, I still love my R3T and short of a full dresser version of a R3T, (like a 'wing or a LT BMW) i really can't see me change it for any other bike! Ride safe, JT.

Thats odd, another member was complaining his snapped off too. I think he was also having a part availability problem too. His dealer said they were back ordered.

That's the third one I've heard of, all R3Ts. You're certainly more resourceful than I. It was about 110 degrees when mine snapped on I10 heading to Phoenix. I pulled out my AMA card and ordered up a tow truck.

Mine was the heated grip as was the other case reported. I was hoping that the problem was unique to the heated grips, but now it sounds like the stock grips have the same problem. My new heated grip is waiting at the dealer. I'll keep the stock one I've been using till the backorder cleared in my saddlebag since it sounds like an ongoing problem.

Hey, if nothing else ... you both are getting a crash course in roadside R3 anatomy.

HellFire said:

Hey, if nothing else ... you both are getting a crash course in roadside R3 anatomy.

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I witnessed this same issue on a Harley. The owner had replaced the stock grips with Kuryakyn ISO grips. We took it apart thinking the same thing as the OP; throttle cable. Nope, it was the cheap plastic grip. I think Kuryakyn charges close to $100 for those **** things. What a load of bollocks!

Busted throttle tab ! Me Too !

HellFire said:

Thats odd, another member was complaining his snapped off too. I think he was also having a part availability problem too. His dealer said they were back ordered.

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That was me...same busted plastic tab in the middle of a 1500 road trip. I was quoted 4-5 weeks for the part so I bought the ISO grip with the Kuryakin bar end style cruise control. Works great. I just can't handle the 4 week wait for parts. That's what you get for buying a Triumph in California. The Distribution Whse in the east and the backordered parts must come from the UK. My roadside fix was to take a piece of sheet metal, cut it into the same shape as the curved slot the throttle holder. Since only one side of the retaining tab broke, the extra thickness held the barrel in place. A bit "McGiverish" but it got me home about 475 miles till I could buy the aftermarket parts to fix it. It was the heated grip version that broke and since the heated grips aren't very effective, I tossed them for the ISO grips which are very very comfortable.

If I was to keep using the Triumph heated grips, I would spend the $100 to have a spare throttle grip in my bag because when it breaks, chances are you will need a trailer to get it home.

Sounds like the heat from grips is making the plastic brittle.

Btw, be happy you have a "throttle" problem and not a "throbber" problem.

"As King, you must find the good in every situation."

- Long Shanks

Gothlander said:

Sounds like the heat from grips is making the plastic brittle.

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Interesting hypothesis. Don't know though if Johnny had the heated grips fitted. I find the heated grips to be quite effective, but for me cold weather is anything that drops below about 65 degrees.

Yes GPMAZ, i have Triumph heated grips fitted from new and find them pretty good, although when gets to zero or below i tend to use my Gerbings heated gloves, insoles and under jacket. Rode in the snow over here earlier this year for work, expensive gear but well worth it.