1998 Triumph Trident 900....

 Any thoughts on this bike?  Am looking for a sport-standard type bike...but
can't find any real reviews for it.

Thanks in advance.

 Iggy wrote:

What? Do you expect motorcycle magazine writers to tell the truth about the
motorcycles they test? If they did that, they wouldn't get any more long term
test units.

The testers have to write articles dripping with praise about the latest pig
with lipstick.

When they do find out about a problem, they don't run a big expository
article, they post a few lines in the very back of a much later issue about
manufacturers' recalls.

Recent recalls:

http://pittsburgh.adtaker.com/recalls/info.aspx?mk=TRIUMPH

The Triumph triples have a weird gear driven alternator shaft under the
carburetors. The starter clutch is also on this shaft. The starter clutch is
like a weird ball bearing with egg-shaped rollers. When it's not being turned
by the starter, the egg-shaped rollers are slipping, so the damned thing is
wearing out when it's not in use.

Some people have tried to blame the wear problem on riders using car oil in
their engines.

If the fix hasn't been done, it could cost you $1000 to have it done.

http://www.triumphrat.net/t3-sport-touring-forum/25094-newbie-with-trident.html?highlight 98+trident+sprag


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http://www.triumphrat.net/t3-sport-touring-forum/25094-newbie-with-trident.html?highlight 98+trident+sprag

So, it seems that a well tended battery is the key to getting the longest
life out of the sprag clutch.  I'll ask the seller how well he maintained
the battery.  I'm in Florida, so winter storage isn't really a problem for
me.  The bike would be ridden often, keeping the battery charged...and I'll
replace at the first sign of weakness.

As far as reviews are concerned, I was actually looking for reviews from
actual owners/riders of the bike.  I don't actually put a whole lot of stock
in magazine reviews.  But, I do thank you for the valuable information :)

Thanks.

 Iggy wrote:


I don't believe the weak battery theory, because of the design of a sprag
clutch.

A sprag is a one-way freewheel clutch used in a number of applications. It
resembles a roller bearing with odd shaped "rollers" that cannot roll. When
the unit rotates in one direction, the rollers stand up and bind because of
oil friction, and when the unit is rotated in the opposite direction, the
rollers slip or freewheel.

www.meansindustries.com/OneWayClutch.html
www.roymech.co.uk/.../Cams_Springs/Ratchets.html

For the weak battery theory to work, the sprag clutch has to be capable of
being back-driven.

I tend to believe that the sprag clutch fails because it slips a little
instead of completely free wheeling.

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You're wrong.

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