2017 TRIUMPH THRUXTON Complaints

The front brakes on my 2017 Triumph Thruxton r have developed a need to pull twice in order to get a bite. The first pull on the lever comes back very easy with little stopping power. The second pull engages and stopping power is restored. This seems dangerous when a panic situation occurs. This issue was first noticed 2 years ago and I have had the brakes bled twice, had the calipers and pistons cleaned and some relief was noticed for a short time then the issue returned. I had the bike in for a Triumph recall on the side stand spring and asked the mechanic after he test rode the bike what he thought about the brakes… he said they seemed a little spongy, needed the system bled. I told him that they were just bled and he thought maybe try again. This seems a little ridiculous to me as there seems no fix.

My bike has the same issue as many other Triumph Thruxton 1200Rs with a soft initial brake application. The first time that the brakes are applied, there is extra travel and a softer lever feel. After the first application, a subsequent application has a shorter travel. I reported this to a dealer early on, and they stated that they did not find anything out of spec. This is not a normal thing as none of my other motorcycles have ever had this issue. The brake system is supposed to be consistent from first to subsequent brake applications.

This vehicle has a dangerous flaw while downshifting and holding in the clutch lever. The engine will stall ! It is dangerous because I am relying on the engine braking to help slow down the motorcycle in a turn. Because the engine stalls the speed of the motorcycle increases. It is a worldwide problem BUT I do not see a recall listed in the NHTSA's website. Please have this matter resolved before someone is hurt.

The front braking system on my 2017 Triumph Thruxton R has excessive brake lever travel that has gotten progressively worse. This has resulting in 'double pumping' the front brake lever to achieve adequate braking power, which in an emergency situation may not be possible. The brakes have been maintained at the appropriate intervals, new brake pads have not solved the issue. The brakes have been thoroughly bled out per the manufacturer's procedure.

SEEMS I HAVE THE ISSUE MANY OTHER ARE HAVING WITH THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY TRIUMPH THRUXTON R IN THAT I HAVE TO "DOUBLE PUMP" THE BRAKE LEVER TO ACTUALLY GET A GOOD SOLID BRAKING FEEL AND ACTION. AFTER DOUBLE PUMPING THE BRAKE LEVER I GET THE SOLID BRAKING I SHOULD HAVE FOR MAYBE 10 SECS AFTER USING THE FRONT BRAKE. THEN THE BRAKE LEVER LOSES ITS FEEL AND I HAVE TO DOUBLE PUMP THE LEVER AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN MY BIKE IN FOR A ANNUAL INSPECTION, WHICH I MENTIONED THE BRAKING ISSUE AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED IT IS A PROBLEM AND WOULD REMEDY IT. AFTER THE SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDED A BRAKE FLUID FLUSH AND BLEED THE ISSUE RETURNED A FEW DAYS LATER. CLEARLY THERE IS A MAJOR MALFUNCTIONING COMPONENT THAT TRIUMPH KNOWS ABOUT BUT IS REFUSING TO REPLACE AND FROM MY RESEARCH THIS IS IN ISSUE ON ALL RECENT TRIUMPH MODELS THAT HAVE BREMBO FRONT BRAKE COMPONENTS. I HAVE GOTTEN USE TO THIS ISSUE BUT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, I FEAR I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BRAKE IN THE MANNER THAT IS NEED AND COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

FRONT BRAKES ARE SPONGEY AND REQUIRE PUMPING OF BRAKE LEVER IN ORDER TO GET FULL BRAKING ABILITY. FRONT BRAKE LEVER IS SOFT ON FIRST PULL AND NEEDS TO BE RELEASED AND PULLED AGAIN IN ORDER TO BRAKE FULLY. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A FRONT WHEEL SPACING ISSUE, CAUSING THE FRONT ROTOR TO HIT ONE BRAKE PAD BEFORE THE OTHER, WHICH MAY BE AT LEAST PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ISSUE.

FRONT BRAKES REQUIRE A DOUBLE PUMP OF THE LEVER TO ACCOMPLISH POSITIVE BRAKE FEEL AND OPERATION. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IN CASE OF EMERGENCY STOPPING. I HAVE BLED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND IT STILL DOESN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NOTICED SPONGY BRAKE LEVER FEEL WHEN I PURCHASED THE BIKE. SPONGY FRONT BRAKES - REQUIRES A DOUBLE PULL OF LEVER. HAVE BLED BRAKES AND SPONGY FEELS COMES BACK AFTER FEW LEVER PULLS. HAVE HAD MANY OTHER MOTORCYCLES WITH BREMBO BRAKES AND NONE REQUIRED A DOUBLE PULL FOR PROPER ENGAGEMENT.

SINCE NEW THERE HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT BRAKING WHEN APPLYING THE FRONT BRAKES; OFTEN REQUIRING MULTIPLE SQUEEZES OF THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER TO GET EXPECTED BRAKING FORCE. THIS WAS IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO THE SELLING DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM BLEED. WHILE THIS INITIALLY APPEARED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE THE INCONSISTENT BRAKING PERFORMANCE RETURNED SHORTLY AFTER. ADDITIONAL BRAKE SYSTEM BLEEDS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE. I CONSIDER THIS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS UNPREDICTABLE BRAKING PERFORMANCE CAN RESULT IN NOT BEING ABLE TO SAFELY STOP OR SLOW THE VEHICLE IN BOTH NORMAL RIDING AND EMERGENCY SCENARIOS. INQUIRIES WITH THE SELLING DEALER AND OTHER DEALERS WHO CARRY THIS BRAND INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THIS MODEL AND OTHER MODELS WITHIN THE BRAND THAT USE A SIMILAR BRAKE SYSTEM BUT CLAIM THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT OFFERED A PERMANENT RESOLUTION. ONLINE RESEARCH ALSO INDICATES OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE WITH THE POSSIBLE CAUSES RELATED TO THE MATERIALS USED FOR BRAKE CALIPER COMPONENTS.

THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE I NEED TO PUMP THE BRAKE AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE GETTING SOLID BRAKE PRESSURE. THE FIRST PULL ON THE BRAKE LEVER IS SPONGY AND GOES NOT HAVE SOLID PRESSURE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY A CONCERN WHEN TURNING INTO A BLING CORNER AND NEEDING TO PERFORM EMERGENCY BRAKING. THE FRONT CALIPER IS NOT ALIGNED EVENLY WITH THE BRAKE ROTOR EVEN AFTER THIS MOTORCYCLE WAS WITH THE TRIUMPH DEALER FOR OVER A MONTH FOR REPAIRS. I CAN SHARE A VIDEO SHOWING HOW THE BRAKE LEVER TRAVEL BEHAVES.