Problems with my brand new GS 1250 Adventuer

[knutk]

You omit the point that most of the manufacturing equipment was worn out, which impacted upon the quality being produced, where as to an extent the Japanese were starting from scratch, the innate racism and arrogance of British management didn't help either.

If you use a JIS screwdriver rather than a Phillips, it makes dismantling far easier, but how many understood the difference or used near enough imperial spanners on the metric bolts.

I should admit to owning a T140exec from new as well as now owning a Tina, Tigress and Panther M100 along with numerous Honda's too.

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I was just a youngster at the time, but remember the frustration of observing that what had been regarded as the 'Kings of the roads' slowly went from highly desirable to 'don't want one'.
I think we may agreee that the Investors and Owners/Managers did more to hurt the industry than what the competition did.

Sad realy, I still love the looks of the Triumphs and Nortons from that time, and spent my first riding years riding my buddys Commando. Lovely in many ways, but mechanically it was a peace of shit compared to my BMW that I bought as my first bike. (As I ended up in the 'don't want' mode.)

 

[Borderbob]

There it is Bob:

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You did a stunning rebuild on that bike Nin and I was delighted to see it fight another day. Thoroughly approved of the minor changes/additions you made too. But I was also interested to see just what had worn out during the 72K miles (I think) I'd ridden it. It was meticulously serviced throughout, but used properly in all weathers and a variety of terrains at home and abroad. I continue to be interested in the difference between the material qualities of the aluminium used in the castings these days, compared to previous airhead models that of course were not painted. One theory I've had suggested to me by a university metallurgist, is that the composition of the alloy used is now different to better facilitate modern high speed CNC machining. The result is a material less resistant to excessive oxidisation, something we have come to take for granted on BMWs since the middle of the 1990s. Maybe someone here has the expertise/knowledge to confirm whether this may be true or not. Either way, I do think its shocking, that with the reasonable care I gave to what was in most other respects an absolutely superb piece of machinery, there was so much corrosion present after what I consider to be a short period of time.
Couple of pics of it brand new (look at that exhaust!) and getting muddy in the Peak District.
So where is the bike now? Really hope its being used for what it's good at.