They all do that sir - Tank scuffed and scratched - Advice?

[Pigeon]

I've only had this bike for 8 weeks and 1,650 miles but have managed to scuff the tank. So much so that it's just rubbed the black paint off and its down to metal / base layer.

I wear a pair of Hood Jeans and within 500 miles I noticed that my thigh seemed to be rubbing the lacquer away.
I've checked for exposed seams on the leg of the jeans, or trapped grit. I've machine washed them several times. But today it rubbed through the paint.

Can anyone tell me if this is perfectly normal. ie I need to buy some tank protectors of some description. I've got one for my nuts / zip, but it never occurred to me that jean covered legs would win over lacquer + paint.

https://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w559/pigeon35/Random/20131110_195625resized_zpsaeeaa0ab.jpg

https://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w559/pigeon35/Random/20131110_195629resized_zps45c4f4a2.jpg

https://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w559/pigeon35/Random/20131110_195635resized_zpsa2a091f6.jpg

To my noob mind, this is really poor quality. The lacquer and paint layers appear to be microscopic thin.

I've always washed the bike days before taking it out and it's always had 2 coats of black polish/wax.

To put it in context. Same clothes, ridden 11,000 miles and 3 years on my Chinese bike. Paint seems inches thick by comparison:
https://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w559/pigeon35/Random/20131014_092046_zps5f0d2ed1.jpg

But have I just been ignorant and naive. Do most bikes have this "issue" and its only noticeable now because of the wider tank?

I don't see every bike with tank panels on the side though.

I will be going back to the dealer, but wanted to get the thoughts of people who know first before I kick off all Bruce Lee in their showroom.

Many thanks!

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Looks like crap paint to me. Expect them to try and tell you it isn't though. Shouldn't do that within 500 miles. Maybe over 5,00 miles it would be more understandable.

If they sort it under warranty, might be work sticking some stomp grips or similar on to stop it happening again.
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[P.addy]

Full on Bruce Lee.

I wouldn't expect that at all, even after 5k

My jeans/textiles/leathers didnt do any damage to My R1 over 2,500 miles in 10 days... would expect much better given the advances in paint since 2001

[doggone]

It is a place that might show wear eventually on many bikes, but that's shocking on such a new one.
It does look a bit like some grit has been involved mind.

[Muscle Bike Rider]

Thats not right mate, I'd be paying them a visit back, my bikes over 3yrs old and still looks new, you know I wear kevlar, textiles or leather and have no stomp grips fitted. Looks like poor quality control to me.
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Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Show them the ching chong bike in comparison.

Typical unionised Midland paint scheme there. Maybe they painted it quickly before dashing back outside to huddle around a flaming oil drum?

https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40863000/jpg/_40863791_leyland_203.jpg


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[Pigeon]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Slacker24seve...]

[recman]

My tank has dulled somewhat in the same area, although not to the extent of the op's bike, probably get myself some Stomps soon.
It wasn't like that when I bought it of course because of the magical showroom polishing monkeys.
@ Pidgeon, could you post a pic of the area of the tank which makes contact with the front of the seat?
I think you'll find that area is getting a bit worn away too.
I've had quite a few Triple owners ask me to pop my seat off while I stood outside my local Triumph dealer to check the same problem.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Slacker24seve...]

[recman]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Slacker24seve...]

[Rogerborg]

That's a Friday Bike. If they give you any gyp, that's a visit to a spray shop, get a quote, and tell them that they can sort it themselves or pay full retail.
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[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[pits]

at first I thought it was a Chinese bike and I was going to say "you get what you pay for"

Then I saw it was a Triumph, take it back tell them to fix it or refund you the bike, buy something else that's not right at all, and if they are saying "they all do that" then there is an inherent design flaw in the bike.

Pretty bad though for a brand new bike
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[DrSnoosnoo]

Deffo not right.

My 15 yr + ZZR has the original tank and no scuffs there. I've done about 5 k on it since I've got it and there's nothing. I wear leathers, jeans and textiles and my textiles have a slippery arse so I must be rubbing my legs across the tank a lot most days when re adjusting.

Needs fixing. Not fit for purpose. If it rubs away by you using your legs to move around on the bike, like you're supposed to, it's wrong.
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[pits]

it's like having a pair of jeans that disintegrate in the rain and the salesman going "well they are meant to do that"

I would suggest going to another dealer and getting a second opinion of what the first dealer has said, then go back to the first dealer.

Consider maybe emailing triumph
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Stinkwheel: You have no right to free speech
00:32:08 Blau Zedong: yes, i am a massive CB400 fan and collector
00:33:00 Blau Zedong: the CB400 is my favourite road bike

[Doovy]

My CBR has some dulling in the same area, but not as bad as that - and mine's done 40,000 miles.
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[Pigeon]

Sorry if my post implied the dealer said "they all do that", it was just me being facetious. I had not spoken with them at that point.

I have my first appointment with the dealer tomorrow lunchtime. Guess we'll soon see what the 2yr warranty is worth and how genuine all the smiles were.
If it doesn't pan out then I'll contact Triumph UK. Hopefully it won't come to that.

However it pans out, I'm taking a long lunch away from the office and getting a dose of adrenalin down the 281, taking no prisoners on the "road of death" and nipping back through Petworth.
Should put me in a good mood for the spreadsheet-tastic afternoon

[Rogerborg]

Nice and calm if they give you The Speech. You will win this one if push comes to shove, at their cost.

Within 6 months of new, the onus is on them (the dealer) to show that there was no manufacturing fault. There very clearly was. So your initial claim is against them using your statutory rights, not against Triumph UK using your contractual warranty. Although obviously if Triumph UK do tell the dealer to sort it, great, job done.

But if they give you the "Ooh, we'll have to see what Triumph will do" runaround, the next move really is to get a quote - for both money and time - from an independent spray shop. That establishes both the "reasonable" time that it should take the dealer to sort it, and the cost to them if they fail to do so.

Best of luck, I hope they treat you well.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[JP7]

A mate of mine has just had exactly the same issue on his two month-old Street Triple. The paint has worn away on one side of the tank. He took it back to his dealer who are rectifying it for him under warranty.

Take it back and tell them it needs rectifying, and they should sort it out for you. See what they say.

[Doovy]

Well Steve, what did they say?!
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