Triumph Bonneville 865 SE - Fitting a Safe Start

[@rsbharley4766]

Excellent video, great info. Thanks for taking the time to share. Cheers

[@tigerness5555]

Thank you, great to hear that you enjoyed my video and hopefully found it helpful 👍😁

[@weemark67]

Loved watching Joe bring Freddie’s unloved Bonny back to live again. Fantastic attention to detail. Like yourself Ian! 😊

[@tigerness5555]

Hi Mark I also enjoyed watching Joe working on Freddie’s bike, he’s very methodical. Excellent mechanic and perfectionist, Freddie’s one very lucky guy. Hope all’s going well with you, hopefully winter will fly by and the bikes will all be back out on the roads again. Take care mate 😁

[@powysrider]

Another great instructional video! Before owning my Classic 350 I had a Bonneville and did this job to it, wish your video had been available then🤪 still rode for a few years after fitting with no issues. However I did find your video on fitting Kent cam to the RE 350, made life a little easier for me, have added 3000 beautiful miles since. Keep up the good work!

[@tigerness5555]

Great to hear that you enjoyed the video. Even better that you actually used the camshaft video for reference when fitting it to your Classic 350. Good to know that, like mine, your bike is still performing well after thousands miles use. Great wee bikes, love mine 😁👍

[@stevieneilson2451]

Brilliant Ian 👏🏻 Another great video that might save one of us a fortune 💪🏻👍🏻

[@tigerness5555]

Hi Stevie Great to hear that you enjoyed the video 👍 Hope all’s going well with you. I’ve been filming with the new cameras, some excellent videos coming out in January, at least I think they’re excellent 🤣 Ride safe

[@Beeza56]

Thank you very much for this. My 2013 Thruxton oftentimes doesn’t quite “catch” when I go to start it and I’ve worried about the potential for damage. Will install this fix at the next oil change. Ps. I always thought it was those weak coils they use. I did change to the German ones on my Thunderbird Sport back in the day and I’m thinking about changing the Thruxton ones too. Subscribed. Ex.pat.Brit in NY state. Thruxton/Watsonian Meteor combo.

[@tigerness5555]

Great to hear that you enjoyed my video and potentially found it helpful 👍

[@rickibenka9497]

Really enjoy your workshop videos, Ian. That's such a simple fix to a potential disaster, that any competent person who works on their bike could do, or get a bike mechanic to do if the owner supplied the part. I watched both Freddie & Mr & Mrs Wurks (we can't leave her out of from getting credit Ha Ha) & it certainly was a fair job to sort out. The end result was fantastic. Thanks again for sharing & here's hoping other Triumph owners of this engine design, take on board your proactive approach. Ride Safe.

[@tigerness5555]

Hi Ricki Great to hear that you enjoyed the video 😁 Freddie Dobbs is one very lucky guy having Joe and his lovely wife coming to his rescue. I just hope he looks after the Bonneville a little bit better from now on 🤣

[@mikehatswell3961]

Another cracking video Ian, definitely a worthwhile and simple modification for any air cooled Bonneville, I’m sure it will be very helpful, all the best buddy 👍

[@tigerness5555]

Hi Mike I bet you’re happy that your Bonneville doesn’t suffer from this potential issue 👍 Almost finished editing a new five part series that starts on the 7th January. I think they’re the best videos I’ve ever made, something for you to look forward to on a cold and miserable winter’s day. Not giving any clues away 🤣 Hope all’s going well with you.

[@theinvisiblecamper]

Thanks for the video Iain - I have been swithering about doing this mod to my thruxton for a while and your video has given the required push to get on with it 👍

[@tigerness5555]

Great to hear that you enjoyed the video and have found it inspiring enough for you to do it as well.

[@BaronvonOldenBiker]

I did the same thing on my Thruxton. I actually took off the black paint where the start safe made contact. Sticking to bare metal is always stronger that paint.

[@tigerness5555]

Now that’s a great idea, wish I’d thought of that before I fitted mine. Too late now, time will tell 🤣👍

[@DaveHines1]

Nice to see someone using an ABBA stand rather than just demonstrating it 😃🍻

[@tigerness5555]

I use it a lot on all my bikes, it’s a fantastic piece of equipment. Especially when you’re older like me 🤣👍

[@DaveHines1]

@@tigerness5555 I totally agree , I've had far fewer back issues from working on my bike since I got mine , getting older sucks , but I refuse to grow up 😉🍻

[@stevegresty4181]

Awesome video, well worth doing upgrade, thanks 👍👍

[@tigerness5555]

Great to hear that you enjoyed the video, only time will tell if it’s been worthwhile 😁👍

[@oldfella4096]

Very interesting modification that could save you a fortune TN. The one thing that makes me cringe is people trying to start a motorcycle with a weak battery as it will end in tears, early Triumph Sprints weak batteries and backlash trashed many sprag clutches.. Mr Dobbs fashion icon and nice chap but I don't think he knows what makes the wheels go round and round on a motorcycle 🤔

[@frankiepitt9135]

He doesn’t profess to know anything about the mechanics of his bikes.

[@tigerness5555]

Hi Dave As you know, I’m always happy to save a fortune 🤣 I tend to keep my bikes fully charged, but if I know a run is planned, I always ensure to charge the bike I’m taking out is plugged in the night before. Freddie isn’t getting to work on my bikes 🤣

[@GerryPowell-r6s]

Great fix yet simple.

[@tigerness5555]

Great to hear that you enjoyed the video 😁👍

[@sleepyrider]

Very interesting. I had an 04 sold it in 2020. Mine was a 790cc, seem to remember people complaining the ecu on the 865s wouldn't let the engine turn over if the battery voltage was below a certain, quite high, voltage. Maybe this was the reason?

[@tigerness5555]

A lot of the trouble is caused by the headlight constantly being on when the bike is being started. I tend to run with an LED bulb to reduce the load on the battery which helps. On my old 790 you could switch the headlight off. Great to hear that you enjoyed the video 👍

[@robgerety]

I wish I had a heated garage. Too cold for me to do much in the winter.

[@tigerness5555]

I haven’t always been this lucky, I can remember many instances of working on cars and bikes outside in freezing conditions. Hope you enjoyed the video 😁👍

[@stevepeterson9759]

I'm waiting on this part. I'm new to Triumph (I have an '06 Speedmaster), and this may seem like a stupid, novice question, but will I need to drain the oil before I pull of the side case?

[@tigerness5555]

It’s not a stupid question, every days a learning day for us all. The answer is, yes, you will need to drain the engine oil first. And remember to purchase a new gasket for the clutch cover housing as well. Hope this helps 👍

[@stevepeterson9759]

@@tigerness5555 Thanks!

[@joetocchio9666]

I guess the moral of the story is instead of adding another practically obtuse accessory, just keep your battery charged. People do love to fettle🙄

[@tigerness5555]

Unfortunately you can’t always be sure that your battery is fully charged. Better safe than sorry in my book 😁

[@andrewlengert2558]

Hmmm, terrible idea, using jb glue to try and solve a problem. Methinks I'm going to make a fortune fabricating / casting a boss that bolts in

[@bizman185]

It would be interesting to see it after a year and a few miles on the clock to see if its still held in place. Saw the video of USA owner who's bike failed terminally. I think he would have fitted this before had he known. Great video again TN 👍

[@andrewlengert2558]

The trouble is the support piece is only glued to the painted engine case, there is no way that jb weld will glue it in place, I'll guarantee it'll come unstuck at the next low battery start. Triumph want f...k..g for their poor design, a little more metal around the boss would've stopped this problem occuring, What bothers me is people think jb weld will hold it, it's no better than car filler. The mind boggles.

[@tigerness5555]

Let me know when you’ve fabricated your boss, I’d be interested to know how you would bolt it onto the crankcase. Time will tell if the JB Weld holds or not, fingers crossed 🤞😁👍

[@andrewlengert2558]

I'm a toolroom trained engineer, it wouldn't be difficult to fabricate a proper support piece and bolt to the face of crankcase, but it would need the engine stripping. ( Possible after the jb weld fails, trust me, it will)

[@roberthocking9138]

You’re not wrong about Freddie, nice guy but wouldn’t have a clue how to look after, maintain or work on a bike 😂. Good tip for those able to find one of these things .🇦🇺🦘

[@tigerness5555]

Great to hear that you enjoyed the video and hopefully found it helpful 😁👍