Attempted Theft on the Bonneville | London Life

I'll be honest , I would choose a decent tent in a field rather than living in London or most big city's...detest the places. Life's too short to spend any of it in an environment like that,

Hi Freddie, The relay of the electric starter got damaged in “run” position. This is why the engine started when you turned the key. And then the starter motor was running all the time of the 20 min. so you have run out of battery. Just replace the starter relay and charge your battery. You can actually hear the starter motor running while the engine is running during the video. Probably due to low voltage (because the starter motor consumes a lot of battery) the fueling system was malfunctioning and the engine was running a bit jerky. I suggest that after you fix it you run again the calibration process with a fully charged battery.

This is a really sad episode. I’m sure all bikers share your pain. Attempted theft and a breakdown is very upsetting.

I'll be honest Freddie there is not enough money in this world that would tempt me to live in London. It would be one of my biggest personal nightmares just the thought of it.

Sounded like the starter motor was engaged all the time it was ticking over, someone either had had a go at the starter motor leads to start it or it has stuck meshed to the flywheel with the damp weather , theft attempt more likely , unfortunately it has then been ran for 20 mins meshed against flywheel so will be burnt out , another reason to move to northumberland , hope you get it fixed 👍

Pretty depressing. My wife and I retired to upstate NY and enjoy wonderful roads and little to no crime (previously we lived on Long Island and it's getting pretty bad down there). We can't even see our closest neighbors and it is rural country. It's bad enough when the bike has problems, but when you also have to deal with crap people it just gets worse. I ride an RE Classic 500 - enjoyed your videos on this bike. Good luck in these weird times.

Like others have said, the starter motor sounded like it was constantly running, so yes it looks like you are going to need a new starter motor. As for the wiring, it’s possible water ingress was causing the starter motor to constantly turn over put its a bit of a coincidence that it was happening after the theft attempt. Try jumping the starter solenoid with a screwdriver like you used to. If you’re lucky it might just be a sticky/ dodgy solenoid and your starter motor still works, chances are the starter is toast as well as possibly the solenoid. On the plus side, they’re quite straight forward things to replace. Good luck. I’m sure you’ll have a follower or two local to you who could help out.

Probably trying to nick it for the gaskets.

I was screaming at the TV to turn it off not run for 20mins on a self start like it did. Hope you can get it sorted 🤞

Freddie, I think it is a small miracle that your bonnie has even kept up with you all this time with not much trouble until now and with "less than stellar" maintenance. Looks like she might have reached the point were she'll start breaking down fairly consistently without proper maintenance. For how hard and unrewardingly you rode her, I think you should consider yourself blessed she stayed so strong up till now (that Africa trip must have been real hard on her). Don't forget that any bike can last just a year or a hundred years all depending on how much you take care of it.💯

It's so weird seeing you in an area 2 mins from where I grew up and an area I used to live until a few weeks ago. Do not leave your bike there. The pub right there had all its outside furniture stolen TWICE.

Hope you & monika are alright, you've said last episode too, London seems notoriously theft prone keeping everything safe is top priority

I lived in the London Docklands from 1986 to 1994. -Car radio nicked - groped on the tube -Burgled once - Burgled twice - Police chase through the back garden - In an ID parade with a man charged with murder -Girl friend beaten up & others attacked by a rapist. He got 12 years. - Regular yellow billboards up at the end of the road due to serious incident -witnessed a number of violent fights Apart from regular police helicopter shining lights down & police sirens, quite quiet .....😐

Freddy You have great optimism, don't let the buggers grind you down! Enfield 350 is the bike , never going to loose much money on it and you know it well.

Regarding the Bonneville my first insting is to say check your wiring because it sounded very much like as soon as you turned the key the starter motor was wired to run continuously (not good) The theives would have been trying to get it running ready to go as soon as they had defeated the lock. My guess would be that the starter motor has now burned out from being continuously powered. Just guessing mind you.

Freddie, I love the way you keep your spirits up, even with an attempted theft and a broken bike! Nothing a coffee with Monika won’t fix. Having followed your trials and tribulations with the Bonny, just look back at the video you made in Lithuania when you reviewed the Classic 350. You were happy, it made you smile, you even said it made you feel good to be alive. You rode it in Spain, you toured Wales on it, it looks awesome and it won’t let you down. Blimey, I bought one on the strength of your review alone and….you were right. It’s the best bike I’ve ever owned. I’m 66 now and ridden 250s, 500s, 650s and this is all you said it was. At the price you can pick one up, surely it’s a no brainer? I wait in anticipation…..

I even keep my Bike locked inside my shed, I feel your pain. Good the lock helped.

Freddie, am a fan of Tenerife & have been following your videos. When I saw the shoplifting video I almost laughed at your innocence. I know you've been out of the contry but I must tell you.....where I live in Camden, beyond about 2pm you often can't find steak or expensive fish in any of the smaller, 'local' designation supermarkets. This is due to shoplifters who go in & totally clean-out all the high value foods, under the noses of powerless security guards. It's been like this for about 18 months & only last week I read that retailers, representatives from the Met' Police & a Government task force have held meetings to see what they can do about the problem. I also almost messaged to warn you NOT to leave the Triumph anywhere & I'm amazed you still own it after leaving it parked for a week....to my mind you've been lucky. If you bring the bike to Camden or Islington & park it, I'd give it 48 hours max (and the D'-lock won't save you).......please be careful Freddie, don't leave it anywhere, the only bikes they nick more are Ducati's, so don't buy one of them either!!

It's too much of a coincidence Freddie, I'd say the thieves have tampered with the ignition. And if you have to leave a bike outside for any length of time put a cover on it , it would keep the rain off it but obviously wouldn't deter thieves, so sorry to see your troubles in this episode, but I think it's time you took the stress out of your life and got yourself a late model reliable bike , I've had my time with unreliable bikes in my early years, in the end I got really naffed off with repairing instead of riding, and having a late model reliable bike was brilliant piece of mind . Out of the choice you looked at the Classic 350 is the best value and so easy to live with , I can't stay off mine , and I have two other bigger bikes ! Hope you get sorted with something anyway, good luck! 👍

You know what Freddie... If Triumph were on their game they would contact you, offer to pick up the bike and you, take you to their master service center and fix your bike up like new! They are missing a trick here!