Triumphrat

psionmark · 09-12-2005, 04:48 PM

What speeds do you guys get to with the factory panniers fitted? I notice the manual says to keep it below 80, but that's no fun

I do notice the front end seems a little light when over 75, so maybe the manual is sound advice, or maybe it's my imagination.

She's just had her first service after 1 week and I want to give her a bit of a thrashing soon

Cheers,

Mark

tango · 09-12-2005, 05:06 PM

I don't have the Triumph luggage, I use Givi/Kappa, but they're much the same aerodynamically.
Bike was rock solid at cruising speeds under three figures, start going over that and the bike starts to weave quite badly. It felt like it was building up to a tank slapper.
So build your speed up gradualluy till you feel the weave starting, that way you'll know what's comfortable for you.

psionmark · 09-12-2005, 05:13 PM

Thanks for the info.

So it's reasonably safe to ignore the limits in the manual? Is it a case of they're just posting 80mph max so if you hit a tank slapper with full luggage at 120 they can say "We told you so..."?

Cheers,

Mark

tango · 09-12-2005, 05:17 PM

Of course this can only be done on roads where it is permitted :wink:

psionmark · 09-12-2005, 05:20 PM

Well, yes. Obviously I was only intending to do anything over 70 on a race track (with panniers)

Cheers,

Mark

Timtiger · 09-12-2005, 05:40 PM

I have std panniers and can get up to 180Km/hr. I have an Ohlins remotely adjustable rear shock that I can crank up the spring and the damping as required.

I would add that I find the panniers do not affect the areodynamics too much really. They make the bike a little more susceptable to strong cross winds. I find they more affect the suspension when fully loaded ie hitting a set of ripples can upset the bike more if the rear shock is not adjusted for the weight.

Tassie_Tiger · 09-12-2005, 05:46 PM

I have an '05 and have been up to 180km/hr (112 mph) with fully loaded Triumph panniers and top box, and original front & rear suspension, with no stability problems. That was as fast as I wanted to go, but the bike was rock solid.

Timian · 09-12-2005, 06:05 PM

I believe the Tiger with panniers is safe at speeds well over 80mph, but - for those of you who read the manual- did you notice the plethora of warnings, all of which contained something about injury or death?
The speed limit is set, IMHO, so that if someone, somewhere (No, I didn't mention the US), gets into problems at speeds over 100 mph (see Tango's testride) and then decides to sue Triumph, they'll get shot down by the book.
I rode both my Triumphs at more than 100 mph, with panniers and top box and passenger. And, bless the bikes and the absence of speed cops - I'm still around.
I did however do a couple of rather undignified topples on loose surface roads, at speeds WELL below 80 mph, so perhaps panniers are destabilizing after all? At speeds below , say 35mph? Also , going up Hard Knott Pass (33% climb) in the Lake District with fully laden panniers and topbox and a passenger was definitely destabilizing.

barjan · 09-12-2005, 06:31 PM

Two weeks ago (oh bless those german highways) I topped at 190 km/u with loaded panniers and tent/sleeping bag etc. strapped to the luggage rack. I was wearing a non-leather motorcycle-jacket (you fill in the correct term for it).
Like Tango I found a stronge weave building up and I gradually let down speed. It went away at 170 km/u or so (pff).
What is the cause of that? It can be everything as well as tyres as the panniers. :???:

Doesn't the book also say it shouldn't be loaded with more then 5 kg each? :roflmoa2: It probably also is to prevent claims, my laptop and several books/papers sometimes just fit in the top case. You do the math. :hammer:

congo_181 · 09-12-2005, 08:14 PM

I wonder - do they state the maximum weight of pillions too?
(or riders for that matter...)

[ This message was edited by: congo_181 on 2005-09-12 18:14 ]