Triumphrat

FifeTiger · 02-23-2006, 07:47 AM

Hi all, my first post in here :???:

Been a happy VFR owner for the last 5 years or so and finally made the switch after much dithering.

Picked up my '02 955i in fabulous green, with even more fabulous green panniers on Saturday and have to say, once I'd got over the shock of changing bikes - I LOVE IT !!

It's the perfect bike for what I do - commute, bumble about at weekends and the odd mini tour. And I'm enjoying every journey, the worse the weather the better, and at perfectly legal speeds.

Cpl questions about the bike and bits and bobs you guys may be able to help me with though.

Centrestand - I've got one, but I can't spin the rear wheel when the bike's on it, not checked the preload setting yet but is this standard ? It's not far of being free but having to let the pressure down to adjust the chain seems a bit odd.

Fuel warning light/gauge - gauge says I'm in the red, lights not on yet. Pretty normal ? How quickly should I rush for petrol once the light starts showing ?

Lock position on the steernig column - can't get teh key to turn to this, have followed the handbook - push down and turn but can't get it. Do the bars have to be turned fully left or right ? What's the nack ?

Mechanicals and finish - taking a leap of faith mving off a Honda here, anything I should watch out for outside of routine servicing ?

Cheers guys :-D

kyot · 02-23-2006, 08:05 AM

Quote:

On 2006-02-23 05:47, FifeTiger wrote:

Fuel warning light/gauge - gauge says I'm in the red, lights not on yet. Pretty normal ? How quickly should I rush for petrol once the light starts showing ?

Lock position on the steernig column - can't get teh key to turn to this, have followed the handbook - push down and turn but can't get it. Do the bars have to be turned fully left or right ? What's the nack ?

Mechanicals and finish - taking a leap of faith mving off a Honda here, anything I should watch out for outside of routine servicing ?

Cheers guys :-D

Hi And congrats on a great purchase

From the fuel warning light - I think you've got about 30-50miles? which isn't far in fife

I had the same problem with the steering lock when I first got one - jiggle the handlebars a bit.

Mechanicals? get engine bars if they're not fitted already (do a search here for recommendations or just get the tourtech ones)

[ This message was edited by: kyot on 2006-02-23 11:57 ]

BigStripey · 02-23-2006, 08:24 AM

Well done, another rider from 'over the wall' South East Scotland seems to be making some kind of take over bid for the most Tiger owners per square mile :razz:

The fuel light is calibrated to come on when there is 6 litres of fuel remaining (about a gallon and a quarter) which at control speeds should be good for 40 or so miles easy.

The actual fuel guage is at best an indicator, if you treat it as such you should be ok.

If you click on the 'album' button at the top of this page you will see plenty of bolt ons and gadgets. Crash bars are a must, the Tiger as you have probably foound out, can be heavy when slow speed manouvering or walking it around. This is the danger time with a Tiger, because once it goes....it's gone!, unless you are a superhero in disguise :razz:

I think it is fair to say that most seem to go with the Touratech's but Hepco and Becker make them, so do Thunderbike. Have a look in the album and take your pick.

Other stuff people seem to change / update are.
Gel seat
On the older models - stiffer fork springs
Additional lighting - driving lights
Different fairing screen - depending on your height mostly

Just get out there and ride it for a while, you will 'know' what needs doing (if anything?)

Centre stands.....don't use one myself. More weight, more drag, slows me down :-D

Enjoy!

FifeTiger · 02-23-2006, 08:31 AM

Actually massively impressed by the slow speed stability of the bike, even to the point of balancing it on the back brake completely stationary in queuing traffic.

Pushing it backwards uphill out of the garage in the morning is a bit of a struggle admittedly.

One thing disappoints me - the lack of bits on ebay, or places for aftermarket parts. Found triumphtiger-online and Jack Lilley but anywhere else in the UK any good ?

djr · 02-23-2006, 09:00 AM

the rear whell should turn freely on the main stand.

Is it perhaps an aftermarket stand or one not designed for the Tiger at all?

The fuel guage on my 03 drops fairly evenly and right through the red. When the light comes on I have 6l left or aprox 60miles (although I wouldnt chance doing another 60miles on her! I tend to find a garage soon as possible after the light comes on though I have travelled a decent distance with this on feel its better safe than sorry)

steering lock - if you push down all the way you might go past the point where it turns easily. Its just a knack but you dont need to push down hard.

as to add ons, that depends on what you want/how far you want to adapt

Front mudguard extender works wonders and keeps the ***** off the oil cooler. gel seat is much better than standard, extra relays to get both lights working together, aftermarket exhaust, different springs, tyres etc etc etc etc ad infinitum...

oh and congrats on a good choice of bike

FifeTiger · 02-23-2006, 09:13 AM

Triumph stand, dealer fitted.

Tyres are quite chunky Avons but still can't believe the clearance should be so low. i'll check the rear suspension isn't on some extreme setting - previous owner travelled everywhere with full luggage so he may have set it up for that.

Due in for an MOT so I'll get the stand checked out then if it's still a problem.

toddt · 02-23-2006, 09:47 AM

Quote:

On 2006-02-23 05:47, FifeTiger wrote:

Centrestand - I've got one, but I can't spin the rear wheel when the bike's on it, not checked the preload setting yet but is this standard ? It's not far of being free but having to let the pressure down to adjust the chain seems a bit odd.

Cheers guys :-D

I hate to point out something so seemingly obvious at the risk of sounding condesending, but are you sure the transmission is in Neutral?

I can't tell you how many times I have chased down an electrical problem for hours only to find out the fuse was blown! Got to rule out the most simple solutions FIRST!

FifeTiger · 02-23-2006, 10:02 AM

Errr, yes !!

Can turn the wheel but it's brushing firmly against the garage floor. Would expect about an inch clearance I'd have thought.

johnyC · 02-23-2006, 10:38 AM

hello fife,

I have the opposite problem to yours, I lowered my suspension front & rear and fitted a 17" front wheel. I have a clearance of about six inches when my bike's on the centre stand, nearly fill my breeks with the effort of getting it there. It definately needs modifying too

Anyhow, to the point. Measure the distance from the pivot to the deck on your stand and I'll measure mine. I was going to saw a couple of inches off mine, but if your's is shorter we could maybe swap stands?

FifeTiger · 02-23-2006, 11:23 AM

Johnny,

Cunning plan. Pop back in tomorrow and see if I've remembered to do anything about it !!