Triumphrat

09-29-2006, 10:55 AM

Back in August I picked up a used 06 Tiger. It now has about 1700 miles on it. I've been using it mostly for commuting to work and love it. I've moved up from a T100 which I bought new in '03. My question involves the 'smoothness' of the tiger transmission. In comparison to the T100 it is more 'notchy' and, at times, much more difficult to get in to neutral or 3rd. Some of this may be my technique which I've adapted to the tiger and the problem has gotten slightly better. Is this typical? Will it improve with more miles? The T100 was definitely smoother with more positive shifts between gears, up and down. However, I do remember the T100 smoothing out as the miles were put on.

Any thoughts?

JohnRimmer · 09-29-2006, 11:02 AM

All Triumph gear changes improve with mileage.Maybe 10,000 miles.My Tbird has 34,000 miles and has a better gear change than my 05 Tiger.Also it changes more smoothly at higher revs,which maybe you're not using compared to a T100 ?

Sofalofa · 09-29-2006, 11:53 AM

I'll second that... my engine at 18,000 miles is better than ever (gearbox too)... Chain tesion has a lot to do with gearbox too... Took a good 12,000 miles to fully loosen up...

CATUCK · 09-29-2006, 12:37 PM

I noticed a big increase in smoothness, after the 6000 mile service. This was the point that the oil was changed from semi, to fully synthetic.

I also agree that an over tight chain will always make a gearbox seem notchy.

I checked my chain tension, with the bike on its wheels, with someone sitting astride the bike. This simulates the actual tension when going along the road. The real chain slack, when measured after this is always at least 60mm. Hope this helps.

JRO · 09-29-2006, 12:52 PM

At 11,000miles, my '06 has been improving for some time. It's still not quite there, though. I particularly don't like the shift between 1st and 2nd - too clunky. The other gears give me no problems. I've also had my cable adjuster turned to max, pretty much since I got it.

twinrider · 09-30-2006, 01:01 AM

My experience has been pretty much like that of others.
Originally my 06 was very notchy and has gotten much slicker and better.
What was more disconcerting is that early on it would actually bind on upshifts, usually 1-2 or 2-3. That has vastly improved and has gone from a random thing that would happen several times on a ride, to a very rare thing that may not happen at all on a given ride.
Run it, the bike is going to get better and better.

Tassie_Tiger · 09-30-2006, 01:39 AM

My '05 now has 29,000kms, and the gearbox improved greatly over the first 20,000km.

You will find that if you 'preload' the gear shift before disengaging the clutch that the changes will be much smoother and slicker (an old BMW R1150RT trick. Their gearboxes belong on tractors!).

Also fully synthetic oil helps, but don't go thinner than 10W.

10-02-2006, 12:25 PM

Thanks for the response. I'm hoping it smooths out as the miles accrue.

nortoncharlie · 10-02-2006, 03:25 PM

I agree with everyone else, but also check that the freeplay in the clutch is right. I have 68,000 on my 01 955 Tiger and it really got alot better at the 12,000 mile oil change/checkup

papydawg · 08-04-2007, 10:19 AM

i waited for an '06 Tiger to get the "improved" clutch among other features. the shifting is still very notchy at about 3,000 miles - much more than my two 955 Sprints had from mile one. engine vibration, even after loosening the chain, is significantly more than the Sprints as well.

i hope usage and oil change will improve it.

pd