Triumphrat

graeme · 09-07-2007

It's certainly not for helping you change gear, that's for sure !!

I've had my new 2006 Tiger 955 for 5 months now, and put 5000 miles on the clock and the gearbox is still as notchy and stiff as when I first bought it.

When coming to a stop and trying to select neutral, it is a case of trying to kick up as hard as I can, with the bike just stuck in first gear. If I'm very lucky it might eventually go into second, and then after another few aggressive kicks eventually I might find neutral.

When riding along and changing up or down, the gearchange is stiff, even when blipping the throttle on the down change.

So, back to my origional question:

What is the clutch lever for on a Tiger ??

I'll start off with - a device to strengthen and numb the grip on the left hand so it feels like someone else when "taking oneself to task".

Sofalofa · 09-07-2007

My '05 Tiger was like that. Biggest difference was after the 12,000 mile service, things got miles smoother. It's now done 27,000 miles and the engine is better than it's ever been. Last week, after a long run (usually around 80-85mph cruising) the fuel light didn't come on until 220 miles! It certainly didn't do that after 5,000 miles (came on at about 190 miles). I suppose like BMW's, it takes a good while for the engine to loosen up fully...

P.S. Only this evening riding home from work, was just thinking about how much I love me' Tiger. I genuinely don't want for any other bike. It has so much character...

Brooks · 09-07-2007

Graeme,

It could be too much slack in the clutch cable. Take a bit of slack out, making sure you still have some freeplay.

I'll bet you that's what the problem is.

iansoady · 09-08-2007

It's funny, my Tiger's gearchange is pretty good and the gearchange is fine(14,000 miles or so). I quite often make clutchless upward changes, especially 4-5-6 but not through necessaity. I do lubricate the clutch cable with light oil however, despite dire warnings from everyone that it would make it seize up. I also have a rubber bellows* over the exposed bottom end of the cable to keep the oil in.

When I first had the Tiger I too found the clutch action quite heavy but lubrication and also making sure the lever was in line with my outstretched fingers made a lot of difference.

*pinched from a pushbike brake

Parky · 09-08-2007

I find that the clutch on my 06 Tiger is very sensitive to the amount of freeplay in the cable . There should only be a tiny bit of free movement at the end of the clutch lever, any more and the gearchange becomes very notchy.
For the forst couple of thousand miles I seemed to be adjusting every few days, but its settled down now.
Check the free play at the end of the clutch lever

jhawk · 09-10-2007

?????

If I let the RPM fall off a bit between gears or shift too slowly, mine can be a little notchy. Keep the RPM up, quick shift, and it's silky smooth. (very little free play in the clutch lever)

riccih46 · 09-10-2007

Sounds weird I know, but the shifting on my 06 Tiger went from clunky to downright smooth after I adjusted more slack into the chain. I've found about 50mm of slack works best for me...

Ric

PoTiger · 09-10-2007

I found the increased slack in the chain seemed to help as Ric indicated. I also found that when upshifting by keeping pressure on the shift lever it always goes into gear. Previously, I had been somewhat lazy shifting and had been experiencing several missed shifts. (My 06 Tiger only has about 1600 miles and even in that short period the shifting is easier.)
I noticed when keeping pressure on the lever I could kind of feel it come out of one gear and then go in to the next, almost like a two notch shift. I know this sounds stupid but that second notch would happen when the clutch released.
My gearbox upshifts smooth if you just apply slight pressure on the lever and roll off the throttle just a bit without using the clutch. I don't normally subscribe to clutchless shifting but it's almost as if the bike likes it.
Additionally, I have found that when coming to a stop I'll start down shifting, (at a low enough rpm), I'll end up in first and right before I come to a stop I'll lightly lift the shift lever and neutral seems easy to locate.
Just my 2 cents.

Joe S. · 09-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by graeme

It's certainly not for helping you change gear, that's for sure !!

So, back to my origional question:

What is the clutch lever for on a Tiger ??

I'll start off with - a device to strengthen and numb the grip on the left hand so it feels like someone else when "taking oneself to task".

If you do it just right, you can use it to crack walnuts.

zadok_oz · 09-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhawk

If I let the RPM fall off a bit between gears or shift too slowly, mine can be a little notchy. Keep the RPM up, quick shift, and it's silky smooth. (very little free play in the clutch lever)

I've more or less found this as well. Good acceleration and upshift without clutch no worries.