Triumphrat

Cuchulain · 03-05-2005, 11:27 PM

I finally rode my new BRG Tiger home today - 240 miles and what a sweet ride (except for the cold).

When I first saw the 2005 aTiger at the International Motorcycle Show, I asked if the accessory power outlet would power a Gerbing heated suit, gloves, and socks. I was answered with a resounding, "YES!"

Well, I should have done the research because I left State College, Pennsylvania at Noon when the temperature was 33 degrees fahrenheit. After 30 minutes, the cold was seeping into my suit, my hands and feet could feel the cold.
Usually, the suit makes me feel like I'm sitting in front of a roaring fire - honestly!
I checked the connections and everything seemed to be fine. I tried the heated grips, but they didn't work either. This was getting bad because I was still 200 miles from home. I checked the fuses and found the #3 (10 amp) fuse was blown. I opened the manual (yes, for the first time) and found that the accessory outlet was rated at 10 amps.

I replaced the fuse and used the heated grips for the remainder of the trip. It wasn't as good as a heated suite, but the heated grips are AWESOME! I'll have to install a powerlet to power my suit in the future.

I also noticed that all the instrument lights were very dim while the fuse was blown and I was unable to read the clock. Is this some sort of power-saving mode?

Even though I was shivering from the cold during the last hour of the ride, I really enjoyed the feel of the Tiger. I felt like I was piloting a surgical motorcycling instrument. I really love the way it moves.

I had a few awkward moments at stops, especially where there was a grade in the road. I'm 5'10' tall with a 32"inseam and I can just barely flatfoot. The windscreen was adequate. It did produce a lot of wind noise, but nothing a good set of earplugs won't fix. I didn't feel any buffeting - nonetheless I have already ordered the MRA vario windscreen.

[ This message was edited by: Cuchulain on 2005-03-05 21:43 ]

SoCalRider · 03-06-2005, 12:01 AM

Congrats on the New Ride, I just brought my BRG home thursday night, I rode her all day today and am planning to ride all day tomorrow. I agree with you on the heated grips, they are great!!! I havent used my heated vest yet, it is quite nice here in Califorina this week, LOW 70s.

Erik

Cuchulain · 03-06-2005, 03:40 PM

Oh, Socalrider,

How can you bear it - the chill that is? :lollol: My wife is away visiting her family in Solana Beach this week.

It seems to me that the accessory port and the heated grips must be on the same circuit. I don't know what the draw is for the grips, but the suit generally requires a 15 amp fuse. Instead of rewiring it, I think I'll just add a powerlet.

Does anyone know why the instrument lights would dim when a fuse is blown? I didn't find any mention of it in my owner's manual.

BigStripey · 03-06-2005, 04:31 PM

I've never heard of the instrument lights dimming when a fuse blows, apart from the fact they are on a different fused supply ?

The Tiger clocks are not brilliant in half light, and only really become visible when it gets really dark. I always wondered why they went for green on white for the colours ??

Unless they have put a dimming rheostat on the '05's, then i am stumped as to why this could have happened :???:

Apart from that, i'm glad your pleased with the bike. Just you wait......it gets better :razz:

BigStripey · 03-06-2005, 04:33 PM

Cuchulain,

If you check out the album in this forum, you will see that 'Robbie' has installed additional DC power sockets to run his heated jacket and other stuff. Have a look, i'm sure he'll tell you all you need to know on that front..

Robbie,
What does he need to do fuse wise ???

Cuchulain · 03-06-2005, 07:28 PM

Thanks, Jim. Actually, I was referring to the "idiot" lights and the time clock, not the instrument clocks - it was too bright to see them anyway. had to hold my hand over the high beam indictor just to see if it was lit. Afterwards (after replacing the fuse), it was quite easy to see the lamps in bright sunlight.

I have installed the Powerlet accessory outlets for heated clothing on seven different bikes, so I'm pretty familiar with it, but any advice is always welcome. In fact, I already have the outlet ready to install. All the poerlets come with a 15-amp fuse and it's always been fine with everything turned up to high. I just hope the Tiger can put out enough juice to keep me powered up. Otherwise, I'll need a new alternator.
I keep all my bikes on chargers when I'm not riding them. I also keep them in a heated garage and read to them at bedtime (spoiled b##^%&*s) :razz:

2ndSpace · 03-07-2005, 09:34 PM

Congrats. I have never run heated clothing from the stock plug. maybe I read that the draw was too much and just did not try.

Cuchulain · 03-08-2005, 02:33 PM

It would have been smart for me to have checked it out earlier, but I'm the trusting sort. I still haven't found out why the idiot lights and clock were dim.

I'll experiment a bit with the accessory outlet. I'm still going to install at least one powerlet so I can power the GPS. I really like the position (on the bike) of the stock accessory power outlet because I can drop the power cord from my suit right into it. Maybe I'll just change the wiring on it to acommodate 15 amps.

Timtiger · 03-08-2005, 05:11 PM

Hi Culculain,
The Tiger has an alternator that can be fried if you overload it. Based on my information it can cope OK with most things, but can be over loaded relatively easily if you uprate the headlights, add a spotlight, ride at night with heated grips and clothing. I don't think it is a huge problem, but something you should be aware of to prevent an expensive failure. You can aloways get it rewould and uprated, but this would need an uprated rectifier also. Note that I looked into this and to uprate the stator and rectifier cost about 1/2 of the cost of a replacement standard stator.

Have a look at these posts for more information.
WARNING ON SMOKING TIGER ELECTRICS!!!
OUCH - Alternator failure
alternator output for 2005 model?

Good luck and warm riding.

2ndSpace · 03-08-2005, 09:20 PM

Quote:

On 2005-03-08 12:33, Cuchulain wrote:
It would have been smart for me to have checked it out earlier, but I'm the trusting sort. I still haven't found out why the idiot lights and clock were dim.

I'll experiment a bit with the accessory outlet. I'm still going to install at least one powerlet so I can power the GPS. I really like the position (on the bike) of the stock accessory power outlet because I can drop the power cord from my suit right into it. Maybe I'll just change the wiring on it to acommodate 15 amps.

I think the size of the wire is OK. I tried mine today. Heated jacket, socks, and gloves with no prob. I am using a heatroller. Your gear would have to put out more than 120 watts to blow the fuse. The wire is big enough to handle almost 15 amps so you may be able to just change the fuse ar maybe try a slow blow.

I had a similar problem on my Sprint when I installed the motolights using the factory euro headlight switch. The the ciruit could not handle the load of another relay so I bumped the fuse to 7.5 amp and no prob. since.

Good luck

Thinking of riding on Sunday if the weather breaks. You up?