Triumphrat

graeme · 07-09-2008

Hi All,

A bit of advice, if you please.

I'm onto my 4th Tiger (2007, '955) and when I put it into a corner it feels as if it doesn't want to go in. It just seems to "understeer" and push out wide. I'm talking about the type of corner or bend that is tight enough that you have to put some effort in to get it round.

If I could liken it to a ship - it would be an oil tanker. It takes 5 miles to turn !!

Is it the style of bike with that big 19'' front wheel ??

Am I a crap rider ?? (don't answer that one

)

Is it down to technique ??

One of the lads I ride with has an Aprillia (something) RR and when he turns in, it's as if the bike is on rails. When I try the same, I get to a point and think "it's going to wash out".

(mind you, when I get him on a gravel track he soils himself !)

Why won't my Tiger "turn-in"

Hozer · 07-09-2008

I don't have your experience with Tigers.
I had two Thruxtons before I got the Tiger and what I notice is my comfort factor pushing it over into the turns.
The Thrux is so much lower, and "feels" more responsive because of the driver position.
What I feel is that even though I think I've got it over, the chickenstrips say otherwise.
It must be the ride-height and much higher center-of-gravity.

Have you considered having a friend tape you in the turns to check your posture and entry dynamics?

jhawk · 07-09-2008

Graeme.... the 19" front probably has a lot to do with it. Probably the reason the new 1050 comes with a 17" front. I haven't done any suspension mods like some of the other Tiger riders, but I do run the front tire with a pound or two more air pressure than I used to; and it helps a bit. A more sport-style tire would probably be more help.

Brooks · 07-09-2008

Graeme,

I noticed the slow turn in also when I moved from a BMW with 17" front wheel to my Tiger 955 with the 19" front.

It took me several hundred miles to get used to that bigger front wheel. The Michelin Annakee tires might have had something to do with it also though I now run Metzler Tourances which are also a 90/10 road/gravel tread like the Anakees and they seem to be much better at turning. You do have to use perhaps a bit more countersteering with the 19" wheel.

During one tire change I tried Bridgestone BT020 street tires and they handled much better.

I'm so used to the Tourances and the 19" front wheel now that when I test rode a 1050 Tiger a couple of months ago it seemed to have strange handling. Like it wanted to fall into corners.

Pickaxe · 07-09-2008

There are many factors affecting the speed of 'turn in' including steering geometry, wheel diameter, handlebar width and tyre construction etc.

All things being equal and if you discount sports bikes, the 06 Tiger steers pretty quickly and I certainly wouldn't describe it as a slow steering bike. I reckon they steer fairly neutraly and turn proportionally to the amount of bar input.

A couple of things I'd check are steering head bearings, which, are always too tight out of the factory and are almost always shot within 6000 miles.

Do you, or in the past, have you been taught to conciously counter steer/apply pressure to the handlebars?

Provided you aren't braking whilst leaned over, the tyres won't 'wash out' on a dry road and you can certainly lean to the point of dragging the pegs on the road.

The Kurgan · 07-09-2008

Turn-in is a common complaint with many styles of bikes, including sport bikes. Go to just about any motorcycle forum and you will see this. However, its all relative. On the SV1000 forum, this was a common complaint, but compared to my Tiger it felt like I was riding on rails!

A common, low cost way to quicker turn-in/steering response is to raise the fork tubes through the triple clamps. However, there are pros and cons to every set-up. Quicker turn-in will probably mean less stability at speed. The other lower cost trick is to mount lower profile tires. Compared to the 1050, the 955i has high profile tires.

Personally, the 05/06 Tiger seems very sorted in the suspension department. I have 21 years of riding experience on all sorts of motorcycles to base my opinion from.

ChazzyB · 07-09-2008

My '03 Tiger is no problem. It's not as quick steering as its predecessor (an SV650), but it ain't bad! I've got Pilot Sports on it. The other thing that can cause understeer is target fixation: Don't look at the curb/hedge you're worried about avoiding; look at where you want to be down the road - it's a much better (and faster place) to be.

Outrunner · 07-09-2008

Graeme,
Have you changed the tyres or has it always been like that?

I know that my Tiger turns into corners much quicker now that I have fitted Continental Trail Attack tyres as opposed to the Battlewings that were on when I got the bike. Having said that I never felt that mine was going to wash out on me but then I do tend to ride a bit sedately (it must be an age thing)

Andy.

graeme · 07-09-2008

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Hi Pickaxe,

Yes, I'm ok with counter-steering (by God man, I'm a RoSPA Tutor

), but that only get's you going in the direction you want to take. You then have to turn the steering back, to get round the bend.

I must admit I'm not one for shifting my bodyweight and putting my knee out. I'm a "bolt uprighter".

Hi Andy,

I've just put two new Michelin Anakee 2's on the bike, and the first 200 miles or so were an absolute joke, the bike just would not turn in. I think they've "rounded off" enough now to be "normal" (for Anakee's).

I knew it would turn out I'm just a crap rider

BoneyMalloney · 07-09-2008

Hi Graeme,
I doubt you're a crap rider! I noticed this lack of 'turn in' not long after i got the bike. On the A6 over Shap (someone will know it) around 70mph on a sweeping right hander, the bike was running wider and wider - not a good feeling - i felt i had to literally 'pull' the bike away from the curb...

I've got used to it a bit more now and also made a few changes, the best of which was the tyres. I fitted 'Continental Trail Attacks' which made a massive improvement, they're road tyres with a tread cut to look like a trail type tyre. I also have the suspension set pretty firm and have pushed the forks up through the clamps around 10mm.

At the end of the day the Tiger is not a sports bike and it does have that 19" front wheel. I think the main problem was in my head - I never liked the Anakees from the day i first set eyes on them! Once i got rid of the Anakees i felt a lot better...