Triumphrat

JRO · 05-04-2006, 12:11 AM

Almost 6,000 on my '06, and already I need rear brake pads. This is embarassing, to me. I'm not heavy on rear brakes - front brakes are what mostly brings you to a stop. Makes me feel like some amature, weekend rider on his Boulevard cruiser.

Oh, well. To sinter, or not to sinter?

In any event, I still have no real complaints about this bike. I am very happy with it. However, today I noticed something odd while washing the bike: There are two spots on the dashboard that appear to be heat-melted. They are both near the warning light array. Is this unusual, for a Tiger? Seems to me the warning lights are either too hot for the dash, or there could be shorts in the wiring. Anyone else seen this?

djr · 05-04-2006, 01:36 AM

I have an 03 (had an 03) and no heatspots and still on original pads at the rear

adrianmol · 05-04-2006, 01:57 AM

It is unusual to wear out the rear pads so quickly. After 18,000 miles I'm still on the original pads. I suspect that your rear caliper is sticking causing the pads to wear prematurely.

I suggest you go for a ride and stop after a while without using your rear brake. Check to feel if the rear disc is hot. If it is you know that the pads are rubbing.

I don't have any hotspots on my dashboard. I'd get the dealer to check it out.

tigertales · 05-06-2006, 03:59 PM

I ride in So Cal stop n' go traffic and rear pads were at 10% at about 4000 miles. I do use the rear brake, especially when approaching a corner so my conclusion was, this is the issue. I have no corrosion around the rear caliper and at the time of pad replacement the caliper moved smoothly on the guide pins.

Regarding the distortion of the plastic dash around the warning lights, I did experience a problem on my dash and replaced it. Now, that said - 1 month later it had some distortion occur on the second dash.

I can only offer my bike was parked ourside and during the period after the 2nd replacement, I noticed the sun shined through the screen and focused a hot spot about where the distortion occured. I have pictures in my Tiger dash in the Tiger Album, I believe in cockpits & screens - I show the old and new dash for comparison.

Now, I cover the dash with a white shop rad whenever parked outside. So far it has not gotten worse.

With no change since the rag technique, my conclusion is that it is from sun heat magnified by the windscreen.