Triumphrat

whoa · 12-22-2004

I've read about lowering the Tiger by rotating the swingarm 180 degrees. The model I'm interested in is the 2001 and I'd like to know if this is true or advisable. When I did the test drive I was on the balls of my feet so it may be best to do nothing rather than start playing with Triumphs engineering.

I cannot find the forum where I read about this so this may be completely off base. And there is quite a bit about changing the suspension but I'm not sure of the cost to go that route.

Anybody here taken any steps to lower the bike?

djr · 12-22-2004

No not the swing arm but the eccentric.

You can lower the Tiger by up to 40mm by doing this. My own dealer carried this out for me prior to delivery. There are some points you need to consider though. Sidestand needs to be cut down to stop bike falling over, you also need to drop the front to match. You would need to put a spacer under the rear of the chainguard just to keep it free of the chain.

Handling is not affected.

DaleS · 12-22-2004

There's a discussion about this under the heading "short guys and tigers" in the general Tiger forum, but to net it out...
<ul>[*]Yeah, it really is that easy, but if you lower the rear, you will have to raise the chain guard and shorten the side stand[*]Most people who lower the rear seem to have no trouble with handling (though I tried it and immediately raised mine back up because I touched down the center stand)[*]You can also drop the the front end (sliding the forks up about .8 inches) which puts you a bit closer to the ground and quickens the steering just a little - I run mine that way with no ground-clearance issues[*]If you can really get the balls of your feet firmly on the ground, you are probably fine and will get used to it[/list]
Have fun with the Tiger!

whoa · 12-22-2004

Quote:

If you can really get the balls of your feet firmly on the ground, you are probably fine and will get used to it

I don't plan to do anything for a bit, just to give myself time to get used to the feel. And both feet do get planted pretty nicely, just the heels are up a bit.

Thanks for the replies folks.
David

tango · 12-23-2004

In standard trim my heels were about 1/2" off the deck, have now fitted a rear Hagon suss' unit and both feet are now well planted, but I'm still tweaking it to find the sweet spot.

tango · 12-23-2004

In standard trim my heels were about 1/2" off the deck, have now fitted a rear Hagon suss' unit and both feet are now well planted, but I'm still tweaking it to find the sweet spot.

djr · 12-28-2004

I don't know if the centre stand is vastly different on the 885 to the one on my 955, but I guess it must be as I have never been near touching this down. yep I can get the hero blobs down but nothing else. Handling seems to me to be compleetely unaffected by dropping the front and back. Dropping the front will quicken the steering, dropping the back to match just sets it back to standard but an inch or 11/2 lower dependant on how far you go. Could I have kept it standard? yeh probably but I didnt fancy being the pillock that dropped his bike at the lights because the road camber was a bit more than I thought. Everything else being equal, and it seems to be, then better safe than sorry in my book but it is a purely personal thing.