Triumphrat

Pickaxe

Just wondered if anybody has experienced a grabby front brake on their Tiger?

The front brake on my 06 Tiger is really bad in this respect, especially if it's average pressure I apply. It almost feels as if the pads are sticking to the disc and then release and then stick again.

I'm wondering if the OE pads are sub standard. The bikes only done 5000 miles.

jaak

You are making me feel better. I have an 06 with 20K+ and I have felt the grabbyness throughout the year. But I have always blamed myself for being unsmooth in my technique. Yeah, it's got to be the pads!
Seriously, I don't know. But I do know that it takes extreme carefulness and your full attention to pull it smoothly enough to get a nice gradual response.

I have read posts here about switching to EBC HH sintered pads. I have also heard that sintered pads don't work well when they are cold (ie your average street situation) AND can cause warped discs. If you have installed the sintered pads, please pitch in here and tell us your experience!

nortoncharlie

What are you comparing the breaks to? I came off my Norton and thought the Tigers brakes were grabby. Now that I have gotten used to modern brakes the Tiger feel like it has an acceptable initial bite and good progressive feel. The 1st set of replacement pads I put on were EBC organic (or Kevlar) pads. The didn't have as much initial bite and felt pretty progressive but were lacking in overall power plus got a little weak when wet. As far as I could tell they caused more disk wear than the more aggresive Triumph pads. They only last half as long as the Triumph pads and cost half as much. I changed back to Triumph pads because I think they worked best all around. Better in the wet. I have since put on EBC floating disks and there HH pads. They work very well with even more initial bite that the Triumph pads but they are almost to much power for the Tourance tires I am running.

oldrider

Yep, I have an 06 Tiger with the same problem and I am disappointed in the response (or lack of it) by Triumph to remedy it under warranty.

Before I blame Triumph too much, it may be the service shop that I take it to, rather than Triumph.

The front brakes are dangerous in slow maneuvers on loose sloping material, like maneuvering to park up etc.

What am I comparing it to?

Every other bike I have owned and ridden in 53 years of continuous riding.

Should be enough.

I shall follow this thread closely. Cheers John.

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Blue 2007 Tiger 955i . (referred to as the 06 model) British specification.

Pickaxe

I've ridden loads of bikes over the years, both my own and 16 years as a police motorcyclist. I would like to think that my experiece and technique is pretty good.

It's not that the front brake isn't powerful enough, far from it. Infact, I don't use the front brake a great deal, unless I'm "getting a move on." It's just annoying that the brakes grab and release, causing the forks to compress and extend, which unsettles the bike.

I've tried ignoring it, but eventually it pi**es me off.

rwoodhead

FWIW, the rotors on my '05 Tiger warped at 12K miles (replaced by warranty) and then again at 24K miles ("good-will" replacement by TMA). The difference after each replacement was amazing - no more grabbing or pulsing.
Wondering what 36K miles will bring? I better start saving those sheckels for either new rotors or a new bike (OK, it'll be for new rotors because I really like my "pregnant guppy" compared to the new model tiger.)
WOODY

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"Growing Old may be mandatory, but Growing Up is optional."

Jonny955

I think you guys have the warped rotor syndrome. I use the word 'syndrome' because there is an argument that the rotors are not warped but actually have an inconsistant surface which allows the pads to grip the disc in some parts them not grip so well in others. Either way, the symptoms suggest that new discs are required.

If you bike is still under warranty Triumph will replace the discs and pads FOC. My mate bought an 05 with three days of warranty left and our local dealer, who had never seen the bike before, honoured the warranty and went out of their way to accomodate the fix FOC with no fuss.


Try searching the Tiger forum for warped disc or something like that

Jon

Joe S.

I never really experienced grabiness on my '06 but the front pads were shot by 10k miles (lots of in town commuting.). My dealer replaced the stock Triumph pads with EBC and it seems to me that they have much better feel. More initial bite and seems like it can stop harder.
Like some of the others have said, it almost sounds like there might be a warped rotor. I could imagine that, combined with the soft front end feeling pretty grabby.

miker

This topic has been covered in a couple of forums, but this particular link is worth a read.

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp...rakedisk.shtml

So, if your rotors feel warped, but run true on a dial guage, this could be the info you need.

Mick

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greenman

My experience is that the Tiger's brakes need regular and frequent maintenance. Lubricating the sliding pins, freeing off the pistons and cleaning the pads. I free off each individual piston and usually find that one or more is quite stiff; ideally you should be able to push the piston back into the caliper by hand.

I use EBC HH and find the brakes good enough, but only just, though I have to say the back brake is the best I've ever experienced.

If the maintenance is not done thew brakes can be grabby, pulse- giving the impression of warped discs, and soft feel at the lever.

No idea why Tiger should be like this, similar brakes on my previous Hondas never needed this attention.