Triumphrat

Allyoop · 01-16-2008

Hi, I'm Al
I've just joined.
I'm in Sydeney, Ozstralia
I have an old 750 Bonnie chopper.
I'm seriously thinking of buying a second hand Tiger (approx 200-2005)
I'd like to modify it a bit.
Can anyone help with some info?

1. I'm a bit vertically challenged, so the 31-33" seat height could be a problem. I can just see me sliding over to the right at traffic lights to reach the ground with my right foot, and the other leg hanging on the seat. So the question is-can the back be lowered, and if so, by how much. Or, is there enough space under the seat to lower it?

2. If I change the muffler and reposition it by shortening the pipes, is it difficult/expensive to have it re-tuned?

3. What does the regular 'servicing' set you back each year?

4. What are the weaknesses of the Tiger?

cheers, al

mustang · 01-16-2008

all of the tigers that have the eccentric chain adjuster can be lowered approx 1 1/2 inch by just rotating the adjuster 180 degrees then pull the forks up thru the trees to match and it helps a lot to get a foot down
not quite sure what year tiger did away withthe eccentric adjusters though , 2004 might have been the last year to have them maybe 05 .

iansoady · 01-16-2008

2004 MY was the last of the eccentrics, and as mustang says that's the easiest and cheapest way to lower the bike. I did mine soon after dropping it twice at walking speed and it feels much better.

You do need to shorten the stands but that's an easy job for a welder.

miker · 01-16-2008

G'Day Al, welcome to the forum!

I'm also in Sydney, south for now, but to the Beaches in a month or so. I ride my 06 from the Shire to Chatswood each day.

There are plenty of ways to lower a girlie, if, as Ian says you get one with the eccentric swing arm, you just move it around the other way. You can also lower the forks in the tubes, and if you're still too short, you can get the mono shock shortened, or replace it with a shorter one. You can also peel the seat cover off and cut out some of the foam and replace the cover, dodgy, but works. Get high heeled boots......

There are also plenty of after market exhausts, but not too many I've seen that are shorter, plus if you have the factory panniers, nothing will work, but the stock or the OEM "offroad" exhaust, because the pannier has a relief for the exhaust. You can use the "aftermarket exhaust" tune even if you haven't changed the pipe, as a matter of fact, it works better with the aftermarket tune.

Depending on where you go, regular servicing can cost up to $800. That's at Northside in Artarmon. However the 10,000km service was about $300, because it's essentially checks and tightening, plus oil and filter change. The 20,000km service requires the valve clearances to be checked/adjusted, plus plugs, air filter, most fluids etc, so it's up around the $800. You could get it a bit cheaper going to a non Triumph dealer, but they don't always have all the right tools, or the "Gameboy" to download new fuel maps.

There are no weaknesses in the Tiger, it's versatile enough to do a scratch run through the Nasho, then head up Macquarie Pass, and come back via Bungonia National park, two up if you want. The only thing I could say is that the Tiger is my weakness. Imagine knowing you have over an hour to commute in heavy traffic, but being happy about it because you'll be on a great bike....

Mick

Allyoop · 01-17-2008

Thanks for your replies guys.
I'm going to look at a late 2004 Tiger next Saturday.
Anything I shoild pay particular attention too?

Which beaches are you moving to Miker? I'm up in Randwick, 10 minute walk to Coogee.

cheers, al

miker · 01-17-2008

Al, I hope it turns your head like it has for most of us.

I'll be moving back to my old stomping ground of Dee Why, at the moment I'm in Sutherland. I used to work at the Randwick bus depot and spent many a broken shift at Coogee beach......, but give me North any day!

Mick

Advwannabe · 01-18-2008

Hey Allyoop,

Good luck with the '04.

The main weakness is the height and top heaviness leading to dropping by the unwary.

Lots of people don't like the buffetitis from the standard screen, but there are solutions

If you maintain a soft suspension for off road work the front dives a fair bit under hard braking, but this can be fixed as well.

Best allrounder I've seen and great fun to ride too.

I'm over in Rushcutters. Maybe a ride sometime?

Allyoop · 01-19-2008

Well I had made plans to look at the 04. However I found a 06 for sale down at Bondi Beach for $11990, so I went and had a look.

I'm sorry to say that the Tiger is not for me. I didn't really know what to expect. But I found it uncomfortably heavy. Especially when I've been throwing my bonnie around for the last five years.

I didn't actually ride it though - I went on the back. I only sat on it. I did find that adjusting the seat to the lowest position was OK. I could reach the ground OK.

The experience was totally different from what I'm used to. Instead of tappet noise, it whirred. And instead of a roar (for the want of a better word) from the pipes, the was the occassional cackle? (I wondered whether there might be a hole somewhere)

It was smooth and powerful, and comfortable, while my bonnie vibrates, quickly reaches it's limit in the lower gears, and has a sprung seat on a hardtail. But I after riding the Tiger I realised how much I really enjoyed riding my old chop.

Maybe if I rode one for a while I may come to like the Tiger as much. I don't know.

The Tiger looked OK. But there were a few things I wasn't sure about. The bike had done about 27,000 kms. But it hadn't had it's 20.000 km service. Which probably explained why the oil was pretty dirty. I wondered if to what extent this would effect the engine, also, if not getting the service would invalidate the remainder of the warranty.
Also, there was something wrong with the headlight switch. One or the other headlights would be brighter than the other when the guy flicked the switch: first the one on the left and then the one on the right, but not both together.

But apart from that the bike seemed OK. No smoke or untoward noises that I could identify anyway. So it's probably a good buy for someone.

I might look at a Daytona 675 !!!

Na, I don't think so

Might seem a bit weird riding your Tiger with a 73 hardtail bonnie chopper with 6 bend apes Advwannabe!

But thanks for the offer.

Thanks again for the imput guys. It's been very helpful. I'll keep you updated.

I'll tell you what I did find weird: turning the Tigers handlebars and the instrment panel not moving with them

cheers, al