Tiger Sport Tiger 955. Troubles Already?

Hi Marty, welcome to the forum! The clunky gearbox you noticed on your way home could very well be due the the low oil level you noticed. The roughness and noise you describe is concerning I agree, you mentioned that it's especially when you pull the clutch... So what I would do first is drain the oil and see if there is any foreign objects present. If not I would fit a new filter and top up with the correct oil for the motor. I would also remove the clutch cover to inspect, it could just be adjustment or perhaps something more serious. The hunting (climbing) of the revs could be that it's not sealing somewhere on the intake and that's where I would start looking first. Let us know how it goes and what you find, members with similar bikes will soon be along I'm sure to offer advise. Top forum this by the way !

 

I agree with above... do a few little investigations... take the spark plugs out (noting which cylinder) and look at the colour and wetness of them, see if they differ... check the gaps whilst you’re there... you want to see that they’re all equally coloured. They shouldn’t look wet, or black n sooty... see picture below... but they should all look the same, you don’t want one pot running different to the others.

A nicely warmed up engine should not be smokey... check your exhaust output.

Once you’ve changed your oil and filter, keep an eye on oil consumption over the next few weeks, if the engine received excess wear, but not terminal damage, it may be a bit oil thirsty.

I don’t know your riding conditions, but it would also be worth changing the air filter on a 24,000 mile bike with poor service history

 

All of that could be a loose engine mount, eh?

 

Hi Marty, here's a few thoughts on the points you mention:

1. Clunky gears changes - at what revs do you change up through the gears? If it's below 3000rpm, that will be the problem. I found with my 2006 Tiger 955i it needed slightly higher revs to achieve liquid-smooth changes.

2. With the engine ticking over, pulling in the clutch will change the engine note because there will be less drag.

3 & 4. If I remember correctly, to measure the engine oil level you need to use the dipstick. The bike must be upright and the dipstick screwed fully home. If you add any oil, give it time to work through to the sump or you'll get a false reading.
Re the engine mechanical noise, don't make any decisions until you done the service and she is running with new oil and filters.

Hope that helps,

Cheers
Dave

 

These are known for a clunky box, some even like it.

 

Agree that valve clearances should be checked. Should be done every 12,000 miles. It really can make the engine much sweeter. Mine were checked at 48,000 miles and I could feel the difference immediately. Definitely recommended if the service history is sketchy!

 

Just picked up my new (to me) 2003 spiked wheel 955.
Rode it 35 miles Home and loved it. I was surprised how easy it was to manage as I’m only 5”10 on a good day. Seemed very similar to my previous 2014 v-strom 1000. However comparing the bikes despite been a lot older the triumph is so much better at low revs and doesn’t feel like it’s gonna cut out on you at slow speeds. Felt light and nimble to my surprise. Think I’m going to love it,
Should I get engine bars just to be safe??

 

DEFINITELY !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ok seems you definitely recommend that. I will take “heed” of your advice

 

Ok seems you definitely recommend that. I will take “heed” of your advice

 

Ok thanks. Sound advice again. I guess I was attracted to the Heed bars due to price. I’ll look at alternatives. Cheers

 

Check out the whole bike, everything, from then on you know what you have.

 

My S3 developed an issue with burning oil and a weird chugging when just going down the road at maintenance throttle (just enough throttle to maintain given speed) where it would be smooth and then would start to sputter, if you will. Turns out that when I replaced the spark plugs, I did not properly seat the air box onto the risers that come up off the cylinder heads, and there is a small phalange under the air box, that also was not seated into the little female connector that that male phalange needed to go into. After getting the male end properly inserted into the female end and the risers properly into the airbox, the chuggyness went away. But still have troubles starter her. She runs great now that the air box is seated, you might check that on your bike. due to the improper seating of the air box, it was creating a vacuum strong enough to suck oil up into the air box and then that oil was getting burnt too.

 

Engine crash bars can cause vibration. I found most triples ive rode have clunky gear changes. The engine will change it's note when the clutch is pulled in. This is normal. In the old days, we used to call it clutch chatter. Sounds like a good 24k service will sort everything out for you.

 

I see you mention "Clutch Chatter." That is exactly what I am getting. When I pull the clutch in, the chatter goes away. But, when I release the clutch, the chatter returns. is there a way to fix this? I have 2016 Tiger 800XR.