Hey all, just got a 97 Tiger,16500 miles, and wanted to say hello. Also had a few questions for you experts. My kick stand has a bend in it half way down, is this normal? bike leans excessivly on the stand. Is Mobil 1 a must? I used Rotella 5/40 synthitic In my Elefant 900, (Not to start a oil war again) What is normal operating temp per the guage? mine only gets 1/4 way up or so, just to the first mark. anything I should be aware of to bulletproof for long 1K trips in 100+ weather?
Thank you for the tips and info.
apache.
I think you would find that your '976 calls for 10-40 Semi Synthetic.
I used Castrol Syntec 5/40 last time I changed the oil in my '96. It's API grade SL/CF (Haynes says fully synthetic 5/40 or semi synthetic 10/40 motorcycle oil API SG minimum). Of course, that was only a couple months ago - maybe in a few years I can report in on my results :)
My bike typically runs at the first/only line on the temp guage...if it's 90+ and I'm in traffic it sometimes gets just above that. I also find, though, that the cap on my expansion tank doesn't seal - so if I've gone off roading and dropped the bike the coolant leaks out some - then it runs noticeably hotter. So make sure the coolant is topped up!
You can see the bend in my sidestand in this pic pretty well - I don't really feel the bike leans excessively on it, though:
(http://mudhen.smugmug.com/photos/23460199-L.jpg)
Pat
Look at a 1996ish Sprint sometime. The sidestands were so short that the bike looks like it's keeling over.
Thank You for the info. Ive never been a user of synthetics although I know there better. I feel frequent changes do the job. But..... ive been told by several non Triumph dealer people That Triumph has such tight tollerances That synthetic is almost a must be it what ever kind you choose, of course most said Mobil 1 bike oil MH4 or?? whatever it is.
Thanks again.