Hi all. I searched the forums for info on slowing my 06 down a little. There is a great deal of comment from street riding guys, however not so much for off road experience. I live in SW Colorado and ride passes (engineers, imogene, ophir etc) usually loaded with camp gear and the wifey on the back. The standard gearing is pretty good going up hills with a bit of clutch, but down hill is more excitment than I like. (20mph down a steep scree covered hill??) So i'm looking to go down a tooth or two on the front. Is 16 too much? I still do highway miles to get places. Should i just buy both and try them out? Has anyone done offroad mountain riding with these combos?
Thanks
I keep the 19 on mine almost all the time, as I'm a flat-lander, and do quite a bit of highway riding. Even the dirt roads and trails around here aren't quite so gnarly to require lower gearing (usually).
I have a 17 that I use when I'm riding trails for a couple days at a time. The engine RPMs really jump at highway speeds, though.... in the neighborhood of 4500 RPM at 60 MPH. The 16 would exacerbate that extreme. But the smaller countersprockets sure are great for mountain roads and trails.
Thanks Stretch. I'm thinking I might get both and report my findings here for anyone else wanting to climb mountains. What MPG do you get with the 19?
40-45 mpg... mixed street, highway, and dirt.
mine came with a 17 tooth, felt like I was in the wrong gear, and was VERY snappy... wheelied like crazy, I thought I was on a speed triple
:D I like wheelies! I get much better mileage out of my front tire that way.
Thanks fellas. The 17 it is...
I had all four (16-19) and tried them all. Now I use only the two extreems (16 and 19).
The 16 is a blast. It gives you very quick acceleration and lots of low end control. The 19 is super smooth on the highway and makes the ride very comfortable on long trips.
I keep the 16 on most of the time. I do a lot of dirt and sand so and it makes a big difference to be able to ride at low speeds off road. However, if I ride very long distance (like more then 1,000 miles) I will take the time to swap out the 16 with the 19. Like Stretch said, the 16 and 17 are buzzy at highway speeds. I can tolerate it for short distances as I just ride slower on the highway and keep the RPMs down.
I wish someone would come up with replacement gearing that would lower 1st gear and push up 6th gear. Now that would be something!
Mine's got an 18T on the front. Being as its time for replacement I think I will try out the 17T and see what happens. I ride a lot of offroad but also a lot of fast 2 and 4 lane highway... not much interstate luckily... I think the 16T might be a tad too low for that combo.
So, is the 16T a Triumph factory item? What bike does it hail from?
Dunno about the Triumph sprockets, but mine came from Sprocket Specialists...
http://www.sprocketspecialists.com/Sear ... Search=598 (http://www.sprocketspecialists.com/SearchResults.aspx?txtSearch=598)
Just ordered the 16 & 17 from Sprocket specialists. Do any of you guys run heavier chains?
Quote from: "Stretch"Dunno about the Triumph sprockets, but mine came from Sprocket Specialists...
http://www.sprocketspecialists.com/Sear ... Search=598 (http://www.sprocketspecialists.com/SearchResults.aspx?txtSearch=598)
Same here.
Quote from: "OzTiger007"Do any of you guys run heavier chains?
No. I'm on my 4th standard chain.
Question: How are you guys finding sprockets that fit the Tiger on the SS website? I don't see Tiger listed anywhere. I guess you just know that it's the 598 part number for the front steel? How about the rear?
Thanks for the help!
Quote from: "OzTiger007"Do any of you guys run heavier chains?
The stock DID 530 X-ring chain is about as heavy as they get. Kawasaki's 167-hp Hayabusa uses the same size chain (made by RK), if that's any indication...
Any high-quality 530 X-ring chain will be just fine for your Tigger.
Quote from: "flux"Question: How are you guys finding sprockets that fit the Tiger on the SS website? I don't see Tiger listed anywhere. I guess you just know that it's the 598 part number for the front steel? How about the rear?
That's pretty much it, the 598 countersprockets are simply known to fit Tigers.
I got my rear from Bike Bandit, although SS may carry them. Give them a call.
The 598 front fits all triumphs except bonnevilles and the 600's and is available in 16-18 tooth
the rear sprocket # from sprocket specialists is 2693 for aluminum and 2693s for steel
32-71 tooth for aluminum and 43 tooth only in steel
http://www.sprocketspecialists.com/ProductSearch2.aspx
But the rear on a Steamer is a 48, and 46 on a Girly... steel sizes that Sprocket Specialists don't list.
Hence, I went to Bike Bandit for the Triumph part.
I've used the aluminum ones from ss ($$$$)and they work real good , wear is comparable with steel , but lately the steamers get JT steel ones from Dennis Kirk (less money than SS)
Cool, thanks guys. 8)
Well, finally got all my parts accumulated in the garage. Can't wait to see the difference the 17T makes...
Holy MONKEY. I just got done slapping the 17T on there as well as a new chain and rear 46T. And a new Anakee paired with my TKC80 front.
That 17T is the ticket, I can tell already, just by running up and down my street a few times. Top speed be damned, this thing is ready for some offroadin'!!!
Further report coming tomorrow.
I had a 17 on mine when I did part of the Tennessee TAT last year... it's good setup for low-speed riding.
I put the 16 on and to be sure it reving a lot harder at highway speed. I didn't actually note it down but I will next time. I bought the 16 & 17. I'll wait untill i've tried a couple of off road passes with the 16 and then switch to the 17 and report back. Most of my riding has off road so not to worried about top speed...although the 16 tooth could make it a long ride out to moab. :wink:
I was actually pretty surprised at how low the RPMs were with the 17. I too ride a lot of offroad, but I don't think I will ever try a 16. I was looking for another gear a few times yesterday, something I never did with the stock 18T. Still, that just means a riding style adjustment, no big deal. The 17T for me is perfect.
I'll be diving into my Tiger over the next few weeks to prep it for a blast to Louisiana and back and also for the 2 month trip this summer...
I'm wondering if the PO of my 06 Tiger had a smaller than stock front sprocket, as I have always felt that it was geared lower than it should be, and my gas mileage has never been above 42 although the faulty water temp sensor could be doing that... I need to get into the basement this afternoon and look at that and remove a foot peg for some measuring...
Given that i am about to put 20,000+ miles on the bike in the next 4 months and that most of that will be non-1st gear riding... although I do want to do some considerable gravel... should I put on a 19
18 is stock right?
I gotta go look and see if there isn't a 17 on there.
How much of a pain is swapping out the front sprocket?
thanks all!
It's not hard. You'll need an 8mm socket to remove the front sprocket cover and a 36mm socket for the sprocket nut. The 36mm nut is torqued to 97 ft-lbs, so you'll need to put the bike in gear, and a helper to apply the rear brake to keep the engine from turning.
The 36mm nut has a soft steel lock-washer under it, with an edge folded up against one of the wrench flats on the nut to keep it from loosening, so you'll need a drift or an old screwdriver and small hammer to fold the washer back flat before you can remove the nut.
Then loosen the rear axle and chain adjusters and let the wheel slide forward to get some slack in the chain. Pull the chain off the front sprocket and swap sprockets.
After that, it's just a matter of reassembly and chain adjustment. The whole thing may take an hour.
Yes, 18 is stock on the Girlies. That 36mm nut pissed me off... I had to go buy one... $17 from AutoZone. I have never needed a socket that size. At least they had it in a 1/2" drive.
I ran a little interstate out of necessity today.
I do not like the 17T at freeway speeds. Luckily right now I do not get on the freeway much.
5000RPM at 70mph in top gear.
I definitely found myself looking for another gear a few times. But running through the Atlanta surface streets tonight, the 17T was sweet. And for my mountain and offroad runs I prefer the 17T so far. Only place I do not care for it is on the interstate, like I said. 8)
Quote from: "flux"That 36mm nut pissed me off... I had to go buy one... $17 from AutoZone. I have never needed a socket that size.
A- HA! There's a man who has never worked on an air-cooled Volkswagen.
The fan-to-generator nut and rear hub nuts are 36mm. I've had a 36mm socket since I was 17. :mrgreen:
Does anyone have a MPG difference worked out based out front sprocket changes only?
If I am putting 25000 miles( yeah I said 20 before, but I am trying to be realistic) on the bike in the next few months. 5% better mileage than I have now is 1250 additional miles on the same amount of gas.. OR 25000 miles of travel on only 23730 miles of fuel.....
1250 miles / 45 mpg = $62.50 in gas
Hmm not a lot of cash... an extra two days on the road... hmmmm
Less wear and tear on the engine!
if 17= 5000 at 70 ?? (which is way too high me thinks) but that was with a 47 rear when std is a 47 rear... mah hade is spinnin ma!
what is 18?..
Stock rear is 46T, not 47,and 46 is what I have on the rear currently.
5000 RPMs at 70mph is what I saw yesterday with the 17/46 combo. I will ride again this afternoon and double check it for you though.
I haven't run this combo long enough to start to figure out the mileage, should be able to get those numbers for you this weekend though.
Quote from: "flux"Stock rear is 46T, not 47,and 46 is what I have on the rear currently.
5000 RPMs at 70mph is what I saw yesterday with the 17/46 combo. I will ride again this afternoon and double check it for you though.
I haven't run this combo long enough to start to figure out the mileage, should be able to get those numbers for you this weekend though.
Great .. thanks...
Well i ran my 16tooth front cog last weekend to moab.....The run on I70 at 80-90 mph feels like the motor is screaming (as you would expect) although rpm is 6-7k still a long way from redline.(not that i want to run at redline). For sure it is no good for mpg's. It did turn the old girl into a mountain cat though...I ran everything on WRT and Klondike bluffs without any clutching. Pretty much ran in 2nd most of the time with first like a spare rock climbing gear. If i get time I'll change out to the 17th before I ride this weekend and report back.
Oh...i reckon i was getting between 35-40mpg. Didn't really pay much attention.... i'll try harder next time I promise OK?
Oz.. nice trip report !!
I checked my speed over the last few rides and at 5000 rpm I am 75 mph.. .so my guess is that I am stock.. still it feels like I want another gear..
Thanks JasonS,
I'm not sure if it is because the motor is so torquey? But when you ride around at lower speeds/rpm and then hit interstate speeds it feels weird. I'm sure that other riders have also felt the need for higher or lower gearing in their Tigers. If only someone cleverer than me... (stretch...Sasquatch?).. .would come up with some transmission options we would all be laughing. I joke... I'm sure an internal transmission alternative would be an extremely complicated and expensive problem. One can only wish.
Aside from the weak charging system, the only real complaint I have about the design of the Girly is the transmission ratios. First is too high for even novice offroad work, while sixth is too low for freeway use. I'd love to be able to just pick through the Triumph parts inventory and build a trans with the proper gearing, but I don't think the various Triumph gearsets out there are compatible enough to allowing mixing and matching.
If I were a machine tool guru with lots of connections and facilities, it might be do-able... but...
I am but a city fireman with a penchant for motorbikes.
Yup, I am a 5000 RPM at 70MPH in top gear with the 17T. Getting about 45mpg. My MPG changes a lot though as I change up between slow offroad and high rev runs through the mountains.
I like the 17T and likely won't go back to an 18 unless a long freeway jaunt is needed. I do still look for another gear a lot but I did that with the 18 so WTF.
Used the 17t on the TAT trip last summer and the 19t to go to and from the TAT.
5k rpms = 70mph(17t), 80mph(19t) after ~5k miles, no difference in the gas mileage for me. However, the front wheel gets a lot more air time with the 17t :D
I ordered a 19 tooth front sprocket. I figure the gas it will save ion the long haul will make it worth it. I'll carry the 18 with me if I need to do a bit offroad oriented riding or discover I have a passenger.....
I was lucky to have a 19t layign around from my SPrint ST.
somebody mentioned other bikes havign same size sprockets,
if you just want to try one out, look around on any triumph messae board etc, Often the Daytona owners are downsizing, as well as the SPrint owners, and then giving away the 19t's or other sizes for little to nothing
My sprint came with a 19t, and I downsized it to get more snap back in, and saved the 19t for extended highway runs, it felt like the Tiger with a too tall first gear... although the 6th seemed pretty good.
wonder if any of the other triumph trannys would work?