Tiger Tales - Dialling in the 800XC for the dirt

[Burren Rider]

Let there be light

Changing the bulbs made a noticeable improvement in the standard lighting (which was already very good) but I decided to add the Triumph Fog Light kit while I was going. I figure it will aid visibility during the day and primarily light up the road surface at night. While I don't see this being of great benefit on the bitumen, I reckon it really helps in the dirt where you actually get to see what is rolling under your front wheel. I have a habit of getting carried away while riding and ending up in the dark, with low fuel and sometimes navigationally challenged, so I can see the benefit in good lighting .

[Burren Rider]

Originally Posted by Mercury264

I hate putting barkbuster type guards on bikes - they are SUCH a PIA to fit. Good job

The barkbuster kit really does make the process straight forward. They bolt directly into the ends of the Triumph bars and with the exception of tweaking the position of brake line (depending on were you run the guards and your levers) the whole job could be done in 15 minutes, maybe less? I actually found it quicker to install the guards on the Tiger than on a dirt bike because the grips are already cut and the bars have a threaded insert already .

[Burren Rider]

Progress Update

Went for a quick trail ride this week on some of the tracks I normally reserve for my 400. I have to admit that the Tiger continues to surprise me with the composure it has in the bush.

The suspension and geometry work incredibly well for a big bike and engine just torques its way through slop and even with traction at a premium.

There was one point where I came upon a big log across the trail and had to find a track around it. It was tight and I contemplated turning around but the bike purred beneath me and we gave it a go. With a bit of brevado (and a lot of luck), we popped over a stump in the undergrowth and before I new it the path was clear. No photos unfortunately because I was so impressed with the departure from my usually limited technical skills that I was grinning and on the gas

On a side note, the fender extension seems to have been beneficial. Not sure about the fine gritty mud flicking up but it certainly seems to reduce the amount of trail rubbish heading towards the engine and radiator.

[Mercury264]

Originally Posted by Burren Rider

The barkbuster kit really does make the process straight forward. They bolt directly into the ends of the Triumph bars and with the exception of tweaking the position of brake line (depending on were you run the guards and your levers) the whole job could be done in 15 minutes, maybe less? I actually found it quicker to install the guards on the Tiger than on a dirt bike because the grips are already cut and the bars have a threaded insert already .

I think I will go that way then - I really hate fitting hand guards so the easier that process is, the better.

[Bell driver]

Hate to spoil your party...
I really like the XC, so I took it for a spin.
Seating is great, felt like molded in.The handling is great and I like the looks of course.
What really puts me off is the high pitch whining noise from that engine at idle up to about 3000rpm, probably higher.
It hurts me ears and stresses me out.
Hmmm...

[Adv Grifter]

Originally Posted by Bell driver

Hate to spoil your party...
I really like the XC, so I took it for a spin.
Seating is great, felt like molded in.The handling is great and I like the looks of course.
What really puts me off is the high pitch whining noise from that engine at idle up to about 3000rpm, probably higher.
It hurts me ears and stresses me out.
Hmmm...

With ear plugs in I never noticed this whine. In any case, i don't spend much time at idle to 3000 rpm ... I suppose if one is doing slow, technical single track trail then you would be going slow, or maybe while stuck in thick traffic?

But this thread is about riding the Tiger XC .... OFF ROAD. I don't believe that is possible in Germany, no?

BTW ... studies prove that ear plugs reduce stress and allow for better rider concentration ... this riding ANY bike. There is a very good reason every racer wears them, not only to protect hearing but for less fatigue, better focus, less stress. (lower heart rate and BP)

The Arrow pipe (and other pipes) also help sweeten the sound. I realize any sort of aftermarket pipe in Germany is forbidden ... but most of the world can use a nice pipe legally. The Arrow is not too loud and is homolagated ... so may be legal in Germany? Not sure.

[av_mech]

Originally Posted by Bell driver

Hate to spoil your party...
I really like the XC, so I took it for a spin.
Seating is great, felt like molded in.The handling is great and I like the looks of course.
What really puts me off is the high pitch whining noise from that engine at idle up to about 3000rpm, probably higher.
It hurts me ears and stresses me out.
Hmmm...

Grifter is right. This is about OFF ROAD. I love the sound and if you want to talk about that, go to the regular Tiger thread.

And on the off road note, new post coming in the next day or two in my thread. 415 miles, 14 hours, and 8 mountain passes in Colorado. Some pretty technical stuff and a few videos. Did a pretty good hill climb that I dumped it right at the top. Had a blast. This bike continues to amaze me off road.

[av_mech]

See the full RR on the last page of my thread. Click the signature. Enjoy!

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by av_mech

See the full RR on the last page of my thread. Click the signature. Enjoy!

Damn! You were at the top, too. I thought, for sure, you had it. Good effort, though.

[G-Funk]

Yet again, this is such a great thread.

And +1 to barkbusters. I love them. Easy and straight forward to install, sturdily built, and IMHO look good to boot.

G.

[Burren Rider]

Time for some heated grips. Getting the Tiger sorted for a trip out west soon and it is going to be cold. Call me a wusse but heated grips seem like a good idea for early morning starts when your fingers go numb and don't like operating the important things ............. like brakes!

I contemplated the genuine Triumph ones as I like the integration but they are dear and pretty scarce in Oz so I opted for the faithful VSM heater elements. I have run these on several bikes in the past, they are about a quarter of the cost, work well and allow you to run your preferred grips. First step was put some adhesive heat shrink on the clutch side. This provides some insulation and reduces the heat transfer into the bars rather than going to the grips where it belongs.

Step 2 is to mount the heater elements, ensuring enough play for the the throttle.

And then it is time to fit the grips. I am running the Pro Taper Pillow tops. Pretty comfy and plenty of traction too but they do seem to wear out reasonably quickly on the dirt bike. A trick here is to spray the inside of the grips with Hair Spray. It helps them slide on easier and when dry acts as glue to keep them in place. Combine that with a bit of safety wire and they are good to go.

The final step is the wiring which I left for someone smarter than me when it comes to electricity. I have wired them up to DR's in the past but the Tiger looks complicated so I left them alone. I also wanted to wire in the GPS and a USB plug for charging the I-Pod and phone on the road.

Contemplating frosty mornings, I also ordered a new Exped sleeping bag while they were on special. The little fella reckons it is great and I am hoping it will take the sting out of the -5C nights they have been having in the desert lately.

[Burren Rider]

Luggage

I tend to travel pretty light but with the prospect of camping in sub zero temperatures and carrying extra fuel for the desert stretches, I thought it was time to invest in some gear carrying capabilites. I opted for the Wolfman Expedition saddle bags with racks contructed for Adventure Moto here in Australia.

The racks seem really strong without being too weighty and the bags look like they will do the job well. It will take a bit of getting used to the bags being wider than the bars but I think that is a product of the wide exhaust and I don't see many other options. Another benefit of the racks is that they brace the standard pillion pegs.

Mounted up, the bags hold a winter down sleeping bag, Exped bedroll, clothes and thermals for a week, cooking gear, food, shoes and they still have room for more.

I used a Wolfman Enduro Duffel on the seat for my tent (which works really well in conjunction with the welded loops on the racks) and a Kreiga US-10 bag on the rack for tools, tubes and wet weather gear. The triumph rack works well in this regard as I unbolted it and fed the Kreiga straps through the slots at the front and rear.

Almost ready for the trip.

[dhula]

Nice.

Are the racks equal both sides for width or is the non exhaust side closer to the bike. Reason I ask is I'm looking for racks to hold soft bags but would like equal width both sides so I can put a storage tube inboard of the rack on the non exhaust side. That and I'm not a huge fan of the non symetrical look of some of the racks on the market.

With your heated grips keep an eye on the throttle tube sticking as there have been some forum posts regarding this happening when heated grips are turned up to full hotness. I think it only relates to the OEM triumph heated grips but can't hurt to be careful.

[turboICE]

Originally Posted by Burren Rider

From the looks of this picture I would say the left side is closer than the right side but still room for a tube.

[av_mech]

Originally Posted by dhula

Nice.

Are the racks equal both sides for width or is the non exhaust side closer to the bike. Reason I ask is I'm looking for racks to hold soft bags but would like equal width both sides so I can put a storage tube inboard of the rack on the non exhaust side. That and I'm not a huge fan of the non symetrical look of some of the racks on the market.

With your heated grips keep an eye on the throttle tube sticking as there have been some forum posts regarding this happening when heated grips are turned up to full hotness. I think it only relates to the OEM triumph heated grips but can't hurt to be careful.

The Happy Trails racks are symmetrical and I have a 4 inch tool tube mounted to the inside of my rack. I'm pretty sure they ship international. It's big enough for two tool rolls and other "fix it" supplies.