New rider. Any suggestions for a first big bike?
Discussion
Yes, an end can can upset the running, especially a bike such as the TT600 with 'delicate' fuelling, and the ECU hasn't been mapped to the can.
Are you on Triumphrat yet? It's a great forum for technical advice, I have saved load of money maintaining my 955i Speed Triple from the expert knowledge on there.
https://www.triumphrat.net/
Are you on Triumphrat yet? It's a great forum for technical advice, I have saved load of money maintaining my 955i Speed Triple from the expert knowledge on there.
https://www.triumphrat.net/
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Monday 16th November 10:04
On the question of power, there’s a good chance that you are changing gears well short of peak power, which is no bad thing when getting used to a bike.
Once you feel very comfortable doing it, I’d suggest trying (on an appropriate piece of road) winding the throttle open progressively to full, at lower revs in third gear, and feel how the power changes as you go all the way to the redline.
Also consider riding in a lower gear more often. Your engine is designed to operate very happily at 4-5k in normal use, which is where you’ll get more acceleration and more engine braking than if you sit at 2k in a high gear.
Once you feel very comfortable doing it, I’d suggest trying (on an appropriate piece of road) winding the throttle open progressively to full, at lower revs in third gear, and feel how the power changes as you go all the way to the redline.
Also consider riding in a lower gear more often. Your engine is designed to operate very happily at 4-5k in normal use, which is where you’ll get more acceleration and more engine braking than if you sit at 2k in a high gear.
ColonelKurtz said:
A brief update (if anyone is still interested). I decided, rather than swap the Dominator silencer that was on the TT600 with a fellow forum member, to buy an original TT600 silencer from eBay and keep the Dominator tucked away. I paid my £80 and it arrived on Saturday in perfect condition (a nice surprise). It was easier to fit then I was expecting but, due to the terrible weather, I was unable to go for a test ride.
But yesterday I managed to go for a ride from Maidenhead to Wallingford and the nearby Infinity shop. I was really surprised at the difference the silencer made to the bike! The stuttering below 4k rpm has all but gone (there is a hint in 3rd as you apply the throttle between 3-4k rpm but no more than that), the throttle now feels more linear instead of feeling like a binary switch meaning I feel a lot happier at junctions, and the noise is a lot more subdued but still sounds lovely. The bike does feel somewhat slower accelerating but I am very happy with that as I previously found the bike a little too angry for a first big bike.
There is a tiny exhaust gas leak where the silencer joins the rest of the exhaust, as I didn't have a gasket, but nothing more. I will look to buy some gasket material and see if I can create my own without having a template.
Am I crazy? Can a simple silencer swap cause that much change in the character of a bike? I am more used to cars where the silencer alone would not cause that much difference. Either way, I now think I have a cracking bike I feel more in control of that I can really enjoy learning how to ride.
An exhaust can result in a significant difference on bikes or cars (depending on the car of course!). If you fit a full system to a bike it's worth having it remapped in many cases although many do not and some bikes do appear to be able to cope better than others in this regard. But yesterday I managed to go for a ride from Maidenhead to Wallingford and the nearby Infinity shop. I was really surprised at the difference the silencer made to the bike! The stuttering below 4k rpm has all but gone (there is a hint in 3rd as you apply the throttle between 3-4k rpm but no more than that), the throttle now feels more linear instead of feeling like a binary switch meaning I feel a lot happier at junctions, and the noise is a lot more subdued but still sounds lovely. The bike does feel somewhat slower accelerating but I am very happy with that as I previously found the bike a little too angry for a first big bike.
There is a tiny exhaust gas leak where the silencer joins the rest of the exhaust, as I didn't have a gasket, but nothing more. I will look to buy some gasket material and see if I can create my own without having a template.
Am I crazy? Can a simple silencer swap cause that much change in the character of a bike? I am more used to cars where the silencer alone would not cause that much difference. Either way, I now think I have a cracking bike I feel more in control of that I can really enjoy learning how to ride.
I am a bit of a stealth rider in that I don't like to be showy or make much noise, although many litre bikes (the type I usually ride) I find are still very loud with the factory fit exhausts. I currently ride a BMW S1000R Sport with the Akro exhaust (factory fit) and am often surprised by how loud it is although biker friends laugh at me for saying that with their full decat systems and lairy exhausts. I love the sound of bikes, I just don't think they need to be ear splittingly loud to be enjoyed however I recognise this is also down to my own character where I prefer to be a little under the radar. I usually choose quite colour schemes as well (black/grey/dark blue etc).
PurpleTurtle said:
Yes, an end can can upset the running, especially a bike such as the TT600 with 'delicate' fuelling, and the ECU hasn't been mapped to the can.
Are you on Triumphrat yet? It's a great forum for technical advice, I have saved load of money maintaining my 955i Speed Triple from the expert knowledge on there.
https://www.triumphrat.net/
Cheers for that link - I had not heard of the site until now. Are you on Triumphrat yet? It's a great forum for technical advice, I have saved load of money maintaining my 955i Speed Triple from the expert knowledge on there.
https://www.triumphrat.net/
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Monday 16th November 10:04
Thanks all for the feedback. I think you are correct, the previous owner put the other, shorter silencer on without doing anything else re: ECU. I also like to keep somewhat under the radar and don't want a too loud exhaust - although I used to have a horrifically loud one on an Elise S2 I had and loved it.
Also thanks for the advice re: the slight leak likely sorting out the residual stuttering.
Now the bike rides like it does with the exhaust switch, I think the TT600 is a truly fabulous bike and really underrated. I liked it a lot before; now I love it.
Also thanks for the advice re: the slight leak likely sorting out the residual stuttering.
Now the bike rides like it does with the exhaust switch, I think the TT600 is a truly fabulous bike and really underrated. I liked it a lot before; now I love it.
ColonelKurtz said:
Thanks all for the feedback. I think you are correct, the previous owner put the other, shorter silencer on without doing anything else re: ECU. I also like to keep somewhat under the radar and don't want a too loud exhaust - although I used to have a horrifically loud one on an Elise S2 I had and loved it.
Also thanks for the advice re: the slight leak likely sorting out the residual stuttering.
Now the bike rides like it does with the exhaust switch, I think the TT600 is a truly fabulous bike and really underrated. I liked it a lot before; now I love it.
You may not want to hear this just now. you quite rightly are loving the bike and it is a good one.... but do not hang on to it too long.... it is very old technology if you love that you will be in ecstasy when you discover some of the newer stuff. Remember this is your first girlfriend! Enjoy every second of it. Welcome to the club.Also thanks for the advice re: the slight leak likely sorting out the residual stuttering.
Now the bike rides like it does with the exhaust switch, I think the TT600 is a truly fabulous bike and really underrated. I liked it a lot before; now I love it.
Captain Slow, thanks for the offer - I will gladly take you up on that offer whenever it is convenient for you.
Pothole, I do understand and were it not for the dealership offering to take the bike back from me at a great trade-in price in a couple of months (with the bike as-sold) I would have been very happy to do the swap. Now, I can swap the Dominator back onto the bike if the time comes. But, after the change in its personality, I am thinking this bike might stay with me for a lot longer and I might see if I can get another bike more suited for two-up trips with the other half in the new year.
Pothole, I do understand and were it not for the dealership offering to take the bike back from me at a great trade-in price in a couple of months (with the bike as-sold) I would have been very happy to do the swap. Now, I can swap the Dominator back onto the bike if the time comes. But, after the change in its personality, I am thinking this bike might stay with me for a lot longer and I might see if I can get another bike more suited for two-up trips with the other half in the new year.
ColonelKurtz said:
Captain Slow, thanks for the offer - I will gladly take you up on that offer whenever it is convenient for you.
Pothole, I do understand and were it not for the dealership offering to take the bike back from me at a great trade-in price in a couple of months (with the bike as-sold) I would have been very happy to do the swap. Now, I can swap the Dominator back onto the bike if the time comes. But, after the change in its personality, I am thinking this bike might stay with me for a lot longer and I might see if I can get another bike more suited for two-up trips with the other half in the new year.
You've already negotiated a trade-in? Pothole, I do understand and were it not for the dealership offering to take the bike back from me at a great trade-in price in a couple of months (with the bike as-sold) I would have been very happy to do the swap. Now, I can swap the Dominator back onto the bike if the time comes. But, after the change in its personality, I am thinking this bike might stay with me for a lot longer and I might see if I can get another bike more suited for two-up trips with the other half in the new year.
Yes, in essence. When I bought the bike I agreed with the salesman that, as it is my first big bike to learn on and I am not sure exactly what type of bike I prefer yet, I could come back in a few months and trade up to another bike if I wanted to. We agreed a trade-in price as part of the overall deal, subject to me not damaging the bike, keeping it as I bought it, etc. I did similar a few years with a classic car I bought.
ColonelKurtz said:
Yes, in essence. When I bought the bike I agreed with the salesman that, as it is my first big bike to learn on and I am not sure exactly what type of bike I prefer yet, I could come back in a few months and trade up to another bike if I wanted to. We agreed a trade-in price as part of the overall deal, subject to me not damaging the bike, keeping it as I bought it, etc. I did similar a few years with a classic car I bought.
Triaguar said:
You may not want to hear this just now. you quite rightly are loving the bike and it is a good one.... but do not hang on to it too long.... it is very old technology if you love that you will be in ecstasy when you discover some of the newer stuff. Remember this is your first girlfriend! Enjoy every second of it. Welcome to the club.
I get what you are saying. Before I entered the lazy world of the company car I used to change my car every year (all classics I wanted to experience). As (most) bikes aren't nearly as expensive or bulky as cars, I fear there may be more than one in the garage by the end of next year...
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