I did it: lowered links on the TT

[w8d4it]

Woody i've said it before, now you just said it also and Ill say it again.  Triumphs are known to be one of the best, if not the best, handling bikes in the world.  Triumph  spends millions to keep that reputation intact.  I have never seen a lowering kit improve Triumph's handling. Quite to the contrary. You speak of voiding the warranty which it will for suspension related issues.  But I think that will be the least of the rider's problem come that one day when he needs that Nth degree of handling to make that unexpected curve or to avoid that oncoming driver or that deer in the middle of the road. And it isn't there

[Trumpet]

I don't look at modern engineering in a sanctimonious way nor do I like to think pessimistic thought about cycling.

First of all, if you work very close to engineers you ought to know their balls are more often than not, in the hands of the marketing department, who at will, quite often dismiss great designs and efficacious products in favor of marketing trends that would, either sell the product, address more the mass of a particular consumer, or cut costs. Why? because in modern manufacturing money does the talking, not the engineers.

Engineers are not infallible Popes of the vehicle manufacturing world. Most likely, they get told what to do right from the get-go: what to produce, what market to target, and a budget restrain to stuff all the demands in...often, causing the familiar vehicle-recall resulting from making sh#t too fast without enough forethought nor trials.

Many folks in the Honda forum, in the Kawasaki forum and other bikes are sort of Brand Apostles. They have a sort of consumerism faith that their brand (of bike in this case) is the best in the world.

Secondly, the statistical probability that the lowering of the TT would be the reason for not making a turn quick enough to avoid catastrophy is about 'zero'. Traffic, other drivers, cell phones, weather, your own distraction, rider skill...there are a million possible variables involved in such speculation. And most importantly, the turning ratio of the TT lowered 20mm versus stock is so freaking minimal that you would need to see through the universe in order to detect that a wreck's fault was due to the lower link.

I do not worship Triumph. It does rides too light on the freeway at high speeds which is what touring guys do. It does not even have a rear fender and gets trash all over, including the passenger. Having taking the muffler off, I will tell you that damn thing weight a ton and as soon as I can find a comparable quiet muffler I will replace it. Cal-sci makes better windshield than the OEM. I am sure you have heard the problems with some bikes on this board. And this bike does not have nearly the torque of a Kawasaki Concour, nor the comfort of a GL...Ok!, but it beats the sh#t out of an RT on every count....wait,wait, the fairing on the RT is easier to take off. I 'll give the RT that.

Now be that said, the Triumph Trophy is MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BIKE...EVER! and I have been jocking these damn things around since 1963.  I would not trade it for anything.

For me, the lowering link is just having fun with my bike, trying something out to see.
And I would agree with anyone in the sense that the TT rides better stock like every stinking bike I have lowered--they all ride worse afterwards.

But that is relative. To the guy who cannot reach the ground and every time he stops he is inches from dropping the bike, to the guy who want to ride his babe on the rear and balance more securely, and to those who rather have a heavier handling to feel more sure in not over-steering a turn, then, there is nothing wrong with them altering the height of the bike. Besides, all you got to do is put a fat chick on the back and there: you lowered your Triumph 20mm--or more depending on the chick. The lower links are not that weird that they turn everything into disarray.

I am perfectly good with someone trying it, and saying it sucks. But it irks me to hear brands/engineers being glorified or to hear paranoid scary perspectives about cycling in general. The engineers profession, (unless they are working for themselves doing something creative with a huge benefactor support) are hardly glorified professionals in the manufacturing world. And cycling is such an inherently dangerous thing to do on these metropolitan roads that if you have paranoid visions you might as well ride a car.

Poof! puf! puuf!...there, I got it off my chest...puff...man! I am getting too old for this.

Father Triumph, forgive me cutting down your rear fender   

[Saaz]

Interesting comments.  Even though I have not ridden the Trophy more than 4 hours, my impression coming from a Honda ST1100 perspective is that I can actually feel the bike's front end and communicate with it.  It feels very stable but still goes through corners just by thinking - some sort of magic.

I am interested in comments from riders who have ridden 2 up, or solo with camping gear and a weeks worth of travel luggage as to what effect that has.  The ST11 normal has a dead feeling front end, you get used to trusting it, but become light when loaded - a funny feeling as it still feels dead.

[Trumpet]

I don't think the Honda ST is in the same class as the Triumph. The TT has a very phenomenal handling steering...it just happens to travel light at high speed. ..but any bike that you pack the rear with a heavy load is going to feel lighter in the front.

[Chaos]

Guys
All of us so called engineers and enthusiasts alike with enquiring minds will keep trying to improve things  Its in our nature  But when we do these modifications and post the findings we need to pass on the truth.
Trumpet has done exactly that  I believe that Triumph will have tried more settings during development than anyone in the after market world and will have produced the best all around settings for best effects, ware and tare etc
In this case Trumpet tried tested and posted his findings and from what read has condemned this as a waste of money and time " THE TRUTH"

Trumpet I know we've not always seen eye to eye  But your alright by me my friend 
If we all post the truth of our findings instead of shooting SH!T this forum will only get better.

In my opinion if the bike has to be lowered for the rider to touch the ground  "WRONG BIKE DUDE" 

Chaos

[cropbiker]

You are so right chaos....

That is what these forums are at their best for....

sharing information, both good and bad..... no point repeating the same mistake when we can learn from others experience....

I think it was Einstein who said... "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

[Saaz]

That is what I thought might be the case. I just thought that if it feels light at speed and you add a load that it may feel too light.  I suppose I will know when I try it first time.

Originally Posted by Trumpet

I don't think the Honda ST is in the same class as the Triumph. The TT has a very phenomenal handling steering...it just happens to travel light at high speed. ..but any bike that you pack the rear with a heavy load is going to feel lighter in the front.

[Trumpet]

Originally Posted by saaz

That is what I thought might be the case. I just thought that if it feels light at speed and you add a load that it may feel too light.  I suppose I will know when I try it first time.

... and one has to consider that if you are packed really heavy you may want to drive a bit slower and more careful; especially on roads you are unfamiliar with. I havent done it yet,  but I think the TT will travel well 'over the road' (thats truck driver lingo meaning for long trips).  The only thing you may want to watch out for is high winds.  Folks here report buffeting front end in such conditions.