Triumph Tiger 955i Service Manual (2001)

Triumph revived the Tiger name in 1993 with an 885 cc triple-cylinder adventure-style motorcycle developed by the modern Hinckley factory. The first T400 Tiger combined long-travel suspension, upright ergonomics and road-touring equipment with a distinctive British three-cylinder engine. In 1999 Triumph introduced the T709 generation, replacing the carburetors with electronic fuel injection and updating the motorcycle's bodywork and chassis. This 885 cc fuel-injected Tiger provided the direct foundation for the next version, which arrived for the 2001 model year. The series reflected the growing appeal of tall, versatile road motorcycles that could handle commuting, long-distance touring and imperfect road surfaces without adopting the dimensions or performance focus of a pure superbike.

The 2001 Tiger 955i marked a significant mechanical development: Triumph enlarged the liquid-cooled, dual-overhead-camshaft inline-three engine to 955 cc while retaining the basic T709 concept. The revised engine, derived from Triumph's larger-capacity triple family and tuned for broad usable torque, had a 79.0 mm bore and 65.0 mm stroke and used sequential electronic fuel injection. The taller riding position, 19-inch front wheel, steel perimeter frame and large fuel tank made the motorcycle suitable for touring and varied road conditions. The suspension had generous travel and the rear monoshock allowed adjustments for additional luggage or a passenger. Period testing praised the engine's smooth, flexible delivery while noting that the Tiger was heavier and more road-oriented than a purpose-built off-road motorcycle. Motorcycle News's model review describes this generation and its distinctive riding character.

From 2002 through 2004 the Tiger remained closely associated with its tall, long-distance all-rounder design. The 955 cc fuel-injected triple, six-speed transmission, chain drive and cable-operated wet clutch continued to provide a combination of open-road acceleration and everyday practicality. Triumph supplied accessories such as panniers and top boxes for touring, while the wire-spoked wheels and longer suspension travel preserved the model's adventure-touring appearance. The Tiger's distinctive character came from combining this chassis arrangement with a relatively powerful British three-cylinder adventure-touring motorcycle engine rather than the twin-cylinder engines common among its rivals. Alterations were made over successive production years, but the 2001 model's central layout remained recognizable throughout the early part of the decade.

A more visible modernization arrived for the 2005 model year. Triumph adopted cast aluminium 14-spoke wheels in place of the earlier wire-spoked arrangement and introduced a revised swingarm with a conventional chain-adjustment layout. Front-fork springs and other equipment were updated, and the center stand, heated grips and luggage-oriented features increasingly emphasized the Tiger's practical road-touring identity. These revisions distinguished the final years from the earliest 2001 machines, particularly in chassis-related service work. Contemporary and retrospective reporting, including Classic Motorcycle Mechanics' 2001–2005 Tiger review, records the evolution of the wheels, suspension and equipment. The 2005 and 2006 motorcycles therefore belong to the same model family but should not be assumed mechanically identical in every detail to the first production year.

The Tiger 955i generation ended after 2006, and the Tiger 1050 introduced for 2007 adopted a more overtly road-focused design with new wheels, chassis proportions and engine capacity. Triumph subsequently expanded the Tiger name into several families, including the Tiger 800, Tiger 900 and Tiger 1200, serving different balances of sport touring and adventure travel. In that broader lineage, the 2001 Tiger 955i represented the transition from the earlier 885 cc Tiger to a stronger and more refined triple-cylinder road-adventure machine. Its engine character, upright comfort and long-distance ability helped establish features that later Triumph Tigers would continue to develop. Other publications can be found in the Triumph service manual catalog.