Triumph Tiger 900 for touring?

Hi there,

I'm considering to buy a Triumph Tiger 900 to my next motorbike, and
I would like to ask your opinions about this.

I have had a naked bike (Kawasaki W650) for four years now. It's my
first bike and I bought an easy drivable bike because I didn't have
any idea what I really wanted. Now after four years and 40 000 km I
know much better what I want.

I want a reliable, more powerful and allroad capable touring machine
for long tours. It should fullfill the following requirements:

- full day at 160 km/h on autobahns
- several days on tiny dirt roads
- easy to handle on alpine roads
- carrying quite a lot of gear for several weeks/months (incl. camping,
fishing equipment etc.)
- reliable technology
- easy to maintenance
- low vibrate engine
- inexpensive to buy. (From 1990-1998, because our high taxes)
- and I have no intention to go around the globe, but to adventure only
in the western world.

I'm not very tall (175cm) and I think I need to lower the suspension
and reshape the saddle for me. I would also be interested in changing
the front wheel to 21", because a little better dirt road capability
and a larger sortiment of enduro tyres. Any opinions how 21" front
wheel would effect on high speed (160 km/h) or curve behavior?

I'm asking for your opinion, because Tiger is very rare bike in
Finland. Secondly the magazine tests that I have read, are very sport
bike orientated and they have really no opinion about its reliability
or suitability for a touring machine. They all seem to praise for GS,
and I don't understand why.

I woud be grateful, if anyone who have/has had a Tiger, would give me
his opinion about its suitability to my purposes? Or should I go for GS
or some other bike?

Kindly,

Markku Kalima
Tampere, Finland

 

A Tiger's perfect for all those.

All the 'big trailie' tyres are available in 19". Proper enduro tyres
will last about 20 feet on something as heavy as a Tiger. Stick with
the 19".

Advertising revenue.

Go for a Tiger. The pre-99 carb models (T4) are arguably better
off-road than the later T7s. The suspension has been stiffened over the
years, making them better on fast bends, but less suited to rough
tracks.

Avoid the '98 model year with the Keihin carbs if you want to start
playing with filters & pipes (all previous years had Mikunis).

Everything you ever wanted to know about Tigers can be found on the
Yahoo Tiger group - http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/TriumphTiger/

A Finnish Tiger site - http://www.phnet.fi/public/teli/tiger/

Lots of pre-99 info on
http://www.eighteleven.org.uk/Bikes/Tiger/bikes/tiger2.htm

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

FOYRNB

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

On 14 Feb 2006 06:58:30 -0800, wrote:
snip>

I've never owned a Tiger but everyone I've spoken to who's ridden them
rate them highly.

If you want a selection of tests on older models try this site and
follow the obvious links. Going to the Triumph section then scroll
down to 1998 gives a long term test on the bike.

http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/clasqm/

I know a lot of it's merkin or bokker bullshit but it might help.

 

I rode a Tiger and a V-Strom before buying a R1150GS. To be honest
a GS with a set of TKC80 knobbly tyres is pretty much a go-anywhere
machine and it a comfortable tourer with huge luggage carrying capacity
- although I wouldn't want to pay the tyre bill for sustained high speed
touring on the TKCs. If you want to do that then a good compromise between
offroad/onroad ability and longevity is Heidenau tyres.

At 175cm (5'9") you are hardly a shortarse and a GS either with the
standard seat in the low position or the lowered seat is an easy
machine for someone of your (reduced) stature.

Go for the GS YKIMS!

Mikey

 

Yup - the only reason I sold mine was my back and neck weren't getting any
better, so I decided to have a change.
--

Cheers!
Fr Jack
B12S (The Red Mist), CB450DX (The Moped)
FRJACKUKRM AT GMAIL DOT COM
Red death, to set you free

 

Paging PAUL MOORE.

Look how helpful people are when you ask a question sensibly, about the
Triumph Tiger, and don't start toy-flinging and uninformed, gratuitous
insult at the first opportunity. Toy-flinging is never appreciated, while
uninformed, gratuitous insult should be resisted until the second week of
'acceptance'.

Plus, Markku writes better English than you.

 

Aye, agreed. It would be a change if he'd been getting somebody else's
knickers in a twist.

 

Harsh.

 

Yes do it. A bit heavy if it goes wrong off-road.

 

Thank you for all of your replies, and useful links.

I have test rode BMW 1150R, and 1100S models, but not the GS models. In
both cases, I didn't like the roughness of the engine, althougt I did
like the torque. How is the nature of the Tiger's engine compared to
the BMW boxer?

And of course it would be the best to go and test ride by myself, but
unfortunately we do have too much ice and snow on the roads at this
time of the year. (http://www.phnet.fi/public/teli/tiger/kevat.htm) And
I do not believe, that the test ride would tell me everything. Many
features of the bike can be modified (saddle, suspension, windscreen
etc.) and many you get used to during the time. Also test ride don't
tell anything of the durability of the bike.

Can you specify what is the real difference, if the Tiger is also
equipped with TKC 80 tires and for example Touratech aluminium pannier
set ?

What is it, that makes GS so superior? Is it the nature of the engine,
the low centre or gravity, suspension, saddle, or just the reputation
of globe traveller? For example Tiger do have 45mm longer front
suspension, which at least in theory, should be better on rough
terrain.

An important aspect for me is also, that Tiger looks more classic, and
GS looks too technical. But that of course is just a matter of taste.

Markku

 

[/QUOTE]

But justified.

 

The only disadvantage with the Tiger is that they are very top-heavy.
Having ridden thousands of miles off-road on an R80-GS, the
disadvantage with them is deep ruts can be like a bobsleigh run, with
the cylinder heads bouncing off the sides. Once they get *too* deep,
you end up with a cylinder head resting on each side of the rut, & the
wheels dangling in the air.

The upside with those cylinders is the BMs are a lot easier to pick up
when you fall off, as the bike is still partially upright when the
cylinder head hits the ground. However if you drop it downhill so it's
resting on the cylinder head & bars, with the wheels in the air, you
won't lift it on your own.

Actually there is another disadvantage with the Tiger off-road - you
have to remove the carbs to get the air filter out. Not a problem for
normal use, but if you plan on doing a lot of off-roading in very dusty
conditions, it could be a real pain in the arse. Using filter skins
over the airbox inlet helps a lot though.

One thing to check carefully when looking at used Tigers. If the
starter motor briefly stalls with a metallic clonking sound when
turning over, either walk away, or make sure you've got a spare 1000
Euros lying around to replace the sprag (starter) clutch. They're a
known weakpoint, & likely to fail at some point if they haven't been
fitted with the upgraded parts.

The very early models have a rectangular access plate on top of the
crankcase under the carbs, which makes sprag replacement a lot easier
(& cheaper). If you haven't got that plate, it's an engine out & major
stripdown to replace it.

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Krusty

FOYPNB, Shirley?

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - There are few things in life more sinister than a
public toilet with the lid closed.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
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Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

I can only add my own very biased opinion. Get an early 955i model and
lower the suspension by reversing the rear wheel and lowering the
forks. Shorten the side stand and its a much lower bike. I have an 03
bike and really rate it. It takes a little getting used to. I have
every thing on the highest setting as I am well over 6 ft. but for
full info visit the triumph rat website on
http://www.triumphrat.net

Oh, and be prepared to be mobbed where ever you stop.