Triumphrat

Psycho_uk · 09-24-2009, 05:27 PM

Hi,

A mate and I are looking to bike it down to the South of France next year I'm thinking my Daytona 955i is proably not the bike to do it on - especially when I'm 5'8" as it may be bit of a back breaker.

However, my mate has a BMW K1200RS and I'm thinking of getting a similar type of bike for the trip. This is where my dilema starts.....which one???

I like Triumph and therefore like the Tiger, but there are other bikes on the market that can do the same job. Is the Tiger the best bike for the job, or would I be better off looking at something else??

I realise that this is the TIGER board, but an unbiased view would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Simon

Medic09 · 09-24-2009, 06:13 PM

Hi Simon,

First off, don't be so sure the Daytona isn't suited - though only you can know. I've ridden around the West here in the USA on my Sprint very happily. Granted, I'm a bit more upright; but you can probably add risers pretty easily.

As for the Tiger. I have an older one, and I can't imagine any trip that it can't handle. I've only had it a week, but I'm very impressed. It is a tall bike, so you have to be okay with that. I am about 5'7" or so, with a short 30" inseam. For now, I've had to be willing to forgo flatfooting the bike at stops with both feet. I'm working on changing that. I understand the 1050s are actually easier to shorten.

Lastly, the Triumph triples all have a special character; but you already know that.

Edit: I would point out, btw, that your inseam is more important than your total height. My wife is shorter than I, but has a longer inseam. As a result, she is as comfortable or more so than I on these tall bikes.

Arrybash · 09-24-2009, 07:07 PM

A 955i tiger would handle such a trip perfectly. You could easily do a tank full without stopping (around 180 miles) and you wouldn't feel wrecked.

However I have since traded the 955i in for a BMW GS1200 Adventure. It has a tank range of around 400 miles. I did 1400 miles in 5 days (Chester to Les Sables D'Olonne and back).

Most I did was 400 miles in a day, and both you and the back can handle it with ease (and there is no wind buffeting like the tiger).

If you are looking for something to do lots of miles its hard to beat the BMW1200GSA, but the tiger comes a close second.

Chris

n4naked · 09-24-2009, 08:10 PM

i'm relatively new to biking and the tiger was my first bike (except for a yamaha xj600n which i rode for a couple of months for experience) so i can't comment on other bikes but i rode my tiger to france and back and can honestly say that i had less discomfort than i had in a car doing the same journey....it's just immense....but maybe other bikes are immenser

JasonS · 09-24-2009, 10:26 PM

I have 16000 mile son my 06 Tiger in the last 16 months, with 10k of that since April, having ridden 8k fully loaded with tank panniers etc etc.. the bike performed brilliantly and still does. ...

For Interstate blasting the Tiger is not the best, no matter what you do.. too much turbulence and buffeting from the wind blast of other traffic... mind you the Daytona isn't going to like it either and I am not saying this is a negative, I am just saying. Consider your expectation of comfort and wind protection vs intended roads... on less that Big highways, then the tiger excels in my book.

Your riding height will hopefully be an advantage to getting smooth air that use taller folk have such trouble getting.

Find some one with a Tiger to try out. Get out their and do 70 mph and see how it feels for you.

There is also something to be said for moving to a bike that you already know... in that the Tiger is just a taller Daytona, and much of the feel and soul of the bike is the same. The Tiger is more a a "buick" than a corvette.... just saying...

oh and put engine bars on it.. period

Have a great trip... let us know what you end up taking.

Psycho_uk · 09-30-2009, 07:22 AM

Thanks for the replies.

I'm still looking around for the 'right' bike, but I think I'll be going for the Tiger - providing I can get a decent one for the right money.

PeteH · 09-30-2009, 07:13 PM

Psycho, check out the classifieds for the 08 Tiger, you wont find a better looked after bike.
Plus, five of group ride the 1050 and all love it, four of em did France and Spain last year with no complaints.

winger · 10-01-2009, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho_uk

Hi,

A mate and I are looking to bike it down to the South of France next year I'm thinking my Daytona 955i is proably not the bike to do it on - especially when I'm 5'8" as it may be bit of a back breaker.

However, my mate has a BMW K1200RS and I'm thinking of getting a similar type of bike for the trip. This is where my dilema starts.....which one???

I like Triumph and therefore like the Tiger, but there are other bikes on the market that can do the same job. Is the Tiger the best bike for the job, or would I be better off looking at something else??

I realise that this is the TIGER board, but an unbiased view would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Simon

Well here's my two peneeth,mid nineties i (we) ran an FJ1200 and at my wifes insistance we bought an Africa twin,that then went to an 885 Tiger which went to a 955 in 2001,we still have it,it's had a couple of changes of wheels,brakes and suspension,and for covering ground on there's just nothing better,which includes doing Barcelona/Birmingham(1050 miles) in 16 hours and that include the ferry crossing(1.1/2h),and i (we) have never suffered from buffeting,it'll cruise at 100 plus,or scratch over the Alps with it's 17" front wheel with any sports bike out there,and thats two up with a pile of kit.

Now in isolation the above means nothing,but we also own an BMW1100s with as many mods as the Tiger,a K1200r Sport and an XT660X,so i'm not saying it because it's the only bike we have,BUT we do the same trips across europe on any of the others ( and have done) but the Tiger does them better and easier.

zebulonsmith · 10-01-2009, 08:26 PM

I've ridden more than my fair share of bikes and my 955i has to be the best all around motorcycle I've ever sat on. I can heap it with camping gear for my wife and I for long trips, or leave the luggage at home and give any sportbike on the road a run for it's money. Truly the motorcycle to own if you could only have one.

miker · 10-01-2009, 11:01 PM

Phsycho, only you will be able to answer that question in the end.

On paper, the Tiger stacks up well in the performance and weight stakes. It is more powerful and lighter (by the weight of a small child) than the BMW.

In reality though, only you will be able to work it out after you sit on both, ride both and work out which one speaks to you.

Don't get xxxx bike, just because others have one, get it because it's right for you. You have to live with it.

I have a mate who's not buying a Tiger, simply for two reasons. Two of us already have them, and he's a little too short at 5'6" to actually benefit from the lowering options for the 955. He doesn't like the 1050 because it's not as adventure friendly. He'll probably end up with a Strom or a Scram....

Hows that for an un-biased opinion?

Mick