Triumphrat

09-19-2005, 03:57 PM

Hi Guys you have a great site here. Been lurking for a little while and reading some of the old threads.

Been riding a while but haven't had a dirt or dual sport in a long time. Looks like what was a new dual sport when I was growning up is coming back this year as a new model.

I have looked at just about everything out there and for the money it looks like the Tiger is the best deal going. I am 6' 4" so the the size is not a problem for me. What I want is bike I can ride in the mountains and take on dirt, gravel and fire roads. Not looking for hard core dirt bike, to old for that.

It looks like there has been some changes made in 05 and they say it not a dual sport and all the reviews say its not for dirt. Now it may not be a single track bike but surely it will handle some water, little sand and light ruts in the road. I know some here don't take them off road but how may ride them off road.

Just how much fork travel did they take out and does any one know how it was done. I know the rake and trail was changed but lite off road use shouldn't make a real difference would it? Really like the looks of the wire wheels sure wish they had come out with a tubeless wire option instead of just dropping them. I guess you could pick up a set used and mount some TKC80 :hihi: . Have ridden my Road King and my GL1800 off road and a 900 lb Goldwing is just not fun in the dirt.

I know this is a lot for the first post but I got the FEVER bad.

POP

pigpen955 · 09-19-2005, 04:26 PM

Find a nice used one. Save yourself some monet for the engine guards, etc.

Fred

Diego · 09-19-2005, 06:52 PM

Yes, they took out a little travel, but I can tell you that the demo machine at my nearest dealer has been over some of our nearby rural dirt roads (which are almost not roads at all) with excellent results. The guy riding it parted ways with us to take "the road less travelled" and still showed up at the designated meeting point moments after the rest of us who stayed on the main road, all smiles.

I've never been really fond of the Tiger's stock tires on sand, but it's fine on everything else.

Of course, pigpen makes a good point too if really rough surfaces are likely to be in your future.

09-19-2005, 08:02 PM

I have been looking for a good 01 to 04 in Black. If I can find a good deal this is the way I think I will go.

POP