Triumphrat

11-10-2005

I own a BMW K1200LT and we have a great site devoted to that bike. I am glad to see the tiger has a great site also to get information from. The Tiger is top on my shopping list followed by the VSTROM 650 or 1000. I recently sold my KLR650 and it was a great bike but needed a little more on top when needing to get from point A to B. I am ready to move up to a bigger dual sport that is more highway capable than the KLR was but not giving away too much offroad. I enjoy downloading area maps into the GPS and exploring. The BMW R1200GS and KTM Adventure is out of consideration financially as in the Caponorde. Plus there is no Aprilla dealer anywhere near me. I do however question the 3 bikes as to there offroad prowess. All the mags indicate that dirt roads are fine but that is the extent of their
capabilities. I never do any really rough stuff but I do truly ride my dual sport about 40% of the time off road. In Summer of 2007 me and a couple of buddies are going to ride to Alaska via the Alcan to Prudoe Bay and my choosen dual sport will have to be able to handle that ride. The biggest concern I see is the lack of crash guards for the under side of these bikes. The exhuast collector on the tiger still seems very vunerable after guards from twisted throttle and/or touratech would be installed. On the VSTROM seems the same thing as the oil cooler is still there begging to be smashed. SO with all that said any of you folks feel free to speak now about your knowledge of offroading on these bikes. Thanks in advance and good to be a member here too P.S. can the stator on a Tiger handle Gerbing Jacket liner, gloves, socks, and heated grips???

[ This message was edited by: onesaintsfan on 2005-11-10 01:05 ]

tyrebyter · 11-10-2005

I pounded around dirt roads in the mountains here last weekend on my Tiger and reached the following conclusion: it's not a dirtbike, it's a two wheeled truck. That's not meant as an insult, just catagorization. In fact, with the weekend excursion, I finally get the "adventure tour" thing. The Tiger will go where my Toyota 4X4 will go (dry, anyway). I bought the Tiger to take my kid to Alaska next summer and now I'm feeling pretty good about it.

11-10-2005

No bike with a 19" front wheel and even Tourance tyres will be good off road, you need a 21" front and TKC 80's.

NONE of the bikes you suggest have ANY off road capability at all, you'll be fine on gravel roads, forest tracks and sand but that's it, fit TKC80's and it will be better but tyre life will be about 4000 miles on a rear.

I have an R1150 GS and it has zero off road capability.

Touratech do engine bars, sump guards, radiator guards etc for the Tiger and Vstrom, the Caponord is arguably the best option at present, but if your schedule is not time sensitive Triumph are in the process of redsigning the Tiger and it may well be equipped with the 1050 motor, now that would beat all the opposition, roll on 2007.

I'm keeping my options open in this regard and will change my BMW for a Tiger or Capo in 2007. :-D

pigpen955 · 11-10-2005

Hi-

I own both a Tiger and vStrom 650. I have done very limited off-roading on the Tiger and found it to be a handful but never went down...well,once but I was standing still so I am not sure if it counts. I would never take the vStrom off road, alloy wheels and seems too stiffly spring to me.

If you really want 40% off-road I don't think either bike is right...BMW F650 in Dakar trim???

I like both the Tiger and the vStrom otherwise. I use the vStrom for my daily 12.5 mile commute and the Tiger for nearly everything else including very long tours. I have other postings with more detailed comparisons but feel free to ask any other question you may have.

By the way, I think the Tiger would have no trouble with the electric gear you mention.

Cheers,
Fred

whoa · 11-10-2005

Quote:

BMW F650 in Dakar trim???

I like both the Tiger and the vStrom otherwise.

Completely agree on the Dakar. Very smart looking bike just begging to get nasty.

Have never been on the vStrom, but those I know who own them are very happy. Plenty of good bikes, fortunately for us.

blacktiger · 11-12-2005

The Tiger is fine for dirt tracks/roads and even moderate rutted tracks so long as it's dry.

Really it's down to tyres and the weight of the thing. You could fit ContinentalTCK80's for the trip to Alaska they would give plenty of traction in the dirty stuff and they grip surprisingly well on the sealed roads. You have to get used to the feel of the tread moving about though. I always discribed it as "like riding a lilo on a rough sea".

As for protection. Touratech do all the stuff you'll need. Crash bars, radiator and oil cooler guards.