|
I am given to understand last year, that 400 Tigers were sold in the U.S.. Not exactly a hot item, over here. (A prefered one for me, however.)
If I were you, I'd check out the '06 and '07 while both are on the showroom floor. Chances are you may still be able to find an '06, come Spring, but that might not be the case. If you prefer the '06 over the '07 (and if you're looking to carry your wife with you all the time, I would imagine you'd want the '06), waiting until Spring might make it a bit hard to find.
I can tell you a little about Tigers and passengers, though. An '06 has a big, comfortable seat. It's a little wide for short girls, though - I'm told it cuts into the inner thigh. It's also windy, so you might want to check out some aftermarket screen (taller or shorter, is up to you - various proponents claim advantage to either). It's a torquy bike, so your passenger is probably going to prefer a backrest or topbox behind her, to feel secure. It's kind of tall for most girls to climb aboard (just a tip, because there's not much you can do about that, unless you want your bike lowered).
It doesn't mind carrying an added passenger, but you'll know you've got one. It's perfectly stable with a passenger, but I notice I feel them moving more than on some other bikes (kids should learn to be still). A lot of owners have upgraded their suspension. After 11,000miles, hauling kids and wife and junk, I notice extra weight a lot more than when my bike was new. A better rear shock might be worth considering.
Brakes and power aren't a problem - plenty of both for double-duty.
I'd rate the Tiger a medium+ for hauling girls around. Nowhere near as comfortable as a fully-dressed tourer, better than your average sport tourer, and more comfortable than most cruiser/tourers. It's got loads of room for passengers, but you'll have to look to the aftermarket for amenities like a stereoDVDlightedbeautymirror, ect.. These things don't matter to me, but you'd be surprised what girls will complain about.
Truth is, my wife (5'2") isn't real crazy about long trips on my Tiger. She has problems seeing around me. My daughter, who is taller, finds it more comfortable. The little boys - well, who cares what they think, anyway? All they're interested in is how fast it goes. So, no complaints, there.
Best of luck, whatever you decide.
|