Triumphrat

Bushwhacker · 10-09-2006

Well the BRG 2005 Tiger is gone and I went to the Dealer this past Saturday and ordered (put a deposit down) on a New 2007 Caspian Blue ABS version Tiger to be delivered in March 2007.

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Bushwhacker · 10-09-2006

Why did I decide the 2007 Tiger was the bike for me?

I rode cruisers for a number of years and then in June 2004, 2 friends and I flew into Anchorage and rented KLR's for a 5000 mile 17 day loop around Alaska and Canada. The trip included several hundred miles of "construction" and dirt/gravel roads.

All the way down to Baanf, up to Dawson Creek, the Full length of the AlCan, up to the Arctic Circle and back to Anchorage.

The one thing I noticed was that even after several 300-400 mile days in a row I had very little lower back or joint pain.

I decided this was attributable to the softer, longer travel dual sport suspension over the cruiser suspension I was used to. When I got home, I immediately started looking at "big trailies" and chose the 2005 Tiger, bought in August 2004.

Over the next 18 months I put about 14k on the Tiger (I have a TBird Sport for around town and short weekends).

On dirt/gravel roads the bike did just fine, but the one time I took it on anything remotely technical (15-20 miles of steep sandy hills, rock strewn deep creek beds and huge bedrock sticking up in the middle of the road) it was murder. I made it thru without a drop but with my limited dirt skills it was just tough and not enjoyable at all.

This past July I bought a 2004 Multistrada and found it ran and handled much better on the road and even with the Conti Road Attack's I had on it, it handled limited dirt/gravel roads just fine.

Unfortunately, September 11, when a camper cut me off about 30 miles north of the Grand Canyon I ended up totaling the Multi.

Now in the market for another bike I have decided that the 2007 Tiger fits the bill.

I expect the bike to be everything I need it to be!

I think it is going to be marketed to compete directly with the Ulysses and the Multistrada and will do very well in this market.

And for those who wish to take it off pavement, just change the tires to a set of Pirelli Scorpians and it will be about as dirt worthy as the current model.

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eldiii · 10-10-2006

But it still is not a Tiger! Triumph just should have killed off the Tiger and came up with a new name (T-Strom comes to mind) to go with their new motorcycle and that would have been the end of the discussion.

Aussiebikerdave · 10-10-2006

Thats a little unkind Eldii even though the Suzuki has a damed fine motor. My guess is that the new Tiger will show a clean pair of heels on paved surfaces to anything else one might wish to compare it to (TDMs, Useless's, V-Stroms and mag wheeled GS's) and will still handle an easy dirt road in the dry. I ordered one as well... to go with the Rocket and Speedmaster although I must confess, we own a motorcycle rental company so the new Tiger will join the fleet... when I'm not out there riding it that is! Davo

Bushwhacker · 10-10-2006

Quote:

On 2006-10-10 06:29, eldiii wrote:
But it still is not a Tiger! Triumph just should have killed off the Tiger and came up with a new name (T-Strom comes to mind) to go with their new motorcycle and that would have been the end of the discussion.

First, it is a Tiger because Triumph said so and they get to make that decision.

Second, I do not understand why people insist on comparing it to the V-Strom which it is nothing like.

The Strom does not have 17 inch wheels front and rear, it has a 19 inch front and a 17 rear with a dinky 150/70R17 tire while the new Tiger has a beefy 180/55ZR17 rear.

The Tiger is

-20 lbs lighter
-Has 15 more ponies
-Triple engine
-Substantially quicker steering geometry
-Slightly shorter wheel base,
-Quite a bit shorter overall
-Better suspension
-Better brakes
-and on and on and on

It is much more comparable to the Ducati Multistrada than the Suzuki VStrom.

l :-D

bareyb · 10-10-2006

I'm not getting the Vstrom comparisons either. I feel the new Tiger is in a class by itself. It's got the long travel suspension like a Vstrom but really looks more like a naked street fighter ala the Yamaha FZ-1 or Kawasaki Z750. So while it's got some long travel suspension like a Vstrom, I think the styling is much cleaner, it has a much better engine, and it's a Triumph.

I will stick my neck out and say that this type of bike is the future. I think we are seeing what will eventually become the new "standard". The SUV of bikes if you will. I predict Triumph will sell the hell out of the new Tiger and that other companies will respond in kind. It's the ADV for the rest of us. People with 32 inch inseam or less who have no intention of riding in the mud. Don't get me wrong, I love my Sprint ST, but this Tiger has potential.

Dave_S · 10-10-2006

Here's a pic of all three inline - judge for yourselves:
'07 Tiger

'07 Vstrom

'07 FZ1

[ This message was edited by: Dave_S on 2006-10-11 02:43 ]

Dave_S · 10-10-2006

Personally I like the new Tiger. When I bought the T100 last year, I was agonizing over the VStrom, Kawa Z750S or the T100 Bonnie. I went with the Bonnie due to the originality and the great looks. Wonder what kind of trade in I can get on a lightly used '06 T100? I certainly would get more use out of the Tiger.

tyrebyter · 10-10-2006

You're absolutely right; it's not a Tiger. A Tiger is an air-cooled 650 vertical twin with a single Amal carb. Get a grip. If Ford says it's a Mustang, it's a Mustang. They own the name... and it is just a name. When I saw the first Steamer in '95, I too had the "it's not a Tiger" reaction. Not a bad thing, this new Tiger. A focused design aimed at a particular market. Now it's more focused with a more integrated, finished look. When I look at the '07 Tiger I see four piston radial brakes, proper road wheel sizes, an alloy frame and lighter body parts. I think some folks are getting derailed by styling cues. This new beast is the sum of its parts and the design that brought them together. The emotional component for me is the anticipation of ride and the satisfaction of not giving my money to the J.A.Pan corporation. Hail Triumph! Keep the new designs coming!

eldiii · 10-10-2006

Sorry guys, I'm not drinking the Kool-Aide; don't get me wrong, it looks to be a great bike (it's a Triumph!) but I believe that this Tiger will appeal to a completely different class of riders (than those attracted to the previous Tigers) and my gut reaction based on the specs is that this bike has completely moved away from a utilitarian go just about anywhere touring motorcycle to a street performance bike with motard styling. Yep, Triumph will probably sell lots of them; but like I said previously, giving it another name would have cleared up the misconceptions of the element this new motorcycle lives in (100% street bike).