Triumph Tiger

**Markiza** · #1 30th August 2001

Is anybody fimiliar with this bike. I'm planing on buying this bike for two up. I would use it in US and Europe. How does it compare to BMW 1150GS. $5000 price difference would buy a lot of traveling.
Thank You for any advice.

**geoff.walton** · #2 30th August 2001

Suggest you checkout this website for info on long distance by Tiger.
http://www.rocinantestravels.com/

What age bike are you looking for as the older Tigers are Mikuni carbs whereas the newer ones are the updated engine with injection. Also the latest ones have a bit more power. Are you intent on doing any serious off road riding

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**Markiza** · #3 30th August 2001

I was thinking about 2001 Tiger 955i. If it comes to off road riding it would be limited by the bikes weight and my passanger.

**dagjen** · #4 3rd September 2001

The 2001 Tiger has got some improved things with it, compared to the 98 I traveled on. The air inlet is no longer above the rear wheel, and you can take out the filter without removing the #!#$ carburettors (I'm very good at this by now). Of course, in some manners it's a overkill to buy this bike for world travel, since you would get a lot more on your travel budget buying a cheaper, used Africa Twin for example.

I'm sure the new Tiger is a hell of a bike though, but there is one BUT. BMW and Honda make bikes that have been used over the years by overlanders, hence improved and improved again. They are not fault free, by no means, but most expected faults can be investigated and prepared for in advance. With a new bike like the 105hp Tiger, you will be the guinea pig if you go transcontinental. (But you'll have fun...)

Just some objective thoughts from a Triumph-addict

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Dag
http://RocinantesTravels.com

**Jordi** · #5 7th December 2001

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Markiza:
I was thinking about 2001 Tiger 955i. If it comes to off road riding it would be limited by the bikes weight and my passanger.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Some thoughts about the 2001 955i: I bought the bike just recently, and sofar travelled about 10.000ks with it. 5.000ks loaded up and a passenger. Our trip took us to Galicia, nothern Spain, no offroad and just a little bit of unpaved roads. As it is with all the modern bikes, as long as you stay to modern countries with modern road side help and a dealership network in that country I would not have any doubts in using a bike like the Tiger. It is a different story of course looking at other places in the world. When a friend of mine fell with his GS 1150 in Marrocco and the valve cover was leaking oil even there out in the nowhere we had been able to find somebody to repair it. Thanks god we didn´t use the magnesium covers but the regular aluminum. As a consequenz I´d say if you like the tiger and feel comfortable and safe on it, you can easely use it for a trip through the states and Europe. So for besides Marrocco I don´t have more travelling expiriences to tell you. But if you respect the limitations of that bike plus the will to get things fixed in case they brake there will be a way.

I´m amazed that the Tiger is that much cheaper than the Beemer. Dissadvantage of the Tiger: no centerstand, clutch cable broke after 6000ks, but is now replaced on thriumphs expenses by a better one, still questionable. The GS uses tons of oil, still after more than 20.000ks you need to refill it everyday, Tiger no oil in 10.000ks. When a GS falls over: mostly no damages, especially with guards around heads, Tiger: handle bar bend, levers broken, footpegs always in danger of being broken off. It is to me still unclear if there is software available to run the both injections on low octane gas. I chose the Tiger because after having ridden Beemers for a long time I was bored and sick of the vibrations and the turbulences behind the GS wind shield, the Tiger engine is a lot more comfortable for long distances. So far, in case you have more questions, I happy to help you if I can Jordi

**Macca** · #6 8th May 2002

While we are on the subject of 'Tigers', is there an after-market manufacturer, ie Touratech et-al, who do aluminium panniers (not those Triumph ones which look a bit naff), bigger tank?

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Macca
Without adventure life is in full decay.

**redseca2** · #7 28th September 2002

One important consideration when selecting a motorcycle for long distance travel is the degree of availability of parts for repairs. Although you cannot expect to find stocked parts for motorcycles in much of the world, you can usually find a way to coomunicate with some one who will eventually get the needed parts to you. This doesn't seem to be the case with Triumphs. Even in motorcycle-friendly San Francisco, where I live, with 6 Triumph dealers within 100 km, Tiger owners often have to wait many months for parts to arrive. Triumph makes excellent motorcycles in all classes. But the depth of their "infrastructure" as a sole-owned private company is third-world compared to something like BMW.

**Macca** · #8 4th November 2002

Well, I take possesion of the Tiger on Wednesday (6/10/02). I chose the Tiger after doing as much research as one can do without making it a lifes ambition.

I was all set on the 'Beemer' and yes money did play a factor AUD$5000 (US$2500)difference, but the Tiger felt 'right' for me (176cm), I know it will be hard to get after market add-on's (I'm going to make my own aluminium panniers).

I'm planning to tour around Oz (Australia), mainly the deserts, as to get the feel and find the strenghts and weakness's of the bike before tackling Africa.

If you want I can keep you posted on events, anyroad cheers & beers.

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Macca & Lynda
Without adventure life is in full decay.

[This message has been edited by Macca (edited 04 November 2002).]