Transalp or tiger? - Horizons Unlimited

#1 6 Jul 2000

OK As my question below suggests I am planning to buy a new Transalp in the Uk with the view of attempting a RTW in about a year. BUT yesterday i saw a 1999 Triumph Tiger for sale for £5700. I have no idea about this bike but it looked lovely! Would a Tiger be any good for a RTW, is it too big and clumsy, what about maintainance ( the Transalp is very reliable and thats one of the things I love about it) ??? Is %5700 a good price.
I really have to make my mind up this weekend so any advice would be most welcome.

Thanks

**brclarke** · #2 6 Jul 2000

If you look further down on this same page, you'll see a guy asking about riding a new Tiger.

I'm sure you could ride around the world on this or just about any other motorcycle - it's just that the less "dirt-oriented" the bike is the more fussy you'll have to be about the roads you pick to ride.

I think there would be two caveats with the Tiger: (a) availability of Triumph parts and service compared to other brands of bike
and (b) attractiveness to curious onlookers/cops/border officials/thieves. Having a shiny new unusual motorcycle may get you more attention than you really want. Folks are a lot more likely to ignore a bike that's a bit on the ratty side.

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Bruce Clarke
brclarke@islandnet.com
www.islandnet.com/~brclarke

#3 7 Jul 2000

Buy a Transalp,a proven bike that has done serious overland trips,good spares etc,Why don"t you hire each of the bikes for two days to give you more idea befor you make
your purchase.

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#4 8 Jul 2000

Thanks for the info. Will get a Transalp!!

**Mik** · #5 10 Jul 2000

Probably the safest bet. I own a '93 Tiger (old Hinkley shape) and while it's an excellent bike you would be restricted more on where you could take it thanks to it's bulk. The newer tigers (I assume the '99 was a bug eyed one) have a lot more fragile looking bits on them and aren't as proven mechanically...