Hello From Winston-salem, North Carolina, Usa

Hi,

I purchased my first ever Triumph a couple of days ago, a 2023 Triumph Tiger 900 GT. Over the years I have only ridden Japanese motorcycles: a few Hondas, a few Suzukis, and a few Kawasakis. With only a couple hundred miles on the odometer so far, I am loving the Tiger 900 GT with one major disappointment: the owner is unable to reset the service reminder without purchase of third party hardware and software. Perhaps I am overly sensitive to corporate entrapment, but I would have seriously reconsidered my purchase if I had foreknowledge of this limitation. It has been 8 years since my last motorcycle purchase, however, so Triumph may not be alone in restricting the owner's fundamental right to repair. I have ordered the DealerTool kit to reset my service reminder once I do my first oil change at 600 miles, so my anger and disappointment are slowly subsiding.

With this disgruntlement aside, I have been overwhelmingly impressed by the performance of the machine. First, the light clutch pull is much appreciated, especially since the majority of my riding is urban commuting these days with the occasional foray into the nearby mountains or a couple of road trips each year. And, speaking of the clutch, this is the first slipper clutch I've ever used. It has been a delight to learn that I don't have to blip the throttle for smooth downshifts.

This has also been my first bike with multiple rider modes. I had the misfortune of being caught in a rainstorm during my commute to work yesterday morning and felt much more confident once I switched to rain mode with its blunted throttle response. On the opposite end, I found that sport mode provides for an invigorating kick in the pants with crisp throttle response and a more aggressive snarl emanating from the exhaust. As for the exhaust, I couldn't be more pleased with the deep rumble that stretches into a snarl as the RPMs climb. As pleasing as this exhaust note is, though, my ears rang that night after riding for an hour on my first day with the bike. I will most certainly need to wear earplugs to protect my hearing if riding more than 15 minutes.

Another awesome feature I have enjoyed so far are the heated handgrips. They get nearly uncomfortabley hot in the highest setting with ambient temperature around 40F (4C). They should work well in below freezing temperatures. And for further warmth, I have already availed myself of one of the 2 electrical connections, an SAE type connector and BMW type connector, to connect an old Aerostich Kanetsu electric vest. For wind protection, I have found the stock windscreen perfect. I stand at 5'9" (1.75m). If I lower the screen one notch below its highest setting, I get no uncomfortable buffeting and can ride with my helmet face shield up at 60mph. Lastly, the suspension has been impressive thus far. At my weight of 140 lbs (63.5 kg), I have found the suspension confidence inspiring in the corners and controllably soaks up rough pavement. Enhancing the impressive suspension is a low center of gravity, especially for an ADV style bike, that make technical low speed maneuvers easy.

I look forward to hearing about others' experiences with Triumphs and the Tiger 900 GT in particular. Keep your knees in the breeze and be safe.

Cheers!
Donovan