My Third Tiger

Discussion in 'Newbies Hangout' started by datuk, May 17, 2017.

  1. datuk

    datuk New Member

    Mar 16, 2017
    4
    3
    London
    Hi Everybody,

    Just joined the forum having recently bought a Triumph Tiger 800 - 54 years after I sold my last Tiger - a 110.

    I have been riding BMW GS Adventures for the last few years but decided that I wanted a lighter bike that could do more or less the same things as the Beemers (mainly on-road touring) and I think I have found it in the Tiger 800 XRT which came with an offer of the luggage which I took and then added a topbox. Normally I prefer to ride without any of this but on trips abroad, it all gets mounted.

    Thus far, I have installed a Madstad screen, a satnav and a Denali Powerhub2 (I don't care for the always on nature of the DIN sockets on the bike). All that remains is to find somewhere to mount a case for a toolkit.

    It's been interesting to see the difference between the bits that lie under the skin of the Tiger, compared to the BMW GSA. The Tiger is simpler and more basic but satisfyingly solid with man-sized fasteners and of course fuses rather than canbus which I have to say I don't miss at all. I do miss the LED lights of the BMW however, although the headlights of the Tiger are fortunately easy to access. The indicators are a very cheap generic part that are identical to my other bikes (CCM GP450 and a BMW Xcountry) and knowing how they look after a year or two, I may fit LED indicators.

    The engine is of course the standout feature of the bike and what won me over. I was initially concerned that the suspension might be a bit too budget but it seems to work well enough on the kind of roads I have travelled thus far (only 1300 miles to date). It's comfortable and unlike the BMWs I won't need an aftermarket seat to ride more than an hour or two.

    And, fulfilling its intended brief, it is noticeably lighter than the GSA to push around.
     
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  2. thebiglad

    thebiglad Old fart, still riding !

    Sep 25, 2013
    5,069
    1,000
    Central France
    Hi datuk and welcome to the Triumph Asylum - you'll soon see why, when the others turn up !!!

    I'm also a big fan of the Tiger 800 - nearly bought an XRx last year, but my 955i Tiger is still giving me all I need in terms of performance, it's just the weight that I would like to reduce a bit. That applies to the bike as well !!!!
     
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  3. steve lovatt

    steve lovatt Something else

    May 12, 2014
    9,233
    1,000
    North Yorkshire
    Welcome in - I have had my Tiger XRx for just over a year now and absolutely love it.
     
  4. Wessa

    Wessa Cruising

    Apr 27, 2016
    11,751
    1,000
    North West England
    Hi and welcome. Good to see you have returned to your british heritage, enjoy your new ride :):) and the crack on the forum.
    Wessa
     
  5. dilligaf

    dilligaf Guest

    Hi mate and welcome
     
  6. thebiglad

    thebiglad Old fart, still riding !

    Sep 25, 2013
    5,069
    1,000
    Central France
    Really ??????????????????
     
    • Love You Love You x 1
  7. Angus

    Angus Noble Member

    Mar 19, 2017
    936
    300
    South Africa
    Nice introduction ! Welcome to the forum.
     
  8. Rich Bryce

    Rich Bryce Dead Eye Dick

    Sep 18, 2015
    2,993
    1,000
    Bedford
    Hi datuk. Great choice of bike mate. I have had a Tiger XRx for a few months now. Love it.

    btw, nice though your introduction is, many of our inmates have a really short attention span, so to keep them amused a pic or two wouldn't go amiss (of the bike).
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. Winglad

    Winglad Crème de la Crème

    Dec 21, 2016
    2,432
    1,000
    Earth
    Hi and welcome!

    Thanks for your short review and the comparison of the two bikes.
    It is always interesting to listen to someone who experienced the dark side and returned unscathed ;)

    Did you test ride a F700/800 GS against the Tiger? I never tried those. You don't see them too often either.
    Seems as if everyone buying a BMW is going for the boxer...

    Well I think the Tiger is really very hard to beat!

    Enjoy your new bike.

    Daniel
     
  10. MickEng

    MickEng Noble Member

    Sep 29, 2016
    1,807
    450
    West Yorkshire
    Welcome to the forum Datuk
     

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