Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Real advice, for guy thinking of a Tiger

Here's the deal:
1. Have a ST1300 and TBA
2. ST1300 is great for 2up, don't ride 2up
3. ST1300 is a little to warm, fixed that but full fairing is not comfortable to me
4. Wife just had our first child (read no 2up for very long rides)
5. Want to put Truck and Car and bike(s) in garage.
6. And of course I want a new toy, so ST1300 is going to be sold.

So I am looking at the Tiger I think I should of got before the St1300.


Questions:

1. Anyone with an inseam over 34" have one and how is comfort over a 100miles?
2. Heat? compared to the TBA
3. Airflow? compared to the TBA
4. Triumph Bags or Givi or other?
5. Taller screen needed or not?
6. Things you love (other than power and handling---ridden it, was perfect in that regard)
7. What would you change?
8. Is Blue really faster?

Any thought on the Tiger you own would be helpful

I have had my Tiger for 14 months . Traded in my TBA (beautiful bike as you know).

I ride it daily to work except winter months. Have done a couple long pleasure trips and a four 500 miles days for work.

>1. Anyone with an inseam over 34" have one and how is comfort over a 100miles?

VERY comfortable. I love the position even though there are not many foot placement options. Occasionally I just rotate my foot downwards and it seems to stretch it out just fine. On the Interstate, there is a tendency to ride at a much higher speed.
You MIGHT have an issue with wind noise/buffeting with your height but it fits me fine at 5'9". Windflow is MUCH MUCH better than my TBA.
General guidelines is that a smaller windshield will do the trick if it becomes an issue.

>2. Heat? compared to the TBA

Heat is NOT a problem. Don't even notice it.

>3. Airflow? compared to the TBA

Noiser but less buffeting for myself. The Tiger taught me that I wish I would have installed a smaller windshield for my TBA instead of the massive ones I tried. Look better and work better (assuming you wear a helmet). You DO NOT hear the exhaust so in that respect you could get by without earplugs on long trips except for the wind noise.

>4. Triumph Bags or Givi or other?

Triumph look better but are smaller. I recommend the Triumph side bags with a Givi TOP case for trips and you have plenty of storage. Not exactly cheap however.
Aftermarket sidebags are WAY TO WIDE from the rear.

>5. Taller screen needed or not?

Only way to know is try it. Again, I would recommend a smaller screen...a number are available.

>6. Things you love (other than power and handling---ridden it, was perfect in that regard)

Perfect bike for myself. Grin on my face EVERY morning that I get on it. I love the upright seating position, the feeling that I am on a blazing fast bike (I am I guess), ability to wheelie (although I have only done it about 5"!!), engine growl, fuel injection, heated grips (add-on)

>7. What would you change?

Fuel guage has issues deciding remaining miles till empty, my chain surface rusted prematurely,

>8. Is Blue really faster?

No. White.
Cars think you are the policeman and move out of your way. Serious.

>Any thought on the Tiger you own would be helpful

keep the chain loose...removes clunk of the shift, wish luggage were cheaper, some think the shocks are garbage but I actually like the soft settings...makes for softer rides over bumps at the expense of fast curves I guess. Chain guard is not long enough so you get chain spray on the underside of the bike..no big deal just a hassle.
My shorter legs demand that I pay attention to the slope of the road when I stop...but I am used to it NOW.
Talon makes a great plug-n-play alarm for the Tiger for about $130.00. Even makes the red like blink in the dash.
Add the new Triumph handguards...high quality.

That's all I can think of right now...


Great bike. Best purchase I have made in a long time.

love my new tiger can very easy go over 100 ride mile np..
mine is stock but it came with the triumph bags in the deal.. and it came with the hand gards i like them also it also came with the taller screen i like that also mine is black i love the way this bike rides it is a great all around ride my wife also loves the ride of the tiger she just did 2700 + miles with me and

Ed

You should go over and take a look at tiger1050.com In the mean time, here are my answers

1. Anyone with an inseam over 34" have one and how is comfort over a 100miles?

I have 34" inseam ((6'2") and I've had my Tiger for about 4 months now. I commute daily to work and have done a few longer trips (3+ hours each way to the beach twice and once 5 hours with a good bit of time sitting in traffic to NJ). I find it very comfortable. A little but numbness after 2 or 3 hours, but no more than in the cage. A really excellent bike for a tall guy.
2. Heat? compared to the TBA

Maybe a little cooler, but I've never ridden them back to back. I've only noticed the heat sitting in traffic on a 100 degree plus day on the belt way. Not unbearable, but definitely could have done without it.

3. Airflow? compared to the TBA

I have the fly screen on my Speedy and I'd say that does a better job of managing wind than the stock screen on the Tiger. There is a good deal of noice above 85 mph and a fair bit of buffeting. Leg protection is similar, I have the hand guards, so there is nothing comperable to that on the america. When my hands get warm, I hold them above the guards.
4. Triumph Bags or Givi or other?

I use the Triumph hard bags. I think they look good. They are a bit wonky at first. I actually had an issue with one of my bags being defective and not releasing from the mechanism. Triumph replaced it, but it's worth noting that when I said I had a bag issue, the service guy said, "I know exactly what's going on." Then it turned out to be something else. COnsidering they don't sell a lot of these bikes, that's worth noting. Honestly, if I were to do it over and if I weren't so anal about looking good, I'd go with soft bags.

5. Taller screen needed or not?

I don't feel that I need a different screen, though I think I'd like a smaller one for most of the days and a tall very tall one for long trips (planning Alaska trip next Summer). I haven't felt it's essential however and I've read reviews that rave about the shield. Honestly, I'd like an adjustable screen, but it's not in the cards.

6. Things you love (other than power and handling---ridden it, was perfect in that regard)

7. What would you change?

Not much. The only thing that really annoys me is the trip computer. When you get to what the computer deems low miles, it resets from whichever screen your on to miles to empty. This compounded with the awkward placement of the scroll button is a pain. There are some fixes for the scroll button.

Yeah, that an adjustable wind screen and I wouldn't even consider a GS.


8. Is Blue really faster?

Nope, the white ones are fastest and the prettiest.

Great feed back!

The detailed comments help the decision making process.

I will let you know.

If any on else has a different point of view let me know.

Now how do I convince the wife I can't part with the TBA????

I didn't respond to things I love.

It sounds great. That triple just purrs. It looks GREAT. People notice it everywhere and I've never seen another one on the road when I'm riding mine. It's just a great go anywhere do anything bike. The only bike I'd put in league with it is the Ducati Multi Strada. I've ridden that bike, though the 650 or 690 whatever it was, and it's not as comfortable and certainly not as quick.

I tested one (w/o bags) with the off-road exhaust and really liked it.

I was actually disappointed when I first saw one in the showroom, but in the saddle out on the road was a different story & pleasant surprise. My inseam is significantly shorter (30"), & the new Tiger is on the edge (sorry) of being too tall for me.

Overall it's a great bike IMO. Very entertaining motor, great gearing, comfortable ergonomics, decent (but not perfect) wind management, & great handling.

I like the 3rd gen Tiger so much better than the predecessors it ain't even a contest.

Do you all commute on the Tiger to work every day?

My bike is my main transport because the Pickup is way to thirsty.

I have a 2006 Tiger

It is hot in hot areas but not a problem
Get the taller windshield
Get the Triumph bags
34 inch not a problem
I would change nothing
I like the 2006 black over the 2007/2008 black but I really like the 2007 white and I hate white motorcycles

I had an 06 black Tiger that I traded for my America. I'm 6'3 and a bit on the bulky side of the scale. I liked the Tiger for the most part but found it for me to be too tall (32" inseam). It was fine on the flats at stop lights but any incline I was tip toeing a bit. I did not like that. The power is great. Had the panners and trunk with mine and the tall factory wind screen and the TOR on it. Panners were pretty good but did have a tendancy to leak. Tall screen was good but I did get some buffering at speeds ummm a bit past posted limits. The TOR was nice gave a nice growel and some extra HP. All together a very cool and dependable ride. If I could have grown about 2" more in my legs I would still have it. At the end of the day I feel I made the right choice in trading it for my America 08 Black. I sat on a 1050 Tiger and it did feel a bit lower. However I just did not feel it had the same soul as the 06. So I passed on it and chose the America. What ever you decide get what makes you happy. You are the one that is going ride it and you are the one laying out the $ for it. Take one out for a nice long ride and get a true feel for the bike. Take it through the paces hills, curves, straights and if you are going to be in town much traffic. The stop and go is what killed it for me. It felt fine in the show room and great on the ride. Not so good in town. Well thats my war and peace reply. hope this helps you in some small way. Good luck and be safe out there.