Got me a winter bike - Triumph Tiger 800

[graeme4130]

Seeing as the weather's crap, cold, wet and generally just quite stty, I've got myself a winter bike as I'd like to keep riding over the colder months, but found my ZX6R to be a) bloody cold, and B) a bit of handful at times in the less than grippy conditions. plus, I don't really want to ruin it with all the salt and crap that gets all over the roads
Anyway, a quick visit to triumph in Swindon last week, and picked myself up this ;

2013 Triumph Tiger 800


The first thing that struck me when I got it back home, is just how bloody big it is compared to my 2013 ZX6R 636 - I've had some cars in my garage that take up less space


Anyway, I picked it up on Friday, and on Sunday took it down the motorway to Castle Combe for a day of Moto referee'ing at the duathlon there.
Had to make sure the track was clear between each cycle wave too, so got to nail it around the track for a couple of laps each time. It's certainly no sports bike, but it handles and goes quite well for 100bhp and more weight than a small house.





It's really grown on me, and although, like I say, it doesn't exactly give the thrill of a sports bike, it's really comfortable, heated grips are amazing (a first for me), and it's pretty good fun
The original plan was to run it over the winter and see whether I want to keep it next spring, but I reckon it might just be a keeper

[jcelee]

I concur. Test rode one on Saturday, so so smooth and comfortable, clearly capable of demolishing huge distances. I found it a bit big and heavy for low speed manoeuvres, filtering and you certainly couldn't hustle it like a sports bike. However, even getting back onto my humble CBR600F it felt like I was lying down, hunched over and really rather uncomfortable

[Playsatan]

I've owned a 2011 XC for a couple of year but for winter commuting actually prefer my V Strom 650. The relative lack of power, lazy handling and softer brakes are all a bonus in almost zero grip conditions. It's also more economical and better for filtering (skinnier).

For distance work I'd take the tiger every time. It's no fireblade but on a recent tour of Scotland passed loads of them while loaded up with camping equipment. The only thing that I'm tempted to sell it for is the new Africa Twin.

[Chicken Chaser]

Wow that's a fairly decent winter bike! Decided that I'm definitely going to test one of these to see how it compares to a KTM.

[RemaL]

I met up with a good mate over the weekend and he as a tiger 800 for the last 18 months. Done 60k on it so far including 2 5k trips to europe and the Iron butt rally in the US on it.Covered 25k in his last 3 trips

Only issue is a crack in the exhaust.
he's added a 4 gallon external take to the bike and has a range of 350 miles between fill ups.

[Hooli]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I've seen aftermarket cruise controls on bikes. They tend to have ugly vacuum spheres fitted to control it though. Wedg1e fitted it on his ST13, is the one I can think of on here.

[graeme4130]

I'll speak with triumph today about cruise control, as I reckon that'd be pretty handy for longer rides, certainly
Took the bike down to Kemble airfield yesterday for coffee and cake

[graeme4130]

You lot could've warned me how hard they are to clean with all those little nooks and crannies
I've now got no skin on my knuckles

[evil len]

Got two, a 2013 and a 2014. Great bikes, can ride them forever. As wide as a house with panniers on.

Get yourself a taller screen (not the Triumph one) and an Arrow exhaust (and take the baffle out ... laaarvely)

Let me know how you get on with the cruise control enquiry. Also ... the newer bikes have a heated seat ... wonder if that can be retro fitted ...

[graeme4130]

evil len said:

Got two, a 2013 and a 2014. Great bikes, can ride them forever. As wide as a house with panniers on.

Get yourself a taller screen (not the Triumph one) and an Arrow exhaust (and take the baffle out ... laaarvely)

Let me know how you get on with the cruise control enquiry. Also ... the newer bikes have a heated seat ... wonder if that can be retro fitted ...

Sorry for the delay in responding to this.
The retro cruise control is a no go apparently
I've done nearly 2k miles on my tiger now, and it's been running perfectly through the crap weather.
However, the hankering for more power, and the interest it's sparked in me in doing bigger miles, means I'll possibly chop it in for an Explorer 1200 this spring in time for a trip to Austria in the summer

[Speed addicted]

I've got a Tiger Explorer. Have a good test ride before you buy as it's a big old bus and can be a bit top heavy at low speed!
Once above walking pace the weight isn't an issue and they can be hustled along at high speed in comfort.

Mine came with heated grips and heated seats, I thought that the seats were a gimmick at first but have come to love them. Cruise control feels properly weird at first but I like it a lot on motorways as it keeps me from speeding as much.

If you find that you get buffeting from the screen kits are available to allow the screen to slide up and down, these made a difference to mine.

Its a great bike for covering big distances effortlessly

[supercommuter]

evil len said:

Got two, a 2013 and a 2014. ]

Can i ask, why do you have 2? Do you just prefer a different colour some day?

[graeme4130]

supercommuter said:

evil len said:

Got two, a 2013 and a 2014. ]

Can i ask, why do you have 2? Do you just prefer a different colour some day?

I was going to ask the very same question

[graeme4130]

Speed addicted said:

I've got a Tiger Explorer. Have a good test ride before you buy as it's a big old bus and can be a bit top heavy at low speed!
Once above walking pace the weight isn't an issue and they can be hustled along at high speed in comfort.

Mine came with heated grips and heated seats, I thought that the seats were a gimmick at first but have come to love them. Cruise control feels properly weird at first but I like it a lot on motorways as it keeps me from speeding as much.

If you find that you get buffeting from the screen kits are available to allow the screen to slide up and down, these made a difference to mine.

Its a great bike for covering big distances effortlessly

My tiger's going into triumph in the next couple of weeks for chain/sprocket, and they have a demo I can try at the same time

[evil len]

graeme4130 said:

supercommuter said:

evil len said:

Got two, a 2013 and a 2014. ]

Can i ask, why do you have 2? Do you just prefer a different colour some day?

I was going to ask the very same question

One's the wife's

[supercommuter]

evil len said:

graeme4130 said:

supercommuter said:

evil len said:

Got two, a 2013 and a 2014. ]

Can i ask, why do you have 2? Do you just prefer a different colour some day?

I was going to ask the very same question

One's the wife's

Rather simple explanation. I was hoping for something more odd 😄