RE: PH2 Tested: Triumph Tiger 800/800XC
Discussion
Yup...I've worked at Triumph for 2 years now as a Design Engineer, although I'm moving on soon. I've got to admit, I'm far more of a car enthusiast than a bike enthusiast, but I also love engineering, and the way it's applied here is really interesting.
I see a lot of other bikes and have taken quite a few apart, and all manufacturers these days are incredibly well put together. They all do things subtely differently though and not everyone's corrosion resistance is the same. We're quite keen on making sure we're better than others in the class.
MCN have indeed given a lot of good reviews recently, but this is entirely their opinion. They come to their own conclusions as much as any of the motoring press, and a good number of other publications agree with their verdicts. To be fair, they've done a fair bit of Triumph bashing in the past, so they're usually one of our harshest critics.
By making bikes that have a very distinct character, they won't appeal to everyone and that's what choice is for. It's great than so many people like what's produced here, and not just in the UK, and the fact that we're now the biggest selling brand over 500cc in the UK means that a fair number of owners must agree!
I see a lot of other bikes and have taken quite a few apart, and all manufacturers these days are incredibly well put together. They all do things subtely differently though and not everyone's corrosion resistance is the same. We're quite keen on making sure we're better than others in the class.
MCN have indeed given a lot of good reviews recently, but this is entirely their opinion. They come to their own conclusions as much as any of the motoring press, and a good number of other publications agree with their verdicts. To be fair, they've done a fair bit of Triumph bashing in the past, so they're usually one of our harshest critics.
By making bikes that have a very distinct character, they won't appeal to everyone and that's what choice is for. It's great than so many people like what's produced here, and not just in the UK, and the fact that we're now the biggest selling brand over 500cc in the UK means that a fair number of owners must agree!
rob1964bike said:
I want to like Triumph I really do but MCN has completely put me off because they are obsessed with them its as if they cant put a foot wrong. I've ridden a few Triumphs and they are good but not brilliant.
Sure but there is a difference between riding one and living with one. When you use it as your day to day transport then the small differences really do make themselves apparent, like not having fork brackets that corrode and all the paint peels off (my GS Adv) and the servicing bills not being comical (BMW main dealers). Each to their own but right now Triumph deserve all the praise they are getting and great to see something a bit different too!Mad Jock said:
I ordered mine, an XC, late last year, the first order at my local dealer. At the 2009 NEC Bike show I had moaned at the Triumph chappie on their stand that Triumph needed an Adventure type bike, and that they were missing a trick here. He didn't even blink, and said he'd take it on board.
I currently ride a 1200 GS Adventure, and it's a fantastic long distance machine, but not that great in town. I was given an F800GS as a courtesy bike while mine was being serviced, and I really enjoyed that bike. It's all relative, I know, but I could really chuck the thing about, it was responsive to the throttle, good brakes blah blah.
When Triumph announced the Tiger 800, I was delighted. I had an original Tiger 900 in 1993, which had such a smooth engine compared to the Africa Twin that I had before.
That's where the secret lies in the new Tiger 800. The triple engine. Much smoother than the F800GS, I expect, and it would seem lots of lovely low down torque. The F800GS does get a bit vibey, more so than the 1200GS, and the seat gets a wee bit uncomfortable after about an hour.
As for taking it offroad, I will certainly do that. We're not talking motocross stuff, it's not that kind of bike, but fire trails, green lanes and the suchlike certainly.
I'm keeping the 1200 GS Adventure though. It's too good at what it does for me, at least until I've tried a long run on the Tiger.
As for BMW Clothing, I tend to agree. I don't like branded gear, it's a bit too twee, but the fact remains that the BMW clobber is really quite good. I'm daft enough to wear BMW gear on the Tiger, but not on the GS, but that isn't going to happen as I don't own any.
The Triumph panniers, on first impressions, are not right for the bike. Why build a bike with a tough persona, then give it plastic panniers? Aluminium he-man panniers please. Someone will do them as an aftermarket accessory, but we'll have to wait for that.
I expect to get mine in April, and head straight for the Highlands.
Good point Jock should of said most of my riding was in town and the GS was too heavy for that, where as the tiger 1050 was perfect. The GS was amazing on the motorway though, so stable. I currently ride a 1200 GS Adventure, and it's a fantastic long distance machine, but not that great in town. I was given an F800GS as a courtesy bike while mine was being serviced, and I really enjoyed that bike. It's all relative, I know, but I could really chuck the thing about, it was responsive to the throttle, good brakes blah blah.
When Triumph announced the Tiger 800, I was delighted. I had an original Tiger 900 in 1993, which had such a smooth engine compared to the Africa Twin that I had before.
That's where the secret lies in the new Tiger 800. The triple engine. Much smoother than the F800GS, I expect, and it would seem lots of lovely low down torque. The F800GS does get a bit vibey, more so than the 1200GS, and the seat gets a wee bit uncomfortable after about an hour.
As for taking it offroad, I will certainly do that. We're not talking motocross stuff, it's not that kind of bike, but fire trails, green lanes and the suchlike certainly.
I'm keeping the 1200 GS Adventure though. It's too good at what it does for me, at least until I've tried a long run on the Tiger.
As for BMW Clothing, I tend to agree. I don't like branded gear, it's a bit too twee, but the fact remains that the BMW clobber is really quite good. I'm daft enough to wear BMW gear on the Tiger, but not on the GS, but that isn't going to happen as I don't own any.
The Triumph panniers, on first impressions, are not right for the bike. Why build a bike with a tough persona, then give it plastic panniers? Aluminium he-man panniers please. Someone will do them as an aftermarket accessory, but we'll have to wait for that.
I expect to get mine in April, and head straight for the Highlands.
G0ldfysh said:
Why wire wheels on the off road one, would they not be much harder to clean with mud in the wires than an alloy?
It's for the added strength and repairability, not ease of cleaning. A busted alloy in the arse end of nowhere will have you stuck, whereas a bent rim with spokes can be reasonably trued back into shape with a bit of brute force and a spoke key.Anyway, Triumph have already been on the blower and will be registering their demo bikes when the weather is a little better up here. It will have to be something really special to get me off the big KTM.
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