2021 Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro - ordered!
Discussion
For the past couple of years I've been tooling around on my mid-life crisis bike, the Triumph Bobber. Traded in my Mk3 Kawasaki Versys tourer for it after a test ride and fell in love with the noise and the grunt of the 1200cc engine in the bobber. It worked well for a while since I was doing a lot less mileage overall and friends that I did get to ride out with tended to do short runs on sports bikes. Backroad cruising and general pootling it was brilliant fun and a real event. But I was really missing the ability to go more than 90 miles on a tank before the fuel light was on. People talk about range anxiety in an EV, they should try a Bobber!
So despite the fact that I love the Bobber for a lot of reasons I need back on a tourer/adventurer and get back to doing some bigger mileage. The Bobber has done less than 1600 miles in just under two years which is pretty poor. I can't justify two bikes in the garage so the bobber had to go
Got on the youtubes and spent a bit of time researching some new bikes. Out of all of them the Tiger 900 caught my eye the most. TMF did a good few vidoes and I also checked out the Bennetts reviews. I'd previously had MK1 and MK3 Kawasaki Versys and they always felt really dated compared to the new bikes and the Triumph seems to be tech laden. Anyway, on to some pics of the demonstrator. In fact none of the other mid-range bikes I looked at appealed as much as the new Tiger.
When the lad at the showroom brought it round I was actually surprised at how compact it looked and felt. A plus point for those long in back and short in leg (30" inseam = 760mm). I set the seat in the lower position (810mm) but could actually get one foot flat on the floor at a junction. Will be setting it back to standard height (830mm I think).
Went for a ±65 mile run on the bike with a friend on his GS 1250. Managed to get a good combination of dual carriageway, A roads, B roads, 17% gradients and twisty forest roads to give it a good run.
Plus points:
- It's light and easy to manoeuvre around by hand
- The TFT is really nice and customisable, loads of connectivity options, also fine and bright in sunshine
- The engine is an absolute peach!
- Quick shifter (up and blipper down) took me a half hour to get used to but once you're used to it I don't think I could go back now.
- Balance of the bike when on the move is just incredible. My Versys 650 didn't feel anywhere as flickable as this. Really really fun in the twisties.
- Brakes are fantastic, Brembo front and rear.
- I'm getting old, the heated seat is a fantastic luxury along with the heated grips.
Minus Points:
- A little bit buzzy through the grips cruising at 70mph / 4.2k RPM. But not enough to suffer any white fingers that I sometimes got on the Versys.
- Grips are a little bit too thin so will get some neoprene covers I think.
- Even at the highest setting the screen isn't the best protection. Also a draft tends to come up from the front shocks and blast under your helmet. Will be getting a Puig touring screen and re-install the chin skirt on my lid I think.
Hand my bobber over on Friday and I'm away for 8-9 weeks for work, so the new bike should be ready by the time I get back in June!
So despite the fact that I love the Bobber for a lot of reasons I need back on a tourer/adventurer and get back to doing some bigger mileage. The Bobber has done less than 1600 miles in just under two years which is pretty poor. I can't justify two bikes in the garage so the bobber had to go
Got on the youtubes and spent a bit of time researching some new bikes. Out of all of them the Tiger 900 caught my eye the most. TMF did a good few vidoes and I also checked out the Bennetts reviews. I'd previously had MK1 and MK3 Kawasaki Versys and they always felt really dated compared to the new bikes and the Triumph seems to be tech laden. Anyway, on to some pics of the demonstrator. In fact none of the other mid-range bikes I looked at appealed as much as the new Tiger.
When the lad at the showroom brought it round I was actually surprised at how compact it looked and felt. A plus point for those long in back and short in leg (30" inseam = 760mm). I set the seat in the lower position (810mm) but could actually get one foot flat on the floor at a junction. Will be setting it back to standard height (830mm I think).
Went for a ±65 mile run on the bike with a friend on his GS 1250. Managed to get a good combination of dual carriageway, A roads, B roads, 17% gradients and twisty forest roads to give it a good run.
Plus points:
- It's light and easy to manoeuvre around by hand
- The TFT is really nice and customisable, loads of connectivity options, also fine and bright in sunshine
- The engine is an absolute peach!
- Quick shifter (up and blipper down) took me a half hour to get used to but once you're used to it I don't think I could go back now.
- Balance of the bike when on the move is just incredible. My Versys 650 didn't feel anywhere as flickable as this. Really really fun in the twisties.
- Brakes are fantastic, Brembo front and rear.
- I'm getting old, the heated seat is a fantastic luxury along with the heated grips.
Minus Points:
- A little bit buzzy through the grips cruising at 70mph / 4.2k RPM. But not enough to suffer any white fingers that I sometimes got on the Versys.
- Grips are a little bit too thin so will get some neoprene covers I think.
- Even at the highest setting the screen isn't the best protection. Also a draft tends to come up from the front shocks and blast under your helmet. Will be getting a Puig touring screen and re-install the chin skirt on my lid I think.
Hand my bobber over on Friday and I'm away for 8-9 weeks for work, so the new bike should be ready by the time I get back in June!
RichTT said:
Backroad cruising and general pootling it was brilliant fun and a real event. But I was really missing the ability to go more than 90 miles on a tank before the fuel light was on. People talk about range anxiety in an EV, they should try a Bobber!
I borrowed a bobber for a weekend shortly after they were released, I realised the range would be an issue for me when I put in 8.5l after an 85 mile ride - it only has a 9.1l tank! (To be fair I had been fully using the performance available, the long term average on my Thruxton is 58mpg, but that's still only 115 miles on the bobber)If you can cope with that range it really is a great bike - It looks awesome, and has no right to handle as well as it does.
StreetDragster said:
Nice
I collect mine this afternoon, awesome
Excellent, hope the weather is good for you.I collect mine this afternoon, awesome
Max5476 said:
I borrowed a bobber for a weekend shortly after they were released, I realised the range would be an issue for me when I put in 8.5l after an 85 mile ride - it only has a 9.1l tank! (To be fair I had been fully using the performance available, the long term average on my Thruxton is 58mpg, but that's still only 115 miles on the bobber)
If you can cope with that range it really is a great bike - It looks awesome, and has no right to handle as well as it does.
Indeed, really does handle wonderfully for a bike of its weight and the motor is crackin as well. Too many twitchy bum moments on range though when out for a blast into the countryside. Was doing my head in. If you can cope with that range it really is a great bike - It looks awesome, and has no right to handle as well as it does.
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