Rode Tigger 800s

[Big Dave]

Nice. Very nice.

For those familiar, it's a 955i reincarnate and made look spiffier.

Holeshot has demos.

[Eddieb]

Most informative bike review I've read all year.

[Monstaman]

Holeshot has demos.

Kinda like MCN.


Nice. Very nice.

I wish you wouldn't type so fast cos I am a slow reader :shit:

Serious Big Dave, any more info or is it a shameless plug for Holeshot?

[Devil]

I have had 10 mins on the 800 (not the xc) and... well... i'm not going to review it.

Once they're both run in, i'm going to jump on the XC for a decent stint as i'm seriously considering one.

[Gremlin]

Once they're both run in, i'm going to jump on the XC for a decent stint as i'm seriously considering one.
Why am I not surprised?

BD is evidently just trying to wick up some interest... :angry:

[AllanB]

This is a good example of the current global recession - even Big Dave is being economical in his use of words. :yes:

[Big Dave]

Hadn't written them yet. Have now.

More a thanks to Steve for letting us use the bikes. The press machines are coming from the second shipment.

http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.com/2011/02/quick-spin-new-triumph-tigers.html

[Big Dave]

Got the ABS prices right now too. Same link

[Devil]

Not giving too much away there Dave!

My initial disappointments were buzzing through the bars, soggy throttle response and first gear too tall.

However, that was a brand new bike that had barely 100km on it and needed a couple of tweaks. I'll be giving it a second chance.

[Big Dave]

Not giving too much away there Dave!

My initial disappointments were buzzing through the bars, soggy throttle response and first gear too tall.

However, that was a brand new bike that had barely 100km on it and needed a couple of tweaks. I'll be giving it a second chance.

Noticed no buzzing and I was happy with gearing. Ross said the hardcore will think it's too high. I don't. Only thing I didn't like was the windscreens - but I don't like windscreens - not worth mentioning again - and they are easily removed. Everything else on the XC was just dandy.

[.chris]

Hadn't written them yet. Have now.

More a thanks to Steve for letting us use the bikes. The press machines are coming from the second shipment.

http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.com/2011/02/quick-spin-new-triumph-tigers.html

We all knew there was more coming, shame you only took the XC up north head, I think I had the XC a bit more in its zone (a bit of gravel and a quick side track).

Great series of pictures, I only managed to take a couple with my little camera in this thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/129884-First-official-photo-of-Triumph-Tiger-800-XC?p=1129982928#post1129982928)
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Kgrh8YvkFqYtmj7K4KHV3Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_Gr4w3OEMfJs/TVSE7rkoD2I/AAAAAAAAJu4/WEeXwUVjwB4/s400/DSC04915.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/c.p.whitehead/TriumphTigerXCDemoRide?feat=embedwebsite">Triumph Tiger XC Demo Ride</a></td></tr></table>

I agree with your comments about the first gear being a bit high, but I wonder how much you could gear the bike down, as it did cruise at 100km in 6th gear at pretty low revs, so you could down gear it quite a fair bit without too much road issues.

You also said "The XC did turn slightly slower than the 800 as it is fitted with a 21” wire front wheel – as opposed to the 17” Mag wheels of the roady version...." but the road version has a 19inch front wheel.

[Big Dave]

" but the road version has a 19inch front wheel.


Yeah I spotted that probably as you were reading it. Typo - Fixed taaa.

[Crisis management]

I'm off to Holeshot to give it the dyed in the wool KTM owner unbiased look over then. :innocent:






I must practise my superlatives, fat, too roady, slow, to much plastic......

[young1]

I'm off to Holeshot to give it the dyed in the wool KTM owner unbiased look over then. :innocent:






I must practise my superlatives, fat, too roady, slow, to much plastic......

Waiting, waiting, waiting, for your unbiased opinion....

[Crisis management]

The things I do when I'm supposed to be working....

Epic failure, it's not available in orange, there was no point in looking any further and I declare it an utter disaster, not worthy of consideration by any real adventure rider. :facepalm:





Ok, a bit more info then...I had a short ride, city streets & motorway and I'm usually on something more like a trail bike than a road bike, so here goes.

Has a bash plate, plastic mounted off brackets to engine, looks ok.
Looks very easily damaged in a fall, wide tank & radiator so needs crash bars, proper handguards (not just plastic).
No centre stand?
Pillion pegs are high, didn't look too comfortable.
Looks wide at the rear with the muffler sticking out, add luggage and?

Seat to pegs was good but a long stretch for me to the bars (like the old Tiger) and I never felt comfortable, interestingly enough standing was better and you could get over the headstock easily. Slow speed (standing) turns were good the rear brake allowed good feel and figure of eights were easily achieved in a standard road width, conversely it felt a bit top heavy at speed and far more like a road bike, not as flickable as I am used to.

Things I liked:
I could get both feet on the ground.
It feels light enough.
Nice engine & gearbox.

Things I didn't like:
Ergonomics, didn't work for me sitting.
Underslung exhaust, low clearances.
No centre stand.
No adjustable clutch lever position (worked ok with ok feel but I must have small hands or something)


Overall, looks like a capable gravel touring bike, which is what I expected, but I am disappointed with the ergonomics, I wouldn't buy it simply for that. Looks expensive in an off........

and it's not orange :p

[Big Dave]

Well - interesting. I ride big bikes and in reply:

Ergos worked well for me (XC) - even standing. I'd like a taller seat for longer runs.
Centre stand is first thing I remove if it has one.
Assume Luggage will be same as 1050 - scalloped around muffler. One side carries more than the other.
Definitely not top heavy - very chuckable and confidence inspiring. I got pegs down going up fort hill at 25kph. (The 3 way showas make a big difference if not dialled in right too)

Crash damage is interesting point. I've dropped my buell twice and done no damage - nil - it lands on the crash pucks. I guess you could oggy knob the XC pretty well. it has enough exposed hardware.

[Crisis management]

Twas the XC...

Ergos: I found the same with the earlier Tiger, a long reach to the bars, so not for me, you are a bit bigger than me (I'm 175cm, 5'10") but it probably comes down to what you like.

Crashability: I was concerned that althought it has plastic scuff? covers on the tank edges and radiator, the radiator stuck out furtherest and a good thump going down could do some damage, simply something to be investigated further if you are buying.

Chuckability: Personal preference but I have been riding more dirt bikes than road bikes so incompetence on my part is always possible? There are so many combinations, tyres, suspension, weight, that my comments can only be taken as a comment, not a fact.

Cheers
Iain

[Big Dave]

Yeah - just discussion - I think it's more what you are used too.

The first couple of corners on a GS 1200 always have me a little unsure - then once I get the mojo it's a brilliant handling thing.

And yeah - the rider's physique must affects the physics of it all. Racing Dave is more your size and he has issues with the bars. My only beef was they are a bit wide for lane splitting.

[NordieBoy]

My only beef was they are a bit wide for lane splitting.

Billet bar end weights shaped like fists should do it.

[Gremlin]

My only beef was they are a bit wide for lane splitting.
Haven't seen one yet... but the R1200GSA is a joke for splitting... its huge. I've joked the cars would get scared, thinking a plane is landing.

[Big Dave]

Haven't seen one yet... but the R1200GSA is a joke for splitting... its huge. I've joked the cars would get scared, thinking a plane is landing.

That's cause it a ferkin' supertanker and the half of an aquarium on the handlebars makes if feel even bigger.

[young1]

The things I do when I'm supposed to be working....

Things I liked:
I could get both feet on the ground.

:p

Iain thank you, I find this comment interesting, what model did you ride?

[Crisis management]

Iain thank you, I find this comment interesting, what model did you ride?

The XC, I have no idea whether there is a height adjustment to the seat or what it was set on, but seat to ground felt the same as my 990, I couldn't flat foot it but certainly had the balls of my feet down.

Having thought it over, my biggest problem would be the seat to bars ergos, it's a long reach for me and was the deal breaker on the earlier Tiger when I considered one, Triumph must have an ape like ergonomic model.........the other thing worth investigating further is the pillion accomodation, looked very sports bike to me and possibly not a touring seat?

Be interesting to ride the BMW and Tiger back to back, I suspect the Tiger would come out as a more road bike than the BMW?

[tri boy]

The XC, I have no idea whether there is a height adjustment to the seat
, my biggest problem would be the seat to bars ergos,

B I suspect the Tiger would come out as a more road bike than the BMW?

3 settings for seat height.
I alsothought the bar-seat-angle etc are not spot on. (ROX pivot risers would be a must for me).
More roady than the Bimmer, but oh, that triple engine:woohoo:

[Big Dave]

Nah. Not buying the more 'more roady' thing either. Triumph has done a great job 'matching up'.

BMW is 10kg lighter, (depending on what web specs you believe) Trump has 10 more ponies (ditto). They are both heavyweights compared to a KTM 400 - or even a KLR or DR. Splitting hairs.

It would come down to the dealer and trade in for me.

[Big Dave]

- or you have a real preference in engine configurations.

[YellowDog]

I found the new 800 quite zippy compared with my 1050. It was higher than expected and the smaller engine didn't dissapoint.

Better off road, but so good for touring. That's not because the 800 is bad for touring, it's more that the 1050 is a great tourer. I do so little off road stuff that my 1050 will still do me just fine.

AND I'm waiting for the 1200 before I upgrade :yes:

[MD]

That's not because the 800 is bad for touring, it's more that the 1050 is a great tourer. I do so little off road stuff that my 1050 will still do me just fine.

AND I'm waiting for the 1200 before I upgrade :yes:

Me too. I have no regrets buying the 1050 Tiger. The 800 does nothing for me to tempt me off the 1050. Lets see what the 1200 Tiger delivers. Although I can see the MV 675 as my next bike.