New Triumph Tiger for 2007

**Big Dave** · 25th October 2006, 22:43

Originally Posted by Ruralman

BUT - the 21 inch front wheel IS FUCKING IMPORTANT!!!!

Not important to me.

I've stated/maintained all along I have no interest in riding up the sides of Mt Cook, fording raging torrents or getting caked in deep mud and shit on purpose. I don't like riding on sand much at all either.

I like belting up good dirt roads and crossing the odd paddock. My buell is pretty good at that. So is a multistrada. The Scrambler was a hoot.

**Lou Girardin** · 26th October 2006, 06:04

It ain't a dual purpose bike anymore, but it is really tempting. A Triumph rep in at work called it a "Speed Triple with comfort".
An aftermarket can gives another 9 or 10 hp. For off-road use only, mind you.

**warewolf** · 26th October 2006, 06:12

Originally Posted by Ruralman

the 21 inch front wheel IS FUCKING IMPORTANT!!!!

I agree wholeheartedly with what you say, but this is a case of horses for courses. The Tiger has never had a 21" front wheel.

Why slap a 21" front on a bike when the rest of it is designed for the street? We've already agreed it's no serious adventure bike.

**Ruralman** · 26th October 2006, 07:29

Originally Posted by warewolf

I agree wholeheartedly with what you say, but this is a case of horses for courses. The Tiger has never had a 21" front wheel.

Why slap a 21" front on a bike when the rest of it is designed for the street? We've already agreed it's no serious adventure bike.

AT least we're singing from the same hymbook - begs the question why it should be regarded as an adventure bike at all really, but then that statement raises the question about what constitutes an adventure and that will be different things for different people.
I suppose my main objection is this thing about "only 10% of people will ever use them as adventure bikes" - or that they will only use them for that 10% or less of the time - why should they still not be rigourously tested for what we regard as adventure use so you know you're getting something thats going to be right for the 2 days a year its really important.
I didn't want to start a crusade so I think I'll shut up on this now.
Cheers

**Big Dave** · 26th October 2006, 08:30

For those 2 days a year when I do go adv - a scrambler, tiger or even my buell are still just fine.
There is a guy the does the capital coast on a CB200 with TKCs.
I happily give the challenge sections a miss if its not the right bike for them - certainly better than living with a 21" front wheel on the road for 363 days a year.

**oldrider** · 26th October 2006, 09:12

To me, these days, there does not seem to be a "bad motorcycle" simply a wonderful lot of first class choices to match your personal needs.

I visited most of the bike shops (as we do) in Dunedin and Oamaru yesterday and drooled over all the fantastic selection of bikes available today and pondered the question:

Why? Now that I have so much time to ride and so many wonderful roads and tracks to ride on, do I have so little money to spend on the beautiful bikes to do it on? (Sigh!! Develops slight case of Lotto mentality)

Perhaps it is the result of a misspent youth!

I just have to be thankful that I have the TransAlp and that it is giving me so much enjoyment and that I can still class myself as a motorcyclist and I don't have to worry about any of these little technicalities like wheel size.

To tell you the truth I would still be happy to ride it if the wheels were bloody "square", than have no ride at all!

Cheers John.

**Ixion** · 26th October 2006, 10:13

Originally Posted by Big Dave

For those 2 days a year when I do go adv - a scrambler, tiger or even my buell are still just fine.
There is a guy the does the capital coast on a CB200 with TKCs.
I happily give the challenge sections a miss if its not the right bike for them - certainly better than living with a 21" front wheel on the road for 363 days a year.

What is wrong with a 21" wheel on the road? (Serious question) . ffwabbit has a 21" front (deliberate choice) , which does make a difference in gravel. But I've not detected any significant downside on seal. Admittedly, since I ride slower than your nanna's nanna, it may just be that I don't push it hard enough to find the problem.Though there are no chicken strips on the front tyre.

**topher** · 26th October 2006, 19:20

Yeah, a 21 is a definite plus. I've had my '96 tiger through the gravel roads between Taumarunui and Mokau (then seen a sign pointing north coming out at Ohura and gone that way 'cause it was there)... The 18" front kept the shiny side up and while a 21 would have made a noticeable difference the thing's really no trail bike. It's the perfect comprimise for me though, I sometimes ride with a bunch of guys for three day rides. They ride reasonably quickly (but not the 180Km plus stuff) on tarseal only. I can cope with their cruising speed and more on the Tigg (and blow them away on the curly bits) and ride for 5 or 6 hours stopping only for gas in comfort, but can still indulge my ex-trailly whims with no worries.

The point is these bikes are all compromises, you've just got to find one which best fits your own riding preferences.

I think the new Tiger looks much better than the 99-06 model. In looks that was a step backwards from mine, (My opinion of course, no offence to those with the ugly model...) and if a financial windfall happens my way, which I can prevent mother from finding out about, this new Tigg with its' 17" front wheel would be high on my list of bikes to replace the black steamer.

**Ruralman** · 26th October 2006, 19:21

Originally Posted by Ixion

What is wrong with a 21" wheel on the road? (Serious question) . ffwabbit has a 21" front (deliberate choice) , which does make a difference in gravel. But I've not detected any significant downside on seal. Admittedly, since I ride slower than your nanna's nanna, it may just be that I don't push it hard enough to find the problem.Though there are no chicken strips on the front tyre.

That is a good question. I hope we get a good answer. The only thing which immediately springs to my mind is the overall height of the bike will be lower on smaller wheels which will suit a lot of shorter people.
Jantar made some interesting comments on his Bruce Bay report about following sports bikes and reckoning that they had to lean a lot more at the same speed around corners - is the bigger hoop a reason for this?
There must be a reason that GP bikes are on smaller wheels (but wider than an adventure bike tyre by a huge margin) - but most of our everyday roads are a far cry from a GP circuit and the bigger wheel probably gives a smoother passage over the holes, ridges and all the other faults in what passes for a highway for most of us.

**Bussaman** · 26th October 2006, 19:35

Before you go out and buy the tiger though, have a look at this.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-74415283.htm

**topher** · 26th October 2006, 19:56

[QUOTE=Ixion;801015]What is wrong with a 21" wheel on the road? (Serious question) .

I think it's got more of a gyro effect (there's a hell thread somewhere else on the site about this. Don't look for it unless you have a physics PhD and a couple of hours to spare to read it.) than a smaller diameter wheel and it's going to be heavier to get the same tyre contact patch on the road. This, effectively, means it's slower to turn; less "flickable". That doesn't make it "wrong" on the road, just if you're not going off-road then it's less appropriate than smaller diameter wheels.

**topher** · 26th October 2006, 20:02

Originally Posted by Bussaman

Before you go out and buy the tiger though, have a look at this.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-74415283.htm

Just the ticket. I can buy it, leave it on the front lawn and Mother won't even know I've got yet another bike. Brilliant!

**Ixion** · 26th October 2006, 21:55

[quote=topher;801771]

Originally Posted by Ixion

What is wrong with a 21" wheel on the road? (Serious question) .

I think it's got more of a gyro effect (there's a hell thread somewhere else on the site about this. Don't look for it unless you have a physics PhD and a couple of hours to spare to read it.) than a smaller diameter wheel and it's going to be heavier to get the same tyre contact patch on the road. This, effectively, means it's slower to turn; less "flickable". That doesn't make it "wrong" on the road, just if you're not going off-road then it's less appropriate than smaller diameter wheels.

Yes, a larger wheel will turn in slower. But most people now sling off at the 16 inch wheels that were fitted a few years ago (quite liked them m'self) with that fact in mind.

However the difference is the sort of thing that I don't think you'd notice let alone find a problem unless on a race track.

And if one is never going off road (or gravel, which as far as front wheels are concerned is much the same), then why have a bike of that type at all?

The question I guess ahould have been what's the problem with a 21" on this sort of bike. I can see why you wouldn't fit one to a sprotsbike.

**Big Dave** · 26th October 2006, 22:23

Originally Posted by Ixion

What is wrong with a 21" wheel on the road? (Serious question) .

Nothing - I was using it more as a 'metaphor' for 'dedicated off road' machine, really.

**fishb8nz** · 27th October 2006, 03:24

These bikes are just the same as 99% of 4x4's. Most owners won't take them near any dirt but they are comfortable tourers. No one will ride that Benelli with those tyres.