ROAD TEST TRIUMPH TIGER
Triumph’s Tiger started outt w as an Adventure bike. Now it’s more a sports sort of Tourer. Big Dave has the story. WORDS: Big Dave PICS: Osborne
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ROAD TEST TRIUMPH TIGER
Triumph decided to rein-in original Tiger’s all-roads focus which has paid dividends if the majority of your riding is done on tarmac
82kW (111hp) @ 9400 rpm and maximum torque of 98Nm (72ft.lb) at 6250 rpm. They are good numbers for two up touring or solo sporting. The 6-speed gearbox clicks tidily into place, the clutch is light and easy and the Nissin radial brakes are excellent. Final drive is by chain. It’s quite a long travel unit too, but the tensioner system has also been improved over earlier models.
O
n its web site Triumph declares that the Tiger is ‘The Perfect All Rounder.’ That’s a nice bit of hyperbole for what is a truly excellent bike for New Zealand conditions. I posted a picture of this black beastie online with a caption that stated, ‘if anything happened to my current ride, that’s my next bike, right there.’ Of all the machines tested currently, this is the one that speaks to me loudest. No bull. That said, there are a few things I’d change about this ‘perfection.’ An optional Triumph tall seat ($650) and a shorter windscreen would pretty much be the extent of it though, particularly if it came fitted with the Arrow exhaust like the test bike. The standard windscreen gives me a lot of noise and buffeting, but I say that about every non-electric windscreen, and it’s an easy fix. So is the seat, as standard it’s been sculpted low to accommodate shorter riders, but if you are longer of leg, extra comfort can be easily clipped on. ANIMATED SUSPENSION My minor gripe with earlier model Tigger’s suspenders has been entirely resolved with the inclusion of Showa 43mm upside down forks with adjustable preload, rebound and compression damping up front and Showa Monoshock rear with adjustable preload and rebound damping. Well fixed – but that was done in a previous model. The 2010 model has an improved instrument layout and not much else changes from the ‘09 units. The digi speedometer is housed in an analogue tacho dial face. 32 KIWI RIDER
I guess this is partly indicative of the state of the global economy, and some recognition that ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ What carries over since the release of the 1050 is a machine fitted with the best standard road bike engine on the market, possibly ever... SUBLIME POWERPLANT You know that saying ‘I’m not doing all this just to be different’? These days it usually emanates from a face with multiple piercings. So, OK, I admit that once I was attracted to the triple because it was so different. Now it’s because it has evolved into a sublime powerplant. It has some of the low-down, low-rev punch of a large vee-twin and marries it with the free revving ability of an in-line four. All the while delivering tremendous, smooth and linear power, right through its rev range. Once off idle, twist and rip wheelies are just a matter of twisting hard enough, yet it will happily and smoothly deal with peak hour snarls and is equally magic on the open road, regardless of how hard you want to wick it up. SMOOTH AS SILK The liquid-cooled triple displaces 1050cc from a 79 x 71.4mm bore and stroke. It’s fuelled by a multi-point efi that, even with the after-market Arrow pipe fitted, is as smooth as silk. It didn’t stumble or bumble once in the time I rode it, it just sounded fabulous. Not too loud, not loud at all, just that nice, unique triple burble, made richer. Triumph claims maximum power of
The front 120/70 ZR 17 and rear 180/55 ZR 17 tyres remain something of a bugbear for the Adventure riding enthusiasts who have become accustomed to the older 955i Tiger’s dirtabilty, but the upright ergos and general sure footedness of the new bike’s 1510mm wheelbase mean it’s still quite capable of a squirt up an occasional dirt road. It’s only when conditions get too wet and boggy that the road rubber doesn’t deal.
REALLY SHINES
SPECIFICATIONS TRIUMPH TIGER ENGINE Type: Liquid-cooled DOHC 12-valve in-line 3 cylinder 4-stroke Displacement: 1050cc Compression ratio: 12.0:1
Co-pilot also rates the passenger comfort amongst her favourites. The stepped seat allows for good visibility from its rear section. Getting on and off the bike in full kit with the optional touring luggage can be a bit difficult for the passenger, but once on board and underway all that is forgiven. It’s just such a sweet ride.
Bore x stroke: 79 x 71.4mm
The CoG is relatively high, but once you have the suspension dialled in, the aluminium twin spar frame works well with the Showas and it’s an entirely predictable ride. The ground clearance is also good. No scraping at all – even when hamming it up for the photo shoot.
FRAME
The 20 litre fuel tank provided good New Zealand touring range and it’s allday-riding kind of comfortable. The Tiger works in the city, for touring, sports riding and for general hack work.
ROAD TEST TRIUMPH TIGER
On the tarmac it really shines. The riding position is ideal for dealing with Kiwi roads. It’s upright, with wide, relatively flat bars and is close to optimum for vision and hazard avoidance, while allowing room for rider and passenger to move. The upgraded suspension deals nicely too.
Starting system: Electric Engine management system: CDI Fuel system: Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection Clutch: Wet multi-plate Transmission: 6-speed Final drive: Chain
Type: Aluminium beam perimeter Swingarm: Braced, twin-sided aluminium alloy Front suspension: Showa USD-type 43mm fork w/ adjustable preload, rebound and compression damping Rear suspension: Show monoshock w/ adjustable preload & rebound damping Brakes: Twin 320mm rotor floating discs w/ radially-mounted Nissin 4-piston calipers front & single 255mm rotor w/ Nissin 2-piston caliper rear
The black livery with gold forks and embellishments turns it into my idea of quite a fetching bit of kit to look at too – without being different enough to need piercings.
Wheels: Cast aluminium alloy multispoke 3.5 in. dia. x 17 front & 5.5 in. dia. x 17 rear
Prices start from $19,590. The Arrow slip on is $1,395. There are optional Ohlins suspension upgrade kits, and seat, luggage and ABS options to consider; however configured, it ticks all my boxes for a New Zealand road bike. KR
Wheelbase: 1510mm
Tyres: 120/70ZR17 front & 180/55ZR17 rear DIMENSIONS Rake: 23.2° Trail: 87.7mm LxWxH: 2110 x 840 x 1320mm Seat height: 835mm Kerb weight: 228kgs Fuel tank capacity: 20L RRP: $19,590 ($20,790 with ABS) Test bike: Triumph NZ Ltd GEAR Helmet: Arai Jacket and pants: Rev’it Boots: Harley-Davidson FXR
One of the sweetest engines in motorcycle-dom powers tall, gangly Tiger all-rounder. In basic trim Tiger is a light, nimble large capacity sports/ tourer, as happy carrying a pillion as it is being ridden solo. Basic spec can be supplemented by all sorts of factory-approved Triumph accessories like the sweet-sounding Arrow muffler fitted to the test bike.
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