| Author | Message | ||
     Chrisrogers3 |
So yesterday I was lucky enough to spend the whole day demo-ing some bikes at Northern Colorado Euro (and I really have to thank my girlfriend for being there with me while I sat in a dealership for six hours while she patiently waited for me WHILE on vacation). I put about about 30 miles on each of them. I started off with an 800GS, then moved to a 1200GS and then onto the Ducati Multistrada. All of the above bikes were great and I had a lot of fun on each of them, but they just didnt speak to me like my old trusty Uly always did. Thats when I tried out the Triumph Tiger 800XC. This bike may not have the torque of the Uly but damn its going to be the next bike I throw into the stable. It has more torque than an 800GS and has a 10K redline with a 21 inch front wheel. Triumph has all the toys for it but rumor is they gave Touratech a couple bikes so they could make some accessories. The bike is the absolutely "funnest" bike I have been on since the Uly and it handles just as good as the Uly in my opinion. I could go on and on about this bike...... but seriously, go find one and try one out (Dealers should be getting them soon)! For me it is filling the void that was there when I sold my Uly. If anyone has any questions about these things I would be happy to give you my input as from my understanding there are only a few dealers nationwide that have them currently.  | ||
| Luftkoph |
I do so like that bike,I just wonder what the passenger accommodations are like versus the all mighty ulysses. | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
Triumph does offer a nice touring seat for the passenger. The passenger seat is nice and wide but doesnt offer a whole lot of padding. For the rider, the seat height is adjustable (about an inch) and is quite comfy right out of the box. | ||
| Eternalbiker |
Wonder if you could change it over to Belt drive...  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Like it except for the muffler location. Bags always have to accommodate the muffler and that is not right. | ||
| Hughesatron |
meh. a 800GS clone. nothing original here. (Message edited by hughesatron on March 27, 2011) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I'd like to see an adventure bike with a backwards engine like seen in the YZ450F. Pipe comes out the rear of the engine and that makes sense to me. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on March 27, 2011) | ||
| Luftkoph |
I don't see any other place to put the muffler they have to be so honking big now,can't go underslung it would restrict ground clearance,under seat to hot,plus restrict wheel travel,between engine and rear wheel would make the wheel base longer. I really like this bike,hope to see one at the dealer in traverse city when they get one.I could use a bike that doesn't break down every time I take it on vacation. | ||
| Mnrider |
I like it. Looks like it would be OK for a passenger with the footpegs to seat room. ABS? Hows the wind protection? | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
"A 800GS clone" ..... I rode the 800GS prior to riding this. The 800GS has less power and isnt nearly as smooth. However the GS weighs about 20 lbs less. Overall maintenance interval specs are about the same between the triumph and the GS. Dont get me wrong, I did like the GS, but I felt the XC was overall a LOT better bike. There are a lot of aspects that remind me of the GS and honestly on paper they are close to the same bike, but the Tiger feels so much better than the GS did in my opinion. As far as the bags and the muffler- yeah it is a kicker, but the V-stroms have many options for bags just as I am sure the triumph will have many options. Currently though only Triumph makes bags for it. | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
ABS is an 800 dollar option (the one I tried did not have ABS). Wind protection wasnt the greatest, but triumph does offer a more touring oriented adjustable screen. I think a passenger would be comfy as long as they keep their leg off the damn muffler! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Been to Sturgis many times, 3 Homecomings, and numerous other places and my ULY has not failed me other than a flat I had to plug. Any bike can have a problem but here on the internet that is mostly what you hear about so it makes you think that that is all there is. Not true at all. | ||
| Luftkoph |
Electraglider_1997 I wish mine was like that but 2 years in a row it has let me down away from home,once in va.took it to a hd/b rented a street glide while they worked on it.Then last year on the way home from mid ohio vr took a crap in flint waited 5 hours and had my chick come and pick me up.Whats gona happen this year, we will see,but that trumpet do look good | ||
| Hooper |
I have to say...I don't get the sub-1000cc-twin options for a sport-touring bike. For me, a 6'3" 220lb dude, I just can't see cruising on any twin less than 1200cc. I'm not doing much off-road and I really do want the OOMPH of a bigger engine, especially on the road with luggage, where I spend most of my time. Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe those BMW/Triumph 800cc bikes are light, but my experience with sub-1000cc-twin engines just didn't give me enough get-up-and-go for my size, desire, and riding needs. | ||
| Hooper |
Oh, and 17,000 miles and zero problems with my Uly (other than the battery/ground issue). | ||
| Dynasport |
Chris, your experience is why it is so important to test ride a bike for yourself instead of take someone else's word for how good or bad a bike is. A few years ago I read numerous articles about how great the BMW F800ST was. They had demo rides at Biketoberfest so I decided I'd ride one for myself. I didn't like the bike at all. It was buzzy and made certain parts near and dear to me go to sleep during the fairly short demo ride. I knew right away the bike was not for me in spite of what so many others were saying about it. You rode four bikes. Two Beemers, a Duc, and the Trumpet. The Duc is the hot bike currently and costs almost twice what the Triumph costs. Yet you chose the cheapest bike you rode because you liked it best. Before I bought my Uly XT, I test rode a 1200GS because I had heard so many good things about them. I didn't like the seat, which surprised the sales person, but outside of that I thought the bike was OK. But just OK. When I test rode a Uly, I liked it better. Of course the Uly vibrated more and was no faster, but I still liked it more. Some things are hard to understand, much less explain. Like why you like a certain bike better. But when you know, you know. | ||
| Ourdee |
I don't see any other place to put the muffler they have to be so honking big now,can't go underslung it would restrict ground clearance,under seat to hot,plus restrict wheel travel,between engine and rear wheel would make the wheel base longer. Maybe they could turn the swingarm into a muffler? (where did I hear that?) | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
haha yeah Dyna you have a VERY valid point! And by the way- I have the SAME complaint about the 1200GS. I hated how the seat was angled (the sales guy said it was adjustable though). The Uly is still hands down my favorite bike which is why I am buying back my old Uly. But I still have some garage space for a little tiger! The Duc is a hot bike, but its really hard to accept the price tag. The bike is everything and nothing all at the same time. It has the appeal and a phenomenal powerplant, but to me its nothing more than a glorified sport-touring bike. Its gearing and power make it nearly impossible to take any off-roading seriously (even in enduro mode). | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Bags always have to accommodate the muffler and that is not right." We almost pulled the trigger on a 1050 tiger a couple years back, the smaller bag size was one of the factors that gave us second thoughts. Having three locked cases that each accomodates a full face helmet is a beautiful thing when three of you are out and about on 2 bikes. "The Duc is a hot bike, but its really hard to accept the price tag". +1. I am still a little freaked out by the maintenance (valve adjustments  ), and the price of parts. Been seeing a sweet red one around town lately, don't think the two Uly's would mind an Italian stablemate  . | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
The newest 1200 multistrada has 15K valve adjustments these days which makes that aspect a little easier to digest. But there are a lot more things about that bike that scare the Sh!t out of me (like the 4 separate fuel maps all combined into one), or the electronic suspension on the S models. Those are the parts that keep me away. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"there are a lot more things about that bike that scare the Sh!t out of me (like the 4 separate fuel maps all combined into one), or the electronic suspension on the S models. Those are the parts that keep me away". Us too. The reality is any bike can break but we want to be able to fix most stuff ourselves. Not only is it usually more cost effective to do the labor yourself, but it's more convenient to do the work in your own garage, and not have to trailer it to a brand dealer an hour or more away. We are blessed to have a reliable all around mechanic ten minutes from home. We were drooling over a shiny red 07 MTS a few months back before the X appeared and asked said mechanic about valve adjustments. His response, he can do it, but was not his favorite task. IIRC the 07's were due every 7500 miles or so, so yea the 15K schedule is more palatable but not real appealing. Our time is worth something too, and is a big X factor in the true cost of ownership equation. | ||
| Wbrisett |
Before I bought my Uly XT, I test rode a 1200GS because I had heard so many good things about them. I didn't like the seat, which surprised the sales person, but outside of that I thought the bike was OK. But just OK. When I test rode a Uly, I liked it better. My RT had to go into the shop and the BMW shop was suppose to be able to fix it while I had lunch. Turns out the part that was ordered was missing a few things, so they had to take a bike off the floor. Anyhow, it ran longer than expected and I had a meeting back at work. I know the owner of the dealership fairly well, so he loaned me a GS1200 to ride back to work. Other than the tires, it felt almost exactly like my RT to me. My Uly feels entirely different, it really does have a fun factor to it the GS can't match. I certainly can understand why you thought the GS wasn't the match for you. I do like the new Triumphs, but with three bikes in my mix now (RT, Uly, and CR), I'm out of both money and space to put another one into the mix.  Wayne (Message edited by wbrisett on March 28, 2011) |
