2004 Triumph Tiger Motorcycle reviews

Riders in the USA don't seem to get this bike, as a result they don't know what they are missing. Yes, it's tall. It handles like a sportbike in the twisties, and is very comfortable for 700 mile days. Enough front end protection from the elements, but not so much you feel like your in a cocoon. A big improvement were the tubless wheels, it still needs better breaks and suspension (both addressed effectively on the '07 model). I love this bike and would highly recomend it to those that want only one bike, but need it do many things quite well. My Triumphs have proven to be as reliable as anything available today. Show less

I looked at the Tiger for several years and compared an awful lot of different bikes before I bought my 2005 Lucifer Orange Tiger. My biggest concern was wind protection. I had a Harley Electra Glide for 14 years and was not used to riding with a helmet. My dealer turned me on to Cee Bailey's windshields and I put their highest one on. I still get more wind noise than I would like, but it comes from not having a larger fairing. That being said, the Tiger is an awesomely fun bike to ride! I challenge anyone to test drive one and not be very impressed. Acceleration? Got it. Power? Got it. Ride? Got it. Luggage? Got it. Fuel economy/range? Fantastic! Handling? Wide bars are wonderful. Value? 4K cheaper than a BMW GS plus it comes with sidebags! It's a little windy on the passenger but the bike does so well in everything else that it's just a matter of getting used to. For a commuter, I don't think it can be beat with the high riding position. The high beams light up the countryside. We're talking about practicality and performance here. This class of bikes has it in spades and the Tiger gives a lot of bang for the buck. If you want to be like everybody else, buy a Harley and enjoy high prices and endless accessorizing costs. If you want to stand out from the crowd, hop on a Tiger and get ready to grin! Show less

Growing up with a dirt bike backround my first street legal machine was the Suzuki DR650 which I proceeded to take cross country. The 650 beat the crap out of me and needed some mechanical attention along the way...simiply not built to keep up with road bikes. Though it was very rewarding when the road ended for some off road mountain fun. Tiger's have always peaked my interest but I knew how well the BMW GS models were built. Dollars limiting my decision, I jumped for the Tiger. THIS BIKE DOES NOT DISAPOINT! Plenty of throttle to lift the front end and keep up with sport bikes in fast paced group rides with all the confidence you need for the twisties. Very dependable though not much fun to work on...removal of the tank and top of the engine to get to the plugs. That said my Tiger has never missed a beat and she's regularly serviced by the pro's. On a trip down to the Key West my best friend joined me on his GS1150 which we both felt was bullet proof and worth every penny. The Tiger is quicker but tops out faster, the GS and it's lower center is better in the turns. The Tiger wins the fun to ride catagory as it feels more like being on a big dirt bike off road in the Everglades where as the Beemer felt like an automated tank. The Beemer lacks the zip the Tiger has so much of. I sold my Tiger for financial reasons but am now in the position to get the new GS1200 or another Tiger...It will be another Tiger...they are too much fun! Show less

I'm 6'1" and come from the enduro world riding Honda XR's and the last is an XR400. Then, since I was going to turn 40, I decided to go into the Cruiser world and bought a beautiful Yamaha Road Star 1600. The Roads in my latitude are in bad shape and lots of turns, so, after a while, I decided to search for the best bike for a combination of City, Highway, Fire Roads, Mountain Roads with turns that you see your own license plate, etc. The only local choice was the BMW 1150 GS which many friends of mine gave me excellent references. There are no Triumph dealers in Panama, but I had seen one in our neighbor country Costa Rica. I fell in love with the bike and bought it in Palm Beach and shipped it down. The bike is much better that I thought, my BMW friends have rode it and they are very well impressed that for less money is a faster, lighter and better bike. For me it is great that I don't have to worry about little holes on the road, or being left behind in the turns or unable to go into fire roads, in other words, I'm fascinated. I 100% recommended for tall riders, but for short ones.....buy something else or you will drop it and will hay to pay $$$ for broken panniers, steering, levers, etc.... Show less