Triumph Tiger reviews

Have 12,250 miles on my 2002 955i Tiger. Longest trip was from Fl to Mn. With the hard saddlebags and a soft tailbag on the rack, this is a great touring bike. Unless it's a steady rain, I ride all season long to work. With the state of the roads in WI (frost heaves, potholes, patches), the long travel suspension really pays for itself. The motor is awesome-lug it from 2500rpm, roll-on at at 4000 (~60mph), or pulling on a downshift from 6-9000 rpm- This motor is perfect for commuting. Only gripes would be the seat height is tall for me (32" inseam), CG takes some getting used to, gas gauge is conservative (on E by 200miles. usually get 260 miles per tank). Show less

This is my second Triumph and it will be my last. I should have learned from my first experience with my 1995 Triumph Thunderbird. It had many problems during its 86,000km life with me and I was, on more than one occasion, highly annoyed with the high cost of parts and service. My 2001 Tiger shows signs of giving me the same level of grief. After only 44,000km it has blown an alternator, is plagued by a squealing fuel pump, constantly vents coolant from the overflow tank after being filled to the proper level, has snapped a clutch cable, broken one of the cheap plastic quick disconnect fuel line couplings, suffered a plugged gas tank vent valve and still doesn't run right after the latest of several software update tunes has been downloaded to the F.I. management system. Some of the design issues include an overly soft front suspension, poor quality powdercoat finish on the engine cases and handlebars, and most frustratingly requires expensive radial tires with INNER TUBES. A flat tire on this bike will cost you upwards of $400CDN. Parts are very expensive and there are very few aftermarket items available for this model and for the entire Triumph lineup. A limited dealer network makes you think twice about taking any long trips; most mainstream bike shops will not have the required special tooling and diagnostic software to affect an emergency repair should you break down miles away from home. On the plus side, the bike has unique looks, a powerful engine, good brakes and is quite comfy on long rides. Show less

Somwhere way back in my youth i learned never to rate anything a 10, in this case a 5; supposedly because it would cause the thing or person you were rating to stop trying to be better...don't ask me! I just got my Tiger a little over 60 days ago, so I can't give you one of those "long term perspectives." But i will tell you that i can hardly keep off the thing! I have never owned nor ridden a motorcycle that was anywhere near as fun and sxciting to ride as my Tiger. I do own and have owned many of the other MAJOR brands of motorcycle and my feeling is they all fail in comparison from a fun-factor standpoint. This machine is part sportbike, part touring machine, part drag bike and part enduro and somehow, someway Triumph pulls it off in one package. The bottom line is I am absolutely mystified way every motorcyclist doesn't own one of these things and I mean that. Show less

I have just turned 20,000 miles on my 2000 Tiger and would only think of giving it up for the 995cc Tiger ; the two are identical except for the engine size (885cc). This bike does it all, is forgiving on the gas, and costs me less than $300 for full insurance. At 90, the tach sits comfortably at 6000, well below the red line. Stop and go grunt, however, keeps the Tiger well in my heart and it can hold high revs while holding solid torque throughout the mid-range. With a superior view-line of the road (this bike is tall), you are able to see around and ahead of those *!&%!$* SUV's. The forks are a little spongy, but this can come in handy on poor roads and can be corrected with stiffer springs. I've seen some Tigers that have even been lowered. Stock tires are sticky (7,000 miles avg.), fuel injection flawless, and overall craftsmanship superior. Maintenance is app. $1,000 a year, so be ready. Included in this cost, however, was a tank bag (which is essential to the bike - it allows an amazingly comfortable leaning position), and a new can that has growl and bumps up the power. Show less

I purchased this machine midway through a trip from Alaska to California to Colorado and back home. I had a serious case of buyers remourse initially (I didn't really NEED a new bike, payments, etc.) but that left very quickly. This is an excellent bike for long distance touring, around town hopping, and two track offroading. It's too heavy for real serious dirt work. The windscreen and seat do need help for long distance comfort though that hasn't stopped us from doing 1055 miles in 18 hours. Fuel economy has ranged from a low of 49 MPG to a high of 57.5 MPG. I did drop the rear sprocket 5 teeth for better over-the-road performance and mileage. Would I purchase the Tiger again? Oh definitely YES! Show less

Well, so far so good. I bought a used 2001 with 210 miles on it and have only ridden it 400 miles, so my review doesn't hold alot of weight, but I will write in later with a more detailed review when I've put some miles on it. It is really very comfortable to ride and provides awesome power in a smooth and non-japanese way. I had a VFR and decided the tiger riding position was awesome for all types of riding, from long hauls to short sprints. It's not a sportbike but it can keep up with some, don't let the high center of gravity look fool you. It attracts alot of attention when you are riding, you don't see many and they are a blast to ride. Every time I get off mine, I have a smile on my face. I will write back in after some well ridden miles. Thanks for reading. Get one if you want a comfortable, sport oriented machine that has class!! Show less

I bought the first bike that hit my dealers floor and it's great. I have had a few minor problems, but they were all warrantied no problem, and the bike never left me anywhere. The new motor has more power and runs smother than the 885 Show less

I own a 2001 Tiger with the factory hard bags, centerstand, and performance exhaust, and these additions transforms a very good bike into a truly great bike. The sound is good without offending any of my neighbors, the power increase is about 11 hp at the rear wheel, and it really wakes up the upper half of the powerband, in addition to fattening up the midrange torgue. The centerstand makes maintenance much easier, and the bags are quite useful, good-looking, and provide huge ground clearance. I find the engine smoother and stronger than the BMW air and oilhead GSes I have owned or ridden, and wonderfully versatile in the city, the twisties, or touring. The handling is great, with gobs of ground clearance, and the suspension just soaks up the bumps even when riding quickly on twisty roads. I think the brakes are quite good, but fall short of true sportbike quality, although I notice less frontend dive under braking than on other long-travel suspensions I have ridden. I find my bike handles quite comfortably on dirt roads, with predictable powerslides easy as the front end stays fairly well planted. However, it is a real handful on really crappy jeep trails. Mileage is about 50mpg, oil changes very easy to do, chain is a breeze to maintain with the centerstand, and my bike has been dead reliable. I find the seating position great (I'm 6'4"), but the seat is not comfortable for long rides. This is one of the most versatile bikes I have ever owned or ridden, and I recommend it to anyone who lives in an area with paved and dirt twisty roads, or anyone who wants one bike that does a great many things very well. Ride safe. Show less

I have owned the Tiger for 2 years and 18,000 miles of trouble free riding. It does take awhile to get used to the riding position, rode a Sprint Executive prior. Vibration is present from 4000 rpm up but does smooth out as the miles add up - it is much smoother now than when I first got the bike. There is a fix for the saddle- Sargent Seats, I got mine back in 1 week($230). Now I can do 650 mile days with no problem. The bike handles better than a sport bike in the tight stuff and I can cruise all day at 85+ mph and still get 48 mpg. The Tiger is truly a do it all type of motorcycle. I will keep updating as the miles roll on. Have just returned from a 3200 miles trip with a friend on the BMW 1100 GS and he says the Tiger is a smoother ride than his at higher speeds. Show less

I just bought a 2001 Tiger and with only 1300 miles on the odo it has given me a headache. The first ride out it stalled half a dozen times, then as it began to loosen up the clutch and valves started to rattle. I went back to the dealer and they said it was normal. The first oil change cost me almost 200 dollars, now while sitting on the carport it decides to start leaking oil from the countershaft seal. All of that aside it is a beautiful bike comfy all day but will soon be replaced with another HONDA. Show less