You can only own one of two bikes.
The 955 tiger (or a steamer if ya happen to have one) roadies don't count
Or the new 800XC
Which one and why.I'm actually liking the XC but could never see myself without a 955i in my stable.
I think this new tiger is going to be a fantastic success and going by all the moto-journal reviews, the talking heads are gushing over both versions but most journos lean towards the XC
A big if, but "IF" money is not a consideration, its the 800XC hands down. New bike with abs, more offroad worthy than my Girly, Yes please.
NOW IF you consider I have to pony up $10,000 to get that new bike? Girly, hands down. She is still a dream to ride, I know her and where she has been, 3 years of fine tuning to get her set up the way I want. Lots and lots of life left in her.
Rode the Steamer to work yesterday. First time riding it for months. That big, fat tank up front...visions of Dakar racers of the past...the momentary stumble of the carb while it's still cold...the heated grips keeping my hands happy...the puzzled looks from the cars I passed...again the fat tank reminding my hips that they don't like being splayed out like that...(this is the most annoying trait for me)
I'm still on the fence, but a week ago I was almost for sure selling the Steamer and replacing with an XC. I'm decisive like a woman on this issue. :roll:
The ergos of the Steamer vs. the XC are going to be a factor for sure. I hate associating riding with pain. :(
Quote from: "JetdocX"The ergos of the Steamer vs. the XC are going to be a factor for sure. I hate associating riding with pain. :(
that's called aging it has nothing to do with the bike comfort :ImaPoser
I'd agree with you except I can ride my Aprilia all day long pain free. That's partially why the Tiger is such a garage queen lately. :roll:
Weird isn't it. The steamer is the only "Comfortable all day" bike I've ever ridden. It fits me.
I hadn't noticed the tank being too wide and spreading the legs. Probably will now.... A few years ago I had a Yamaha Tenere that seemed intent on spreading my butt cheeks. Man that seat was narrow. Hmmm..think of a nick-name for that bike...
Compared to that I have a strong, strong preference for the steamer!
I have to say the new XC looks like it has good all day ergonomics. Can't wait to test it.
I'd go for the Beaker over a Girly, given the choice....
But not having ridden one its a wish based entirely on the fact the 800 is a little lighter and should be an easier ride for me ( I often prefer to take the Versys out for the same reason.... but when I climb atop the Girly I can't not like that triple....)
Went and had my first good look at both today in Triumph Birmingham, Im sure they are good bikes, and good value, but they dont do it for me, If one passed me I wouldnt be sure if it was one of many different bikes, thats one of the things I like about the Girly, unmistakeable and huge road presence, plus it fits me like a glove, a big fat ugly glove :lol:
Interesting question !!
I've only had Tigers since they were introduced in 1993. I've had two so called "Steamers" and two 955's (I can't bring myself to call it a "Girly").
So Triumph have gone from a 25 litre tank on the original Tiger 900, down to a 19 litre tank on the new 800, and the horsepower has gone from 104bhp on the 955, down to 94bhp on the 800 - and that's supposed to be progress - My Arse !! :(
I'll stick with my 955 any day.
The sooner Triumph bring the Tiger 1200 out, the better for me. Then we can get back to what the Tiger does best - masses of power and long range.
p.s. - I like the "Roadies don't count" comment. They were never a true Tiger.
Quote from: "JetdocX"the fat tank reminding my hips that they don't like being splayed out like that...(this is the most annoying trait for me)
Mustang's pegs help at lot in this arena. They are spendy but they made my hips hurt a lot less on longer rides.
KTM 990 Adventure
Quote from: "Colonel Nikolai"Mustang's pegs help at lot in this arena. They are spendy but they made my hips hurt a lot less on longer rides.
I have a set of Mustang's pegs and if anything, it got worse after I installed them. Sorry, Mustang. I'm sure they work for most, but I'm probably the freak of nature.
JD what seat do you have on your tigger?
Stock POS. :roll:
ahhhh
I can't ride my tigger for more than an hour before I want off with the stock POS
My corbins are all day affairs
Yeah, gotta get a Corbin. They are the way forward.
This gone way off topic, now. But, I had a corbin and sold it. Since the suspension mods, the bike sits higher and the corbin would not let me touch.
Had a corbin and it was the worst seat I've ever had.
I've got the gel seats and I really like them , long days not a problem.
And not for nuthin I'll never give up me 955i , just too nice of a bike
I've been thinking about this same topic (Girly vs. Beaker, not seat comfort) a lot since the Tiger 800 was announced. I've always wanted a "Tiger Cub", and Triumph has finally gone and built it. When the Tiger 800 actually came out and the reviews were positive, I decided an 800XC should be my next bike.
Now I'm not so sure.
First, the 800XC is having some teething problems. No surprise, it's a first year model, but realistically that means I don't want one until at least the 2012 model, maybe later, and then I'm going to wait a couple years after that for the used bike prices to come down.
Second, the 800XC is very similar to the BMW F800GS, so to be fair I have to ride both back-to-back to see which I like better. I'll probably still prefer the Triumph for many of the same reasons I liked the 955i better than the R1200GS (more oomph, more character, better exhaust note, and all for a lower price), but I have to try.
Third, I recently discovered that used KTM 950 Adventures are finally selling in a price range I'd be willing to pay, and that's weighing heavily on my mind. 950s and 800XCs have similar power, weight, and farkle-ability, and the 950/990 Adventures have a community just as insanely devoted and helpful as the Tiger community has been.
OTOH, I have no intention of letting go of my Girly anytime soon. It's reliable, speedy, amazingly flexible, all-week comfortable, nicely farkled, the bad bits have been sorted, and it's completely paid for. In fact, if it blows up anytime in the next couple years, I'll probably consider buying another Girly in the same generation (2001-2004) to replace it and just move all my gear across.
I must have a British butt - I've spent 14-20 hours a day on my stock 2004 Girly seat, sometimes for days in a row, and it's been extremely comfortable.
I would like it to be flatter, so I can choose where to sit and stop sliding into the lumps, but I'm afraid to have it Corbined (or otherwise refoamed) because overall it's been great.
I've been thinking... Is the 800XC better enough for off-road or piss-poor-road travel to be worth the extra money? Or can a Girly be modified enough to be just as good (or at least good enough), and still come out cheaper?
If I modify my Girly with:
- updated suspension
- 21" front wheel
- raised front fender
- tougher luggage
- crash bars
- radiator guards
- bash plate
- grippier pegs
- tougher handguards
...does the 800XC really have any advantages over the 955i on an adventure tour?
The Beaker is lighter to begin with, but it's still a bigass bike to be taking in the dirt. Loaded with fuel and luggage it still tops 500 lbs.
The 800XC has an aluminum swingarm which can't be welded back together by a backwoods mechanic 1000 miles from the next city.
The Girly is not just heavy, it's topheavy, and that's a problem on sketchy surfaces (mud, sand, gravel, rocky riverbed, etc.). The Beaker supposedly hides its weight well. This may be the most significant difference on bad roads or off road, and I don't know any easy or cheap ways to make the 955i lighter or improve its CG. The bike feels amazingly easy to handle with the tank off, which leads me to wish I could move some of the gas and/or the battery lower, but there's no room to do that.
The 955i doesn't have a stump-puller first gear, and doesn't like to go too slowly. Fixing that with sprockets might make highway travel a bitch. I haven't ridden an 800XC yet, but I haven't read any reviews that mention an ultra-low first gear for technical off-roading situations. I'm guessing it has the normal road-oriented ratios. Gearing may be a wash.
The reviews say the on/off throttle transitions on the 800XC are somewhat abrupt. This is one thing the 955i does better than any other bike I've ridden, and one of the top reasons I fell in love with it. It's easy to smoothly roll on and off the power without help from the clutch. That 's a big benefit when traction sucks.
The 800XC actually has
less suspension travel than the 955i. Nobody complains about the Beaker's suspension travel, so it must be enough.
Quote from: "zombie2"You can only own one of two bikes.
The 955 tiger (or a steamer if ya happen to have one) roadies don't count
Or the new 800XC
The 800XC!
Especially if coming from a Steamer like myself - I now have 2 years work guarantee, no MOT's to be done for the first 5 years - all the latest in gadgets such as ABS, EFi, On board computer... - more power - better stability - cheaper to run - AND LIGHTER.... Ooooh does that make a difference :D
I still wished I'd kept my old Steamer - but - well - ya know .....
Life goes on... Embrace and enjoy!If we keep hanging on to the 'old' things and ways of life, then we'd still be here in fur cloths and clubs in our hands!!!
Move on - keep pushing the envelope of technology...
If ya so sentimental - keep the old block of metal and preserve it.
Just my view on things!
It's DEFIANTLY not the view for many - and PROBABLY the view of some!
I miss my old Steamer even with the Air filter changing issues, I own the 1050 now and is a great bike with poor head lights but a thriller indeed 20k in less than a year.
One thing about my steamer I miss is being one with it I could throw that Baby into a hard turn faster than the 1050 with No Fear Many years on Dirt bikes made me love that big 19" front wheel on the Steamer, thinking about the 1200 coming out!!
Have not posted in some time.
(http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk237/ramseypete/Tig.jpg)
:iagree For some unexplainable reason I have a bit more confidence on the Steamer, maybe it's an investment thing :icon_scratch