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Talk => Speaking Of Bikes... => Topic started by: ghulst on July 04, 2019, 11:33:44 PM

Title: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 04, 2019, 11:33:44 PM
Ok guys, it is that time of year again... I have sold the Beemer and am looking for something fun again. So, I had a Steamer, then traded that in for an 1150GS, which I liked, but it was just too heavy to manoeuvre into the garage. However, I found the Steamer to be a bit old (yes, environmental regulations in many big cities don't help with their age) and I was wondering how they compare to girlies in behavior and fun (mostly). I am not a big fan of the look of the Girly, so suggestions for a more rugged look are welcome as well. (I might have spotted one that could be nice to buy, but it is 400km away...)
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Tiger-G on July 05, 2019, 11:25:12 AM
Hi  :icon_biggrin:,

I had two Steamer's.......and in their day, nothing could touch them as a Big Trailie !!  Big fuel tank, long range, two up comfort all day for a tall rider, great on the twisties, could carry lots of luggage, reliable, a bit too heavy for off-road fun, but it's more about the looks than off-road capability.

But.......they're showing their age now and look a bit dated. Things have moved on......

I've had three Girly's and still ride a 2006 995i. As a bike I just love it !! It's got a great engine, great acceleration, makes a great noise on the over-run, it's lighter and more chuckable than the Steamer, but still has all the attributes of the earlier Steamers. It's been super reliable apart from when it went through it's mid-life crisis and wouldn't start for a few months. It put itself right eventually.

It's going to be a sad day when I have to get rid of my Girly. In my opinion all the Tiger's that have come after the Girly just aren't "proper" Tiger's in the spirit of the bike.

So......back to the question in hand....... I would go for a Girly. All the good bits from the Steamer, with a few added extra's !!  :icon_wink:
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 06, 2019, 09:49:03 PM
I'll try to locate a 955i version of the girly to go and try then. :)
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: HockleyBoy on July 08, 2019, 12:31:20 PM
I have had two Girly's and covered around 200k miles on them, I love them, great bikes, pretty reliable and easy to maintain. If you are buying the later cast wheel model (both of mine are) look out for clutch issues on the 2006 model when some bits changed over to 1050 parts.
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 08, 2019, 10:39:38 PM
So maybe not try to land a '06 then. ;)
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Tiger-G on July 09, 2019, 11:00:50 AM
Quote from: ghulst on July 08, 2019, 10:39:38 PM
So maybe not try to land a '06 then. ;)

I would say the 2006 is the perfect one to go for......in fastest colour silver   :icon_wink:
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: HockleyBoy on July 09, 2019, 12:26:58 PM
Quote from: ghulst on July 08, 2019, 10:39:38 PM
So maybe not try to land a '06 then. ;)

Don't let me put you off the 06 model, most peoples are absolutely fine, just one or two of us have been unlucky!
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 12, 2019, 08:47:03 AM
Quick update. While looking for a girly, I stumbled across an '11 800 for the price of a girly. Hopefully I'll be picking that up soon.
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Tiger-G on July 12, 2019, 11:25:57 AM
Oh dear.......not my cup of tea  :icon_sad: ........but hey ho........good luck  :icon_wink:
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: London_Phil on July 12, 2019, 06:24:07 PM
I'm very happy with my 2012 XC.
ABS and a centre stand are good, if fitted.
Screen protection seems to be a big issue to some people. I fitted a Givi to mine.
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 12, 2019, 11:20:45 PM
Quote from: Tiger-G on July 12, 2019, 11:25:57 AM
Oh dear.......not my cup of tea  :icon_sad: ........but hey ho........good luck  :icon_wink:
I'm sure it is not everybody's cup of tea. For me it was the bike that was my first experience of a Tiger. Triumph did a push to get people to ride their bikes at dealerships and I was the fool to answer to it. ;)  I did like it a lot. Great handling, great engine, but way above my budget. So I started looking for a Tiger I could afford and ended up with a Steamer. Great bike, really liked it. Especially when I upgraded the front suspension with Wilbers and a Hagon rear shock. But I wasn't happy with the Wind protection and when a GS came along I just had to have it, so the Steamer had to go.

The 1150GS was a great bike. I thought it was a fantastic runner, but... There always is a but in this story. ;) Wind protection wasn't much better, though the boxer does keep your feet nice and warm. The biggest problem for me was the weight of the bike. Not when riding, because the weight disappears when you ride it. However, when I needed to manoeuvre it into my garage, it was hard work. So I sold it and tried a single cilinder for a while, but I didn't like it. So I started retracing the bikes I liked most and the Tigers came back into view. Based on budget, I could only do either a Steamer (but I knew I was not going to be happy with that) or get a Girly (hence this topic). But I have never been a big fan of the looks of the Girly, so now that an 800 has come up for a similar budget, I am trying to snap it up. It won't be final until it hopefully sits in my garage on Wednesday. We'll see.

Quote from: London_Phil on July 12, 2019, 06:24:07 PM
I'm very happy with my 2012 XC.
ABS and a centre stand are good, if fitted.
Screen protection seems to be a big issue to some people. I fitted a Givi to mine.
It does have ABS, but I haven't seen a centre stand in the pictures. I've seen a couple for sale for decent prices, so I might add one later.

What do you mean with screen protection? Is that that the wind protection is not that good on it? As far as I remember from my test ride, I was happy with it at that moment. I am really just looking for my torso to be out of the wind. Wind around my head is not a problem. I've ridden two great Transalp's that had the same amount of protection and I liked that better than most other options.

Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: London_Phil on July 13, 2019, 12:00:03 AM
I don't do too many miles these days, and most of my riding has been urban.
When I got the Steamer, I had a lot of buffeting around the head/helmet, so I fitted a taller screen, and had the same with the 800.
It may be a number of issues to do with helmet type, height, and expectations, so I would say that the 800XC is a good all rounder, Fuel Injection is the thing that made it for me.
I know everybody had different experiences with carbs, but mine was very poor, due to long periods of non use.
With the FI, it just stars and runs.
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 13, 2019, 11:13:23 AM
Thanks Phil. I guess it'll be back to fiddling with screens then. Then again, I haven't had a bike where I didn't want to do that on. With the exception maybe of the Transalp, but then that lacked power in every possible way. ;)
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Chris Canning on July 13, 2019, 06:46:39 PM
Quote from: London_Phil on July 13, 2019, 12:00:03 AM
Fuel Injection is the thing that made it for me.


Me too and that was 20 years ago  :icon_lol:
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 13, 2019, 10:02:25 PM
I had two reasons not to get a steamer. One was wind protection. The other? Carbs and the ridiculous way in which they are mounted in the Steamer....
So, it was going to be a 955i or a Tiger 800. (I'm not a fan of the 1050's looks and wheel configuration.) Because of fuel injection. And the fact that I have got a Ducati in my shed that I'm really frustrated about getting running as the carbs setup is screwed. (I did do an ultrasonic bath for the carbs.)

So, FI for something to run everyday seems like a pretty good idea. ;)
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Chris Canning on July 13, 2019, 10:47:31 PM
Welcome to the 21sr century  :icon_wink: but I have to say your selection of which bike and which injection system leaves a lot to be desired the jap fuel injection on the 1050 is light years in front of the Sagem on the 955.
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 14, 2019, 03:58:44 AM
LOL, but how does the FI system om the 1050 compare to the 800?
The 1050 was a looks/purpose thing. I like an allroad bike. I know, it is a bit like a soccer mum driving an SUV as I don't venture offroad daily, but I occasionally do and I just think the 1050 is not the bike to do it on. The Girly and the 800XC seem to be better suited to that.
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Chris Canning on July 14, 2019, 08:43:17 AM
As someone who all but stopped riding a road bike to race offroad(enduro) for 10 years i'm Always amused when I see heavy road bikes touted as off-road just because they look like they can!!!

Re the difference between 1050/800 i'm Sure someone will be along with info,I never found the actual pure performance between the 955 and 1050 be much of a difference until the last flybywire option the problem with the Sagem system it does what the hell it likes an exact science it ain't.

Despite having both and X/R BM and a KTMGT still enjoy riding my much modded 955 Tiger from a marketing point of view i've Never understood what Triumph are thinking with their current line up but if they ever come up with a big HP triple with 17" wheels i'm In.
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 14, 2019, 11:07:05 AM
Quote from: Chris Canning on July 14, 2019, 08:43:17 AM
As someone who all but stopped riding a road bike to race offroad(enduro) for 10 years i'm Always amused when I see heavy road bikes touted as off-road just because they look like they can!!!
Oh, man, this is a point where we should dit down in a pub and we could probably kill hours on the topic. Next time I'm in Birmingham... ;)

But to put it in perspective, I am definitely not an enduro racer. In fact, I have just sold my DR800 because that was just not my bike. I mostly ride on the road, so I might have compared myself to a soccer mom in her SUV at some point. ;) However, in this area we have lots of dams and small roads that are not covered in tarmac and a bike like the Tiger XC allows me to explore those roads. I am not going to take my bike and ride the Hellas Rally. (With my offroad skills, I would probably crash out in the first 10km.) But I at least want to be able to explore whatever road I see. And what I ride could probably be done with a 19", 17" front wheel (or even on Honda's X-ADV scooter (https://www.motopinas.com/motorcycle-news/honda-x-adv-scooter-beats-ktm-and-bmw-enduros-at-2019-gibraltar-rally.html)), but I am a sucker for the looks of a 21". There, I've said it. ;)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/3914/14878164180_8f3ac4a54d_z.jpg)
And yes, even during my first ride on a new bike back in '14 I did take it to my definition of offroad. ;)



Anyway, in my case, the first Triumph I ever rode was a Tiger 800XC. Because I liked that, but didn't have the money to buy a new one, I ended up with a steamer. So, I might not have that same view (or dislike) of Triumph's current line-up as you have. ;)
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Chris Canning on July 14, 2019, 12:51:15 PM
I bet we'll be in Middleburg(visiting friends) before your in Birmingham  :icon_biggrin:

Have to say i'd Be tempted to suffer a 19" front wheel having seen Timbox's KTM Adventure but for riding on the road a 17" (Michelin RS  :icon_biggrin:) is in my DNA
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Timbox2 on July 14, 2019, 08:52:31 PM
I have to say, the 19" front came into its own today, came across miles of newly gravelled tarmac with 20MPH max warnings (Danger of skidding it said). I wound it up to 75 and it felt fine, much to the annoyance of a line of Back patch Harleys I passed all crawling along at the advised 20 :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 14, 2019, 09:21:09 PM
Quote from: Chris Canning on July 14, 2019, 12:51:15 PM
I bet we'll be in Middleburg(visiting friends) before your in Birmingham  :icon_biggrin:
That all depends on when you get to Middelburg. I've sent someone else to do the Birmingham trip this month. ;)

But, if you beat me to Middelburg before I get to Birmingham, let me buy you a beer. ;)
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Chris Canning on July 14, 2019, 09:57:37 PM
As work is a four letter obscenity that I no longer use i'll Let you know  :icon_biggrin: oddly enough i'm Trying to drag my Dutch mate and his other half over here for the Stafford Classic show but after they moved from Breda to Middleburg at least makes for a shorter trip for us.
Title: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 14, 2019, 10:11:27 PM
And a much nicer area to ride a bike in. ;)
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Tiger-G on July 15, 2019, 12:13:59 PM
Quote from: ghulst on July 13, 2019, 10:02:25 PM
(I'm not a fan of the 1050's looks and wheel configuration.)

Well said that man !!  :icon_salut:

It's absolutely criminal what Triumph did to the Tiger when they brought out the abomination that was the 1050. To turn a perfectly good Big Trailie into a road bike overnight is just wrong. As I've said many times before.......could you see BMW turning the GS into a road bike and destroy its heritage as a Big Trailie?? The GS community would be up in arms over it !!  :icon_evil:

And I stand by what I've said before.......whoever was behind the design and implementation of the 1050 at the Triumph factory should have been put up against a wall and shot !!  :icon_evil:
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: London_Phil on July 15, 2019, 08:36:29 PM

And I stand by what I've said before.......whoever was behind the design and implementation of the 1050 at the Triumph factory should have been put up against a wall and shot !!  :icon_evil:
[/quote]

Or Maybe just not called it a Tiger?
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Chris Canning on July 15, 2019, 08:39:49 PM
Nothing wrong with the the 1050 apart from the size of the tank and the Last 1050 flybywire was a peach just needed more HP Triumphs mistake is not watching the market Ducati have the Multistrada and BM the X/R and KTM have the GT and the 1290 Adventure and Triumph have thumb up their ass producing what!!!

My Tiger came to life when I took that poxy 19" front wheel off it.
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Chris Canning on July 15, 2019, 08:44:25 PM
Quote from: London_Phil on July 15, 2019, 08:36:29 PM
And I stand by what I've said before.......whoever was behind the design and implementation of the 1050 at the Triumph factory should have been put up against a wall and shot !!  :icon_evil:


Or Maybe just not called it a Tiger?

And that is typical of the snotty attitude that produced the 1050 forum that ticks over a dam sight better than this one does and looking at the sales of other manufacturers completely out of sync with the market.
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: London_Phil on July 15, 2019, 11:07:57 PM
I'm a bit lost at the thrust of your comment Chris.

Personally, I think the 1050 is an amazing machine, and if that's what works for you then that's OK.

It was Tiger-G's comment about the shooting of the 1050 designers, and I was just trying to quote it, and suggest its the name that ties it to a line of bikes it really doesn't belong to, imho.

I don't agree with Tiger-G, my point was its not really a Tiger, and had it been called something else, would it have stood on its own merit, and I think it would.

I don't like the style of the Scrambler either, but I'm sure its great, and if that's your deal then I'm not going to accuse anyone of poor design.

Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Tiger-G on July 16, 2019, 11:18:54 AM
Although we've had this conversation many times before........

You don't make the modern reincarnation of the Triumph Tiger (in 1993) in the guise of a Big Trailie, sell thousands of bikes, build up a following, then turn it into a bloody road bike in 2007 !! It's just wrong.

Then they turn it back into a Big Trailie ??

Showed a total lack of direction, focus and respect at the factory  :icon_evil:


And you're right...........it should never have been a Tiger, it doesn't deserve to wear the badge  :icon_wink:
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: Chris Canning on July 16, 2019, 07:19:04 PM
Oh blimey we are going over old ground the difference being Graeme your completely wrong and the sales market proves that the Tiger has never been an off-roader Triumph sold an image and little else unless you consider riding up a farm track off-roading!!!

All the Tigers produced at Hinckley have a road DNA the fact that Triumph put big bars on and a 19" front didn't turn it into anything else apart from a compromised road bike I only found out i'd Only been having half my monies worth till I went 17".

I find it rather ironic that having converted my 955 in 2002 and Triumph built their option 4 years later and Ducati and BMW followed some years later think i'm The one in tune with modern day sales.

If a manufacturer wants to go for an off-road/road like Hondas Africa or the new 700 Yamaha then fair enough but sales are minuscule compared to the big numbers that they are after.

Triumphs mistake is get lost engine wise this 765 will eventually get them back on track pardon the pun but it's all about short stroke engines just hope they don't spend years trying to figure the marketing out but my X/R and KTMGT will more than do for now with a little back from the old 955.
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 16, 2019, 08:54:15 PM
Quote from: Tiger-G on July 15, 2019, 12:13:59 PMcould you see BMW turning the GS into a road bike and destroy its heritage as a Big Trailie?? The GS community would be up in arms over it !!  :icon_evil:

Quote from: London_Phil on July 15, 2019, 08:36:29 PM
Or Maybe just not called it a Tiger?
Well, BMW did turn the GS into a road bike and did that quite publicly. They just called it the XR and were done with it. And the punters liked it. Having said that, the XR is not going to outsell the GS any time soon. ;)

Anyway, to get back to another off subject, I rode the 800 today and it had a different problem. It started fine the first time, then when I tried an emergency stop (to see if the bike would run straight), the engine died. When I tried to start it again... Nothing. The battery was dead. We brought out the multimeter and the battery measured 11.8v. After a short bit of charging the Tiger fired up again, but as the engine was running the voltage over the battery was only 8 volts. I am assuming it is just the battery that is dead... But it could be something in the charging system as well. Anyway, it is up to the seller to sort it. ;)
Title: Re: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: London_Phil on July 17, 2019, 08:13:23 AM
Stators do fail, as do Regulator/rectifiers, which are separate on these bikes.
Not a huge problem to fix, but something that does get mentioned regularly on the 800 forums.
Like almost everything, it's not perfect.
Starter motors seem to have  limited life, and have been modified a few times during production.
Main fuse/relay is under the battery, and can suffer corrosion if the vent blocks, and water collects.
Title: Steamer vs Girly
Post by: ghulst on July 17, 2019, 02:49:09 PM
Thanks Phil. Great to know.

Right now, it is up to the current owner to sort it. And for me to be the patient potential buyer. ;)
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