Will we need a new category in Tiger Time?

[Sin_Tiger]

When Triumph rolled out the Trident 660, which seems to have been well received, I thought to myself "That would make perfect sense to use as the base platform for a mid range, budget, lighter ADV to compete with other makes" then I thought Nah you're being too logical. Looks like I was right and I was wrong  It'll be interesting to see how things develop and how many that like the DL650 and the like might be tempted. 

[Nick Calne]

With the bigger bikes getting increasingly expensive it makes a lot of sense. I would imagine it would be under £10k.

I wonder if they'll make a rally pro version?

[Sin_Tiger]

  Those were also my thoughts.

[Nick Calne]

Another thing I have noticed is that a lot of people who are into adv bikes are getting, well.... a bit older. Do they all want a 275kg BMW any more? Not so much I think.

I reckon any adv bike below 200kgs with decent power under 10k is going to sell.

[London_Phil]

Going to be a RE Himalayan for me next, and probably a Bonnie or Speedmaster for posing...Can buy both for less than £8K used....

[Nick Calne]

The new speed master looks the business.

[London_Phil]

Actually I tried one at Laguna Maidstone, and I have to say it looks Hipster, but its not for me. I prefer the 2009 look with the kicked out front, and smaller front tyre.
I love the flow of the tank/gunfighter seat, a cross between the Triumph Hardtail chop I never finished, and my 79 Electraglide..
As Ghulst's review of all the adv bikes, its a personal choice I think. Be awful if we all liked the same thing (he said in a bike specific forum!!)

[Sin_Tiger]

Himmy might not be a bad choice in your area and TEC have managed to develop a camshaft that turns it into quite a useable tool  oops I think I've just blown my cover.

They might well pull it off if the pricing is right, which probably means considerable overseas componentry which I'm not so keen on 

[Nick Calne]

I like that one too Phil! And you are right, it is the variety of preference that makes motorbikes so interesting.

Personally, I prefer the newer speedmaster and in the event of a lottery win it would be in my garage alongside the current fleet, a crf450, a 1200xe and something crazy fast like H2.

As for Sin tiger's suggestion here.... not sure!  Do I detect a purchase is being planned...?

[London_Phil]

Not sure if Sin is looking seriously.
I've just finished my last contracting job, and have no expectation of employment going forward, so I might just be able to get a second hand Speedmaster, but the Himalayan is too much like the Tiger, as far as the CFO of our house is concerned, so will wait.
As Sin says, there are some lovely aftermarket options for the Himalayan, and the Continental/Interceptor, so that's something for the future.
I rediscovered the Speedmaster whilst looking at the Bonnie/RE Conti earlier in the year, and I just like the look, so would rather have an older SM than a newer RE.

[Sin_Tiger]

You're quite safe    I just lurk from a technical aspect. I like what the guy at TEC does having met and chatted to him when I got a few bits for the Thruxton.

A friend of mine in Singapore had the EFI Speedmaster and I can say it was at least as good as the T100 in performance, handling etc. in no way did the cruiser arrangement detract from the base variants. I have to admit it felt very comfortable and unlike a few other cruisers I tried, I felt confident riding at a similar pace.

[ghulst]

To get back to the start of the topic, I do like the look of the Tiger 660:





As adventure bikes are getting bigger and bulkier, there is a definite market for smaller more agile machinery. After all, with the power of the current crop of 660's, this could be as powerful as the steamer was, but quite some kilo's lighter. (Though I do expect it to tip the scales slightly over 200kg with fluids. That seems to be a really hard number to beat.)

As Ghulst's review of all the adv bikes, its a personal choice I think. Be awful if we all liked the same thing (he said in a bike specific forum!!)

That is absolutely true. The interesting thing here is that the current crop of adventure bikes is pretty different, yet pretty similar at the same time. I would definitely put the Africa Twin 1100 and the Tiger Rally Pro 900 in the same category. Then Ducati has made its new engine so smooth that it almost feels boring for a Ducati, which puts it in BMW's way. But then KTM has gone for full hooligan mode and ridiculous styling, making that the only one that is really an acquired taste... Or that is my quick overview. The RE Himalayan is not on this list as I feel it is under the current crop of 300 lightweight adventure bikes with less power, more weight, and more nostalgic styling. Not that that is a problem, it is just something else completely. Not to be compared with Kawasaki's 300 or BMW's 310GS.


Oh, and has someone already mentioned the new 1200 Tiger for 2022, which Triumph say is going to be a competitor for the KTM Super Adventure S beating it on weight and power?

[Bixxer Bob]

I recently swapped the Mk1 Explorer for an 19 plate XRT.  Always said I wouldn't buy electric suspension and then BAM!  I did.  In my defence I liked the colour. 

It goes like the proverbial, corners like its on rails and has enough toys to keep a teenager occupied for weeks (  but given I only adjusted the Mk1 suspension once, three years after buying it, maybe say a lifetime for me )  However, depsite being lighter on paper, it barely feels it and at 66yrs of age I wonder how much longer I'll be able to cope.  A660 ADV would be very tempting.

Regarding the Speedmaster,  nice looking bike, but I rode one earlier this year whilst doing escort duties for the local dealer Trident launch.  The feet forward position didn't suit me and my back was agony after the first couple of miles.  If you open the throttle it gets louder but not noticeably faster.  And I didn't get into 6th gear until we reached a straight bit of road near the end of the run.  I was surprised to find it had one tbh,  I thought it was a 5 speed box    Also,  I don't have the look-at-me ego for it. I prefer the scruffy gear (yes, I still have my 100k miles Heine Gericke suit) scruffy bike kinda cool, especially as it's low maintenance. I hate washing bikes although my pink pig purchase has saved on the scraped knuckles a bit.  On that note,  a pet hot air dryer is pretty much the same spec as a bike dryer but half the price if you look on Ebay