High Mileage Tigers - Purchase?? Never Mind...found a 2006

[jakes10mm]

I've been looking around for my first Tiger and found an early 2000 model with nearly 60K miles on it.  Was "religiously" maintained.  Sounds high to me, but the price and feature already added make it very attractive.

Anyone out there with recommendations or experience with higher mileage Tigers?  Care to enlighten a new Tiger wannabe?

[abruzzi]

I've been looking around for my first Tiger and found an early 2000 model with nearly 60K miles on it.  Was "religiously" maintained.  Sounds high to me, but the price and feature already added make it very attractive.

Anyone out there with recommendations or experience with higher mileage Tigers?  Care to enlighten a new Tiger wannabe?

The engine is pretty bulletproof, so while it is relatively high mileage (and the price should reflect that) it should has as much useful life in the power-train.

Geof

[jakes10mm]

Despite what my local Multi-Brand Japanese dealer says are Triumph being finicky and unreliable, I've heard quite the opposite on this forum and the TriumphRAT forum.  After looking seriously at Sprint ST's and Daytona 955's, I'm settling back into the Tiger as my Number ! choice for my first Triumph.

[droopydawg]

A close friend of mine has a '96 Trophy.  185K on it (he is an Iron-Butt'r).  He has only done the routine maintence and was the reason why I bought Triumph anyway.  Otherwise, I may have been swayed towards a BMW F800ST.

[Stretch]

Despite what my local Multi-Brand Japanese dealer says are Triumph being finicky and unreliable, I've heard quite the opposite on this forum and the TriumphRAT forum.

Yep.  Before my Tiger, I had been riding Japanese bikes exclusively for 26 years, and was obviously used to the dead-solid reliability of those bikes.  Reading on Triumph-Tiger.com, the forebear of this forum, helped me to narrow my search down the the Tiger.

[Stretch]

Despite what my local Multi-Brand Japanese dealer says are Triumph being finicky and unreliable, I've heard quite the opposite on this forum and the TriumphRAT forum.

Yep.  Before my Tiger, I had been riding Japanese bikes exclusively for 26 years, and was obviously used to the dead-solid reliability of those bikes.  Reading on Triumph-Tiger.com, the forebear of this forum, helped me to narrow down my Adventure bike search to the Tiger.

For high mileage Tigers, read here:  http://tigertriple.com/forum/index.php/topic,3618 (http://tigertriple.com/forum/index.php/topic,3618)

.

[TigerTrax]

My '98 Tiger ( 885/non-FI ) had 55,000 miles on it and ran like a scalded dog.
I think what you want to do is simply ride the bike.

It should accelerate strong in ALL gears; Brakes will be a little weak;
Suspension a bit spongey up front;

If that bike does not have saddle bags.... that can cost you another $400-$500.

Personally I'd look for an '02+ ( came with saddlebags )

I don't know where you are in PA ... but these guys may be able to help you.
Tiger-PA: Ed Dreikorn  woodhead@gmail.com (mailto:woodhead@gmail.com)

[jakes10mm]

TIGERTRAX....thanks

I found a dealer fairly local that is willing to make a good deal on a 2006 Tiger Demo.  I'm going to try to get up tomorrow to look at it.  I will also contact the two people you suggested.

[Dr. Mordo]

I just bought a '96 with 77k on it.  It had a bad sprag clutch.  Once I fixed the sprag it fired up almost immediately and ran strong.  I talked to the original owner, who put 75k on it before he sold it and he said that he did no significant maintenance to it.

My mechanic (rebuilding the steamer's carbs as we speak) also said that Triumphs were unreliable, and then was surprised when I told him how many miles it had on it.  

I think the old Triumphs had a bad rep that has carried over.

[jakes10mm]

I've seen a couple Steamers out there well within my budget.  Come to think of it...a Steamer could be combined with a well-worn old Tiger or Bonnie and still stay within the motorcycle budget.  Then I could ride while enjoying the quality time with my kids while rebuilding the old bike.  

First, I need to look at the '06 Demo...it really has my fascination right now.

By the way, good to hear your Steamer is running strong at 77K.  Found a '01 Tiger on Triumph RAT with 55.6K for a fair price....not sure if I'm a big fan of the "lime" Green....although it's growing on me.

[Dr. Mordo]

That's the only real problem with the girlies - some of the colors they came in.

I have seen amazing deals in girlies, so if you hold out you can get a screaming deal for $4k-5k.  Or even less in some cases.

[TigerTrax]

Give this guy a shout...
msgrell@frontiernet.net    Located in Nebraska

Snot green '01/'02 ???
Very reliable, lots of touring miles. Runs strong.

[jakes10mm]

Picked up the 2006 Black Tiger today and clocked about 100 miles of highway, twisties, and dirt road.  Nice bike!  Definitely a change from my Harleys.  Still have a few harleyisms in my riding style, but that will soon change.  Already figured out that I can lean a lot farther over without scraping things.  That's Nice!  Only problem so far is the spare key...I got all the way home then realized they gave me the spare key to another bike.  Thanks for the support.  I'll post some pictures of my new ride.

[TigerTrax]

Have the dealer mail you the spare key....and you will return the other.

Black, huh!
Better check the garage and make certain mine is still there....
it is the 'color of choice' for discriminating buyers! Some think it is silver... but they tend to be hallucinating from the 'experimental 60's'.

Your 2006 has the 955i motor BUT 1050 heads. You'll feel a little 'rush'
at about 2200-2500 rpm.... that's a little better breathing. ( I think Stretch probably gets a charge outta that.... and Happy Man.... he's still waiting for warm weather!

Hope to see you in Davis, WV  at the Tiger Rally  June 19-22. Join up with the other PA boys.

[jakes10mm]

I would definitely like to start off my Tiger experience right with a Ride-In, but......I will be trekking through the Grand Canyon or Brice Canyon.  We have a family trip out west with my wife's sisters family.  Should be fun.  I wanted to take the Northern Out West route, but lost in the democratic vote amongst participants.  That's ok, I've got a Tiger and they don't!  

I am relearning shift points.  I was running the gears too quickly for this powertrain.  By the time I got home and went on a short jaunt with my buddy who rides a V-Strom, I'm running the RPMs up higher and finding the true joy of acceleration.  I did take a short run on the V-Strom; for me, the Tiger is definitely the better answer.  The V-Strom just felt "Hard", seat, bars, suspension, powertrian, etc.  It also lacked the great sound of the triple purring below.

I'll post some pictures once I let it sit still long enough.