Finally home. Approx 1500 miles, 4 days and very few pics.

[tazshido]

Got tigger home and the ride was fantastic. It could have been better but I was hurried by the weather. I'm not going to have much of a ride report because I had to stick to the superslabs to make time to beat the nasty (possibly snowy) weather.

My new aquisition, a 2006 silver Tiger runs like it's new. I have some observations as a new Triumph Tiger owner. The steering is rather heavy, but only when compared to a bike like an R6 or CBR. It IS rather top heavy, but only at a standstill, once I get this bike to even 5 MPH it is very tractable with no surprises. The seat is fantastic! I must have a "tiger bum" because I wouldn't change that seat at all. With the addition of my sheepskin (an old UH60 Blackhawk seat cover) it is Iron Butt ready. The torque curve is so linear that I continually forgot what gear I was in. The bike absolutely does not need a six gear transmission, but I'm glad it has one. I HATE the Avon distanzias that came on the bike. Even though I checked pressure twice daily, the front started getting this "ramped" wear. Each tread lug is worn almost 1/4" deeper at the front of the lug than at the rear. This makes the ride extremely rough on the highway. I will be replacing the tires with Avon's Storm 2 ultra on the rear and an Azaro up front. The suspension is a love/hate thing. I love how it soaks up the bumps but don't like the wallow hitting any kind of pavement anomaly while deep in a turn. I'll get used to it but after my CBR, it feels squishy. At least it will out turn a Harley (easily).

All in all I am extatic about my new bike. It fits me (I'm Stretch's size) and it handles all the chores I ask of it with very few complaints. Too bad they changed the Tiger in 07. I can't see that they will sell more of those per year than the girlies.

[aesdj]

All the points you have made are exactly what I think about mine. Only own'd it a year and had a ZZR1200 before that so its quite different to what I'm use to. About your front tyre "ramped" wear pattern, my Anakee has done the same but I can not get my head around how this could happen. Does'nt seem to affect the handling althought in the first year of owning it I only did 1000 miles because the wife was ill and I bought the bike with the tyre already on so I don't know what it would ride like without this ramped effect. I wonderd if it was made that way but without comparing it I'm pissing in the wind abit with that one.

[tazshido]

I'm going to try those dedicated road tires with dynabeads for at least this season. I just don't see me going on any fire road outings this first year. I plan on doing a lot of rallys, poker runs and maybe an Iron butt, so street tires will be the best bet for me.