I have...and I'm starting to feel downright guilty about it.
It has been 2.5 years since I stole my Steamer, and I'm now hard on the trail to get another bike. But what? Had a deposit down on Tallerman's '06 955i but didn't follow through, test rode a Daytona 955i (first time ever riding a sportbike - WOW), rode a buddies '05 Sprint, have a [refundable] deposit on a 640 Adventure, have spoken with the Husqvarna dealer about a TE610...and just found a local 1150GS Adv. and am seriously thinking about going back to that clunky old boxer.
What is so hard about this decision? Is it that my Steamer is really ALL of those bikes rolled into one?
Maybe I should just keep riding my '96 and be happy. Take the money I'd spend getting something new and send it to the poor lady I stole it from. $3500 was, afterall, a steal for this bike that I have beat the crap out of...and had more fun on than I came close to having on my $17k Big Money Waster...
I'd love to hear what you guys think. I commute 130 miles/day on the slab. I will be keeping my Steamer. Should I gear the Tiger up and keep it on the street, then buy a smaller bike for 'adventure' riding? Or should I leave the lower gearing and off road wheels on the Tiger, and pick up a bike to commute on?
I've only owned 3 bikes in my life...650 Dakar, GS Adv, and this Tiger (which now has 38k miles on it)...so it's hard for me to figure out which way I should go - if any way!
Thanks.
Whew, I was worried you were gonna toss out that Steamer.
Just want to pipe in before I head to the shops, I'd think to get the Sprint myelf since that was listed as an option. Off the top off my head I am not sure if you had a set of more road biased tires on the Tiger now, if not, a Sprint can pick up some Long Distance riding slack. It certainly should be a bit less buzzy.
Like I said, just going off the top of my head and using the options posted.
Well, I can't say I stole any of my bikes. More kind of freed them.
But I like you to know that I would not even dream about replacing my Tiger Trail 900 with something more off road suited. When I think about the money, I invested in this bike, I shoulb better have bought a new LC4 or a used LC8. It would have been a better investment. 'Cause I will hardly see any of that money again, in case of selling the TT9...
But I don't regret it!
The tiger is a great bike. It's engine is second to none. And beating the shit out of it... well, you allready said it.
So why do you want to replace it? Get a second set of wheels with a pair of more road orientated tires and a smaller rear sprocket. If you have some practise, swapping wheels can be done within 20 mins and less. Believe me. This is what I did with my 955i.
Just do the right thing. And have fun!
Patrick
PS: How about the rally screen? Have you been able to fit it?
Quote from: "Patrick"PS: How about the rally screen? Have you been able to fit it?
Oh ya, baby!
(http://mudhen.smugmug.com/photos/156204880-L.jpg)
My street tires on the stock wheels are TKCs...other than on my Dakar 4 years ago, they're all I've run (other than MT-21s/D606s on my off road wheels). Just can't seem to kill the set I'm on now...+10k miles and only half gone.
The Sprint is out. Before I rode it, I thought that would be THE bike that I'd be getting. But I have lower back issues...and there's just no way to get my back straight on it. Can't sit all the way up, can't lean all the way over.
'engine second to none'. AMEN. Totally spoiled with this motor. Wish I could take it and stick it into a GS.
'So why do you want to replace it'. Great question...as the light bulb goes on....maybe it isn't that it's such a great bike afterall - maybe it's that the way I have it setup makes it not so great at anything. Not good enough on the commute, and just too plain heavy for the off roading around here.
I need 2 bikes. Argh.
Quote from: "Mudhen"I need 2 bikes. Argh.
Yep I agree there is no way around it. You need two bikes.
Put some street tires on the Tiger and pick up a DRZ, KLR, KTM, or a honda for the off road stuff.
That's my plan when the money is available.
I would love to have two Tigers one for street and the other for off road. set it up like yours (By the way nice bike Mudhen). But it looks like I can find a DR a lot cheaper than a Tiger but I'm still looking.
I need two bikes, also. Not for myself, but my wife is never going to be comfortable enough on my Tiger, out on the highway, at highway speeds. Above 55-60mph, it just beats her to pieces. It's a great touring bike, for one person; not for two. It carries two-up, just fine, but the wind is too much for her, on the back of my Tiger. Since my daughter-in-law has told me the same, I guess it's true. So, I'm thinking of picking up an ST or FJR 1300, for hauling wimin. I might try the Rocket Classic route, but I just can't go the GoldWing route, anymore.
Whatever 'extra' bike I end up with, I already know it won't be as much fun to use as the Tiger. Strange... I am perfectly happy with this one bike. My wife's the one who wants two.
Since your complaint is that the Tiger is too heavy for real off-road duty, I have to agree with DB: get yourself a serious dirt bike, and put street tires on your Tiger.
Yep, that's pretty much what I did. Got the Tiger for urban combat, and the KTM 640E for backroad and offroad duty. I haven't had the wife on the back of the Tiger yet, she may complain too about the wind. I had a FJR, but my carpal tunnel bothered me even with it. I would have to consider a R3, or similar cruiser maybe. I've seen what a 'wing can do. It's impressive in the least, just not for me. 'Hen, good luck!
Mike
hold on a sec...I've got a question for ya...
(that Rally screen looks the business BTW)
You've got a Steamer center stand! I've only heard complaints on those things ..so I am pretty interested in hearing about your experiences with yours please!
And... my DRZ-E takes care of my enduro cravings. My Tiger is the do it all...my DRZ is for jumping around on trails..and looking at a cruiser of all things for local puttering.
That's a tough call Mudhen. If the bike has been so good to you, you should probably keep it. At 38K that motor has lots of miles left. I saw an article where this one mid-90's Trident (same 885 engine) had hit 1,000,000 miles and still running strong. It was a fleet bike in a messenger service. Have you considered some upgrades like cartridge emmulators and a really good adjustable rear shock (wilbers?)? But yeah they are pretty top-heavy off road. If you can manage it, it sounds like a second bike, like a DRZ, is the way to go. My 0.02
Cheers
Quote from: "burntclutch"You've got a Steamer center stand! I've only heard complaints on those things ..so I am pretty interested in hearing about your experiences with yours please!
+1 on the C-stand report please. I recently added the one Twisted Throttle sells to my 98. Have not hit any twisty roads yet so can't say if it scrapes. I do recall there is more than one design for steamer C-stands. The factory offered one, and possibly two versions.
Scott
Quote from: "nightowl"Quote from: "burntclutch"You've got a Steamer center stand! I've only heard complaints on those things ..so I am pretty interested in hearing about your experiences with yours please!
+1 on the C-stand report please. I recently added the one Twisted Throttle sells to my 98. Have not hit any twisty roads yet so can't say if it scrapes. I do recall there is more than one design for steamer C-stands. The factory offered one, and possibly two versions.
Scott
I wonder if mudhens stand is the OEM one or the one you have?
Sure would like to see how yours looks too nightowl! I have had the OEM Triumph centerstand in a box in my garage for 5 years. I keep hemming and hawing after reports of loaded bikes or just with one pillion crashing in round abouts and turns.
I am figuring with all the suspension work done, I probably won't drag but sure would like to know more about it.
AFAIK, the center stand is the factory one. I've only owned the bike for a couple years, though...it had 22k miles on it when I got it in January of '05. It works like a center stand - although it's a little tall when I have the 17" TKCs on and a little short when I have the 18" MT-21 on. I never really push the bike in the twisties, so I've never touched it down.
I had my suspension completely redone by a place in CA...'Aftershocks'. Revalved and resprung front and rear...total emphasis on it's dirt capabilities. What an amazing difference.
I'm leaning towards another GS right now. Even if I gear up the Steamer and run street tires (TKCs ARE street tires, though), I still have to get gas every morning, and I'm still fighting the wind a lot more. Plus I like the leg room of the GS - both the seat to peg and the built in highway pegs (crashbars). I'm only 5'9"...not sure how tall people ride Tigers. I just really hate that stupid motor, though...and the hand position...and the sound....
This is the bike:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=231979
There's also a Multistrada 620 at a local dealer, and an '05 Tiger with 3k miles on craigslist. But with either of those bikes I'm still short on gas. Any of you guys ever ridden a Multi?
Was just at my local Triumph dealer...he said he needs to unload some new Tigers. I guess they stocked up on them and haven't been selling any. The price he gave me is less than that GS...
Going to take it for a spin, anyway. I've never minded the look, just hate that stupid front wheel. I wonder what it would take to fit these:
(http://mudhen.smugmug.com/photos/41825102-L.jpg)
Lets RITFU!
:lol:
QuoteAny of you guys ever ridden a Multi?
I test rode the 620 and found it just fine. If you're used to a bigger motor you may be slightly disappointed when you roll the throttle full on but I'm sure it would be nice for that long commute.
Quote from: "burntclutch"I wonder if mudhens stand is the OEM one or the one you have?
Sure would like to see how yours looks too nightowl! I have had the OEM Triumph centerstand in a box in my garage for 5 years. I keep hemming and hawing after reports of loaded bikes or just with one pillion crashing in round abouts and turns.
I am figuring with all the suspension work done, I probably won't drag but sure would like to know more about it.
Well I took some pics of mine last evening. Instructions here say I can't upload pics and I don't have a smugmug account or other such site to post them. I need to get up to speed on such things. If you PM me I can reply with pics.
Now if you ride with a passenger or load with luggage, you should be adjusting that shock to compensate, right? Also, if you run with the eccentrics in the lower position, there is obviously more chance of dragging a C-stand. But yes, I have read complaints about Tigers dragging the C-stand and others who say they drag their boot long before the C-stand so its hard to say.
Scott
PM coming your way...
thx! If you'd like I will put the pix on my photobucket account and publish them here if that's cool.
Just replied with pics. Feel free to post. It is the SW Motech C-stand from Twisted Throttle.
Scott
got it..will try and post later...
BTW,
wth do you use for lube? My rear sprocket has never been that clean since I installed it!
That's more of a sign that I don't ride it enough. I should almost put it on display in my living room. LOL But there is this Honda dry lube I use. It comes in a red spray can. Its not as sticky as most of the chain oils or that [ugh] chain wax. When you first spray it, it acts like a light solvent and flushes dirt away (hold a rag under the chain), and then dries quickly and leaves lube film. Seems to work good but I have not cycled through several chains so can't comment on chain life.
Scott
Hi Mudhen,
I saw your first post on this but then went to New Guinea for a few days.
I like your appraoch and you seem a medodical and thoughtful guy. Forgive me if I'm stating the bleeding obvious, just thought I'd recap some of the stuff you've said and see if that clears the fog a bit...
You started off saying that you were interested in a new bike and that your steamer was too heavy for the dirt riding in your area.
Then in a later post you alluded to some concerns about the Steamer as a commuter, but in both posts you reiterated that you wanted to keep the steamer.
Seeing that's the only constant you have I'd start there. Sounds to me like you are tired of making the Steamer do everything in your riding life, but you want to keep it.
So I reckon the first place to start is to invest some quality head scratching time figuring out what of bike the Steamer will finish as ie: commuter/road/fun bike or Patrick challenging enduro weapon!
Once you've figured that out you wil at least know what knid of machine no2 should be.
Good luck and have fun,
Quote from: "Advwannabe"So I reckon the first place to start is to invest some quality head scratching time figuring out what of bike the Steamer will finish as ie: commuter/road/fun bike or Patrick challenging enduro weapon!
Garage art?
If I get a GS for commuting...my guess is that the Steamer will pretty much just sit until I'm psychologically ready to sell it (which means I'm ready to take the the 75% depreciation hit on all the things I've done to it!)
The new Tiger was ok when I rode it the other day. On the highway at 80mph, it was more planted, quieter, and I was fighting the wind a lot less than on the Steamer. It was fast...a wheelie machine (but those forks don't like the landings very much :lol: ). And the brakes were absolutely crazy good compared to my bike. The bad was the seat, which constantly rolled me forward onto the family jewels; the fuel delivery was downright horrible - on/off/on/off; the handlebars were too low (no big deal there, though - it looked like there was enough slack in the cables to get some risers), and the handling in the corners (most likely just my own inexperience with that dinky little front wheel...but I didn't like how it felt at all).
I'd sure like to stay with Triumph...new with a warranty would be nice, and it would be a blast to try to mod it up to make it an adventure bike (I have a shiny new MIG welder I'd like to try out on some crashbars, skid plates, etc)....but I really don't want to support Triumphs decision to ruin the Tiger name...so f'k them. They don't get my money. :shock:
Sorry about the hijack with the C-stand. Should have started a new thread. Anyway, my $0.02 on your dilema. You have already owned a GS Adv and you have the Tiger so you should have no trouble deciding between those two. You said you've had a lot of fun on the Tig. I would add whatever upgrades/repairs it needs and keep it, and then get something small and light for off-road. Its a whole different experience not to have 500-600 lbs of mass to wrestle around on trails. How about a DRZ? Or even smaller? I assume you want to keep it street legal, or (?).
Anyway let us know and good luck!
Scott
QuotePosted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:50 am Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garage art?
If I get a GS for commuting...my guess is that the Steamer will pretty much just sit until I'm psychologically ready to sell it (which means I'm ready to take the the 75% depreciation hit on all the things I've done to it!)
I feel your pain :lol: My older brother has just got a job after going back to uni and is planning to buy a 12GS. I know it will be a better bike in the slow stuff than a Girly but I'm too pig headed to sell and I just like it!
Then when I think about what Triumph has done to Tigger I think, why bother?
I love showing up somewhere in the middle of nowhere, mud dust and crap all over the bike, then watching the locals react when they see it's NOT a BMtroubleyou. pure vanity I know but Tigger is just a bit different and I'm gutted I can't get a 'new' one.
Maybe we'll just have to turn the 1050 into the bike we want........ On the positive side its lighter and it has a great engine!
Cheers
Hen, for what it's worth, I commute on my 05 about 45 each day, all highway. Average 210 miles till the light, then about 45-50 more. My own opinion is it's just about perfect for New England highways. Nearby dealer has a black 06 brand new just sitting. Maybe keep your steamer for the mud and a Girly (if one can be had for cheap $) for the commute? Just a thought.
Also, you don't commute down my way do you? I've seen a very similar steamer at a local hospital around here.
Well...rode my new-to-me '04 GS Adventure home today. My first thought, as I was pulling away, was:
WHAT A COMPLETE F'ING TURD!!!!
My next thought was, 'I wonder how much I'm going to lose when I sell this next week'.
The motor/tranny is a total POS. Vibrations all over the place. At some rpms/speeds I was wondering if the rear drive was going to explode all over the highway. Do they really sell these things for $15k?
On the other hand...after 50 miles or so I was cruising in a complete deluge of rain with my legs up on the crashbars, 80mph, one hand, and totally stabile...loving it. I'd forgotten my earplugs, but it was quiet enough that I wasn't going stone deaf (even when I got home after 1.5 hours my ears weren't ringing). And I got to wear my Arai XD and my head wasn't shaken apart by the wind. When I was nearing home I stood up on the pegs like I'd done so many times in the past on my old '04...and it was AWESOME. Perfect everything for standing up - very much UNLIKE my Tiger...which even after a 2" riser still leaves the bars too low when standing.
Damn I wish I could put my Steamer motor/tranny into the GS. Or maybe bigger windscreen, lower pegs, fuel cell, narrower bars (the Renthals I put on are much too wide), and highway pegs for the Steamer...
Thanks for your comments everyone. Time to get the cheesy TKCs off the Tiger and mount up some proper knobs (D606s are sitting in the garage as we speak). Now I don't need it for commuting I can really wreck it in the woods! [-X
Ah, not.
Well!!! after a life time of trying to find the great alrounder that does everything,gave up some years ago and came to the conclusion that most people me included, sell their bike and buy another for all sorts of reasons,the real one being the boredom factor!!!
In 99 bought my first Tiger and a BMW 1100s,seemed an expensive experiment and worked well for 2 years till i rode a 955 Tiger which i bought in aprill 2001,it cost an extra £2500 plus my 885i and i worked out if every 2 years i put 2500 away, after 6 years i'd have £7500 to spend to still have both bikes!!!,rather simplistic i guess,but here i am still with both bikes,they are just as difficult to swap from one to the other,so here i am now with the money to buy another,and 2 free bikes that owe me nothing,maybe a little off the wall thinking!!! but has worked even better than i'd hoped.
I think you'll find it great fun swapping from one to the other.
QuoteOn the other hand...after 50 miles or so I was cruising in a complete deluge of rain with my legs up on the crashbars, 80mph, one hand, and totally stabile...loving it.
That is how I feel now after I installed my steering damper. Congratulation on your new ride and how about some pictures of it. :smt030
Quote from: "fano"That is how I feel now after I installed my steering damper. Congratulation on your new ride and how about some pictures of it. :smt030
Again...one of the things you could have mentioned BEFORE I bought the GS... :lol:
Here she is:
(http://mudhen.smugmug.com/photos/161843820-L.jpg)
Hopefully after a few weeks I'll come to the realization that this was an incredibly awesome move and there's no way I could live without the wonder piece of German engineering sitting in my garage.
(and hopefully I don't mean this):
(http://mudhen.smugmug.com/photos/17206139-L.jpg)
:roll:
Little too shiny for my taste, but otherwise it looks good. :smt023
Hey, we have the same hanguards :shock:
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n223/fano1/IMG_0579a.jpg)
That's a great looking bike (LOVE the mud on the XD!!!!!!). I should have gotten one and put a big windscreen on it, maybe that would have smoothed the air out enough for me.
My old GS saw its share of dirt and I paid the price in resale:
(http://mudhen.smugmug.com/photos/4036482-L.jpg)
This one will be the quintessential pavement queen. At least until someone invites me to go offroading with them :wink:
Hey Mudhen,
Well you've had that machine for a few days, how do you feel about it now?
I was also interested in your opinion of the 12GS, especially compared to the 1150.
I love the smoother power and Jenny Craig program but the issues with final drives etc have scared me off.
CHeers
Quote from: "Advwannabe"Hey Mudhen,
Well you've had that machine for a few days, how do you feel about it now?
I was also interested in your opinion of the 12GS, especially compared to the 1150.
I love the smoother power and Jenny Craig program but the issues with final drives etc have scared me off.
CHeers
You're scared of issues with the R12 final drives but not the 1150s? I thought the 1150s were bad...but I haven't been following the forums since the R12 came out. Did the problem get worse?
Ya, I've put 1k miles on it so far. One word describes this bike, 'vibrations'. Everywhere. All the time. Manageable at 80mph, though...except through the crashbars, which stinks because I like to rest my legs on them.
The stability/wind protection is awesome. For some reason, most days when I'm riding home on the Tiger I get knocked around by the wind a lot...yet the trees aren't even moving. Not so with the GS. I can feel/hear the wind, but the bike is solid. Plus I don't feel like I'm expending gobs of energy just trying to hold my body upright against the air hitting me in the chest.
The big question is if it's worth the payment. I love to tinker, but if I'm spending money on paying for the bike, I can't buy stuff for it. You guys posting pics of your 955s done up with crashbars, skidplates, etc are pissing me off... :wink:
And I'd sell the GS in a heartbeat if I could figure out a way to finance this thing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150133449717&rd=1,1
Mmmm...hack...
(http://www.snowcrest.net/vintjfan/images/Tiger2.jpg)
I'm not a sidecar fan..... but that rig looks sweeeet. Don't they need some kind of funny front end to steer properly though?
I feel the BMtroubleyou final drive issues got worse when they made the 12GS unit 'maintenance free'. I've been following the owners lists on them because I desperately wanted the 12GS to be good, but alas, enough issues to put me off.
Cheers,
Rode the Tiger to work today...bad idea. Holy crap I couldn't believe how awesome it felt. So I posted the GS. Screw it. My Steamer is way better than that thing. Oh, like you guys have never made a mistake before...:roll:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240788
BUT...on the way home it was just as bad as I remembered! Does this happen to anyone here - I'm getting KILLED by the wind. Struggling to hold myself on the bike, my jacket feels like it's cutting into my throat, and it feels like my face is trying to force it's way straight out the front of my helmet. That's at 90mph. Yet on my way to work in the morning at 100mph it's smooth. I'm wondering if it's a directional thing...heading east towards the ocean in the afternoon...any weather men here?
So anyone want to buy a GS? It would be a GREAT way to make you realize how great your Tigers are, if you need that sort of thing :wink:
well...considering all the GS guff we have to sift thru in the press and on ADV, sure glad to get a little validation. :D
No answer on the monster head wind though...try a more angled route? :lol:
Are you running those dirt tires. Maybe it's the tires (or is it tyres).
Anyway it's been pretty windy here hitting about 15 to 20 mile gusts sure I'm getting pushed around but not much more than our mini van.
I think my Tiger is just as stable as my Harley was. Maybe more because of the wind shield.
Might sound stupid but more knob and side wall flex might add up to a jumpy bike.
Just a thought.
Toby
Sounds like you might need some kind of windscreen fix.
Since Abruzzi has been kind enough to bring back the old posts, thought I'd give a 1000 word update on the outcome of the GS purchase:
(http://mudhen.smugmug.com/photos/185892781-L.jpg)
I feel better now.