2009 Triumph reviews

After one year of ownership, the Triumph only seems to run better. Unlike the 1960's era Triumphs, the America does not have a spot of oil or a loose part anywhere after 4,600 miles. Just amazing build quality and heavy duty chrome. With my wife on back (total 400 pounds) the bike accelerates effortlessly from 55 to 75 mph. - and that is going up hill. Show less

It's light, nimble, powerful yet well-mannered. It's easy to ride, yet so far able to handle anything I ask it to do. It's retro-cool styling with modern technology. It has a decent price point. There's the fun of riding something different from everything else out there on the road. And the downside is..? Show less

Bought a new 2007 Tiger in February 2008. I traded my older model GS on this 'kitten'. Turns out, this kitten is quite the cat. It's quick, nimble, fun to ride. I put on a Russel Daylong, big Givi's, tallest calsi windshield, crash bars, etc. I took 21 days and rode it to Prudhoe Bay (Dead Horse, Alaska). I currently have around 32,000 miles on it. I have only had two problems ever. (1) i didn't keep my forks clean going through Alaska and thus lost both fork seals. (2) I have to once a year tighten all the motor bolts underneath. It gets good gas mileage and also gets good mileage out of the chain and tires even though I put a trailer hitch on it at times. It's a home made job that works rather well. I use that when I go camping with my youngest son. Very Versatile! Take the bags off and its almost like having a race bike. It can handle a load all day long. I really enjoy this bike and I have had a few over the years. It's a great deal for the money. Show less

I have put just about 15,000 trouble-free km. on my Tiger. I've been through British Columbia a couple times and Alaska once. It hasn't let me down once. It's very quick, very fast. It's not the best seat for just sitting there. It hurts after a couple days in the saddle. I must ride spiritedly, moving around a bit, to not get sore on week-long rides. It has lots of passing power and nice nimble handling. It does dip on breaking though. It does not seem to adversely affect the handling too much, but it does make coming into a corner too hot that much more exciting. Show less

First off, let me say this bike is not for someone who does not want speed. It's super fast on the road, super light, super smooth and the power is addicting. The symphony of pistons is incredible. The only gripes I have are with the steering stops and speedometer. It is very hard to maneuver around in the garage and the speedometer is hidden behind the cables while you are seated. Now for the shocker. I just traded it in on a 2010 Bonneville. It was just too fast for my self control. Show less

This bike was bought for my wife. We both liked the looks and it was one of the few bikes she felt comfortable on since it feels small, has a standard riding position, lightweight and low seat. Even though this bike is for my wife I can't stay off it. This is my favorite bike I have ever riden, period! I've ridden and owned a lot of bikes, have a Speedmaster (awesome bike as well) and am a very experienced rider. Obviousely it's no race bike but it's more than capable of serious canyon carving with sportbikes and fits in with the cruiser crowd as well. The engine is amazingly smooth as well with a perfect torque curve. Fit and finish is great. I noted the 4 for comfort because the seat is hard and the rear suspension is a little harsh but I'm being overly critical though. Triumph does make a gel seat and not much they can do with the suspension to keep the look. I've read a lot of reviews on this site where people say "can't go wrong with this bike" but with this Triumph, you really can't go wrong. No matter what type of rider you are, I promise you will love riding the Bonneville. Show less

Well, as the title suggests, the first thing that really caught my attention while riding this bike is how well it handles. I only bought the bike a week ago so I don't have a lot of miles on it yet but I'm a very experienced rider and don't need a lot of saddle time to tell. This is, however, my first cruiser. I've owned dirtbikes, dual sports, supermotos, standards and sportbikes and none have impressed me this much this soon. True, I wasn't expecting too much from a cruiser but this thing rides great. Power is what is expected from a 845cc air cooled unit (keep in mind it's a lightweight by cruiser standards though). Anyway, it's an absolutely great bike, handles like a sport bike, very comfortable (even with the forward controls which was new for me) and I'd strongly recommend it to anyone. Show less

Easy To Handle Love at first ride. I hadn't ridden in 20+ years, and this was a great fit for me. It's like a gentle hybrid of sportbike and cruiser, with sporting footpeg position and quick handling, but relaxed power delivery. Basic bonnie with 17-inch wheels feels amazingly easy to maneuver at all speeds. The engine is docile but strong enough to stay ahead of most 4-wheeled traffic. I can roll on throttle at 35 in fifth gear and it pulls smoothly with lots of torque. A little buzzy, I think it might benefit from a 6th gear, but maybe Triumph has good reasons for using 5. The rear suspension seems a bit harsh; I need to ride with slightly arched back and pay close attention to bumps and dips in the road, but that's OK; helps keep me focused. Although a new set of shocks might be the first upgrade I get. Either that or some new exhaust pipes; don't want to sound like an outlaw but the stock set is almost too restrained and polite. Overall, it's a very good bike for commuting, occasional longer trips and winding roads. Show less

Warning, Warning! If you ride this beast, you will find all others pale in comparison. I first looked at the bike the first year Triumph brought out the Rocket III, but I had to wait until they brought out a touring model. I have owned mine for just over 2-1/2 months and have over 4300 miles on it. Long hours in the saddle are not an issue and it handles like it's on a rail. Beware if you have a problem with the need for speed. This bike may cost you in tickets! Show less

I bought this bike as a supplement to my BMW R12RT touring bike. The Tiger has only one weak spot -- a seriously under-sprung front suspension. Even at my weight of 170 lbs, the springs were about 50% too light. I installed RaceTech springs and a Gold Valve fork rebuild kit, and it transformed the handling of the bike. The stock rear suspension is good for my weight. The engine and transmission are as good as you can get for this type of bike. The front brakes are a little grabby though, so be cautious if you don't have ABS - I will replace with Carbone Lorraine pads at my next brake fluid change. The saddle is a little better than average, but could be improved. I use this bike in warm weather and when teaching various MC classes. This bike is easily the equal of the BMW R12GS I had a few years ago -- and at a much better price. Show less