Triumph Tiger 1050 reviews

Formally Bob from Boynton (see earlier review). Still love my Tiger. I've run 500+ mile sport touring days with no problem. The only minor problem I have had was a temp sensor that went bad...very easy fix. Add'l upgrades include GPS,CB,Thunderbike Pipe (a most-19 hp gain with tune!), re-map, sliders and a rear hugger. My butt does get a little sore after a long day-could use an aftermarket seat. I have two other bikes, but this bike is flat out fun. It gets plenty of attention and handles very well. I do plan on getting stiffer front springs as the suspension is a little soft...especially for 99% road riding. Unless you are superman, off roading should be limited to fire roads. The bike can get a little squirly in soft soil and it's toughto pick up a 500 lb bike on the trail. Show less

I looked at the Tiger for several years and compared an awful lot of different bikes before I bought my 2005 Lucifer Orange Tiger. My biggest concern was wind protection. I had a Harley Electra Glide for 14 years and was not used to riding with a helmet. My dealer turned me on to Cee Bailey's windshields and I put their highest one on. I still get more wind noise than I would like, but it comes from not having a larger fairing. That being said, the Tiger is an awesomely fun bike to ride! I challenge anyone to test drive one and not be very impressed. Acceleration? Got it. Power? Got it. Ride? Got it. Luggage? Got it. Fuel economy/range? Fantastic! Handling? Wide bars are wonderful. Value? 4K cheaper than a BMW GS plus it comes with sidebags! It's a little windy on the passenger but the bike does so well in everything else that it's just a matter of getting used to. For a commuter, I don't think it can be beat with the high riding position. The high beams light up the countryside. We're talking about practicality and performance here. This class of bikes has it in spades and the Tiger gives a lot of bang for the buck. If you want to be like everybody else, buy a Harley and enjoy high prices and endless accessorizing costs. If you want to stand out from the crowd, hop on a Tiger and get ready to grin! Show less

Have a few more miles now and still love the bike. Bought the top trunk with back rest and it is very nice and handy, my daughter rides with me everytime I ride. I just got the cramp buster for $10 and it is worth its weight in gold, I highly recommend one. The center stand and higher windscreen is a must. The headlights at night are very good. High octane 92 gas is a must or when you get on it, the engine will ping. I have rode bikes all my life and this is the most bike for the money, period. Show less

Growing up with a dirt bike backround my first street legal machine was the Suzuki DR650 which I proceeded to take cross country. The 650 beat the crap out of me and needed some mechanical attention along the way...simiply not built to keep up with road bikes. Though it was very rewarding when the road ended for some off road mountain fun. Tiger's have always peaked my interest but I knew how well the BMW GS models were built. Dollars limiting my decision, I jumped for the Tiger. THIS BIKE DOES NOT DISAPOINT! Plenty of throttle to lift the front end and keep up with sport bikes in fast paced group rides with all the confidence you need for the twisties. Very dependable though not much fun to work on...removal of the tank and top of the engine to get to the plugs. That said my Tiger has never missed a beat and she's regularly serviced by the pro's. On a trip down to the Key West my best friend joined me on his GS1150 which we both felt was bullet proof and worth every penny. The Tiger is quicker but tops out faster, the GS and it's lower center is better in the turns. The Tiger wins the fun to ride catagory as it feels more like being on a big dirt bike off road in the Everglades where as the Beemer felt like an automated tank. The Beemer lacks the zip the Tiger has so much of. I sold my Tiger for financial reasons but am now in the position to get the new GS1200 or another Tiger...It will be another Tiger...they are too much fun! Show less

I'm 6'1" and come from the enduro world riding Honda XR's and the last is an XR400. Then, since I was going to turn 40, I decided to go into the Cruiser world and bought a beautiful Yamaha Road Star 1600. The Roads in my latitude are in bad shape and lots of turns, so, after a while, I decided to search for the best bike for a combination of City, Highway, Fire Roads, Mountain Roads with turns that you see your own license plate, etc. The only local choice was the BMW 1150 GS which many friends of mine gave me excellent references. There are no Triumph dealers in Panama, but I had seen one in our neighbor country Costa Rica. I fell in love with the bike and bought it in Palm Beach and shipped it down. The bike is much better that I thought, my BMW friends have rode it and they are very well impressed that for less money is a faster, lighter and better bike. For me it is great that I don't have to worry about little holes on the road, or being left behind in the turns or unable to go into fire roads, in other words, I'm fascinated. I 100% recommended for tall riders, but for short ones.....buy something else or you will drop it and will hay to pay $$$ for broken panniers, steering, levers, etc.... Show less

I bought a 2002 Tiger 955i in Nov 2003 after my local dealer encouraged me to take a test ride. The test ride sold me on the bike. I now have 1650 miles on the my Tiger The bike has a hooligan/naked/dual sport style, which is unique. There's not many other bikes like it. It also looks great with the optional hard bags (mine came with them). Plenty of power, large gas tank, liquid cooled, oil cooler, liquid clutch, rear rack, good fairing, great lights, under 500 lbs, option port, 105 hp.... The Tiger has very comfortable sitting position and seat. It's a great bike for the long haul and commute. The Tiger has a high sitting position, which allows for an SUV-like view of the road ,but it may be a little hard to handle for a rider with less then a 30" inseam. If you want to see this bike in action, check out he movie "Romeo Must Die." Great chase seen. My last two bikes were a '02 Ducati ST2 and a Honda ACE. Loved them both (the Duc much more) but the Tiger is a better all-around bike and the most comfortable for me. One draw-back is that is not a great amount of accessories available. I plan on adding a new can, center stand and some crash bars, but that is about it. I don't plan on any real dual sport action with this bike, just some fire roads. It handled fine on the lite off-roading that I've done so far. Show less

In last few years I have had a 99 Honda ACE and a '01 Ducati ST2 and I just picked up a leftover 2002 Tiger. I've been looking for the best all-around bike for me. I wanted something under 500 lbs, hard luggage, sport bike-like seating (knees huggin the tank), upright seating position, wet clutch, and more then 100 horses. My dealer let me take out the Tiger and I was sold. It's very comfortable but plenty aggressive. I'm 6'1" and 215 and the bike fits great. It would be a little tall for short riders. It's great for rough roads/fire roads. I do wish that there were more acccessories to personalize the bike...but even stock it gets a lot of looks. The 2002 left overs are a great deal as they come with matching hardbags, 2 year warranty and 3.9% financing. Cool bike. Show less

I was on my way to buy a new BMW when I stopped by the Triumph dealer to check the price on a helmet. I saw the Tiger and sat on it. I was comfortable for my 6'3" frame. The owner of the dealer encouraged me to take it for a ride, so I did. That was it for me. I bought the bike the next week and I've been riding it for the last month. I've been riding for over 30 years, and this bike is more fun than anything I've ridden since my first mini-bike. It's quick, balanced, and easy in the corners. It just wants to drop into the grove and accelerate out the other side of the corners. It's MUCH more comfortable than my last sport-bike. No upper-body fatigue, no vibration, no peaky powerband - just smoothe, even power at all speeds. Ride it. You'll love it too! Show less

I have tried a few bikes in the last couple of years. This bike fits me well and the handling is great. The motor is sweet. Comfortable, fast and no wierd angular shapes. Finish is top notch. Show less

I recently purchased a used '01 Tiger 955i with 8,000 miles on it. I couldn't be happier. At first, I was taken back by the bright lime green color - but I quickly got used to it and now really love it. The handling of the bike is superb. Quick steering, this bike is definitely a confidence builder. Plenty of horsies under the tank deliver the power needed for any type of riding. This bike is king on the freeway, with its 6 speed gear box cruising at a smooth 5,000 rpm and 75 mph. Braking is good, as well as the ergonomics. Quite comfortable for the long haul, yet easy on the back side in the city. I give this bike two thumbs up (and 5 stars). Show less