Review: Triumph Tiger
Large, dual-purpose motorcycles are growing in popularity, and Triumph’s three cylinder 955cc Tiger is one of the biggest of the breed — a high-powered enduro-styled machine designed for comfortable high-speed on-road use with occasional forays on to dirt tracks.
The entire Triumph range of modern triples recently benefited from a new third-generation engine, and the 955cc Tiger was the first in the line-up to be so blessed. The starter clutch and alternator have been moved to the end of the crankshaft, with the chief gain being a reduction in mechanical noise, particularly at idle — a harmless but irritating foible of the original design. The three-cylinder fuel-injected engine used in the Tiger produces 104bhp at 9 500rpm, but the massive grunt for which the engine is tuned means that the crankshaft doesn’t often need to spin that hard. From 50kph in sixth gear a handful of throttle digs in the spurs, and from then on the rate of acceleration continues unabated until the rev-limiter chips in.
As with most of the big trailies, the height and bulk of the 215kg Tiger can be daunting for shorter riders, especially at a walking pace, so if you’re looking to do any serious trail-riding you’d be better advised to buy a smaller, more nimble dirt bike. Once on the move, however, the Tiger handles beautifully and spirited road-riding becomes a pleasure. I found that at first it seemed to want to fall into corners, but once I’d spent some time in the saddle the feeling evaporated. Braking from the three discs was excellent, as seems to be the norm with Triumph, and the gear-box snicked crisply between the six ratios — the redesigned gear selector mechanism that found its way into the casings for 2002 seems to have got the job done.
As a trail bike the Triumph makes a remarkably effective road-rocket. The big triple sprints up to 200kph within about 12 seconds of launching, while vibration is non-existent.
If you’re the type who enjoys getting the front wheel aloft at every opportunity the Triumph shouldl provide hours of amusement, because it’s all wheelie-bike of note. Top speed is around 220kph, where the engine runs out ofrevs in top gear, and cruising at 180 or so is a cinch, thanks to the tall screen that keeps the wind away.
After I’d finished playing in the street I spent a morning exploring various gravel roads around Durban. The generous ground clearance, dual-purpose tyres and upright riding stance make the Triumph great for dirt roads, so the big bike is a good choice for ducking off the national road network at any excuse. As all-rounders go, it’s in pretty much the same league as BMW’s R1150 GS, considered by many to be the finest overall motorcycle package ever built, except that the Triumph is quicker and — dare we say it — prettier. On the other hand, it uses a chain for the final drive, as opposed to BMW’s maintenance-free and clean-running shaft. It’s simply a matter of paying your money and taking your choice. The Triumph Tiger sells for R109 995 inclusive of VAT.