Triumph Tiger1050 from£3000
When it comes to making canny use of hard-earned disposable Triumph’s Tiger is hard to beat
PERCHED ATOP THE Tiger 1050 I’m the king of all I survey. For the swift, safe execution of a bend-strewn B-road the Triumph’s commanding ergonomics are the perfect place to be. Of the bikes here – Aprilia included – this Brit-built triple is the quickest and least fussy way to waft from A to B on the UK road network. The miles simply melt away as the Tiger dispenses effortlessly with bend after straight after bend. It’s an exceptionally accomplished motorcycle.
Triumph nailed the road adventure genre from the start. The first Tiger, powered by an 885cc triple, was by far the best of the fledgling firm’s early modular range, and they’ve been perfecting them ever since. A three-cylinder motor is still the beating heart of the Tiger, only now it’s bigger, fruitier and all the more useful for it. Although early Tigers hinted at off-road potential – with MX ’bars, engine bash plates and wire wheels – these Triumphs have never been ones for the dirt. Later models, such as this 2011 example, even less so. Cast wheels, expensive-looking bodywork (imagine the bill if that smashed down on to a granite strewn byway), big screen and bellypan now place the Tiger very much as a mile-munching all-rounder. And a bloody good one too. If I were heading off on an epic trip across Europe, or even a mini jaunt around Scotland, a Tiger would be near the top of my list. Firstly because of that unburstable 1050cc motor. I love triples – their blend of twin-cylinder grunt and howling four-pot top end is irresistible, and Triumph’s been perfecting their take on the layout for almost 30 years. It’s a motor that’s rarely – if ever – wanting. There’s always drive aplenty to hand, and never any nasty surprises in terms of delivery. Just rich, creamy, forceful grunt.
Need to overtake? You don’t even need to bother the gearbox; peak torque (a healthy 72 lb.ft) is at 6250rpm, so just wind her on and go. For snapper Jason that’s a relief. Having stuck several miles on this 1050 before my arrival he informed me he thought the gearbox was ‘crap’. Furthermore, he’d been chatting with another fella who’d owned one: ‘great bike, dreadful gearbox,’ he’d said. Must have been them or their shifting technique though, because this Trumpet’s ’box was nothing but slick and precise for me…
Remember that epic tour I was on about? The riding position is spot-on for that too. Nothing in the seat-’peg-’bar relationship overstresses any part of the body – on board I feel completely relaxed and there’s an other-worldly calmness to the air behind the screen (our test bike has an additional wind deflector atop the main unit) that adds to the effortless feel of the overall ride. All-day comfort is just one of many Tiger ace cards, although I suspect given the jump in height between the front and rear seats, a tall pillion may get buffeted at speed. While talking about height, it’s worth pointing out that this is a big machine. I’m 6ft, yet I struggled on more than one occasion to touch the floor safely while moving the Tiger about on an uneven surface. Quality suspension aids all-day comfort, of course, and this model’s 43mm usd Showa forks and shock keep all unwanted jolts at bay, and despite the front end’s lofty dimensions the bike doesn’t dive forward on the brakes as you might expect. The ride is magic carpet smooth and nothing seems to cause upset, and yet there’s still just the right amount of feedback to know the Metzeler Roadtecs are squelched into the road surface. Like the suspension, the brakes are Japanese – Nissin – and quite honestly you couldn’t want for more.
This genre of high-’barred tourer/ all-rounder aren’t always a pleasure to behold. In fact, some offerings – first gen Multistrada for one – repulse me to the point that I could never own one, no matter how good they are to ride. If you don’t smile every time you open the garage, what’s the point? The Tiger, however, is a different proposition. I like the metallic black paint and its juxtaposition against the silver wheels and gold forks/calipers. Triumph’s current Tiger range is in rude health and there are currently 13 different 800 and 1200 models to choose from. Pick any, you won’t be disappointed. But frankly why would you when there are immaculate used examples out there? Just like this 1050. It’s a two-owner from new, comes complete with Triumph top-box, heated grips, Triumph Sport levers, and the tautness of a new bike, all for under £5K. That’s half the price of a new 1200 Tiger Sport. Just imagine what you could do with that spare five grand. One hell of an epic tour, for starters.
‘The miles melt away… It’s an exceptional motorcycle’