Triumph Tiger 1050
Six used upright all-rounders for half the price of those in our Group Ride
The V-four choice Honda Crossrunner > £3500-£6500 > 2011-2014 > 782cc 90° V-four > 100bhp > 240kg
YOU WANT A relaxed riding position and do-anything flexibility, but don’t want an adventure bike’s compromises. You’re in luck — that sounds just like Honda’s first-generation Crossrunner. Beneath its slightly lumpy styling you’ll find the trusty underpinnings from the supreme VFR800: same V-four engine; same cast aluminium frame; same road-focused suspension, brakes and wheel sizes.
No towering seat height, no boingy long-travel springs, no ferris-wheel front end. The Crossrunner is pure sports tourer, just with added comfort. Its high, wide handlebars give a much more easygoing stance than the head-down VFR, while the added leverage lightens low-speed steering. You still have a 21.5-litre fuel tank which can just about stretch to 200 miles between fill-ups, and most importantly you still have that gorgeous, addictive V-four at the bike’s heart.
Yes, the Crossrunner has less instant response and lacks the grunt of a Tiger, a Tracer or a Versys. Yes, you’ll need to work the Crossrunner’s motor a bit harder, spin its smaller pistons faster and force the VTEC to unlock all 16 valves. But isn’t that part of the fun?
And best of all, it’s great value. Early bikes can be found for less than £4k, while £5k gives a rich choice of low-mileage bikes with useful bolt-on bits. Owners tend to be sensible, so you’ll find more heated grips and hard luggage than lairy exhausts or race-rep paint. Just watch out for used bikes sitting at, near or just over the 16,000 or 32,000-mile mark, as they’ll be due the infamously expensive VTEC valve check.