Varadero or,,, another Tiger?

[africajim]

Hi all,

To those who don't know me from my past posts I've ran five @T's over 100,000 miles, tried a Varadero for a continent then 3yrs with the 955i Tiger.

I'm ready for a change but can't decide what I want. I don't want a fire new bike, I'm looking for 06 to 07, let someone else take the initial hit on depreciation. A 1050 or a Vara?

Right, the 51 plate Vara I had was 5 speed and carb fed, the newer 6 speed with EFI should have addressed the fuel issue (the severe use of it)! But is it any leaner? The old one needed a pilot boat to guide it around coz it was huge! Lardy was my description of it. In it's favour, the Vara was the best touring bike I ever owned, apart from being lardy for offroad use, it was the best touring motorcycle I have ever ridden.

I've heard a lot of good stuff about the 1050 Tiger. The 955i is an excellent bike. I still think Triumph have went the wrong way with the Tiger, a new adventure bike would have been better, not a speed triple with a fairing!

In honesty, I want your opinions folks, please help. Do I admit defeat to technology and embrace the 1050 Tiger? Or return to the fold and rejoin the corporate image of Honda?

It's all about plusses and minusses, the Triumph is new technology, power, economy, handling and looks to die for. Minusses are wind noise no screen can cure and offroad ability is limited. The Vara, comfort, less wind noise, lights you can see with in the dark, ultimate tourer, but big, lardy, limited offroad.

Pricewise the Vara's cheaper, that's a big decider for a Scotsman.

Ok, let's hear your opinions please, I'm torn!

[digitalcaptive]

My heart would tell you that it's got to be the trumpet.... but in reality the "adventure" is all gone and as you say Speed Triple esk.
Is the KTM not the bike for you?...........although these I've heard are the perfect all rounder but on the down side high maintenance (and that would never do for a scotsman.

So your left with the Varadero ....I've never ridden one but I have read an awful lot about them and the only issues have been the fuel economy and weight....if thats all the can find wrong with them then its head and shoulders in front of the competition

[sean]

a 1050 tiger! brilliant!

[Snaphappy]

The dero hasn't changed apart from from the fuel issue that is now much much better, the weight and balance is the same.
The Tiger sure looks sweet, but I cant see any off road capabilities left everything that could get damaged has no protection...
Radiator, exhaust, rear brake ect.

African Queens and Desert Storm have both proved that the Dero in capable hands is an offroader, albeit with some adaptation and as it stands quite a capable softroader

if I was looking to change my dero, the Triumph would not come on the list

[Muzz]

Tried a 1050 last summer in a spirit of scientific enquiry (plus, they are soooooo good-looking), and, while it was a lark, handled very very sharply, and went rather well, it didn't do it for me. I didn't like the seat, the screen's not much to write home about, and the box was clunky. While the triple engine's nice, it's a very different beastie, to be honest, chalk and slightly chalky cheese, and I thought it didn't have the character of the big twin in the Vara.

On the upside, it encouraged me to ride like I'd stolen it. On the downside, it encouraged me to ride like I'd stolen it...

Before I get battered by the 1050 crowd , and as I mentioned in an earlier thread, I was coming to it from a "What's it going to be like at 7:30am on a Monday in the rain?" - type of practicality. If I had a garage big enough for half a dozen bikes, I'd have one, probably just to look at...

[Lutin]

Just to through a spanner in the works - how about Suzuki DL1000 V-strom??

Not ridden one, but they are apparently well thought of. Though maybe the finish isn't up to the usual Honda standard??

Just an idea.

[Freerangestormer]

Hi Jim,

Tough one. I have an SD02 (03 injection) here in Singapore and yes to put it in Jockanese terms it's still a full heart attack roll with lorne sausage, tattie scone and fried egg, that does not make it any the less enjoyable when you have a mouthful, I get around 48 mpg mixed city and expressway at 140 kph. I don't carry a pillion but they are widely accepted as the weapon of choice for a hassle free pillion realationship. It can handle gravel / forest but needs very gentle cosseting in normal trim, TKC's make a big difference, without going to a full on Dakar conversion. Second hand values in the UK for good ones seem to be quite high, which is good and bad. Suspension has next to no adjustment, if it suits your needs fine, if not spend on a good rear shock.

I liked the 1050 from the moment I saw it and fell in love with it's character within a few miles of the test ride so I have just put a deposit down on a new ABS one to be picked up in Glasgow (for UK use) in April. I read it's not so popular with anything other than more petite passengers but that's not an issue for me. There are plenty of guys who report off road handling closer to a KTM with comparable tyres ( if you haven't already. Few real issues, clunky box is a non issue, adjustment of the chain a bit slacker than usual and the latest / TOR ECU tune loaded sorts that. For the most part chat revolves around which aftermarket exhaust sounds / looks best and which screen suits your needs & usage, if that's the worst that can be moaned about! Look for "Proddeddog" on the forum, he is a driver instructor and has a Vara as well as a Tiger. Suspension has good range of adjustment at both ends.

I have ridden my friends VStrom and I found it capable if lacking in character more than the Vara, I think it looks ugly personally (I have a Vara remember so that should tell you something), found the hydraulic clutch heavy and very hard to feather, it is lighter and a bit more agile than the Vara but can't match the Tiger. Paint is paper thin, dropped it on gravel at a standstill and it went straight through to the plastic. Weather protection is not so good and screen is of little use and a pain to adjust. Been looking around just the last couple of months before I comitted and a year old low mileage (5k mls) 1050 with ABS can be found for around 6500 and if you are not bothered about slightly older ones just out of warranty and without ABS they are coming on the market for around the 5k mark.

See Jan edition of "Bike" for a comparison of paint finishes and anti corrosion quality of bolts, Triumph came out top and Suzuki was well down the list.

Why do I have a Vara here but ordered a Tiger in the UK? Support for the Tiger here is limited, purchase cost is much higher (only 3 or 4 sold here since they were available) and I have to go a long way to enjoy what it does really well. The Vara on the other hand is reasonably common, I can get it fixed most places between here and Bangkok (the next nearest Triumph dealer and only other one in this part of the world), resale values are higher and there is better demand and she will comfortably take me half way up the Malaysian peninsula in a day just the same. I'd rather be feeling and listening to the Tiger while riding and looking at it when I get off but I am grateful to and fond of the Vara for doing it all just the same all be it with a little less style and character.

That's my opinion anyway

[africajim]

Thanks for all the comments so far, I'm still no closer to making a choice. The Suzuki would be a nice change for me, a nice slick gearbox, but no thanks, finish is poor compared to Honda and not a patch on Triumph.

Keep the comments coming, so far it's leaning towards the Honda though!

[Freerangestormer]

Jim,

Hope to be picking my Tiger up at Easter, fancy a ride down to Ayshire? If it ever stops snowing.

[africajim]

I may well do that sir, depending on work commitments. It would be good to see one in the flesh not in a showroom, also the 955 next to it for comparison.

I'm going down to Edinburgh next month to the Scottish bike show to see what's there and possibly a few test rides. Hopefully see you at eastertime mate?