Tiger 800

[Sooty09]

Triumph are all out to capture sales form the BMW F800. I have watched developments on the Triumph Adventure web site, the latest release is the engine is not a 675 street triple but one developed for off road, probably 800cc.
I do like my BMW but at 18000m per year will be looking for a new bike next August. Triumph seem to have their act together, they listen to suggestions and do respond with mods to the bikes. The corrosion I had with my Tiger is less than the BMW, the quality of parts is similar etc,I know they are economical engines despite higher service charges, it could be a very close contest for my business.
Just looking at one component on the BMW makes me think customer feedback is totally ignored. The seat was S*** when it was launched, all the web forums complained about its comfort, I have written to BMW and complained to my dealer yet still the same seat is fitted 3 years later. The comfort seat (surely an admission the std seat is uncomfortable) is not much better and is proof they are incapable of making a comfy seat.
Would Triumph continue like this, I like to think not but perhaps making to a budget means they will have to.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Perhaps they is ignoring you cos you is black ?

 

[Dean]

blowing your trumpet

Triumph are all out to capture sales form the BMW F800. I have watched developments on the Triumph Adventure web site, the latest release is the engine is not a 675 street triple but one developed for off road, probably 800cc.
I do like my BMW but at 18000m per year will be looking for a new bike next August. Triumph seem to have their act together, they listen to suggestions and do respond with mods to the bikes. The corrosion I had with my Tiger is less than the BMW, the quality of parts is similar etc,I know they are economical engines despite higher service charges, it could be a very close contest for my business.
Just looking at one component on the BMW makes me think customer feedback is totally ignored. The seat was S*** when it was launched, all the web forums complained about its comfort, I have written to BMW and complained to my dealer yet still the same seat is fitted 3 years later. The comfort seat (surely an admission the std seat is uncomfortable) is not much better and is proof they are incapable of making a comfy seat.
Would Triumph continue like this, I like to think not but perhaps making to a budget means they will have to.

I supose like every other bike the world will have to wait and see, the slow dribble of exciting news in MCN, forums, webb sites! is clever marketing to build a whipped up hype of this is fantastic... but will it be? talking new bikes ... its about time they targeted the 800 as most critics hail the 8 a better option than the 12 I just see the 8 and 12 as different bikes as in different tools. if I was touring two up fully loaded to camp far and distant lands I know what I would prefer one of each in the garage would be nice though.

I mean they have been focusing on the 12 for long enough and theres some nice alternatives the new super ten and the high BHP ducati but the crown remains with the GS 30 years of development, fettling and farkeling have seen to that.

But I hope the triumph turns out good competition is a healthy thing but they also say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

I nearly purchased a triumph 8 the scrambler it looks so cool but... the power output was pour but seeing as they plug that engine all be it tweeked here and there in the bonny, thruxton, america and speedmaster nice bikes. but with BMW the GS range has more practicality, more options for my personal needs.

But have triumph as sooty says got there act together or are they trying to imitate one of the GS range ?

talking of which for those who do not know, the current "bike" magazine has a free magazine 30 years of the GS highlighting all models from the first GS's through F650 single to the current 12 and its early developments, Dakar through to some future ideas and design. A good read

 

[Lord Snooty]

The one thing that puts me off buying a Triumph is the poor reputation of their warranty department

 

[robroy]

A sales guy at SWB in Hertford showed me a new wide seat for the 800 last Saturday (this may be the "comfort seat" referred to)

Looked pretty good and likely to be much better than the standard seat for long distances and wide butts, although it wasn't fitted on a bike so I didn't actually sit on it.

Sorry if this is old news.

 

[rml]

Just looked at the latest MCN pics and it kind of struck me
that damn from the front that looks like a F800GS. But as others
have said choice can only be a good thing. Look forward to seeing
it on the road/showrooms Triumph have a great reputation for fine
engines.

As the old saying goes (bastardised) may we live in interesting times.

No mention of price yet? Aye okay I'm Scottish

Cheers
rml

 

[chippy]

I have been told these two bikes will be launched at the triumph live event, at mallory park september 18th,were you can test triumphs,and visit the factory,thats if you like triumphs of course.

 

[David1979]

Ive got my bike up for sale now and was planning on getting the gs 800 next after taking one out for a road test. I know the triumphs are coming out in a couple of months and i was thinking of getting their one but i dont really want to be the one who has to find out if it is capable of doing what its supposed to when there is already all the evidence you need that the gs can do it.

 

[Tim Cullis]

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

...ad nauseum...

.

 

[BBB61]

The one thing that puts me off buying a Triumph is the poor reputation of their warranty department

Having experienced the "service" from the Triumph warranty department it has put me off buying a Triumph ever again. And hearing the story of the Bonneville on "You and Yours" in June this year, and seeing that Triumph expect owners to wash and dry the bike after every ride to maintain the warranty confirms that they still have a set of clowns in their warranty department.

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

Having experienced the "service" from the Triumph warranty department it has put me off buying a Triumph ever again. And hearing the story of the Bonneville on "You and Yours" in June this year, and seeing that Triumph expect owners to wash and dry the bike after every ride to maintain the warranty confirms that they still have a set of clowns in their warranty department.

Agree'd the dealers aren't a patch on BMW dealers, but on the upside - my Tiger ( very late 955i ) has been mega-reliable so far - more reliable even than any of my 1150GS's were let alone the 12xx'x / BM 800's, so fortunately no need to cast a warranty-shaped shadow over the dealers forecourt. Great bike too - once a few 'design errors' have been fixed. On the downside again - everything I'd heard / seen which admittedly not much points to this new bike being an exercise in style over substance so yet again I'm not holding out much hope that this will be the new bike I'm waiting so patiently for. Where the feck are Honda with a new AT/Vara?

 

[rml]

Tim

.. I'm not sure what you are trying to say?

 

[BBB61]

Agree'd the dealers aren't a patch on BMW dealers, but on the upside - my Tiger ( very late 955i ) has been mega-reliable so far - more reliable even than any of my 1150GS's were let alone the 12xx'x / BM 800's, so fortunately no need to cast a warranty-shaped shadow over the dealers forecourt.

My issue wasn't with the dealers, but with the warranty department at the factory. The last Triumph dealer I used were excellent (Boyer Racing) but Triumph pulled the franchise as Boyers didn't want to upgrade their showroom to the "corporate" look.

As for reliability, I had more issues with the two Triumphs I owned than I have had with all the BM's that have passed through my hands. Maybe I was unlucky, but the real test of any business is how they deal with problems. Triumph failed that one comprehensively for me.

 

[mr badger]

After my experiences with the F650GS twin I will never, ever, buy a new bike within 12 months of launch.

Sadly it's taken more than 12 months to sort out 650/800 chains, 1200 FPCs, 1200 FDs etc, despite the best efforts of people like you, Tim.

Best wait until the new model eh? They'll have it all sorted by then.

Edit - And one work puts me off Triumphs round here - LINGS

 

[Tim Cullis]

I can understand it if something slips through the QA net, but once problems are identified out in the field the supplier should move heaven and earth to sort them immediately. The radiator top hose took BMW 10 months, I think. The chain issue was more like 18 months.

BMW in the UK doesn't have many staff working directly for it, and I doubt if anyone is charged with improving QA. I remember in the 1980s when Hewlett-Packard CEO John Young set goals of "10X" -- a tenfold improvement in quality and productivity, for every project at Hewlett-Packard. That's the sort of QA initiative that would set BMW apart in the market and would ultimately lead to increased sales.

 

[rml]

Well had my first experience of BMW Assist today bike wouldn't start '09 F800GS
called BMW bloke was at the door in an hour which I thought was pretty
good considering I live in SW Scotland, fixed there and then, Fuel
Pump Control Unit...... heard that before somewhere.

Tim interesting you should mention HP as both they and BMW used to
have great reputations for quality, solid gear nothing to exciting but
solid. Now not so much.

Cheers
rml

 

[chrisjk]

I love my 800 but also get excited about new machines. The main thing that would stop me changing anytime soon (apart from the fact that the 800 is a fine bike) is the amount of stuff I have bought for the bike that is 800 specific.

I never invested so much in my sportsbikes and tourers which suited me very well as bog standard machines so it was easy to trade in and out of those but what with fancy tools, Metal Mules, steering damper etc. etc. my 800 is going to be hard to sell for anything like the money I have in it.

It owes me many more miles yet!

 

[chippy]

The 675 street triple,and 675 daytona have proved to be reliable,and as the engine is based on the 675 lump,it should be a good bike.
Triumphs main problem is they can't build the engines fast enough to meet demand,a mate waited 3 months for his 675 street triple.

 

[chippy]

Theres a few sneak pictures of triumphs new adventure bikes,the road,and dual purpose at www.onewheeldrive.net go down the page,ones being ridden around a quarry,should be a good bike,800 triple.

 

[dogman]

I test rode the Tiger before buying the F800GS.
Smaller bike, engine too revvy, plasticky controls...
Salesman couldn't give a toss whether bought it or not, no chance of any haggling on anything even though he had loads of them stock piled. Service costs expensive.
My final thought as I left the showroom - 'you can f*ck right off'