Posted in the KTM section as that's what I'm riding at the moment.
I've been getting that "want a new bike" feeling recently and have had a good scour around at alternatives to my KTM 950SM.
I'm not sure what's driving the itch to change as I love the KTM - if anything it's the fact that it's not really a mile muncher (seat & lack of fairing) and is somewhat "bonkers" whilst I'm calming down a bit as I get older.
So I booked myself a test ride on a Tiger 800 (road version) and Super Tenere 1200. I'd probably like to try a Multistrada as well but I'm not massively convinced about them for some reason.
Triumph Tiger 800
The Tiger is really really lovely. The engine is beautifully smooth and tractable. It feels like an inline 4 somehow, but more torquey. It's a lot pokier than I thought it would be, but not as torquey as the KTM (it's giving away 10lb/ft anyway).
It is lovely and light, handles well though not as sharp and pointy as the KTM. Motorway riding is OKish - the screen is disappointing with turbulence coming off the top edge making things uncomfortable and noisy. It pulls well and is surprisingly quick.
I found it delightful around town. The engine is excellent here as it just takes all the hassle away compared to the KTM which is short geared (16T front sprocket) and not nearly as smooth across the rev range especially at low revs when it tends to "chunter" a bit. It was light and easy to filter, and nice & narrow. Steering lock was not as good as I'd like but generally OK. Once things warmed up there was lots of engine heat on the right side by my knee where it is right next to the engine. Looks like a heat shield piece should go in there to sort that out.
I found the seat comfy but the bars were a bit of a reach even though I'm 6'2", but I know there's the ability to adjust this.
The front brakes were poor in comparison to the KTM's big 4-pot Brembos which are just fab. The Triumph's needed a very hefty squeeze and dont have anything like as much power or bite as the KTM's.
Overall, a lovely bike. Needs more throttle twisting to get it going compare to the KTM, but a really trouble-free, easy to ride bike which I'd be very happy to own. I'd upgrade the brakes somehow though.
Yahama Super Tenere
Albeit listed at some 260kg (i.e. a bit of a porker), it certainly didn't feel like it. A bigger and more substantial bike than the Triumph. More 1200GS-like in heft and scale. Shaft drive, ABS, traction control, switchable engine map, spokes and cool looking.
But what a bike. Wow! I really didn't want to give it back.
Initially I was a bit underwhelmed by the throttle response. It was quite soft and felt if anything like it had less oomph than the Triumph. After a few miles though I stopped and switched the "mode" from Touring to Sport. Yeehaa! That's better! It goes like stink, with immediate, urgent and strong response to the beautifully light throttle. Superb. Squirting out of corners was excellent fun - not quite on a par with the KTM but for a bike like this it was very impressive.
Comfort was excellent. Bizarrely I felt more relaxed on it that I have on any other bike - it was very planted at 110mph with everything to hand, nice space for my long legs, bars in the right place. It really felt like I could just cruise on and on and on. The seat is big and comfy, lots of room to move forward & backwards too. It picks up really well at motorway speeds too which always helps make cruising more relaxing.
The big letdown was the screen which was worse than the Triumph. Now I now a thing or two about buffeting, and it is clear that the screen orientation was totally wrong. Adjustment is just a bit of up & down for which you need a screwdriver or spanner. I think there are some aftermarket adjustable mounts which I think would be a must-have. Why cant manufacturers get this right - it's just not that hard to do.
The engine was not as smooth as the Triumph's but smoother than the KTM or 1200GS (at least the piece of crap one that I had the misfortune to once own). The gearbox was lovely and light, throttle light, clutch light, all very agreeable indeed.
It wasn't as slick about town as the Triumph and nowhere near as the KTM - the extra weight does reduce agility somewhat I think, but filtering was fine TBH.
It's also got that big, purposeful feel of a major mile-muncher. More so than the Triumph, which felt a bit "girly" by comparison. I'd definitely be much happier with one of these on a long tour than the KTM (which has been to the Alps & Pyrenees and back a few times). I think the combination of a stonking engine plus the excellent comfort and shaft drive makes it a really really good choice.
Summary
I got back to the Yamaha dealer really wanting to own that bike - that specific one as its a demo that is for sale. But at £10,500 for an ex-demo - no thanks. Far too expensive especially when you can get big discounts on new at the moment. But a really cracking bike and I'd have one any day rather than venturing anywhere near a BMW dealer again.
I got back onto the Triumph after dropping the Super Tenere off expecting to not like it at all. However, though relatively gutless it was so smooth and very very easy to ride, with that excellent engine. By the time I got back to the Triumph dealer I was seriously liking the Triumph. And with a similar demo bike at Bulldog available for £6,300, it's a lot of bike for not much money. TBH you dont really need the extra zap that the KTM or STen have, but it's really nice to have it. Not having £10k, but being able to scrape £6,300, I'd be very happy with the Triumph indeed, and know it would be excellent at everything I threw at it.
However...I then got back on my KTM. It is such a bonkers bike I was literally laughing out loud in my helmet as I rode off. No other bike has ever made me feel like that. It is just hilarious to ride, with madly urgent pickup on the carbed engine, loads of torque, yet with a sensible riding position. Light throttle and clutch, extreme manouverability with great steering lock, stunning brakes, light weight. The only two things that go against it are tank range (usually 130 miles to reserve, 25-30 left after that), and the seat which is more like the ridge tiles on your house roof. I guess lack of fairing is a downside too, but at least there's no screen buffeting so it's a nice smooth ride.
Having laughed all the way home and behaved like a hooligan, I'm really in a quandry now. There's also the Triumph Tiger 1200 coming out though the dealers dont think it'll be until 2013 (though I suspect they may be saying that to encourage people to keep buying the 800 even though the 1200 will come along early 2012).
If I was after a GS-like bike now, and had the cash, I'd have the Yahama. A truly excellent machine with long service intervals, shaft drive, cracking engine and real long range capability. There's no way I'd touch another BMW, I'm not sure if I fancy a Multistrada, so the Yamaha really makes sense.
If I had to change without Tenere money the Triumph would be an excellent option, especially an ex-demo or low mileage one in the low £6k range. It really is a lot of bike for the money.
Hmmm....may just buy a Corbin seat for the KTM. I stop every 100 miles when I'm touring anyway.
Hmmmmm........
I've been getting that "want a new bike" feeling recently and have had a good scour around at alternatives to my KTM 950SM.
I'm not sure what's driving the itch to change as I love the KTM - if anything it's the fact that it's not really a mile muncher (seat & lack of fairing) and is somewhat "bonkers" whilst I'm calming down a bit as I get older.
So I booked myself a test ride on a Tiger 800 (road version) and Super Tenere 1200. I'd probably like to try a Multistrada as well but I'm not massively convinced about them for some reason.
Triumph Tiger 800
The Tiger is really really lovely. The engine is beautifully smooth and tractable. It feels like an inline 4 somehow, but more torquey. It's a lot pokier than I thought it would be, but not as torquey as the KTM (it's giving away 10lb/ft anyway).
It is lovely and light, handles well though not as sharp and pointy as the KTM. Motorway riding is OKish - the screen is disappointing with turbulence coming off the top edge making things uncomfortable and noisy. It pulls well and is surprisingly quick.
I found it delightful around town. The engine is excellent here as it just takes all the hassle away compared to the KTM which is short geared (16T front sprocket) and not nearly as smooth across the rev range especially at low revs when it tends to "chunter" a bit. It was light and easy to filter, and nice & narrow. Steering lock was not as good as I'd like but generally OK. Once things warmed up there was lots of engine heat on the right side by my knee where it is right next to the engine. Looks like a heat shield piece should go in there to sort that out.
I found the seat comfy but the bars were a bit of a reach even though I'm 6'2", but I know there's the ability to adjust this.
The front brakes were poor in comparison to the KTM's big 4-pot Brembos which are just fab. The Triumph's needed a very hefty squeeze and dont have anything like as much power or bite as the KTM's.
Overall, a lovely bike. Needs more throttle twisting to get it going compare to the KTM, but a really trouble-free, easy to ride bike which I'd be very happy to own. I'd upgrade the brakes somehow though.
Yahama Super Tenere
Albeit listed at some 260kg (i.e. a bit of a porker), it certainly didn't feel like it. A bigger and more substantial bike than the Triumph. More 1200GS-like in heft and scale. Shaft drive, ABS, traction control, switchable engine map, spokes and cool looking.
But what a bike. Wow! I really didn't want to give it back.
Initially I was a bit underwhelmed by the throttle response. It was quite soft and felt if anything like it had less oomph than the Triumph. After a few miles though I stopped and switched the "mode" from Touring to Sport. Yeehaa! That's better! It goes like stink, with immediate, urgent and strong response to the beautifully light throttle. Superb. Squirting out of corners was excellent fun - not quite on a par with the KTM but for a bike like this it was very impressive.
Comfort was excellent. Bizarrely I felt more relaxed on it that I have on any other bike - it was very planted at 110mph with everything to hand, nice space for my long legs, bars in the right place. It really felt like I could just cruise on and on and on. The seat is big and comfy, lots of room to move forward & backwards too. It picks up really well at motorway speeds too which always helps make cruising more relaxing.
The big letdown was the screen which was worse than the Triumph. Now I now a thing or two about buffeting, and it is clear that the screen orientation was totally wrong. Adjustment is just a bit of up & down for which you need a screwdriver or spanner. I think there are some aftermarket adjustable mounts which I think would be a must-have. Why cant manufacturers get this right - it's just not that hard to do.
The engine was not as smooth as the Triumph's but smoother than the KTM or 1200GS (at least the piece of crap one that I had the misfortune to once own). The gearbox was lovely and light, throttle light, clutch light, all very agreeable indeed.
It wasn't as slick about town as the Triumph and nowhere near as the KTM - the extra weight does reduce agility somewhat I think, but filtering was fine TBH.
It's also got that big, purposeful feel of a major mile-muncher. More so than the Triumph, which felt a bit "girly" by comparison. I'd definitely be much happier with one of these on a long tour than the KTM (which has been to the Alps & Pyrenees and back a few times). I think the combination of a stonking engine plus the excellent comfort and shaft drive makes it a really really good choice.
Summary
I got back to the Yamaha dealer really wanting to own that bike - that specific one as its a demo that is for sale. But at £10,500 for an ex-demo - no thanks. Far too expensive especially when you can get big discounts on new at the moment. But a really cracking bike and I'd have one any day rather than venturing anywhere near a BMW dealer again.
I got back onto the Triumph after dropping the Super Tenere off expecting to not like it at all. However, though relatively gutless it was so smooth and very very easy to ride, with that excellent engine. By the time I got back to the Triumph dealer I was seriously liking the Triumph. And with a similar demo bike at Bulldog available for £6,300, it's a lot of bike for not much money. TBH you dont really need the extra zap that the KTM or STen have, but it's really nice to have it. Not having £10k, but being able to scrape £6,300, I'd be very happy with the Triumph indeed, and know it would be excellent at everything I threw at it.
However...I then got back on my KTM. It is such a bonkers bike I was literally laughing out loud in my helmet as I rode off. No other bike has ever made me feel like that. It is just hilarious to ride, with madly urgent pickup on the carbed engine, loads of torque, yet with a sensible riding position. Light throttle and clutch, extreme manouverability with great steering lock, stunning brakes, light weight. The only two things that go against it are tank range (usually 130 miles to reserve, 25-30 left after that), and the seat which is more like the ridge tiles on your house roof. I guess lack of fairing is a downside too, but at least there's no screen buffeting so it's a nice smooth ride.
Having laughed all the way home and behaved like a hooligan, I'm really in a quandry now. There's also the Triumph Tiger 1200 coming out though the dealers dont think it'll be until 2013 (though I suspect they may be saying that to encourage people to keep buying the 800 even though the 1200 will come along early 2012).
If I was after a GS-like bike now, and had the cash, I'd have the Yahama. A truly excellent machine with long service intervals, shaft drive, cracking engine and real long range capability. There's no way I'd touch another BMW, I'm not sure if I fancy a Multistrada, so the Yamaha really makes sense.
If I had to change without Tenere money the Triumph would be an excellent option, especially an ex-demo or low mileage one in the low £6k range. It really is a lot of bike for the money.
Hmmm....may just buy a Corbin seat for the KTM. I stop every 100 miles when I'm touring anyway.
Hmmmmm........
