The Best Of - Triumph Bike Reviews from Men & Motors!
In this thrilling compilation, Men & Motors brings you the ultimate guide to Triumph bikes, showcasing their sleek designs, powerful engines, and unmatched performance.
From classic cruisers to cutting-edge sports bikes, get ready to experience the thrill of the ride as we dive deep into each model's features, handling, and overall riding experience.
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From classic cruisers to cutting-edge sports bikes, get ready to experience the thrill of the ride as we dive deep into each model's features, handling, and overall riding experience.
------------------
Enjoyed this video? Don't forget to LIKE and SHARE the video and get involved with our community by leaving a COMMENT below the video!
Check out what else our channel has to offer and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to Men & Motors for more classic car and motorbike content! Why not? It is free after all!
----- Social Media -----
Follow us on social media by clicking the link below to elevate your social media experience by connecting with us!
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If you have any questions, e-mail us at talk@menandmotors.com
© Men and Motors - One Media iP 2024
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MotorTranscript
00:00We've often featured Triumph's on two wheels, but it's nearly five years since I first tested
00:11the T595 Daytona.
00:14It's been through some changes over the years, but now it's been completely revised, and
00:18this is the latest Daytona, the 955i.
00:21So what's new?
00:23Lots.
00:24For a start, it's 10 kilos lighter, it's got a shorter wheelbase, and it's got an extra
00:2915-brake horsepower.
00:30But what hasn't changed, I'm pleased to say, is that unmistakable Triumph triple howl.
00:36It's not an external, upset-the-public exhaust noise, oh no, this is your private sound system
00:41generated by that airbox up under the tank.
00:44Wind it up to anywhere between 7,000 and 8,000 revs, and here it go.
00:48If you're into engines, you'll love this one.
00:51It really is addictive.
00:54As you can tell, I like Triumph's triple a lot, especially that engine.
00:58What else have they actually done to the bike?
01:00Let's have a look-see down here.
01:02First thing you'll notice is the old single-sided swinging arm has gone to be replaced by this,
01:07a more conventional twin-armed one.
01:09Fabricated aluminium job, but the big thing is it's saved a hell of a lot of weight, two
01:13and a half kilos, so that is a lot of weight, a lot of unsprung weight, so that's why they've
01:17done that.
01:19Coming up to the frame here, this looks very, very familiar, doesn't it?
01:23Always with this twin-tube thing makes it very, very distinctive.
01:25They've changed it and modified it over the years.
01:27They've trimmed a little bit of weight off it, but basically that's the same.
01:31The engine, which unfortunately you can't see under all these cases, that's nevertheless
01:35had a lot of attention to it.
01:37The cylinder head is brand new.
01:38They've changed the valve angle in it.
01:40They've thinned down the cases a lot to save a lot of weight, two and a half kilos on the
01:44engine as a whole, and it's a big, meaty engine now as well, 149 brake horsepower at the crank.
01:50That's a lot.
01:52Coming back to the frame, the head angle, which you can't really see any difference
01:55here, but I can tell you it's much steeper than it used to be.
01:58In fact, it's now steeper than the Fireblade, the ZX9R, or an Aprilia, the RSV, and I was
02:04expecting something really twitchy, but it's not.
02:07Something else, if you can get an overall view of it, they've actually shortened the
02:10wheelbase.
02:11Again, it's very difficult for you to tell looking at the bike like that, but they have
02:14shortened it by 25 mil, which is an inch, and again, it brings it into that same ballpark
02:20as the Aprilia, RSVR, and also the ZX9.
02:23The blade is still a little bit shorter, but basically, they're all battling in that
02:27same ring.
02:28So what else is new?
02:30This fairing, for one thing.
02:31Not only is it a brand new design with this big lens here, still twin headlights behind
02:35it, but as you can see, very distinctive, nothing like any of the other bikes, but the
02:39fairing itself is actually slimmer, saving a bit more weight.
02:44Down here, the front wheel is now from the TT600.
02:46Again, that is saving a lot of weight.
02:49The rest of it they've retained, the big 320 mil discs and Triumph's four pots, so no six
02:53pots are fashionable, but their Triumph stoppers really do work.
02:57Those front forks are unchanged, not upside down, they're conventional, but I really like
03:01that look.
03:02They really do look big and chunky, and again, very Triumph-like.
03:05What else have they done?
03:07The back tire, they've actually slimmed that down, would you believe?
03:09Used to be a 190 on the old one, it's now a 180.
03:12That's to improve handling, and I suppose it does save a little bit more weight.
03:16So it not only looks different, with that weight saving, it actually feels different.
03:20It's retained that solid, planted feel it always had, but it now feels much more nimble
03:25and responsive with it.
03:28With fairly radical steering geometry, I thought it might be twitchy, but it's not.
03:32It turns nicely, not in a flip-flop flickable way like a GSX-R1000, but planted like a 996
03:38Ducati.
03:39It's a bike that needs you to have an input which is good.
03:42You're controlling it, not the bike controlling you.
03:45The engine complements it perfectly, pushing out 136 brake horsepower at the back wheel.
03:51It's got more oomph than a Blade or a ZX-9, but there's nothing hairy about it.
03:55It delivers its peak power at 10,700 revs, and it'll run to 167 miles an hour, but it
04:01doesn't run away with you.
04:03This is real-world stuff.
04:05And as if to prove its real-world credentials, it's got a nice little digital display in
04:09here.
04:10Look, I shall demonstrate.
04:11Nothing fantastic, of course, but it has got a digital display.
04:15Big white face clock, rev counter, of course, there, but this digital one is pretty neat.
04:19Nothing exceptional, but nevertheless, you've got a select button there, which gives you
04:23several choices of trip.
04:25Then we've got total miles, one trip, two trip, and also the time down there.
04:31All useful stuff.
04:32Temperature gauge in there, and you've got your idiot lights up at the top, but see how
04:36small that is?
04:37They actually reckon that's saved another two kilos on the old instrument panel.
04:40The rest of it is pretty conventional.
04:42The mirrors here, they're quite good.
04:44You can see a bit of your elbows, as usual with these things, but they're not too bad.
04:47You know, you can see a fair bit behind you.
04:50Looking down on the headstock here, you've got fully adjustable front forks, preload,
04:54compression damping, and rebound.
04:56Rest of the control, no hydraulic clutch on this, one cable operated, and that's it, really.
05:01Conventional switchgear.
05:03Plastic tank.
05:04Triumphs have always stuck with the plastic tank.
05:05I'm very keen on magnetic tank bags, so that's no good for me, I'm afraid.
05:09But it does the job, and again, it saves some weight.
05:12No doubt about it.
05:13To me, this really is a bike that's different.
05:16Its star feature is that three-cylinder engine.
05:18It mixes the smoothness of a four with the hard edge of a twin.
05:22But having said that, the whole bike feels more measured and self-assured than its competitors.
05:27It's very British, I suppose.
05:30The Daytona isn't exceptional in any particular department, just very good in all of them.
05:35You get a well-rounded performance, it handles well, the suspension is supple, and well,
05:40it just feels right.
05:42I have to be honest and say, I didn't think there was very much wrong with the old model.
05:46So needless to say, I think this one's well and truly up with the competition.
05:50It comes in blue or silver and will cost you £8,949, and that's well up with the competition
05:56too.
05:57The trouble with sports bikes, of course, is there's only two things you can do with
06:01one.
06:02You can either ride it very, very quickly, or you can pause in the car park.
06:07If you take the engine from a big sports bike and plonk it into a massive trail bike chassis,
06:11a whole new vista of options opens up in front of you.
06:15You can ride slow.
06:17You can ride fast.
06:19You can ride majestically upright in rush hour traffic on a bike that looks capable
06:23of crushing the occasional wayward Mondeo with a glance.
06:28Triumph's Tiger has been showing the way since it was launched more than 10 years ago, and
06:32has proved increasingly popular with our continental cousins.
06:36Now this latest revised version with a detuned 955 engine is set to win new converts and
06:41take more sales away from the increasing numbers of big Japanese trailers.
07:07For the Tiger, Triumph have softened the tune of their superb water-cooled triple engine,
07:12which now pups out 104 brake horsepower.
07:15Not bad for a trail bike.
07:18More importantly, the engine now makes 72 foot-pounds of torque at only 6,200 RPM.
07:24The result is a hugely tractable engine with lots of usable urge at real-life speeds.
07:31Combine this with a dry weight of only 215 kilograms and a light, easy steering geometry,
07:36and you have a recipe for almost unlimited fun in a very practical package.
07:42The 24-litre fuel tank gives a whopping range between fuel stops, and that trendy nose-fairing
07:47does an admirable job of keeping the rider comfortable and dry.
07:52But what really grabs you about the Tiger is the way it looks.
07:56This bike looks great from any angle.
07:58These tiger-striped graphics reinforce the don't-mess-with-me attitude.
08:03The lean, purposeful stance makes lesser bikes cower as you pass.
08:07Their final impression of this huge silencer like a rocket launcher, threatening rearward
08:11retribution.
08:12And the real surprise for those unused to big trailers is just how versatile a bike
08:17the Tiger is.
08:19You can tour on it, you can commute on it, you can cross continents on it, and you can
08:23even scratch on it at a push.
08:26The one thing you may struggle to do is ride it off-road, where it really is a bit big
08:30and heavy to cut it with the Micos and Montessors.
08:34It's comfortable, smooth, reliable and well-built, and it has an engine which is rapidly gaining
08:39cult status.
08:53For performance, eight.
09:04It's not as fast as a Fireblade, or a 955 for that matter, but what it loses in speed
09:10it makes up for with plenty of oomph.
09:13This year's revised engine makes gobs of usable torque at low and mid-range speeds, and power
09:18delivery is smooth.
09:20The bike handles with competence and poise.
09:23It's a great all-rounder.
09:25Comfort, nine.
09:27I just love the tall upright riding position of a big trailer.
09:30It gives great vision and feels comfortable enough to ride all day.
09:34The Tiger's seat is a little firmer than some of the opposition, which some will prefer.
09:39There's plenty of room for a passenger who gets well-positioned pegs and grab handles.
09:44Build quality, nine out of ten.
09:46The bike's well thought out and well put together, and standards of finish are high.
09:51The lack of decorative chrome work on the Tiger should make it easy to keep it looking
09:54smart, and I love this metallic green paintwork.
09:58Black is available as an option for the less extrovert.
10:02Value for money, seven.
10:03At £7,599, the Tiger goes head-to-head with Suzuki's new V-Strom and the Honda Varadero,
10:11both worthy opposition.
10:13The Tiger is competitively priced and well worth considering.
10:17Depreciation may be slightly less than a Japanese bike, too.
10:22Street cred, eight out of ten.
10:24The Tiger has an impressive presence in traffic, and it will wow the crowds in the local supermarket
10:28car park.
10:30It's sufficiently unusual to be distinctive, and it wears the logo of one of the world's
10:34greatest marks.
10:36All in all, the Tiger delivers what it promises.
10:39I'll have a green one, please.
10:44Triumph, a name to conjure with, a name of legends, or in this case, a bike that could
11:06be said to be a legend in its own lifetime, the TT Legend.
11:10To be honest, cruiser-style bikes are not my personal choice, but to be equally honest,
11:15this one has grown on me, no doubt helped by the burst of Californian-style sunshine
11:19and warm summer evenings we've had.
11:22Cruising along with the wind in my face through some of Warwickshire's leafy lanes took me
11:26back more years than I care to remember, but don't get the idea that this bike is retro
11:31and no-go.
11:32The 900cc triple engine is one of my all-time favourites, and coupled to its short, stubby
11:37exhaust, it fits the legend to a T, or perhaps I should say TT.
11:43Not only is it flexible and responsive, it's also got a terrific exhaust note.
11:48It burbles along with a nice, uneven rhythm, more like the sound of a big, lazy American
11:53V8, but lazy it's not.
11:56Crack open the throttle and it howls into life like no old Triumph ever did.
12:01Well, all right, except for the very old Meriden triples.
12:04Once I got used to the higher bars, semi-forward rests and kicked-out forks, the handling proved
12:09to be really good.
12:11You don't buy a bike like this to play races on, but ride it in a sort of flat-tracker
12:15style, laying the bike down instead of on your knee, and it's really good fun.
12:20At 215kg it's not too heavy, but the new low seating position not only suits the style
12:26of the bike, it also makes this Triumph one of the easiest to manoeuvre at low speeds.
12:32The massive front disc and single rear are well up to the job, and those alloy rims and
12:36stainless spokes really fit the look and purpose of the bike.
12:40All this low-rider style comes to you at an equally low price of only £6,454, which for
12:46a 900 is a lot of metal for your money.
12:49You don't get a fairing, so you've either got to be Arnie Schwarzenegger or very, very
12:54late if you want to ride at anything over 80, but there's no point.
12:58In fact, while gaining points on your licence, you're missing the point completely.
13:02Chill out and enjoy.
13:04Hasta la vista, baby.
13:14What could be better than this, eh?
13:16A lovely bike, a lovely summer evening, a nice bit of Warwickshire.
13:21You can't beat it.
13:25Listen to that silence.
13:28And this is Triumph's new TT Legend.
13:32Not TT as in Isle of Man, of course, but I'm sure you can tell that.
13:36But nevertheless, a legend all the same.
13:40First off, look at these wheels.
13:42Really nice.
13:43Alloy rims, stainless steel spokes, and the rims are extra wide, so they can actually
13:48stretch the tyre out and give it a flatter profile, and it gives that chunky sort of
13:52cruiser look too.
13:54For the same reason, they went for the single disc.
13:57It's a big disc, 320mm, and it's adequate for the bike, but it gives this sort of custom
14:02cruiser look.
14:03And it's, you know, the whole thing's very effective.
14:06Looks a bit retro, but it's also modern.
14:08Mixes the two together.
14:10Coming slightly back, you've got the good old faithful, an engine I love.
14:14The 900 triple.
14:16Liquid cooled, of course.
14:17Nothing new there, but a really nice, meaty lump, and it really suits this bike.
14:23One little bit I missed.
14:26The forks, if you look carefully at the forks, you can see they're actually kicked out more
14:30than normal.
14:32I did query Triumph first off whether they'd actually altered the rake, but they haven't
14:35altered the rake.
14:36They've altered the trail, which means it's got different yokes on it, and it's pushed
14:40the front wheel further forward.
14:42So it's given us a nice sort of long rider look.
14:46But perhaps the most distinctive thing of all is this seat, which I'm sure you can see
14:51here, which is a new one for Triumph, in that it's lower than normal.
14:55It's very slim there.
14:57And if we look over on the top, you can actually see that it's narrower than the normal Triumph
15:02seat.
15:03So if you're short in the leg, that seat is absolutely ideal for you.
15:07You've got a lower seat height, narrower so it doesn't spread your legs so much.
15:11Really effective.
15:12Coming to the back of the bike, let's just show you this.
15:15Nothing spectacular about it, but again, wide alloy rim.
15:18Sorry it's a bit dusty, but it's been dusty weather lately.
15:21Short, stubby stainless steel spokes, big single disc again, and a very traditional
15:26looking hub.
15:27It almost looks like a hub brake at first, and I think that's what it's designed to do.
15:31Again, this sort of retro feel.
15:33Because the legend part really isn't sort of a British thing.
15:37The TT in America was for flat track racers, and I think this is where it picks up a lot
15:42of its cues from.
15:43It's pretty neat altogether.
15:46I'll tell you one thing that really gets me.
15:49In fact, there's two things.
15:51But one thing, I really don't like this.
15:53It doesn't seem to fit in this tail end.
15:56I'd much prefer the number plate to be further back with an illuminated piece under there.
16:01This little bit looks as though it's off an old Mini or whatever it is, just shining up
16:06there, and I don't like it.
16:08But then again, who am I?
16:10Up the front, my other pet hate.
16:13In all this bright weather, the indicator lights, they'll come out now, so it's not much
16:18good showing you, I don't suppose.
16:20No, there we are.
16:21They're nice and bright now, but you can see them flashing away there.
16:23Well, believe me, when you've got the sun behind you, you can't see a damn thing, and
16:28it's no fun, as you well know, driving along for miles with your indicators on.
16:32But overall, excuse our friendly train going past.
16:36Overall, I actually like this bike.
16:41Don't always say that.
16:42You might sort of, with most bikes, think, yeah, that's not bad, but I've actually grown
16:46to like it.
16:47I think the weather's got a lot to do with it and where we've been filming, and I thought
16:50this is a pretty cool bike.
17:02This is the new face of Triumph.
17:05It shares the almond-eyed headlamps of the Daytona and a few more components, but other
17:10than that, it's very, very different and very, very new.
17:15I also got it very, very dirty.
17:19So what have we got?
17:20Well, first off, we've got a lot of noise because it's the sound of the rain on this
17:24plastic roof, because we've had to come undercover because it's absolutely tiddling down out
17:27there.
17:28But forgetting that for a while and ignoring that hissing, the biggest feature of this
17:32Triumph, the thing that probably hits you first, is this massive perimeter beam frame.
17:37Aluminium sections ribbed internally to give you extra strength, and they've done that
17:42to get rid of the old steel spine frame.
17:44Remember, it used to run up from the headstock down to the bottom.
17:47You've now got a fuel-injected motor.
17:49They needed more space for that, and they wanted to make it subtly different from its
17:53sexy cousins, the 509 and also the Daytona, which has got those oval tube frames.
17:58Looks very nice, but they wanted something a bit different.
18:01Also, they needed to beef it up, because this bike will be used a lot for two-up touring.
18:05So by making it stronger here, you can also put a stronger subframe on.
18:10It's retained the sexy one-sided swinging arm, or should I say single-sided swinging
18:15arm, from the Daytona, so that's still there.
18:17And all together, it looks the business.
18:20Not only that, it also does the business.
18:23Coupled to top-notch show suspension, the handling is superb.
18:28Gone is that slightly top-heavy feeling of the old Sprint.
18:31This one is flickable, but still rock-solid.
18:34The wheelbase is 30mm longer than its cousins to aid stability and put a tad more weight
18:38over the front end, while the fork brake and trail are more leisurely, again to remove
18:43any front-end twitchiness.
18:46Road-holding is also spot-on, with front and rear suspension beautifully matched.
18:51Mind you, it's a good job the handling is up to it, because the engine is an absolute
18:55blinder.
18:57Now, this engine might look familiar, and it might sound familiar, but it is very different
19:01internally.
19:02It's got cast pistons instead of forged pistons, because the engine is less stressed than the
19:06Daytona.
19:08It's got steel liners in the barrels instead of a coated aluminium, which is what the Daytona
19:12has got, and again, because this one is less stressed.
19:15It's got softer cams, not soft in a squidgy fashion, but a softer profile to give a broader
19:20spread of power.
19:21The electronic engine management system, that has been remapped, again to give a more flexible
19:26engine, a more rounded engine.
19:28On top of that, behind the barrels down here, it's got a suppression block.
19:32This is a block that's been moulded onto the engine to sort of dampen out any vibration
19:37and any noises and whirring from the gearbox and from the crankcase in general.
19:41Altogether, they've made it a more rounded engine.
19:44And what does all this mean?
19:46I love this engine.
19:48Along with Ducati's and the BFR, it's got character.
19:51It's a true biker's engine.
19:54You get 108 breakers against 130 on the Daytona, but, and this is where it scores, you get
20:00a juicy 72 foot-pounds of torque at just 6,200 revs.
20:05Lovely.
20:06But, there's more to it than that.
20:08It's spread right through to the 9,200 redline.
20:12That translates into instant zapping.
20:15No matter which of the six gears you're in, it just goes and goes and goes.
20:20Effortless is one word for it.
20:22And yes, is another.
20:24And a much better one, too.
20:26And talking about gears, what a beaut this gearbox is.
20:30Sneaking in and out without a glitch, you could be forgiven for changing gear just to
20:34hear that triple howling away.
20:38The riding position is just right.
20:40A slight forward pitch, lowish footrests, and a very effective fairing.
20:45However, as a six-foot-two-er, personally, I'd like a slightly taller screen.
20:50What about the other creature comforts?
20:53First off, the front forks.
20:55Adjustable for preload.
20:56They're 43mm stanchions, unlike the 45s of the Daytonas.
21:01Down at the bottom end, you've got the four part Nissan calipers, straight off the Daytona,
21:05320mm discs, no problem there.
21:08Coming back up onto the top yoke, you can see a very neat handlebar layout here, with
21:13all the standard controls on the twist grip and on the clutch side.
21:17The levers are adjustable for span, as you'd expect.
21:21Switching on the ignition, looking at the dash panel here, you get a nice little row
21:25of lights there.
21:26If you put the headlight on, you can see up there, the main beam warning light is very
21:32bright.
21:33Not too bad in this light, but believe me, at night, that is incredibly bright, and a
21:37bit of a distraction.
21:39What isn't a distraction, but perhaps should be, is the speedo.
21:42Speedo and rev counter here.
21:44Personally, I think the speedo should be there, and rev counter over on the left.
21:48A white face rev counter, dead easy to see, but at night, that speedo, especially with
21:53a red pointer, is very, very difficult to see how fast you're going, and that's the
21:56one that's going to lose your licence, not the rev counter.
22:00Coming up here, a couple of gauges here, fuel gauge and temperature gauge, and you've also
22:04got a digital clock, buried down in that little hole.
22:07You've also got a low fuel warning light, because the gauge is all very well, but it
22:10is nice to have that little light that's going to tell you when you're really, really
22:13low.
22:15Another neat touch, very VFR-like, is these mirrors.
22:19They fold back in either direction, so if you've got to go in a shed, or between some
22:23cars, you can always fold the mirrors back.
22:25But very, very neat, that, with these rubber boots over it.
22:28Moving back from the front, you can see this very, very curvaceous fuel tank, 21 litres,
22:33and at 45 to the gallon, you get a hell of a range.
22:35Very nice plastic tank, of course, in Triumph tradition.
22:39Nice big dual seat here, and you can see the fixing points there, for a little tail hump,
22:43colour-coded, clicks on there, removable.
22:46So removable that Triumph didn't give me one.
22:49You can fit pannier frames here, and detachable panniers, they're colour-coded as well, to
22:53match the bike.
22:54Looks very, very neat.
22:55And the exhaust system, the silencer, just like a Ducati ST4, can swivel out of the way
23:00to give you clearance for the panniers, or swivel it back up for a bit of clearance for
23:04sports riding.
23:05And what you mustn't forget, and what all touring bikes should have, if not all bikes
23:09in my opinion, is the centre stand.
23:11So there it is, a fully equipped sports tourer.
23:16So that's it.
23:17Two years on from the intro of the 595, we now have the Sprint ST, and it was worth the wait.
23:24I know what you're thinking, he raved over the VFR 800 too, so is the Triumph better?
23:30Difficult.
23:32For me, yes, because I really like that engine.
23:34But they are both so good, there's very little in it.
23:37But make no mistake, this really is a Triumph for Triumph.
23:42At £7,995, it's £500 more than the VFR on Honda's special black and white deal.
23:49But it's £600 cheaper than a Ducati ST4.
23:53Difficult, ain't it?
23:55Last up is Triumph's Thunderbird.
23:58The traditional style and spirit of Triumph has been captured better within this bike than any other within the range.
24:04Whereas the original Thunderbird was a twin, this new model is a triple,
24:07and benefits from having better performance and enhanced reliability.
24:11A six-speed gearbox allows effortless cruising and gives improved fuel economy.
24:16This bike has been developed quietly for quite a few years now, and it shows.
24:20Practicality and character wrapped in an attractive package to give an excellent town bike and back road tour.
24:28So, Chris, bike number three.
24:30Yes.
24:31Another Triumph.
24:32Bit of a monster, this one, isn't it?
24:33It is, the Thunderbird.
24:34Yeah.
24:35Absolutely. What do you think of the looks of it, then?
24:37It just looks a very big bike. I'm looking forward to riding it.
24:40Nice seat. Are you alright with the colour scheme?
24:42Yes, the colours are good.
24:45I wonder about the handlebars. That'll be interesting to see how they feel.
24:48A bit further back, aren't they?
24:49And the leg position is possibly a little more cramped on this one.
24:53Do you think it might be?
24:54It might well be for you, yeah.
24:55What do you think of the tank badges?
24:57I always think they look a bit lumpy, but other people like them.
25:00Yeah.
25:01Triumph always had that style.
25:03Classic British, Chris, that's what it is, obviously.
25:05That's right, yes, yes.
25:06Yeah?
25:07They haven't got the rack on the top anymore.
25:08No.
25:09I believe that was quite dangerous in the hard braking situation.
25:11Oh, really?
25:12Yes.
25:13Oh, gosh. Well, we don't want any hard braking today, but get your helmet on and let us know what you think.
25:16Right, let's go.
25:18Chris is testing the 2001 model of the Thunderbird priced at £5,999.
25:23This Triumph benefits from having the triple-cylinder engine,
25:26which makes it less crude to ride than the Bonneville, which is a twin.
25:29This also means that the engine is less stressed,
25:32and it doesn't need to be worked as hard to maintain steady progress.
25:35As usual, check the full service history and ensure that the finish is still of a high standard,
25:40what with all that chrome on show.
25:42Triumph have clearly been paying attention to what Harley-Davidson are up to,
25:45and have produced a whole range of bolt-on goodies for their bikes.
25:48You can add city bars, chromed components, and even different seats.
25:52In fact, there is now no excuse for your Triumph to look like anybody else's.
26:04So, Chris, the Triumph Thunderbird. What did you think?
26:07Oh, it's very good. It's a big bike.
26:09Yeah?
26:10Yeah, it's powerful.
26:12What did you think of the handlebars? Because you were a bit kind of concerned.
26:15I was a little bit too upright.
26:16Yeah.
26:17I felt when I brake, when I used my front brake, I slid up the seat a bit.
26:21I couldn't brace myself against them.
26:23But otherwise, it's a nice bike. I'm very impressed.
26:26Plenty of power, and you give it some throttle, doesn't it?
26:28Yes, Triumph are coming good, aren't they?
26:30Yeah, they are.
26:31They're doing very well.
26:32So now, obviously, this is a lot bigger than the Bonneville.
26:34Did you feel a weight problem?
26:37I thought when I was turning at very slow speeds, I could feel it felt top-heavy, to be honest.
26:44But the front brake was good.
26:47All the braking was good.
26:48Yeah.
26:49Plenty of power.
26:50Yes, I quite enjoyed it.
26:52And you were fine with the handling? No problems at all?
26:54Yes, no problems at all. It's a good bike.
26:56So these are the most powerful you've been on, then?
26:59They are, really. Yes, yes. Probably 900cc is the biggest bike I've ridden, yeah.
27:04Do you think we've created a speed monster?
27:06I'm not sure. I'm not sure.
27:08You could be persuaded, though.
27:09You certainly feel big bike. You feel big bike when you're on it, yeah.
27:12Well, you seem to look very comfortable on them anyway.
27:14Oh, good.
27:15So we need to go to the scoreboards and see what scores you give the Thunderbird.
27:18Right, fine.
27:19And finally, Chris, what do you give the Thunderbird for style?
27:22Nine. Good-looking bike.
27:24And performance?
27:26Seven. Not as smooth as I was expecting.
27:29And what about practicality?
27:31Five. It's a big, heavy bike for manoeuvre.
27:34And reliability?
27:35Seven. Seems OK.
27:38What about value for money?
27:41Five. I thought it was a bit clear.
27:44Thanks, Chris.
27:46Why is it that speed triples make people do silly things?
27:50Like burnouts, for instance.
27:52It's all so unnecessary.
27:56But what do you expect when you see a bike like this?
27:59With these bug-eyed headlights, it looks like something from Mad Max.
28:02So isn't it a bike that's something about being mad?
28:06No, not really.
28:07But fun with attitude? Yes.
28:09The speed triple comes alive in your hands.
28:12A brilliant triple motor, a taut frame and a commanding riding position
28:16puts you well and truly in charge.
28:19In charge of what?
28:21Well, first off, it is back to those headlights
28:23because, personally, I've never liked them
28:25since they were first introduced on the 509,
28:27which is now three years ago, back in 1996.
28:29To me, it looks like a Daytona that's been crashed
28:32and they haven't yet put the fairing back on it.
28:34Now, the rest of it really looks the business.
28:36I think it's a fantastic-looking bike.
28:38And it all starts off with the front end here,
28:40these massive front forks,
28:42and these are adjustable for compression, preload and rebound damping.
28:46Triumph are famous for their front brakes,
28:48320mm discs, four-pot calipers,
28:50and it really is a one-finger's job.
28:52You can just stop it on nothing, really.
28:54Brilliant stuff.
28:56But also down there is a very titty front guard,
28:59which is a shame because that really dishes the dirt over the engine.
29:03And it doesn't deserve it because it's an absolutely cracking motor.
29:07It's up 70cc on the old T509,
29:10hence the 955 classification shared with the new Daytona.
29:14But it's been retuned to give you more torque than the Daytona
29:17at the expense of a little top end.
29:20Mind you, you still end up with 108 very wild horses.
29:24And keeping all these horses in harness, as it were,
29:27is this sexy oval tube frame,
29:29familiar to all, shared with the 595.
29:32Also shared with the 595, the massive single-sided swinging arm.
29:36Again, rear suspension fully adjustable
29:39for compression, preload and rebound damping.
29:42Up here, plastic petrol tank.
29:44Again, common to the 595.
29:46But up the front here,
29:48even though the instruments are the same as on the 595,
29:50absolutely identical,
29:52the handlebars are bolted to the top yokes,
29:54look almost retro.
29:56Nothing special there, standard controls.
29:58Front brake lever adjustable for span.
30:00Clutch lever isn't because it's cable operated.
30:03Only adjustment there, you've got this cable, not for span.
30:06Mind you, on the road, you might find you need that adjustable suspension,
30:10because it's pretty firm and some might want to soften it up a bit.
30:13But the road holding and handling are nevertheless superb.
30:16It's a real together feel.
30:18It tracks well and the riding position inspires confidence.
30:22You really do feel in control.
30:24The bars are slightly higher than the old 509,
30:27all the better to hang on to, my dear.
30:29But still tip you slightly forward into the windblast,
30:32which on a naked bike, you really notice.
30:34At low speed, you might not notice the wind,
30:37but you will notice quite a wide turning circle.
30:40Stranger.
30:41And talking of turning, let's turn to the engine.
30:44Three cylinders, as you know, the famous triple.
30:47But on this one, they've actually altered the fuel injection system.
30:50They've changed the cams and they've altered the engine management system,
30:53all to give that extra torque in the mid-range.
30:56With this one, you've also got a very nice aftermarket pipe.
30:59Not strictly aftermarket, because it is Triumph,
31:02but it'll cost you £368.
31:04Even the cows approve, as you can hear.
31:06But that gives you this extra rounded sound,
31:09making it very, very sweet.
31:11And what does all this mean?
31:13The 108 brake is down against the 130 of the Daytona,
31:17but this is where it scores.
31:19You get a juicy 72 foot-pounds of torque at just 6,000 revs,
31:22making it a pleasure to play around on the throttle.
31:25It gives you instant go, no matter which of the six gears you're in.
31:29But sneak it down a cog or two for the full surround sound.
31:33It's not noisy. It just howls like all triples do.
31:36It's wonderful. In fact, it's spine-tinglingly wonderful.
31:40At £7,649 list, it'll cost you more than a Monster or a Bandit,
31:45but that's what it is, a Monster ready to rob you of all your sanity.
31:50You don't have to be a hooligan to ride it.
31:52It's a good all-round tool.
31:54But there's something about the Beast that's very, very appealing.
31:58Now, where's my comeback gear?
32:00Hi, and welcome to Two Whales Better.
32:02This week, we're at Hinkley, the home of Triumph,
32:04but I'm sure you can see that from the sign behind me.
32:07What you can also see here is Triumph's T595,
32:10the rave machine of early 97, and probably for the whole year.
32:13But I'm not going to talk about it now.
32:15I'm going to take it out on the road, and I'll be with you a bit later.
32:25HEAVY METAL MUSIC
32:28HEAVY METAL MUSIC
32:59Well, we've stopped.
33:01Now is the time to tell you something about this bike.
33:04I've already said it's absolutely fabulous, and it truly is.
33:07It's not very often that I feel that I want to absolutely rave about a bike,
33:10but there's something very, very special about this Triumph.
33:13Three-cylinder motor, all that torque, whatever it is,
33:17it speaks to you, it does talk to you, and it is absolutely fabulous.
33:21If we're going to look round the bike, stem to stern, as it were,
33:25and just see what all these bits and pieces are that make it so trick,
33:28just look at this frame for a start-off.
33:31A pipe-bender's dream, if ever there was one.
33:33Beautiful aluminium tubing, neatly welded up.
33:36It really looks the business.
33:38The tank is unique.
33:40Plastic here, with the actual tank inside it.
33:43Swoopy fairing, carbon fibre bits and pieces.
33:46Unique end can here, nice oval shape to it.
33:50Brembo wheels. Where did this all stop?
33:54Specially developed for the Triumph, and this particular model,
33:57are these four-pot calipers.
33:59They're Japanese Nissan, but they've got the Triumph name on them.
34:02That's not Nissan as in cars, it's Nissin.
34:05But four-pot calipers, as good as any six-pot you'll find,
34:08and they really are absolutely brilliant.
34:10It's a two-finger job, brings you up really sharpish.
34:12Stop is no problem.
34:14One of the most evocative things with the Daytona,
34:17and any of the Triples, is that three-cylinder engine.
34:20It's unique, it's the only bike around with a three-cylinder.
34:23In the past, yes, there used to be Kawasaki's and Yamaha's,
34:25and even the BMW 3.
34:27But this is the current bee's knees.
34:29Now what you've really got to do, is hear the sound of this thing.
34:32Even better if you could feel it, but you can't.
34:34But I'll try and give you just a sample of the sound.
34:36A bit of sound sampling.
34:38Now the other trick thing with this Triumph,
34:40it's got this highly sophisticated engine management system,
34:42and even the clutch lever is connected to it.
34:44So you can't start the engine without pulling the clutch lever in.
34:47That's irrespective of being in gear, it just won't start.
34:50So hang on.
34:58There we go.
34:59See if you can get a load of this.
35:06I feel like a little kid all over again.
35:13The new Daytona has sold by the bucket full.
35:17Based on the famous Hinckley triple,
35:19about the only thing left of last year's engines are the Conrods.
35:22Producing 120bhp from its 955cc's,
35:26it's certainly a match for the Blade and the 916.
35:29It's bored out, lightened, slimmed down,
35:31gas flowed by Lotus, and fuel injected.
35:34Not only that, but it's got one of the world's most sophisticated
35:37engine management systems you will find on any engine,
35:40let alone a bike.
35:42Three million times a second, the engine performance is monitored.
35:45Matching throttle position and ignition timing to engine load
35:48is its simplest task.
35:50It'll even increase tick-over if the battery's getting low.
35:53On the road, you can relish this technology to the full.
35:56Engine pick-up is instantaneous and arm-stretching.
35:59Low-down oomph, or torque, if you want to give it its proper name,
36:03is there for the asking.
36:05The only tiny glitch being a soft spot around 5,500 to 6,000 revs
36:10where power flattens to meet the Euro noise test.
36:13Once past that little bureaucratic hitch,
36:15you're on your way again to seventh heaven.
36:18Front wheels skimming the tarmac until you hit the rev limiter
36:21at a little over 10,500 revs.
36:24Talking of noise, it's not noise, it's music.
36:27A proper motorbike sound, slightly offbeat
36:30and accompanied by a lovely induction roar.
36:33Inoffensive to passers-by, but great company on a long run.
36:37Handling and road-holding are absolutely spot-on.
36:40Fully adjustable shower suspension, front and rear,
36:43is tuned for the real world.
36:45Easier than a blade and much softer than a 916,
36:48this is a bike to ride on Britain's finest roads,
36:51ripples, potholes and all.
36:53Bridgestone BT56s play a part in this,
36:56with the enormous 190 rear tyre
36:58making sure that things don't step out of line.
37:01Braking is absolutely brilliant,
37:03with specially-developed Nissin 4 pots really doing the business.
37:06In fact, two fingers suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.
37:10So there you have it, the T595.
37:13A bike for all reasons.
37:15Honda's CBR600, the epitome of today's modern sports bike.
37:19But 30 years ago, things were a little bit different.
37:22You had the Triumph Bonneville,
37:24and in its time, this really was the Fireblade, the R1 of its time.
37:28But what about now? You want some classic styling,
37:31but you don't want the problems and the vibration
37:33and perhaps the odd oil leak of the old one.
37:35You've now got this, the brand-new Bonneville.
37:38Classic styling, very, very similar to this one,
37:41but packed full of brand-new technology.
37:47The new Bonneville is a very different kind of bike.
37:50It doesn't try to compete with the modern classic Fantastics.
37:54In fact, sitting very upright, pootling along on a whiffer throttle,
37:57you could be back in the 70s.
37:59Fair enough, it's heavier than the original by about 30 kilos,
38:02but it doesn't feel heavy.
38:04It's incredibly smooth, thanks to balancer shafts,
38:07and it's much torquier, thanks to a bigger motor.
38:10But you're not tempted to thrash it.
38:12It's not that sort of bike.
38:16Well, what sort of bike is it then?
38:18Well, if we take the car world for a minute,
38:20which isn't a bad idea on a day like today,
38:22but if you look at Volkswagen's new Beetle or the Chrysler PT Cruiser,
38:25they've got a retro look with lots of little styling cues there
38:28from the classic era, but they haven't got the hassle.
38:31And that's what Triumph are trying to do with this classic-looking bike.
38:34Just look at that front wheel.
38:36Spoked front wheel, stainless steel spokes,
38:38great improvement on the old days, nice shiny rim there.
38:41Disc brake, not a drum brake, so you've got some decent braking.
38:44And look at the front mudguard.
38:46Very skimpy, blade-type guards they used to call these.
38:49Skimpy little stay there as well.
38:52Two stays there, chromium-plated, but it looks the part.
38:55Again, you come up here, big separate headlamp.
38:58And the old chrome indicators either side.
39:01On the other side, you put the ignition key in the side to switch it on.
39:05Coming up the top here, you've got a speedo and then some idiot lights.
39:08Now, one thing that they've got missing is a rev counter
39:11because the original Bonneville had a very distinctive rev counter sticking there,
39:14and I really think they should have done that.
39:16Anyway, moving back a bit, petrol tank.
39:19This has even got this beautiful touch of a hand-drawn gold line there.
39:23No stickers on this one, and so they've replicated that old scheme.
39:27Same with the badges.
39:29These are very, very similar, but one thing I've noticed,
39:31the original one, the old chrome badges screwed directly onto the tank
39:35and used to cause a bit of ruts around the side.
39:37This one's got a little rubber gasket there,
39:39so that's something bringing it to the future.
39:41You look at the engine itself, and they've actually gone to a lot of trouble
39:44purely with the engine design to make it look right.
39:47So this timing chest here, very distinctive,
39:50the old heart-shaped chest that Triumph engines have always had.
39:53They've tried to keep that shape, which they've nearly got.
39:56And this is supposed to look like the gearbox.
39:58Well, that sounds unkind, supposed to look.
40:00It does look like the gearbox, but it's not.
40:02It's just a cover over the final drive.
40:04Coming up here, they've got these covers.
40:06This isn't the oil tank that it used to be, but it looks like it.
40:09You have to take that off to get access to the air filter and whatnot.
40:13And coming further back, you've got your twin shocks there.
40:16The chain's actually on this side, which might look a bit odd first off,
40:19but they've had to do that simply because they wanted to make this gearbox
40:22look in the right place.
40:24You've got the old classic Peashooter exhaust.
40:26But that's it, all classically styled.
40:29But how does it all go together? That's what you want to know, isn't it?
40:33It's not all show and no-go.
40:35That torquey motor means that 90% of the torque
40:38is available from a lowly 2,750 revs.
40:41In fact, you can pull away in third if you really wanted to.
40:44And interestingly, you can still feel a tiny bit of vibration,
40:48but it really is tiny,
40:50and it's actually been designed in to give it some real character.
40:54Now, talking of the engine, because that's what the Bonneville is all about,
40:57this is their air-cooled lump.
40:59Well, I'm saying air-cooled because you can see the fins on it,
41:01so it is sort of 90% of it,
41:03but it has got an oil cooler as well.
41:05That's it running down the front between the front down tubes.
41:08Made a very, very neat job of it.
41:10While I'm there, you can also see this chrome tube
41:12down the front of the engine here,
41:14which in fact mimics the old pushrod tube,
41:16but it now just drains oil from up here,
41:18where the old valve gear is.
41:20Used to have the rockers in there, pushrod operated, of course.
41:23Now to an overhead cam.
41:25One of the other big changes, which I should have said,
41:27it's now 790cc, and not the old 650cc,
41:30or actually 750cc, so 790.
41:33I have a big lump.
41:35It's retained the original crankshaft design,
41:37which is a 360-degree crank,
41:39which gives the right sort of firing order for the Triumph Bonneville.
41:42They wanted to keep the same sound there and the same feel to it.
41:45But this time, it's got a couple of balancer shafts
41:47running before and after the engine
41:49to really smooth it out.
41:52No fuel injection of this.
41:54That really would spoil the image, of course.
41:56So a couple of carburettors.
41:58And over the other side, where you can't see,
42:00you've even got a little choke lever on the side of the carburettors.
42:02Nothing on the bars.
42:04Again, to give it that authentic feel.
42:06But the only thing it hasn't got is a kickstarter,
42:08because that would have truly made it authentic.
42:10So I could just imagine it sticking up there,
42:12heaving the bike over.
42:14But they haven't done it, because these days,
42:16we all rely on the electric start.
42:19The carburetion's dependable, too.
42:21No flat spots on the Bunny's take-up.
42:23Acceleration is like the rest of its performance.
42:26Very, very smooth.
42:28The five-speed gearbox is pretty slick, too.
42:30And it's well-suited to the motor's power characteristics.
42:33As for the brakes,
42:35discs front to rear, of course.
42:37Well, they do the job far, far better
42:39than the old Bunny ever did.
42:41Handling is smooth and flowing.
42:43The big 19-inch front wheel
42:45giving the front end a nice, light feel.
42:48Suspension-wise, it might look retro,
42:50but it's perfect for the job,
42:52giving adequate feedback.
42:54In fact, the whole package works well together,
42:56and a lot of that is, of course,
42:58down to the frame.
43:00But first, the seat height's worth a mention,
43:02because this is 775mm high,
43:04which is 30.5 inches in old money,
43:06which is exactly the same as the old Bunnyville.
43:08Something else which is just the same
43:10is the fork rake.
43:12That kicked out 29 degrees.
43:14Again, exactly the same,
43:16but with a sort of Bunnyville feel to it.
43:18The frame is a bit different, though.
43:20Twin tubes at the front coming down,
43:22but underneath is a massive central spine
43:24coming right under the tank,
43:26right down to the back here,
43:28to this pivot point if I shuffle forward there
43:30for the box-section swing arm,
43:32and that's going straight through the back of the crankcase,
43:34which makes the whole lot very rigid.
43:36But having said that,
43:38it all works very well.
43:42So how does it all stack up against the original?
43:44Well, all it really shares is the name
43:46and some styling features.
43:48The old one was good in its day,
43:50but the world has moved on, and so have Triumphs.
43:52The new Bunny is a bike of today
43:54designed for those who want the style,
43:56but without the hassle.
43:58The Bunny has certainly grown up.
44:00It comes in Starlet Red with Silver,
44:02like this one, or also Forest Green and Silver.
44:04The price?
44:06£5,295 on the road.
44:10But that could just be the start
44:12of your love affair with Triumphs,
44:14because what they're selling you here is not just a motorbike,
44:16but it's a legend, and it's a lifestyle, if you like.
44:18The bike itself,
44:20you can dress up in all sorts of bits and pieces.
44:22Perspex screen up the front.
44:24At the back here, the exhaust.
44:26Some people have said it's a bit sort of quiet.
44:28It is quiet, and so you can have an aftermarket
44:30sort of sports exhaust, an option from Triumph.
44:32They say it's not for road use,
44:34which is a bit novel, really,
44:36which is where these bikes are going to be used.
44:38You can have a centre stand as well,
44:40and also you can have knee pads.
44:42Not the ones that you put on your suit,
44:44but the ones you actually put on the tank.
44:46Stick them on there to give it that authentic British look.
44:48But that's not all.
44:50Just like other big manufacturers, Honda, Suzuki,
44:52and particularly Harley-Davidson,
44:54there's a whole range of other gear to go with them.
44:56Harleys do aerosol hairsprays
44:58and G-strings.
45:00Triumph are not quite into that,
45:02but a whole range of gear, including clothing.
45:04Full set of leathers there.
45:06A retro jacket here with Triumphs
45:08right across the back.
45:10See, sir? It's handy the way I found all these on the hedge, isn't it?
45:12And not only that,
45:14waterproof all-weather jacket.
45:16And so what you're buying into, as I've already said,
45:18it's a lifestyle.
45:20So beware.
45:22Buying the bike could be just the start.
45:26You know, you have to admire Triumph
45:28for attempting to take on the Japanese
45:30at their own game.
45:32The 600 market is very competitive,
45:34and the Japanese have a very firm grip on it.
45:36When the TT 600 was launched
45:38back in 2000,
45:40it wasn't that well-received.
45:42Bland styling and fueling issues didn't help.
45:44But the bike was universally
45:46acclaimed for its handling,
45:48and if it hadn't been for the fueling problems,
45:50it could have possibly been more successful.
45:522003 has seen Triumph
45:54respond to its critics
45:56by introducing the Daytona 600,
45:58which has an upgraded version
46:00of the TT 600 engine
46:02along with its running gear.
46:04Dressed in a brand new set of clothes,
46:06at a first glance it appears Triumph
46:08have done the trick.
46:10If you're looking for a 600,
46:12yeah, there's not really a lot you can say
46:14about the Daytona that
46:16detracts from it.
46:18It's just when you compare it with the others in this class,
46:20it's always going to lose
46:22marks compared to what they can achieve.
46:24Triumph's Daytona 600
46:26is one of the sweetest handling bikes out there.
46:28Its engine doesn't quite match
46:30up to its Japanese competition,
46:32it looks different, it's British,
46:34and that's reason enough for some people to own it.
46:36This bike is Triumph's attempt to break into
46:38the monopolised Japanese sports bike market,
46:40and I'd say a very valiant effort
46:42straight out of the box.
46:44It needs a bit more development,
46:46but I'm sure it's going to get that from its racing,
46:48and it's a good looking machine.
46:50Well, the Triumph Daytona 600
46:52is firmly in 6th place,
46:54with a total score of 79%
46:56in our Top 10 Middleweights chart.
47:02It's a perfect type of bike.
47:04Good performance, and the ability to cover
47:06thousands of miles without inflicting
47:08severe pain on the rider.
47:10But if you're willing to sacrifice some of that performance,
47:12then there's another style to consider.
47:14The big trail bikes.
47:16They're not as fast, and they don't have
47:18the same precise handling as the sports tourers,
47:20but as far as touring ability goes,
47:22they're just as good.
47:24And this is the latest offering
47:26from Triumph, the new 900cc
47:28Tiger.
47:30In 1992, the Tiger came out,
47:32and it's remained more or less unchanged
47:34until this major update for 1999.
47:36As you'd expect with the
47:38Triumph triple cylinder motor,
47:40but now it's got the fuel injected unit
47:42from the T509, which gives you
47:44about 70bhp to play with.
47:46The most obvious update
47:48is of course the bodywork.
47:50New shaped tank, new shaped headlight fairing.
47:52It's much smoother now,
47:54smoother lines and more curvy,
47:56and I think a bit more pleasing to the eye
47:58than the old model.
48:00And it's supposed to have better wind protection,
48:02because it's got a new windscreen,
48:04which, as you can see, is nearly vertical.
48:06So it's probably got all the aerodynamics
48:08of a London bus, but it does actually
48:10work. It is very, very good.
48:12On the road
48:14is where you start to notice the most
48:16significant improvement in the new Tiger.
48:18The handling is far superior
48:20to the old model, which suffered from the front end
48:22diving under only moderate braking.
48:24The use of new triple rake springs
48:26in the front forks seems to have cured
48:28the problem. The motor is a gem.
48:30It's super smooth, even at low revs.
48:32There are no flat spots and no sudden
48:34rushes of power to catch you out.
48:36Just a nice, smooth delivery of power
48:38right through to about 9,000 revs
48:40where it starts to tail off.
48:42The bike has that
48:44very noisy, very mechanical
48:46sound, which is typical of a
48:48modern Triumph. It sounds as though it's going to explode
48:50beneath you. Very noisy engine, but
48:52it's not going to blow up, it's just the way
48:54they sound. That's what the like Triumphs.
48:56A couple more modifications.
48:58The seat is now adjustable. You can move
49:00that from 840 up to
49:02860mm in height,
49:04even on its lowest setting.
49:06This is still a very tall bike.
49:08If you buy a big trailer, quite simply
49:10it's something that you will have to get used to.
49:12The dashboard is different to the old one.
49:14It's better equipped, much more
49:16neater, a bit more comprehensive.
49:18We've now got a fuel gauge, which is useful.
49:20A little clock down there, again, another handy
49:22thing to have. And that's
49:24important, I think, because that's the bit that
49:26you spend most of your time looking at
49:28when you're riding the bike. It's the bit that
49:30you see the most. So it's nice to have something
49:32that you can look down on, it's simple
49:34to read, and it's got a nice look of quality
49:36about it.
49:38The new Tiger is an easy bike to ride.
49:40It's fun to ride, and you feel totally
49:42in command. It's superb in
49:44busy town traffic. The high seat
49:46gives excellent visibility, and the
49:48big oval shaped wing mirrors allow
49:50you to see more than just your elbows.
49:52Triumph has aimed this machine
49:54at the tour-minded rider,
49:56but unfortunately they've forgotten to
49:58put some decent padding in the seat.
50:00It's fine around town, or even
50:02on the country lanes, but the
50:04numb bum syndrome does start to set in
50:06after about 70 miles on a motorway,
50:08which is not perfect if you're thinking
50:10about a European tour.
50:12Well, actually, I'm probably being
50:14a bit over-critical there, because
50:16no way is it the worst seat in the world. It's still better
50:18than any sports bike, but it's a shame it's not
50:20a little bit more comfy, because
50:22the rest of the bike really is so good.
50:24Now, Triumph have always been
50:26very big on aftermarket accessories,
50:28and the new Tiger is no exception,
50:30but accessories for Triumph don't come
50:32cheap. You can buy for this a nice
50:34pair of purpose-designed
50:36panniers, colour-coded and very fancy,
50:38but they'll cost you £500. Yes,
50:40£500. If you've not got that much,
50:42you can spend £300, still a lot
50:44of money, on a nice top box.
50:46Now, that tells me that
50:48Triumph think that this bike is well
50:50suited to touring, otherwise they wouldn't make these
50:52bits and pieces for it. Fair enough,
50:54it is. It's well suited to touring. You can go
50:56a long way in a lot of comfort on one of these bikes.
50:58But why, oh why,
51:00if it can tour, has it not got a main
51:02stand? You see, if you
51:04do decide to load up with panniers
51:06and top box and sleeping bags and
51:08pots and pans and goodness knows what hanging
51:10off the back of it, and you go touring,
51:12it's very, very useful to be able to get
51:14your bike upright on a main stand.
51:16Because when it's leaning over like this,
51:18you open this pannier down here,
51:20loaded with gear, and it all falls out
51:22all over the road. It's an absolute pain.
51:24It really is a nuisance. So please,
51:26Mr Triumph, can we have a main
51:28stand as standard? And not, as
51:30it is now, a £130
51:32optional extra.
51:34So now you know what I think.
51:36But that's enough moaning for one day.
51:38Back to the bike. It's a great bike.
51:40Great engine, good brakes,
51:42decent handling, nice looks,
51:44I think, and a very relaxed, comfortable
51:46riding position. It's not everybody's
51:48cup of tea, but if you like the
51:50motocross style, which it is, it's very similar
51:52to a motocross riding position,
51:54hands up there, feet nicely forward,
51:56very relaxed, then the Tiger
51:58wouldn't be a bad choice. The on-the-road
52:00price for one of these is £7,400,
52:02which is only
52:04slightly dearer than Honda's new
52:06big trail bike, their new Varadero.
52:08But it's about £800 less
52:10than BMW's monster trailer,
52:12their 1100 GS.
52:14So that's the Tiger. Smashing bike.
52:16Good fun bike to ride.
52:18In fact, you could say it's
52:20great.
52:22Tiger, do you get it?
52:24Oh well, perhaps I shouldn't have buzzed.