Next bike choice down to 3 - pros/cons

[SteveM]

After a 1 year dalliance with a heavyweight cruiser, I'm going back to something more sport touring oriented.

The Triumph Rocket 3 Touring I have is a great bike, for what it is and eats up interstate with complete calm. But it's a handful in the city and isn't meant to approach nimble (870lbs will do that).

The Rocket was also my first non-Honda.

Here's what I've narrowed my search down to:

1. 2010 Triumph Tiger 1050 ABS
2. 2007 Honda VFR (it would be my 4th)
3. 2010 Honda ST1300 (it would be my third)

Here's my riding profile:

13 years riding, combination of short (50-100 mile) local trips, commuting into Boston during the school year when weather permits (not easy on the Rocket) and longer 1-2 day trips of 300-500 miles several times a year.

I generally ride alone and am past my 3xposted limit group ride phase.

I'm looking for something sportier, with carrying capacity and all day ergos.

Pros/cons of each:

Tiger - rode it today, liked the ergos, power and suspension. It did feel top heavy and shifting wasn't as smooth as I'd like (shifter pedal seemed too low as did rear brake pedal).

VFR - know it well and it does a lot well, ergos proved to be a little wrist-weighted. Carrying capacity limited, not a fan of the hard bags, they make the bike too fat.

ST1300 - know it well. Not as sporty as the VFR, but incredibly comfortable and capable. Heavy and hot areounf town, though. Luggage is excellent.


Money:

I can get the VFR + money back on my trade. The Tiger will cost trade + 2800. The St1300 will probably be trade + 5 or 6 K.


Reliability - I have never given a second thought to the possibility of a mechanical failure in over 50K miles on Hondas. Triumph????


Fire away !

[Chippertheripper]

I'm going to vote vfr. Keeping the sport in sport-touring.

[Quigs]

+1. My next bike will be an '09 or so VFR. (I can't stand the styling of the new ones).

[OreoGaborio]

I like the Tiger... overall, it seems like more of a "do-it-all utility tool". Suspension, geometry, shift & brake levers can all be adjusted.

VFR n ST1300 are just too "tour-y" for me.

[SteveM]

One of the attractions to the Triumph is "something different" since I've owned 3 VFR's and 2 ST1300's.

Anybody here living with a Tiger 1050?

[Manny]

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Tiger all the way. Motor is silky and powerful. Sounds great and looks good. Luggage is easy to do, lots of aftermarket.

[Paul_E_D]

multi-strada. case closed!

[jcrawford]

I have never ridden one but the MultiStrada did have my attention at the dealer. I think that will be my next bike if/when i decide to move away from sport or get a second bike.

[SteveM]

at $17,800, the Multistrada is 6k more than the Tiger.

[Paul_E_D]

It's 10k more bike... I think you can get em for 15, no??

[schleppy]

I haven't ridden the VFR or the ST, but I know the Triumph 1050 is a silky smooth, torquey, wonderful motor.

I would probably vote the Tiger.

[Falko]

If the VFR is in the running, why not the Sprint GT? Combination of the Tiger's engine and the sporty ride of the VFR.

[dankatz]

I have the 2007 Vfr set up for sport touring with helibars, gps, MRA variotouring screen, givi 35 liter sidecases and 46 liter trunk. I use the trunk for commuting and add sidecases for long overnight trips. With helibars it is easier on the wrists, though still not st1300 like. I like the balance it affords me. The gt1050 handling isn't great.

[nhbubba]

I like all three of those. Although I probably like the VFR the least; seating position is too aggressive and uncomfortable for me.

I wanted a Tiger or an ST (or an FJR, or a K1300RT, or ...) but wound up with a Suzuki V-Strom 650 instead. If I hadn't seen a Tiger in person via a run in with a local at the burrito joint, I'd have never looked at these 'adventure' things. I did not have the pleasure of trying a Tiger, but I am sure it is fantastic.

[dankatz]

Agreed, the Vfr is the most aggressive of those. For a sports bike, it is comfortable (put 900 miles in 5 days). The k1300gt is more sporty and less comfortable from the r1200rt. The r1200rt is also remarkably light for it's size. The st1300 is a little too big in my opinion and top heavy. The tiger should be fun and the lightly used ones are remarkably inexpensive. I had an FZ6 which was setup for light touring and was a great overall bike. Very comfortable riding position and peg location. I do wish it had the dl650 engine/transmission.

[Garandman]

There are LOTS of V-Strom commuters who came from those bikes. Why? Heat and weight. The V-Strom isn't exactly light (477 wet) but it's a lot more nimble than any of those bikes, has better visibilty, and the area around the radiator is open so it doesn't pump heat onto your legs. My radiator fan comes on about three times a summer.

The DL650A has an upright riding position, ABS brakes, terrific headlights, over 400 lbs of cargo capacity, and a 19" front wheel that handles rough roads and hopping curbs. They come pre-wired for heated hand grips and hand guards are readily available. There are a metric ton of pannier and windshield options. Drop it? Pick it up and keep going. I watched a guy drop a Concours at 30mph - over $2,000 of damage. I got hit from the side by a Honda Accord at 40mph - and rode home.


Folks take them on much longer trips then you contemplate. They are one of the most reliable motorcycles ever made. 5.8 gallon tank, 50mpg on regular, do the math.

I've joked that advrider should really be called commuterrider because so called "Adventure Touring" bikes have all the attributes that make a great commuter bike.

I doubt my laptop bag would even fit in a sport tourer side case. Living in the city, I like having aluminum bags.

The DL has all the performance you could want up to 50-60mph. Some are displacement hounds and would never consider a 650. If you want more boost, Triumph and BMW make 800cc vertical twins, and BMW and Yamaha make 1200cc Adeventure Touring models. The Yamaha Super Tenere has just hit the showrooms.

Post a thread on stromtroopers and you'll get feedback from guys who have owned all of the above.

All that said, Suzuki updated the DL650A for 2012. Lighter weight, slightly more power, slightly smaller tank, considered by most to be much better looking.
Don't think they will be available until November.

[OreoGaborio]

That 2012 looks pretty sweet

[Kenn157]

Gaget has a Tiger 1050

[Tunertype]

Have ya tried a Concours those are nice ST bikes? Ducati is having a 2 hour demo ride if you sign up in white plains NY august 13 and 14 for the Multistrada. V-storm or Versys are also nice adventure bikes and really cheap comparatively. Also really cheap on gas as well.

Of those 3 I'd vote for the the Tiger since it's the least obese and the coolest since it's not as common. The VFR is nice too, but the st1300 is like 200lbs heavier with about the same HP as the other 2.

[SteveM]

My Honda dealer (Weymouth Honda) wasn't particularly interested in the trade and I've bought 5 bikes from them!

Said he'd have to call around, as it isn't something they would want to keep.

I sat on a 2007 VFR, confirming my thought that the riding position isn't what I'm looking for. I know it can be adjusted. I done heli-bars in the past. It's time for something different. The new VFY felt better, but Honda hasn't gotten desperate enough to drop the proce to somethin market relevant.

The Tiger is giving me a bit of concern. The dealer's (Armand's Powersports in Halifax, Ma) ad stated top and side bags included, but at the dealership the owner said side only as "that promotion ended." I also hear of a significant update for 2012 which would leave the 2010 aging even quicker. It's an ABS with side bags only priced at $11,800. I think it's too high for something not likely to move quickly.

Tomorrow I'm paying a visit to the local BMW / Ducati shop (Dunbars). I'm not expecting much in my price range, but we'll see.

[nhbubba]

Dealers are fun, aren't they?

[SteveM]

Well I'm done...

I rode the Triumph twice, second time on the highway. The motor was superb, but I coudn't shake the top heavy feeling and cross winds / truck turbulence were an adventure. In addition, there's a lot of chatter in its fora about headlinght that don't really light anything.

The bike I was looking at had side bags, which I don't really want (had them before) and really, really don't want since neither bag holds a full face helmet (what's the point?). Also, it has ABS which I don't object to, but don't really want to pay for.

The dealership wouldn't budge, asking for $2800 + my 2009 Rocket 3 Touirng.

It just didn't make sense.

So I wiggled back and forth with the Honda dealer and we split the difference and made a deal.

New 2007 VFR in 25th anniverary RWB is mine tomorrow.

Mea culpa, I'm a Honda guy.

[OreoGaborio]

congrats

[dankatz]

Congrats! That's the bike I have. If you need to see what it would feel like with some mods (heli-bars, sargent seat, MR vario screen) swing by for a ride

[Jason P.]

1. 2010 Triumph Tiger 1050 ABS
2. 2007 Honda VFR (it would be my 4th)
3. 2010 Honda ST1300 (it would be my third)

just on this i would say get something you havent owned yet.

TRIUMPH.