Which do you recomend?
Which do you recomend?
Author
Discussion

jim'schim

Original Poster:

502 posts

268 months

Tuesday 19th October 2004
quotequote all
OK I've got a Vstrom, I bought it new a year ago and it's crap. It handles like a pig on stilts. It has to go. I've had a Varadero, which was a great bike. Now, here's my question. Do I get a new Varadero or do I go for a Tiger or a BMW R1200GS. I go to the Alps during the Summer and the Varadero was more than up to the job, the Vstrom most certainly wasn't. Who owns any of these bikes and which one is the generally prefered one?

rsvmilly

11,288 posts

257 months

Tuesday 19th October 2004
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I'm sure Barry Sheene will be along soon to extole (sp?) the virtues of the Tiger but I really fancy one of the Beemers.

Mon Ami Mate

6,589 posts

284 months

Tuesday 19th October 2004
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jim'schim said:
OK I've got a Vstrom, I bought it new a year ago and it's crap. It handles like a pig on stilts. It has to go. I've had a Varadero, which was a great bike. Now, here's my question. Do I get a new Varadero or do I go for a Tiger or a BMW R1200GS. I go to the Alps during the Summer and the Varadero was more than up to the job, the Vstrom most certainly wasn't. Who owns any of these bikes and which one is the generally prefered one?



Be honest with yourself, what do you predominantly need a bike for? A large trail-styled bike is always going to be a compromise - too big and heavy to use off road, too much suspension travel/weedy brakes/limited tyres to handle well on tarmac.

To me it's the two-wheeled equivalent of a 4x4.

If I wanted something that didn't handle like a pig on stilts, that would take me to the Alps in comfort and would handle well and have plenty of power, I'd be looking at a 1000 Fazer, Blackbird, ZZR1200 (personally recommended!) or an FJR1300.

Edited to add, my brother has a Tiger and he's very happy with it. Personally I think this is because it is his first big bike and he doesn't know any better. It's ugly, it's heavy and it doesn't handle/stop/stick to the road well enough.

Do what he didn't - go and test ride lots of bikes with an open mind. You may find that the final answer takes you completely by surprise.

>> Edited by Mon Ami Mate on Tuesday 19th October 10:05

stooz

3,005 posts

300 months

Tuesday 19th October 2004
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suprised you think that of the tiger. I rode to barcelona and back behind one, and he out pegged me and arrived un-exhausted every day.

that and if you enjoy organized long ride outs, triumphs RAT scheme is exellent, something the other manafacturers don't bother with.

barry sheene

1,524 posts

299 months

Tuesday 19th October 2004
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Indeed, I like 'em that's why I've got 2.

They do go round corners very well, they do brake well (but only if you know how to ride em properly) If you try to ride the tiger like a sportsbike then you'll come to the same incorrect conclusion all the dumbbass 'sportsbikes and nothi ng else rules' magazines have come to.
If , however you adapt your riding style to suit the bike , you'll find the tiger to be a top all round machine....and it's cheaper/better than the BM and not German......

www.tigerlist.org for more biased opins.....

rsvmilly

11,288 posts

257 months

Tuesday 19th October 2004
quotequote all
barry sheene said:
Indeed, I like 'em that's why I've got 2.

They do go round corners very well, they do brake well (but only if you know how to ride em properly) If you try to ride the tiger like a sportsbike then you'll come to the same incorrect conclusion all the dumbbass 'sportsbikes and nothi ng else rules' magazines have come to.
If , however you adapt your riding style to suit the bike , you'll find the tiger to be a top all round machine....and it's cheaper/better than the BM and not German......

www.tigerlist.org for more biased opins.....



My tastes as changing. I'm starting to do more distance so I've been looking at real-world bikes. I really liked the Fazer 1000 when I rode it. Compared with my old R6 and my Aprilia it handled a bit softly but it had smooth power and was comfortable.

Or I've been thinking of a Blackbird as a 2nd bike. Are you still selling yours Bazza?