A year ago, I published my first video about the Triumph Tiger 850. Since then, I’ve been riding the bike across various roads and in various weather conditions. In this video, I want to share my experience of owning a Triumph from the perspective of someone who has never owned one before. Triumph is a well-known premium manufacturer, although it is not sold in quantities comparable to Honda, BMW, or Yamaha, making it a niche brand. This comes with certain disadvantages, in my opinion. So let’s see what I can tell you after 6000 miles or 10000 kilometers on Triumph Tiger.
First of all, I should mention that the experience of owning and riding the 850 was great. This motorcycle truly offers the best value if you want to own a bike from a prestigious brand. While there are motorcycles from Suzuki or Kawasaki available in this category, none of them provides the Triumph vibe.
What you will notice is that even though the Tiger 850 is the most affordable version of the 900 lineup, Triumph did not skimp on many features. Some elements are simpler, but all the core parts are well-made. I also think that the latest color schemes make this bike look much better than the first iteration I have. I especially like the KOROSI RED / GRAPHITE color scheme. I also should mention that pain job and overall fit and finish are done nicely on this motorcycle.
When riding the motorcycle, you’ll notice that all elements on the handlebar are well-organized, pleasant to touch, and have a quality feel. I also believe that the dashboard has is a very comfortable size, with all elements being very visible and easy to read. It can switch between day and night modes automatically depending on the light conditions. I don’t feel a larger dashboard is necessary here, as one features on 900 platform. However, as I mentioned in my previous videos, I don’t think this is the best user interface you can get on a motorcycle. In fact, I wouldn’t personally use any layout other than the first one, as I find it to be the most informative and clear.
When it comes to comfort, I believe that the wind protection is excellent. I’ve noticed that Triumph motorcycles are consistently great in terms of ergonomics and sitting position, and the Tiger 850 is no exception. These days, it’s rare to find the stock windshield to be useable. Most manufacturers install shorter screens, expecting that you’ll replace them anyway. Triumph doesn’t do that, which is great. I do not experience any wind buffeting when riding at any speed. Good job Triumph.
The seating position is upright and very comfortable, but it may not be suitable for people taller than 180 cm as they might feel slightly cramped. As someone who is almost 190 cm, I started to feel uncomfortable after a few hours of riding on long trips. The suspension is very plush and probably the most comfortable in its class, although it’s not really adjustable. It’s only possible to preload the rear shock. When riding solo, the suspension feels great, but with luggage and a passenger, the front may dive slightly during braking. And you cannot influence this anyhow. Never the less, it provides a very pleasant riding experience.
Next, let’s talk about the brakes. This bike is equipped with top-of-the-line Brembo Stylema brakes. I initially thought that it might not make sense to have such high-spec brakes on a bike like the Tiger 850. However, when it comes to safety, I’ve never had any issues with these brakes. When paired with the right set of tires, you can expect excellent performance in any weather condition.
Another advantage of this bike is the availability of parts and accessories. This bike has handguards, a centre stand, and a full luggage system installed. And they all worked well and were convenient to use on longer trips.
The engine is a gem it can take you anywhere. It has low end grunt and enough power to sustain on highways. It also sounds nice. When riding this motorcycle, you experience a combination of two great worlds – adventure and touring. The bike has a playful, fun, and charismatic character that makes you want to ride it. Its plush suspension provides a comfortable experience over rough terrain, so you don’t worry much when choosing an unknown path.
However, now is probably the best time to mention things which didn’t go well with me. One issue I need to address is the heat. I ride this bike in Montenegro, and from May to the end of September, we experience heatwaves that can reach up to 40°C at their peak. The bike generates a significant amount of heat and directs it towards your knees. This might be a nice feature in cooler climates, but I’m concerned that overheating knees may not be good for your long-term health. This is something important to take into consideration.
I often find tank bags to be a useful accessory for motorcycles, but in this particular case, I had a problem. The proximity of the fuel tank cap and handlebar made the ignition key get stuck between this two elements. This meant that every time I needed to pull the key, I had to take off the bag. As a result, I decided not to use it at all.
This bike has noticeable vibrations, especially during long highway rides, which can bother you. The engine runs smoothly only within a narrow RPM range, but it’s so enjoyable to ride that you’ll often want to rev it. However, if you’re riding actively or maintaining speeds of 60 miles per hour or higher on the highway, you’ll likely feel the vibrations. Depends on the rider you can feel more of them or less. It’s worth noting that the bike feels stable and easy to handle on highways and has an enjoyable playful feel on twisty roads.
And small thing I wish Triumph could improve. There is no native USB port integration, which is crucial on longer trips. When you need to plug in some of the devices, Triumph doesn’t offer you a simple solution. Most manufacturers are already integrating that into their bikes, offering built-in weatherproof chargers. The best you can do on the Tiger is to install aftermarket chargers or use a 12v socket, which has a specific size. And I wouldn’t call it practical.
Let’s talk about ownership experience. This includes issues such as servicing the bike, and obtaining the necessary parts. Unfortunately, none of these aspects are perfect with Triumph from my experience. I am not targeting any particular dealership; rather, I believe the whole distribution chain is a bit disorganized.
I had an issue with the front wheel of my motorcycle. It was bouncy from the very beginning, and despite the dealer’s suggestion to wait for the break-in period, the problem persisted even after 1000km. The dealer and Triumph identified a defective wheel and replaced it under warranty, but that didn’t solve the issue. We then suspected that the stock Anakee tire was faulty, so I bought a new one, but that also didn’t fix the problem. My dealer switched it to Pirelli tires, which reduced the bouncing but didn’t eliminate problem completely. Ultimately, I had to accept the slight bouncing as there were no other viable options left.
The dealer quickly resolved the minor issue of a leaking engine oil cap. Aside from that, there were no significant problems.
In my opinion, Triumph doesn’t have much historical data or a knowledge base as their bikes are not sold in significant quantities. Also, considering that most Triumph dealerships are multi-branded, mechanics might not be accurate in their judgment, making it harder to service bikes fast and efficiently. I am sure that in countries like the UK or Germany, that might not be an issue, but in my case, getting parts takes months, and dealers don’t tend to keep much in stock as sales volumes are not high. It doesn’t matter how your local dealer is trying to help you; there is another level of complexity which the brand probably settles.
In conclusion, I believe that the Tiger 850 offers great value, providing only the essential features for those seeking a straightforward riding experience and want access to the 900 platform.
Minimum electronics reduce the risk of malfunctions, which likely enhances their reliability. Considering a low-volumes these bikes been produced, there isn’t much to criticize. At present, I didn’t have any major issues, but we should see its performance over time.
