I can confirm the rack mount points have not changed. I ordered Givi PR6401 side racks and SRA6401 top rack. I was half expecting something little to be just off enough to cause issues, but the only difficulty I encountered was my drilling technique for putting the 17mm holes in the plastic rear cover (under the rack). Everything bolted up just right. I really like how easy and the side racks come off. They only stayed on the bike about 15 minutes. I removed the Givi tabs from the racks before installing them since I am going to use soft bags. I am going to use the side racks with Nelson Rigg survivor bags I already own. I am thinking about those Mosko Moto backcountry bags and a rotopax setup between the rack and bike. That will have to wait though. On my last bike I used the SW-motech alurack and givi adapter. It was good enough to keep my givi v46 topcase on there, but i could see it wobble a bit in the mirrors. The SRA6401 is much much better. I put the top case on and was very pleased with how solid it is. I also like that the plate has four cutouts I can use for straps if the top case isn't on there.
Thanks for the valuable info. I'm going with the Happy Trails SU Rack, as I kept my Happy Trails Panniers (from the Wee). Happy Trails support were not 100% sure that the mount points are the same. Will update when I get it. Please post some photos.
Lots of good choices but just for clarity I'd like to point out no drilling is required with the SW-Motech steel rack or aluminum Alu-rack. It bolts right on top of the existing Triumph rack. It's solid as sin and my E460 box does not wobble on my Tiger. It snaps on solidly. The racks have numerous holes and slots to accommodate what-have-you. Any Givi box can wobble or vibrate if the rubber shims are missing or UV hardened.
So Forest Service roads are fine, but not a MSF RiderCourse ("Do not attempt to ride over any obstacles.").
I went for a test ride yesterday. Nice blue one. My initial impressions in the video. Overall a small improvement on the old model but it still has the comfort drawbacks for me of the straight handlebars and the crap screen. Apart from those it's a Tiger800 so it's brilliant. <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/39u4AG67XGs" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe>
Handlebars and screen are relatively cheap and easy to replace. I BTW love the straight handlebars. I don't think there are many bikes sold today with good wind shields - that is why there is a large after market for that. But I would like to see in the future more attention by Triumph to that. Yes, their windshield is really flimsy (at 6'5'' the bike is literally naked for me - feels like zero protection, but no buffeting either)
Yup, none of those negatives are a problem for me because I'm swapping all my bits and pieces over from the 2011 one to my newer one so by the end of Feb it'll look like.....
Nice looking bikes! Good luck with the new purchase. Get the black one or you need to find a new alias..
You've both missed my signature on here. I've already bought my new(er) one. In black, of course. I was taking the new(er) one for its first service so I took the new model out while the service was being done. No intention of buying the new model just yet. Oh, and the red TEX in the background is a friends.
After a recent change in policy dealers in the US don't have much say in the product they will get into inventory this year. Some dealers dropped Triumph over this saying they know best what to floor plan instead of being told by Triumph what they will get. Triumph wants to push cruisers... that's what I've heard. Dealers mostly sell Bonnevilles and Tigers in my neck of the woods.
I have a different take - Triumph (and KTM) want to preserve the value of their products. Bikes that dealers order and can't sell give the brand a bad image and de-value the product. Instead Triumph control their product - what and how many go where. Strong dealers that move the product fast will get more product to sell quickly. Those that are slow to sell won't hold up bikes on the floor. My dealer in Suffern, NY got 3 bikes (2 XCX, 1 XRx) shortly after Triumph announced the models. If other dealers say June maybe something is wrong with them, not with Triumph.
True, as dealer allocations are pretty common, based on previous sales. If a dealer sells $2m in product per year, they'll get more than, if not exactly double, what a $1m dealer in the first rounds of product.