Tiger 800xc: Questions after test ride

JadeRider · 11-11-2012, 02:02 PM

Howdy,
I test rode a 2012 Tiger 800xc yesterday. Bike had a about 3000 miles on it. I thought it was a great bike, but there was something rather unusual. Coming from my 2002 R1150GS, it felt like it could not quite keep what I would describe as a 'steady travel speed'. In other words, the beamer feels like a steady pulling freight train, whereas the Tiger felt like had the power coming in bursts. Had a very similar feeling to the Super Tenere I tested a week ago.
Any suggestions as to what may be behind this? I really like the Tiger and want to purchase one, but I am not sure if this is something inherent to the bike, or something that may have been wrong with this particular one.

Thanks

fbj913 · 11-11-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JadeRider

Howdy,
I test rode a 2012 Tiger 800xc yesterday. Bike had a about 3000 miles on it. I thought it was a great bike, but there was something rather unusual. Coming from my 2002 R1150GS, it felt like it could not quite keep what I would describe as a 'steady travel speed'. In other words, the beamer feels like a steady pulling freight train, whereas the Tiger felt like had the power coming in bursts. Had a very similar feeling to the Super Tenere I tested a week ago.
Any suggestions as to what may be behind this? I really like the Tiger and want to purchase one, but I am not sure if this is something inherent to the bike, or something that may have been wrong with this particular one.

Thanks

humm, not sure.

Johno33772 · 11-11-2012, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbj913

humm, not sure.

Yip...this 1st time I have heard this. I have ridden both bikes at length with Pillion....never had an issue.....

Yossarian™ · 11-11-2012, 04:49 PM

Another XC owner who has never experienced that. Mine's always been steady as can be.

yukonjon · 11-11-2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yossarian™

Another XC owner who has never experienced that. Mine's always been steady as can be.

+1 Maybe have a dealer double check which map is on the bike. Any aftermarket mods without the right map could maybe cause something.

I had my last triumph Daytona drop a map on me for no reason but def don't have your issue on my new tiger. Still loving it all the way.

Smopho · 11-11-2012, 07:13 PM

The Tiger 800 has a very sensitive throttle, could that be what you are feeling? You get used to it after a couple of hundred miles and don't even think of it.

JadeRider · 11-11-2012, 07:25 PM

I am thinking that Throttle sensitivity may be the answer. The GS does require quite a bit of dial. Another question. How critical is it that the previous owner 'respected the recommendations' during the break in period? What ill may come if he did not?

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burmbuster · 11-11-2012, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JadeRider

I am thinking that Throttle sensitivity may be the answer. The GS does require quite a bit of dial. Another question. How critical is it that the previous owner 'respected the recommendations' during the break in period? What ill may come if he did not?

___________________
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Not any different than any other new bike. Is it a demo or a private owner? I would feel better about getting a private owners bike rather than a demo.

JadeRider · 11-11-2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burmbuster

Not any different than any other new bike. Is it a demo or a private owner? I would feel better about getting a private owners bike rather than a demo.

This is one sold back to the dealer.
Thing is I have always followed the prescription on the break in period, so I really have no idea what happens when you do not. :O

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frytown · 11-11-2012, 08:58 PM

Not sure if this is relevant here, but my T800 (Roadie) was smooth and essentially perfect the first 700 miles. Then, I took it back for the initial check up and they tightened the throttle cable - which made the it really annoyingly sensitive. I haven't done anything about it (mostly due to lack of time) and I'm now about 6K in. When it goes in for service soon I intend to ask them to back off the tension on the cable a little. I liked it when it was new far better than now.

I had this exact same experience with my 1050 Tiger. Once the tension was adjusted out of the throttle cable (still snug, no play, but not too tight) it was way less touchy.

Given the one you road was at a dealer I'll be it's the cable. Maybe ask the service dept about it?

Xcountry-Rider · 11-11-2012, 09:16 PM

Another Tiger owner not understanding the issue. Its got a very steady power output. It does take a few hundred miles for the hand, mind and throttle to get synchronized properly. Especially coming from BMW which is a lot different. The throttle response on the Tiger is much more immediate.

Kawidad · 11-12-2012, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Doofenshmirtz

Another Tiger own not understanding the issue. Its got a very steady power output. It does take a few hundred miles for the hand, mind and throttle to get synchronized properly. Especially coming from BMW which is a lot different. The throttle response on the Tiger is much more immediate.

I have the same opinion coming from an R1000GS. The BMW has power, but it's like riding a tractor. I found the engine to be very agricultural.

IL8APEX · 11-12-2012, 02:33 PM

Jade-

You may just have been riding the bike too much like your GS.

The little Triumph triples need some RPMs to do their thing. If you were lugging along like on your GS perhaps you were surfing just below the motor's torque curve? I notice this more on my Tiger after riding my Ducati. The Tiger needs more RPMs to accomplish the same task. Plenty of power there if you spin it a little!

-Tom

LotusKTM · 11-12-2012, 05:49 PM

After coming off a Wee, I thought the same thing on my 800 XC. One thing that did help was changing grips. I went with a stickier MX style grip. With the newer grip, the throttle doesn't slip in my glove at all. So the throttle seems smoother now. Of course, 9000 miles of getting used to it also helps.
But the grips really helped too.

JadeRider · 11-12-2012, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LotusKTM

After coming off a Wee, I thought the same thing on my 800 XC. One thing that did help was changing grips. I went with a stickier MX style grip. With the newer grip, the throttle doesn't slip in my glove at all. So the throttle seems smoother now. Of course, 9000 miles of getting used to it also helps.
But the grips really helped too.

This is a good point. One of the first, best, and cheapest mods I did to the beamer was to add grip puppies.

___________________
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11-11-2012, 02:02 PM	#1
JadeRider ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2007 Location: Houston, TX Oddometer: 147	Tiger 800xc: Questions after test ride Howdy, I test rode a 2012 Tiger 800xc yesterday. Bike had a about 3000 miles on it. I thought it was a great bike, but there was something rather unusual. Coming from my 2002 R1150GS, it felt like it could not quite keep what I would describe as a 'steady travel speed'. In other words, the beamer feels like a steady pulling freight train, whereas the Tiger felt like had the power coming in bursts. Had a very similar feeling to the Super Tenere I tested a week ago. Any suggestions as to what may be behind this? I really like the Tiger and want to purchase one, but I am not sure if this is something inherent to the bike, or something that may have been wrong with this particular one. Thanks __________________ JadeRider [ Biker chains breaking chains of modern day slavery ] -- John 1:4-5 \| Luke 17:24 ___________ 2002 BMW R1150GS

11-11-2012, 04:49 PM	#4
Yossarian™ Deputy Cultural Attaché Joined: Jul 2007 Location: the 'Ha Oddometer: 8,145	Another XC owner who has never experienced that. Mine's always been steady as can be. __________________ Successfully surviving motorcycling since 1976.

11-11-2012, 07:25 PM	#7
JadeRider ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2007 Location: Houston, TX Oddometer: 147	I am thinking that Throttle sensitivity may be the answer. The GS does require quite a bit of dial. Another question. How critical is it that the previous owner 'respected the recommendations' during the break in period? What ill may come if he did not? ___________________ help end slavery. ride for freedom. www.2endslavery.org __________________ JadeRider [ Biker chains breaking chains of modern day slavery ] -- John 1:4-5 \| Luke 17:24 ___________ 2002 BMW R1150GS

11-11-2012, 09:16 PM	#11
Xcountry-Rider Banned Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Pine Valley, California (San Diego County) Oddometer: 912	Another Tiger owner not understanding the issue. Its got a very steady power output. It does take a few hundred miles for the hand, mind and throttle to get synchronized properly. Especially coming from BMW which is a lot different. The throttle response on the Tiger is much more immediate. Xcountry-Rider screwed with this post 11-12-2012 at 09:02 AM

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11-11-2012, 07:13 PM	#6
Smopho Adventurer Joined: Aug 2012 Oddometer: 42	The Tiger 800 has a very sensitive throttle, could that be what you are feeling? You get used to it after a couple of hundred miles and don't even think of it.

11-11-2012, 08:58 PM	#10
frytown Adventurer Joined: Jun 2008 Oddometer: 34	Not sure if this is relevant here, but my T800 (Roadie) was smooth and essentially perfect the first 700 miles. Then, I took it back for the initial check up and they tightened the throttle cable - which made the it really annoyingly sensitive. I haven't done anything about it (mostly due to lack of time) and I'm now about 6K in. When it goes in for service soon I intend to ask them to back off the tension on the cable a little. I liked it when it was new far better than now. I had this exact same experience with my 1050 Tiger. Once the tension was adjusted out of the throttle cable (still snug, no play, but not too tight) it was way less touchy. Given the one you road was at a dealer I'll be it's the cable. Maybe ask the service dept about it?

11-12-2012, 02:33 PM	#13
IL8APEX Adventurer Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Detroit-ish Oddometer: 88	Jade- You may just have been riding the bike too much like your GS. The little Triumph triples need some RPMs to do their thing. If you were lugging along like on your GS perhaps you were surfing just below the motor's torque curve? I notice this more on my Tiger after riding my Ducati. The Tiger needs more RPMs to accomplish the same task. Plenty of power there if you spin it a little! -Tom

11-12-2012, 05:49 PM	#14
LotusKTM Adventurer Joined: Apr 2007 Location: NoCAL Oddometer: 28	After coming off a Wee, I thought the same thing on my 800 XC. One thing that did help was changing grips. I went with a stickier MX style grip. With the newer grip, the throttle doesn't slip in my glove at all. So the throttle seems smoother now. Of course, 9000 miles of getting used to it also helps. But the grips really helped too.