Why I Won't Buy Another Triumph Tiger

I have owned three Triumph Tigers, but this last one (the 2020 Tiger Rally Pro) has really soured me on owning another. They make a great looking and very capable bike - but not a trustworthy one IMHO.

[fizzyridertoo]

Honestly all of these problems sound like they could have happened to any bike. I don't think you will ever find a 100% reliable bike, especially when you are riding it in extreme conditions.

[mauihugebong]

My 2020 Triumph Tiger 900 RP has been through calcium chloride mud on the Dempster twice to the Arctic Ocean as well as thick New Mexico, Colorado and Idaho BDR mud - 30, 000 + miles without a single issue! Original battery to this day. Has never failed to start or get me home once. I love this bike!!

[johannolivier]

I recently purchased an 800 XC, 2014 model and rode it from Durban to Cape Town, South Africa, across the vast plains of the central Karoo in punishing heat. This was after I sold a 1200 Tiger recently, also because it is just too heavy for someone my age. In any case, the 800 was a total champ, did not miss a beat, just kept going. In Cape Town I got caught in heavy rain and had to wait it out for an hour while the bike stood in the rain, and it fired up first time, and did not miss a beat on the two-day trip back to Durban. My prior bike was a Super Tenere, but the smoothness of the triple has won me over. Neither one of my triumphs has ever let me down, apart from the odd flat tire. Not saying it is the best bike, not saying it is the worst. It is what I choose at this time for my riding style, environment and comfort levels.

[walterhorn]

I bought a super Tenere simply because I got tired of working on my KTM and wanted something I could just simply ride, been flawless not one single issue ever.

[xlrrjake]

In Australia, most adventure riders have Tenere’s due to the fact of Yamaha’s rock solid reliability which is crucial in vast remote wilderness

[richardconnoly]

I am putting this at the top of this thread because it highlights the importance of good daily inspections after a long day in the saddle.

All vehicles that operate in challenging environmental conditions require daily inspections and some level of cleaning or service. We ride our dual-sport bikes in Baja, and keeping the air filters free of sand is critical. We also have a side-by-side support vehicle, and its air filter is located for easy access. I own four motorcycles, including the KTM 500 Exc. Nothing says high maintenance louder than a KTM Ready to Race bike. Read a KTM service manual and see what is recommended after each race!!!

People who buy ADV bikes are often city folk looking to get out there and explore, which is excellent. People who live and work on a farm, in the bush or in the far north will take care of their equipment and watch over it carefully, looking for any issues or concerns to avoid the long walk of shame. Individuals who do not follow this wisdom often try to say the problem is with the manufacturer. However, the community of farmers, loggers, oilmen, etc., will quickly point out that many others have been running the same equipment for years without any issue, so perhaps the problem is with the loose nut behind the steering wheel.

Wayne and I are good riding buddies, so I know Wayne is not that guy. However, a little extra attention on the Tiger that trip might have prevented a big tow bill. I said might have, not would have. I also own a Tiger, 2015 800 XCX, since new.

Before motorbikes, everyone rode a horse. After a long day on the horse, riders knew to take care of the horse first. Unsaddle the horse, feed the horse, clean the horse, and tend to any injuries, cuts, or bruises.

Tending to your horse first is well-earned wisdom that, if adopted by ADV riders, would significantly reduce the impact on their pocketbooks. If you are only riding around the city streets, then daily inspections can be quick; however, a check each weekend is still recommended.

For reference, Round the World Paul, RTWPaul, has built motorbikes for years and most recently built some high-end KTM Baja bikes for customers of Mike at Taco Moto Co. RTWPaul has some very informative blogs that provide great suggestions on tools, service, and preventive maintenance.

For example, following Paul's recommendation, all the fasteners on my Tiger 800, KTM 500 and WR250R have been marked with yellow paint. It takes moments to walk around each bike and know all the screws, bolts, and nuts are still correctly torqued. Removing and replacing wheels on the trail is very fast, as I do not need a torque wrench; I line the paint marks back up, and everything is 100% perfect, including the alignment of the chain.

Another good riding buddy of mine, Quentin, sold his much beloved Tuareg 660 and picked up a new Yamaha T700. The Turaeg was great, but getting parts here in Canada is a serious problem, and Quentin likes to push his ADV bike into the same trails where we ride our dual-sport bikes. He loved the bike, but every time he needed a new part, it could take weeks and sometimes a couple of months for the parts to arrive. By contrast, Yamaha dealerships and replacement parts are everywhere, including in western Canada and Baja Mexico.

So, for some of us in the Great White North, parts and part availability can be a major concern when deciding which ADV bike to buy.

[briangc]

$5500 tow bill?? You should be carrying 20 foot 1 inch wide tow strap. They take up very little room. Your friends could have taken turns towing you behind their bikes. That's what we do.

[melroset-top]

I have a 2024 Tiger 900 GT. I am going to go home and make sure my box is drilled. Problem solved. I understand why this guy is jaded after dropping that much coin, but all brands will have some sort of issue, and you're going to have new problems to learn when switching to a different brand. Also, as he stated, I tend to avoid the first year of any new generation vehicle. There is always problems to sort out.

[johnjames]

I’m from the U.K. and I bought a 955i Triumph Speed Triple. It was pre registered with 300 miles on the clock so in mint condition. The gear changes kept finding false neutrals and one time when I was riding in Spain I changed in to a false neutrals and the gear box made a hideous noise and went dead. It was under warranty so they fixed it for free but I had to get in back to London. I now only buy Japanese bikes and cars, they have the reliability

[bryemarshall]

Your negative comments are in fact a lack of maintenance by you. Your lack of inspections and proper cleaning of the bike resulted in the majority of these issues. If you are going to be doing heavy off road trips, look after your machine. Also, you should know that after heavy downpours you should dry your bike properly and inspect seals and gaskets. Doesn’t matter what machine you get next time, if you are lazy with maintenance, expect to have similar issues.

[BSpenceTravels]

Most motorcycles have too many electronics on them these days. That's the main reason I bought a Tenere. Less things to go wrong. But a lot of folks like the rider modes and stuff. It's the price you pay for luxury I guess. I hope your next bike is less trouble.

[thedawghouse]

So sorry for your poor experience. 29, 976 miles on my 2020 RP. Wet days, dry days. Truly a life of hard riding on an alluvial plane. She has never let me down. Nary a hiccup as of yet.

[MrMBSS]

So get an aftermarket gas cap, ziptie the cable, and drill additional holes on the battery compartment and should be good to go? The video is very informative and as I'm looking into buying a Tiger this is an opportunity to learn from his unfortunate situations.

[sebastianw]

Super happy with my ‘23 Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Thanks for The heads-up! I will zip-tire the wire and drill holes in the battery compartment

[tnetroP]

I love my Tiger 800 but this kind of riding is calling out for a Tenere 700 or Africa Twin.

[rdintennessee]

27, 400 miles on my ‘21 Rally Pro. True 50/50 mix of on/off road. Fault free… Does off road like a dirt bike, twisties like a sport bike, crushes miles like a HD. This is my 4th modern Triumph. All have been fault free. But then again, I owned a motorcycle shop. Minor tech niggles are not game changers. I do all my own maintenance. But no excuse if faults come up due to poor design. Haven’t had any of your issues, guess I’m lucky? Maybe? Or as a mechanic, I may pay closer attention to little things.

[Robinbamv]

If I listened and acted on all the negative internet videos I would never buy any car, motorcycle or aircraft. With all three inspection and maintenance is key to a trouble free life.

[saddlebag]

The gas cap was not "poor design by Triumph" if the guy fixed it with seals from another Triumph. The problem was likely bad seals they bought from some seal maker. Probably the same seals used in many brands. Most people just don't expose their bikes to the elements you do.
Not sure what you think other mfgs are doing to keep water out of the battery enclosure. They all have to put drains in them. If you happen to clog their drains, it could happen to any of them.

[cabindwellr]

Some great maintenance tips and touring hacks here.
Just a reminder that the time spent to check and maintain your bike isn’t just a personal responsibility, it’s a group thing too. There’s often tremendous pressure to leg over and get riding, rather than hold up the group. The other riders need to be tolerant of that.

[jimlittle]

Suggestion, disregard bragging rights on ownership of expensive brands and get yourself a Suzuki V Strom 650 or 800. They just go forever.