You probably won't see this comparison often because the two bikes are so very different but as I own both (and this review is more about the V-Strom anyway) I thought I'd share
I have owned numerous V Twins and as soon as I rode the Tiger I fell in love, I now realise it was that lovely triple engine that I connected with, that's not to say that the Tiger 1050 isn't a sexy looking thing because it just is...
Over the last few weeks I have been up and down to London from here in West Wales mainly on the Tiger, yesterday I left home at 5am, headed into London, sat in a room for 9hrs and then rode back, that's 450 miles ish on the Tiger.
The reason for telling you all that is today when I jumped on the V-Strom I remembered all over again why I like it, the seating position is just right (particularly after I have fitted the Footpeg lowering kit) and somehow more upright than the Tiger, I also realised how light the V-Strom is in comparison and how effortless it is to ride and corner.
Finally (OK so I appreciate that wasn't much of a review) the Tiger seems to encourage me to lose my licence and the fun only really starts higher up the rev counter, but I have just as much fun within legal limits on the V-Strom
To try and make this pointless post meaningful...
Both the Tiger & the V-Strom produced turbulence, in fact the Tiger was more severe than the V-Strom, both rectified with MRA Screens.
Both needed Bar Risers (I fitted up and back risers to the Tiger)
Both needed Mirror Extenders.
The brakes are far superior on the Tiger
The Headlights are shockingly poor on the Tiger, the V-Strom are superb
The Gearbox on the Tiger is clunky - The V-Strom Gearbox is silk
The stock seat on the Tiger is OK, the stock seat on the V-Strom is OK (the older V-Strom 650 seat was unbearable for me).
The Tiger sounds superb, the V-Strom sounds like a Sewing Machine in comparison
The Tiger is a road bike plain and simple, although it has an upright riding position it has never been perfect for me.
The V-Strom pretends to be an Adventure Bike, I'm not sure it really is (that's not a criticism).
All in all, the Tiger is still an excellent bike but as I write this I have an itch to try something new. Because the V-Strom is such great value for money I can't justify 14k on a Triumph Explorer but I have booked a test ride on the Tiger 800 XC