Goodbye tiger - hello Transalp

[2112]

As my tiger 1200 approaches it's 4th birthday and has become the bike I've owned the longest, it's time to bid farewell. Many reasons, but the time is just right. I did like the tiger but it is VERY heavy, and I have to be honest with myself I'm getting no younger. Add to the fact it needs a few items (both front discs & pads on the front, a pair of tyres, the driveshaft is clunking away and sounds expensive and the very expensive 20,000 mile service is on the horizon) and it was just the right time to change. The demo bike I rode came up for sale and a deal was done. Looking forward to the little tranny as it was a hoot to ride and so light and agile. It reminded me a lot of my former 650 V-Strom in the way you can just chuck it around, but with more power. Pics to follow in due course but here's one I took while on the test ride -

[kwackboy]

Great new purchase,  I do like the new transalp ... enjoy 

[2112]

Thank you, looking forward to it 

[Upt North]

A neighbour bought an identical bike from Honda Newcastle recently.
He seems to like his.
I was surprised the first time I saw one in the flesh, it was larger than I'd thought it would be.
Enjoy.
Upt.

[Rixington43]

Nice bike and in the best colours. Enjoy.

[2112]

Cheers folks and it had to be a white one with gold wheels.

[nigel s]

Congrats on the new Honda , much more nimble.
Got to say though, your report on  the Triumph was a bit worrying, at 20,000 miles for new discs and a rumbly shaft is not what I would hope for
No such problems on the Transalp though

[Asmith61]

2112  I know you enjoyed your tiger and had some great adventures with it 😁
But I know where you are coming from regarding changing it 🤔

I like the look of the Translap and as others have said the best colour to, enjoy the new bike 👍

[Sir Trev]

It's a very handsome machine. I was hoping Honda would come out with an "RE" version as, alas, a shortie like me cannot get his tiptoes down on it 

[2112]

Got to say though, your report on  the Triumph was a bit worrying,

I was more than a bit dissapointed to be honest. Looking through the various tiger forums it seems to be very rare indeed, often only occuring in very high mileage bikes. There was a Canadian feller had a shaft fail at 15k but that seems to be the earliest one I could find. It looks like I've just been lucky...

[2112]

I picked up the little tranny today and the customising has begun in earnest. The carbon can formerly used on my tigger has been fitted with the aid of a Black Widow exhausts link pipe. Very tidy and it sounds superb, giving a lovelly deep burble and a cheeky bark at higher revs. The top box I had on the tigger has also been fitted as has the very loud Denali horn. All good so far & very happy.

[Brockett]

In true Youtube style will to be giving us the five things you disliked about the Tiger that are better on Honda? Or did you just fancy a change?

[nigel s]

" I picked up the little Tranny today" ........Careful......two ways to read that statement

And does the wife know?

Sorry   

Ho Hum

[2112]

In true Youtube style will to be giving us the five things you disliked about the Tiger that are better on Honda? Or did you just fancy a change?

Ah, no. But, it's a very good question, which I'm more than happy to answer. Short answer - heavy, heavy & yet more heavy. Longer answer heavy, heavy, heavy and I'd had it for 4 years, the longest I've ever had a bike and well overdue a change really. Warped discs, knocking shaft drive, in dire need of a pair of tyres and it was just time. Everything has a 'use by date' and the tigger was there. Good fun, very brisk, very comfortable and great for big miles. On the downside it was a heavy old cow and a pig around town. It was also far too easy to acheive 3 digits on the speedo without really trying, really easy...