Light Tourer?

Discussion in 'Triumph General Discussion' started by DanielB, Dec 9, 2021.

  1. DanielB

    DanielB Noble Member

    Jan 13, 2019
    881
    393
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire
    Hi, is there a light tourer Triumph equivalent of, say, Honda Deuville NT700V?

    I don't really 'know' my bikes...so seeking knowledge from others.

    Cheers.
     
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  2. stollydriver

    stollydriver Elite Member

    Apr 25, 2015
    2,057
    800
    north wales
    What about the 900 gt Pro - they have a decent pannier set aswell.
     
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  3. Neal H

    Neal H Active Member

    Mar 7, 2021
    174
    43
    England
    Tiger Sport 660 would probably fit the bill.

    Adventure style bikes seem to have replaced most of the Tourers these days, but the Tiger Sport 660 looks like a nice easy going option as a light tourer.
     
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  4. DanielB

    DanielB Noble Member

    Jan 13, 2019
    881
    393
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire
    Thank you.

    I was also thinking 'older'; so yr 2000 or there abouts (sub £2500!)
     
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  5. PatW

    PatW Senior Member

    Apr 4, 2021
    762
    193
    Cymru
    Yamaha TDM 850/900 cheap, fugly, brilliant.
     
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  6. DanielB

    DanielB Noble Member

    Jan 13, 2019
    881
    393
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire
    I value your inputs...however I had a look through images of "Triumph bikes"...as I still don't really know what's what...and I *think* what I am looking for...is a Triumph Trophy ('91-2004)...

    I appreciate that this is not the same as a 650cc Honda Deuville...but it is the sort of answer to the question I was trying to ask...my bad...and I don't blame you for making the suggestions you did with the [poor] info from me!

    Maybe I should try and spill what it is I am trying to achieve...

    Unfortunately I don't really know what I am trying to achieve!

    However, I have my beautiful (because it is blue) 2002 Speed Triple...but I have always found it a little uncomfortable. A little too "snatchy" and a little too much bike for me...

    Late to biking (I am 47) I only got my big boy license 5 years ago... Had a battered 1992 Honda NTV650 to earn some stripes...and I loved it! I mean, I had nothing to compare it to (except the brand new Gladious I trained on) and it was wallowy...and, from my POV (coming from a 125 scooter) was all the bike I would need...

    Then I saw the Triumph. It was a bargain....and despite a snatchy, jolty, test ride...loved it. This happened at about the same time that the "this made me laugh" thread on here had a post with a photo of a lady taking her knickers off as she said "Oh...you ride a Triumph do you...?"

    I am not a vain man. I am a married man with mortgage and children....but that posting certainly helped seal the deal!

    I assumed I would get used to the bike,,,the snatchy roll-on. Bumping around in second as teh revs were too low..But I never really have. I have tried to make it better - and it is a bit - with a lubed throttle and new clutch cables.

    I even had a go at my RoSPA advanced riding, but I never felt entirely "at one" with the bike...like I am always on a stallion ready to buck...not a good place to be as you are gently encouraged to make progress etc...

    I don't ride fast (at all), I am exceptionally sedate...cautious, happy to queue in traffic when the mood takes me. Getting my knee down!? I can barely get my leg over!

    In addition, as that overweight chap described above...the "look" of a naked bike rider is far away from my high vis, air-bagged reality...I mean... "who am I trying to kid", right?

    So, liking the idea of perhaps feeling back and "at one" with riding, my head has been turned (because of a low budget) to the Deuville...as I would be happy with some light touring, as well as my 20mile commute, and Sunday jaunts to a bad coffee...and, perhaps feeling back more comfortable, I may push on with renewed vigour with the RoSPA...

    I much prefer the old adage of "riding a slow bike fast, rather than a fast bike slow"

    But I think you need to know your limits first, and your limits are going to be helped or hindered by your relationship with what you're riding?

    I guess though, there is something exceptional, and also unique about "riding a Triumph" (as well as this forum of course). I mean...that posting with the lady and her knickers isn't entirely untrue...right?

    So...I was wondering what equivalent there was in the Triumph stable...

    It seems that the early Trophy may be what I am after...?

    I am not sure my scrambled thoughts are any clearer...but thanks for the therapy session...
     
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  7. Wessa

    Wessa Cruising

    Apr 27, 2016
    11,640
    1,000
    North West England
    Why not have a look at a Bonny t100 or an america …..
     
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  8. Adie P

    Adie P Crème de la Crème

    Jul 7, 2018
    3,647
    1,000
    MID DEVON
    Given what you've said here, I'd have to say that the Trophy is really NOT a "light tourer" in either the weight or frequency of use stakes and is not in the same broad category as the Deauville. It is much heavier, taller and longer (I would think - I haven't looked at specs.) and is perhaps more focused on the "tourer" than the "light" ... if you catch my drift!

    Sticking to the Triumph theme with this in mind - albeit without knowing if you have a budget limitation - I'd say that a later Sprint 955 ST or similar would be a better bet, as would a Bonnie modified with panniers, etc. This is a good example, albeit without the luggage :-

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284450265874?hash=item423a8e9b12:g:~oMAAOSw-eRhPxwd

    or this one with luggage :-

    https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202110078212789?advertising-location=at_bikes


    The early Tiger would be fine, but, with luggage on board and a full tank of fuel it is a fairly heavy beast and is tall - don't ask me how I know this. :)

    The later, fuel injected Sprint 1050 isn't exactly light but it is, I think, more compact than the T300 if you're vertically challenged.

    Good luck with your search and the decision - hope you find that happy medium!
     
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  9. John Bentall

    John Bentall Member

    Nov 24, 2021
    13
    8
    Enfield, North London
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  10. Wattie

    Wattie Well-Known Member

    Feb 25, 2020
    352
    63
    UK
    #10 Wattie, Dec 10, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2021
    Noting what you've said and checking the NTV 650/700 weights and seat height, it looks like the original trophy 900 is both lighter and lower. Now that surprised me. For a 650/700 twin that's one heavy bike 223Kg dry...
    The original 900 trophy was a beautiful bike, I had one from 92 to 96 and did 30K miles on it, everything from commuting to full two up camping touring in Europe. The handling was sweet, any top heaviness disappeared once on the move. Trouble is finding one these days that would match that could be difficult because of mileage and condition. I've never ridden the newer bigger faired 96 onwards version, but I have the 1200 version and can say the comfort is improved over the original. On the original one I installed the higher sprint bars (they fitted with no mods req'd) and a different screen. They do look a bargain these days and I've often thought about buying another.
    It's also worth mentioning those early T300 sprints, they were basically the trophy/trident with a small fairing and later with the trophy panniers on the executive. They were also sweet and I had the Sprint sport version which was basically a daytona 900 with trophy bars and a smaller fairing.
    Bear in mind these are all chain drive unlike your old NTV shaft drive.
    Also bear in mind these bikes were over engineered as triumph didn't want any problems to blight the launch of their new brand. So all mine have been very reliable.... Oh apart from fork seals on the original, I needed 2 sets in the 30K miles because of leaks.
    The carburation on these bikes was perfect when new in my opinion, not snatchy in any way. I had a lot of fun on them and have stuck with the same formula for the last 29 years... So can't really talk about the newer fuel injection bikes.
     
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  11. DanielB

    DanielB Noble Member

    Jan 13, 2019
    881
    393
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire
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