So awhile back I bought my first Triumph a 95' Trophy3 900, and have done nothing but work on it. The first thing I did was crack the case to replace the sprag clutch, still have cold start problem,blah blah blah, etc, etc., now the bike is bogging down when I try to accelerate till it decides to accelerate. The engine is anemic, I don't like the gearing in it, and I frankly don't trust it with all the various problems I've had. So I decided to sell it, and go back to a Suzuki 1100 vowing to never own another Triumph. In order to sell the bike I figure I should fix it first. Carburetors being my nemesis I was looking around for a local shop that even new how to work on them, and came across a dealer with some used bikes for sale. They have an '08 Tiger 1050 with about 30k miles, and I thinks to myself. I bet I could trade my piece of shit Triumph for theirs and only have to pay what the mechanic would have charged me to do the carbs. Do I want a Tiger 1050? The specs on it look good. The engine is on the right side of a liter, the horsepower is back up where I like, but what are the gotchas on this bike or rather what is their sprag clutch nightmare? Are Triumphs of this era a mechanics dream? I've got boats if I want something to work on. Bikes have never been fun for me to work on. Am I foolish for considering another Triumph?
Had a 2007 1050 Tiger. Great engine, comfortable and good for touring. The only negative for me was that I found it to be a bit tall even though I am 6ft. Did over 20000 miles before I sold it and it was always reliable. Should the sprag clutch ever need replacing it is a much easier job which does not require an engine strip. Keep the battery fully charged and you shouldn't have any problems.
@Triumphant Tony Sorry to hear of your woes. The tigers are pretty good bikes and as far as i am aware didn't have as many problems. Really the ball is in your court as to which way you go. But whatever do stay here with us all.
I have a 2011 Sprint GT and '13 Trophy SE. Never a problem with 74k miles spread between them other than fork seals, plugs, oil changes and tires. I don't know if the 1050 engine in my Sprint is the same as the '08 Tiger, but I would guess that it is the same. I actually prefer the Tiger for the upright posture and available windshield options over the Sprint. That's why I bought the Trophy (upright with electrically adjustable windscreen). If the price is right, the Tiger is a very popular bike. Fairly tall, though. Both of mine are on the tall side (32" seat height, although the Trophy is adjustable at 31"). I'm 6'1", so no issues for me, even with a pillion. Good luck!
The Tiger 1050 is a solid choice, but you might run into some small issues like ECU or wiring problems. The sprag clutch issue is mostly sorted by 2008 models. If you don’t want to be constantly working on the bike, it’s a good option, but it’s worth considering other bikes too.
