Vintage Tiger Tiger 900 Steamer, Adventure Bike ???

The Steamer is, fundamentally, a sheep in wolf's clothing ....... at least it is as far as serious off-roading is concerned. It was a styling exercise to provide an additional option for selling the platform of the T3 engine and frame and was, IMHO, never really intended or designed to be used on anything rougher than a byway in good condition. It's always been a tall and top heavy bike and, if it goes down with any reasonable amount of fuel in it, you'd better be fit, strong AND have the knack for lifting it - unless you subject the bike to a LOT of serious weight loss .... not just the plastics.

No doubt someone, somewhere will have used the bike in some extreme off-road adventure but, personally, I just don't believe that it is a very suitable tool for that particular job. I think I'd be looking at a well used/sorted XT500 or similar and preserve the Tiger as a protected species!

 

Not exactly a lightweight for sure. If it were mine I'd keep it original and enjoy it for the lovely old beast the way it is. Even my T-3 Sprint is like dancing with a fat lady [you can do the dip, but carefully]. I love her anyhow. …J.D.

 

I dropped my " Girlie " hooning about off road many moons ago. Definitely not the bike for that . Geez, what a lump to pick up again.

 

I've never dropped the "Scarlet Colored Wild Beast" before, but I have come.WAY too hot into a corner a few times. Scary to get your knee down and in counter steer mode with that much hardware [one time rotating the rear around with the front brake--shudder,shudder]. And mine has a lower CG than a steamer. Not made for those kind of games ...J.D.