In a perfect world we would all have at least five motorcycles in our garage but when your budget and space is limited to just one, sad though that may be, sometimes the choice can be extremely difficult.
You have to weigh up what you will predominantly be using the bike for; will it be used for touring, commuting, the odd trackday, or just the occasional Sunday ride which may or may not include a bit of dirt? There are so many models out there but which one can do everything capably and still bring that all important smile to your face when there is space in the garage for just one?
Well, the good news is that Triumph seem to be on the right track when it comes to the one bike purchase and this is evident with their all new for 2013 Tiger Sport. Triumph’s remodelled Tiger Sport replaces the Tiger 1050, which was produced from 2007 to 2012 and, as with all modern day Triumph’s, the engine is an absolute beauty. The three-cylinder 1050cc engine, the same one that is used in the Speed Triple, is smoother and more powerful than before, has a broad spread of power, loads of usable punch and, if you have ever ridden a triple, the most glorious exhaust howl. 
With its new exhaust, air filter and fuel mapping, power is up 10bhp to 123bhp@9400rpm and torque is increased to a healthy 104Nm, lovely! The Tiger Sport also handles exceptionally well, provided you don’t expect it to live up to its name by flicking into turns like a sportsbike. It needs notably more effort than the Speed Triple to get it to change direction, which is not surprising. The frame is the same as before but the steering angle is half a degree steeper and the wheelbase is slightly longer, changes which Triumph claim have improved precision and stability. The suspension is fully adjustable and has been given new springs and revalved damping for a firmer feel and to cope with the additional load capacity.
But, engine and handling aside, what I loved about the bike is that it is an extremely comfortableplace to be. The Triumph has a commanding upright riding position, wide ‘bars which makes steering a breeze and a lovely little screen, plus a taller aftermarket screen which was fitted to this particular bike and it offers more than enough wind protection, well for me anyway. I could imagine that a taller person would need a slightly taller screen so perhaps the aftermarket guys will find a solution for giants. The 830mm seat is comfortable and narrow and is not adjustable but it does have a stepped up dual seat that is flatter and lower for the pillion. Should 830mm still be too high, there is an aftermarket option available which will lower the seat to 810mm, so problem solved.
I found the Triumph an absolute pleasure, especially for traffic work. The higher ‘bars sail over most cars’ mirrors easily – well except for the 4 x 4 and double cab brigade which are more and more prevalent on our roads, and the torque allows you to trundle along lazily without having to change gears which is wonderful for the not so enthusiastic middle-aged rider (me). Whilst we are on about the gearbox, which has never been the Tiger’s strong suit, it has been upgraded by means of a redesigned selector mechanism and, while I found it still to be a little clunky, I never missed any gears during changes, which happened quite frequently on previous model, so that is a positive. If you are looking for flaws on a Triumph, the gearbox is always an easy target, but it is better now than ever before so enough said about that. I also have heard a few people complain that there aren’t any power and suspension modes available on the Tiger Sport but, if you are like me, you will not miss that electronic gadgetry. The bike is good enough as it is and I personally could not be bothered to push and prod loads of little buttons. Whilst we are on about prodding little buttons (or not), another new feature is the self cancelling indicators. Ah so nifty and makes life even easier when you are on the go.
And while you are “going” you will need to stop at times, no really, and there’s no shortage of stopping power. The Tiger’s unchanged front brake combination of 320mm discs and four-piston radial Nissin callipers is excellent and is enhanced by a faster acting ABS system that is standard fitment. Again, while the more experienced rider may not like the ABS, I love it and for the masses who are not the Valentino Rossi’s of this world, it is a much needed safety feature, so do not switch it off because it really does make a difference!
Now let’s get to the official accessories and there are quite a few available which will both enhance the looks of the motorcycle and make it even more practical. These include nifty colour coded panniers and top box, tank bag, headed grips, hand guards, comfort low seat as mentioned before, centre stand and a few others. Simply log onto www.triumphmotorcycles.co.za to see the entire range of accessories available.
So to sum it all up, when you are looking for that one special bike that is a capable all rounder, you should definitely consider the Tiger Sport. It is fun, very fast, practical, easy to ride and ever so easy on the eye, even the front lights have been upgraded. Be it for commuting, touring, the occasional squirt for a bit of hooligan madness or even a trackday, for R125,500 you can have one bike that does it all and does it well so now you just need to decide between the Diablo Red or Crystal
White. Oh dear, just when I thought my Street Triple was the best bike ever....
