Triumph Rumors 08 - 200mph Hurricane Superbike and Mid-Size Rocket

[Schneegz]

I'm a broken record on this, but I'd still rather have Triumph focus their energies on building a Sprint 675

I want a Tiger 675.  We'll see which of us gets his wish first, if at all.  

[veefer800canuck]

I had read sometime ago that the Triumph 'busa-beater was dead in the water?

[bubba zanetti]

Anyone know what the weight comparison is between the 675 engine and the 1050? If it is not great, then why would a 675 be more attractive in the Tiger and ST roles? Insurance I can see but ...?

[crispiegee1]

For me the attraction would be a lower buy-in price and lower insurance.  Add to that a lighter weight (I don't know by how much) and a narrower profile.

That would be my reason, as well.  With the Sprint ST coming it at around 500 pounds, my hope would be that a Sprint 675 would be more in the 430 range.  It seems possible, given how incredibly light the Daytona is (~365 dry, right?  Maybe 405 wet?).

Plus, fuel range.  When hear guys talk about 150-180 mile range out of a tank of gas (petrol to you, BubbaZ   ), I laugh because I get 220 to a tank on my YZF-600R.  Fewer stops for fill-ups and less money spent overall.  

[Schneegz]

My reasoning is mostly economic.  A Tiger 675, even with fully adjustable suspension, would probably sell for about $8,000 US with ABS.  The Tiger 1050 will MSRP for over $11,000 US with ABS.  That's a pretty big difference, and I really don't need a 1050cc bike.  Essentially, I'd be paying $3,000 for more bike than I need.  I'd rather not do that.

As mentioned before, insurance rates are also lower for smaller displacement bikes.

According to Sport Rider magazine, the Daytona 675 weighs in at a whopping 389lb dry, and 417lb with a full tank.

Assuming that Triumph decide to build a Tiger with the D675 chassis as a starting point - instead of just sticking a smaller engine in the Tiger 1050's frame, as Suzuki did with the VStrom 1000/650 - the resulting bike might weigh in at 450lb or less with five US gallons of fuel in the tank.  Typically, a lighter bike is more fun to ride.  As for power, all the reports of the Tiger 1050 rave about the engine, but I'd be happy with a 675 toned down to 95 or 100hp at the crank.

Obviously, I have no idea if anyone at Triumph has even concidered such a bike, but I think it would make one hell of a middleweight all arounder.  Use the Daytona 675 chassis and engine as a starting point, give it two or three more inches of suspension travel, make the suspension adjustable, give it a half fairing and equip it with optional hard luggage and ABS.  The others that are available now - The FZ6, Multistrada 620, V-Strom 650 and (in Europe) Kawasaki Versys - don't really come close.

[garry]

My reasoning is mostly economic.  A Tiger 675, even with fully adjustable suspension, would probably sell for about $8,000 US with ABS.

I bet it would sell for as much as a Daytona 675 ($9000 USD) which would make it kinda pricey compared to a Wee Strom. But if it came with the right stuff (more off-road worthy than a Wee Strom), it'd be worth it. If BMW ever comes out with the rumored 800 GS, that would put a line in the sand both functionally and price-wise. 450 pounds wet (5+ gallons of gas) with some off-road capability and good (if not excellent) road manners would sell me.

[TalkingHead]

I bet it would sell for as much as a Daytona 675 ($9000 USD) which would make it kinda pricey compared to a Wee Strom. But if it came with the right stuff (more off-road worthy than a Wee Strom), it'd be worth it. If BMW ever comes out with the rumored 800 GS, that would put a line in the sand both functionally and price-wise. 450 pounds wet (5+ gallons of gas) with some off-road capability and good (if not excellent) road manners would sell me.

If it wasn't a boxer that might be a BMW I could be interested in (depending on how overpriced it is).

[Schneegz]

I bet it would sell for as much as a Daytona 675 ($9000 USD) which would make it kinda pricey compared to a Wee Strom. But if it came with the right stuff (more off-road worthy than a Wee Strom), it'd be worth it. If BMW ever comes out with the rumored 800 GS, that would put a line in the sand both functionally and price-wise. 450 pounds wet (5+ gallons of gas) with some off-road capability and good (if not excellent) road manners would sell me.

I'm really not interested in off road ability.  I'd prefer a bike with excellent road manners.  In fact, the new Tiger is almost exactly what I'm looking for, except I don't need that much bike.  If Triumph does not announce a Tiger 675 within the next couple years, I'll probably pick up a used 1050.  Of course, Triumph could make two versions, a road version and an "adventure" version.  However, given that Triumph is a relatively small company, I don't see that happening.

You guys are probably right about a Tiger 675 coming in at about $9,000 US, by the way.  That still seems like a good price for a bike with the equipment I described.

[TalkingHead]

I also agree that a 675 Tiger wouldn't be less than $9k, and that such a bike would be ideal for the street. That being said, a BMW 800 GS, with the parallel twin could also be a fantastic street bike and possibly good for low-level off-pavement riding. With the BMW price-point will be the problem. I would guess that a GS version would be close to $10k and for that you can pick up a used Multistrada 1000.

[Gaolee]

That would be my reason, as well.  With the Sprint ST coming it at around 500 pounds, my hope would be that a Sprint 675 would be more in the 430 range.  It seems possible, given how incredibly light the Daytona is (~365 dry, right?  Maybe 405 wet?).  

I don't know what the real dry weight is, but a bone stock 675 with a full fuel tank weighs in at 417 to 420 lbs.  Given a bit of touring stuff, it would be reasonable to expect a 675 Sprint or Tiger to come in at 450 or less with a full tank.

I don't think any Triumph will compete with the weeStrom.  It will compete with the Multi-Stradas of this world, and probably be both quicker and less expensive.  It probably wouldn't get as good a fuel economy as the bigger Sprint unless Triumph detuned it fairly significantly.  But, if it had 80 horsepower at the wheel instead of close to 110, it would probably still be quicker than most of its competition.

[Schneegz]

It probably wouldn't get as good a fuel economy as the bigger Sprint unless Triumph detuned it fairly significantly.  But, if it had 80 horsepower at the wheel instead of close to 110, it would probably still be quicker than most of its competition.

80hp at the wheel and 450lb with fuel would make it significantly quicker than its competition, I think.  The November 2006 issue of Bike magazine measured the BMW F800S at 84hp at the wheel and 206kg (454lb) in a comparison of middleweight all arounders.  The F800S was significantly quicker than the competition, scoring 0-60mph in 3.53 seconds, beating the nearest competitor by 0.70 seconds.  This was despite the fact that, according to Bike, the BMW is hampered by an overly tall 1st gear.

[crispiegee1]

I don't follow the reasoning behind why a 675 would need to be detuned - it reportedly has lots of midrange.  My YZF600R makes 88.5 at the back wheel (source: Motorcyclist) and I wouldn't want any less than that.

Just stick the same engine in... it's easier for the manufacturing process to accommodate.  At least on my Sprint 675 idea, I still want to have some of that wonderful top end with my midrange.  I wouldn't think the fuel economy would be really bad... better than a 1055 engine, anyway.

[Gaolee]

I don't follow the reasoning behind why a 675 would need to be detuned - it reportedly has lots of midrange.  My YZF600R makes 88.5 at the back wheel (source: Motorcyclist) and I wouldn't want any less than that.

Just stick the same engine in... it's easier for the manufacturing process to accommodate.  At least on my Sprint 675 idea, I still want to have some of that wonderful top end with my midrange.  I wouldn't think the fuel economy would be really bad... better than a 1055 engine, anyway.

It would only have different cams and a different map, so manufacturing and development costs would be minimal.  My 675 gets a little over 40 mpg when I am taking it easy, and it gets significantly less than 20 mpg when it is on the track- not that a 675 Sprint or Tiger would spend that much time on the track.  Since, a big Sprint gets more like 50 mpg but doesn't have significantly more horsepower, I would expect a 675 Sprint to be tuned more for midrange.  The midrange on a 675 is outstanding for a supersport, but it is still only about 50 ft/lbs on a good day.  It will roast an R6 out of a corner, but it isn't exactly the kind of tractor power that works best for a touring bike that might get used two up on a regular basis.  Even if Triumph changed the cams and whatever else they need to change to get quite a bit more torque, I doubt that most people would notice the "lack" of top end.  After all, I had plenty of fun on a TT600 that had less than 40 ft/lbs of torque and less than 90 horsepower at the back wheel.  It is all relative, and Triumph can make a lot of different versions of that engine for different purposes without losing its basic character.

[rauchman]

I'm a broken record on this, but I'd still rather have Triumph focus their energies on building a Sprint 675 - basically a Daytona with more comfortable seat and ergos, a bit higher windscreen and more relaxed handlebars.  It would be lighter than the 1055 Sprint and more economical to run besides.

If they built that, I'd forget all other bikes.  

As cool as a Triumph hyper-GT is, it sure wouldn't be anything I'd ever consider buying.  

+ 1

I hardly ever have a pillion on my bike.  My wife has her own bike.  But a relatively comfy bike, with a really fun engine and great handling.....that sounds good to me.