Ergonomics.
I always, always change my bikes to suit me. I know that sounds obvious
but you’d be amazed at how many riders will say the position is poor and
not understand that they can change that. You get in a car for the first
time and you do what? Reach down to adjust the seat slide, move the
steering wheel perhaps, adjust the rear view and the wing mirrors. Once
this done you may well shift the seat backrest up and down to get the
position that works for yo u – car makers get this and drivers get this. It’s
not hard to sit for a second and change the pegs, levers, bars, seat,
mirrors on a bike to suit how you like to ride.
How you fit on the bike is of massive importance to anyone as it sets up
the feel of the whole bike. I’m 6’2” in my socks and the first thing that I
noticed when I hit the open road was that the wind hit me right back, in
the chest. I’m used to having to duck on bikes with a standard screen
before I get it altered but getting wind blast in the chest was a surprise.
That’s going to have a massive impact over longer distances and I was
riding in fair weather not through lumpy air. Get the screen changed,
Triumph do have a better screen for taller riders but go for a test ride and
you will see or rather you will feel what I mean.
The seating dips forward slightly, not by very much but enough to feel
some pressure on the palms of your hands as you’re leant forward. I’d
have some bar lifts put on and this is not a big job to get done. This is
very basic farkle stuff that I would do with any bike that I get anyway.
Others will find that position improves control of the bike as your weight
is easier to shift. You’re not going to be tank hugging like an R1, it’s just a
few degrees but you will feel it if you’ve come off a full sit up and beg
machine. This is just one of the many details that Triumph have put into
the Tiger 800XCx.