What to buy - tiger 1050 or 955i

[Keeper96]

Hi all, 

I'm looking to move on from my first bike to an adventure bike for the extra room now my insurance had dropped a little. 
 

in my budget I have the pick of the 955i or I can afford a 1050 but with no luggage. 
 

I want it for Sunday morning blasts, commuting and touring. 
 

I’m not a fast rider but I do like to push on occasionally. 
 

any input would be appreciated 

 

Jamie 

 

[S-Westerly]

If you are going to tour you will want luggage of some kind. I've no idea of the difference in power between your options but my 950 (which is actually 937) gives me 113 hp and on real roads that's quite enough to keep me entertained and can easily achieve licence losing speeds. Try both and go for whatever you feels suits you the best.

[Steve_M]

2 hours ago, Keeper96 said:

Hi all, 

I'm looking to move on from my first bike to an adventure bike for the extra room now my insurance had dropped a little. 
 

in my budget I have the pick of the 955i or I can afford a 1050 but with no luggage. 
 

I want it for Sunday morning blasts, commuting and touring. 
 

I’m not a fast rider but I do like to push on occasionally. 
 

any input would be appreciated 

 

Jamie 

 

Will you be touring solo or two up? 

The 1050 SE came with panniers as standard (and cost £9,000 brand new in 2013...). We did three tours on ours, the the French alps, Northern Spain (Picos and Pyrenees) and Austria. It was first class, and it’s good lady’s favourite pillion position (though she has yet to spend any significant time on the Beemer)
 

Only one significant issue being that, when carrying a pillion and luggage (including a top box) the CoG is high and rearward (see photo)  so the front goes light very easily in the lower gears. 
 

 

 

[Pie man]

I concur with Steve_M, and if you are short on stature you might need a step ladder to access the top box, the bike is naturally high at the rear. 

The 1050 engine will pack a punch, and would probably be fun in the twisties and a good commuter, but I'm no fan of the Trumpet and their gearbox. I like the idea of the 955i as a touring machine and with plenty of room, but depending on the commute it could be a little big for filtering. Test ride them both if you can and chose the one that ticks the box for you. 

[Steve_M]

26 minutes ago, Pie man said:

I concur with Steve_M, and if you are short on stature you might need a step ladder to access the top box, the bike is naturally high at the rear. 

The 1050 engine will pack a punch, and would probably be fun in the twisties and a good commuter, but I'm no fan of the Trumpet and their gearbox. I like the idea of the 955i as a touring machine and with plenty of room, but depending on the commute it could be a little big for filtering. Test ride them both if you can and chose the one that ticks the box for you. 

I never had an issue with the gearbox. The FJR I had after was agricultural by comparison (the Beemer sits somewhere between the two). 
 

Being tall, with wide handlebars and wider mirrors, filtering could be a challenge as the mirrors were transit van mirror height... you become very conscious of that after you’ve clipped mirrors a couple of times. 

[Keeper96]

I’m definitely not short... the reason for looking at tigers is I’m 6’ 3” and my gsxf is too cramped for long journeys. 
 

my touring will be all solo, in the end budget has decided it and I can afford up to £4K but a 955i with full luggage for £2k was too tempting and leaves money for home improvements... I hate growing up sometimes! 

[Gerontious]

I never got on with the Tigers. too top heavy for my taste.. especially with a full tank. It was how they cornered - no.

I am taller than you and never felt like I was sitting on a bike... it felt more like being perched (almost precariously) on top of it. a distinctly odd and unsettling feeling. and this without any luggage or a pillion.

I'm not alone in that opinion, though it is admittedly a minority view. I think test riding is a must. Its never nice when you sink money into a bike and then rapidly conclude "this isn't for me".

 

.

Edited April 13, 2021 by Gerontious