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955i or Varadero. |
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jog53 
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Joined: 15 May 2015 Location: Kerry/Ireland Status: Offline Points: 181 |
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 Topic: 955i or Varadero.Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 11:36 |
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Looking at a nice Tiger 955i with about 25k miles, 2006 model. Im told electrics can be questionable with these. As I already have two Guzzis, I dont need any extra electrical aggravation. The other option is a very clean 2004 Varadero with 20K miles. Both have full luggage and in good condition. Im 6.3 tall with an ample frame. Back roads here are poor and Ive sold the GSA. Any advice appreciated.
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jog53
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iansoady
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Joined: 23 Jul 2017 Location: Birmingham Status: Offline Points: 715 |
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Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 12:07 |
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Can't say about the Varadero but I had a 955i (the earlier model with spoked wheels) for 8 years and really liked it. There are one or two well known minor electrical issues eg the main fuse holder can corrode and blow the fuse, and the original wiring from the reg/rec to the battery is very circuitous and made of cable that is not really up to the job. Both are easy fixes and are well documented on tigertriple and elsewhere. You can get free software (TuneECU) if you want to play with maps, check sensors etc. I had the paid-for version - Tuneboy - which was great but expensive. It's not so much your height that's an issue, more leg length. I'm a similar height but have a long back and shortish legs so found I needed to lower mine slightly to be comfortable. Although if you're coming from a GSA you're probably used to the type. 300+ mile days are no problem; the fairing is good but can be a bit blustery (I fitted a Vario screen which was an improvement). I never took mine off road but lots of people have. It was fine on any sort of road from motorway to 3-ply back roads. I regretfully let mine go as after a replacement knee and advancing senility (mine) it just felt too ponderous when getting it in and out of the garage, parking etc so I downsized. It was fine on the open road.
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Ian
1982 V50 1952 Norton ES2 |
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jog53
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Joined: 15 May 2015 Location: Kerry/Ireland Status: Offline Points: 181 |
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Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 12:13 |
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Thanks, Ian.
I have an itch to scratch with the triple motor! John.
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jog53
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trophydave
Guzzino 
Joined: 22 Jul 2018 Location: Nottingham Status: Offline Points: 7 |
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Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 12:58 |
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I have a 955 Tiger.Ian has pretty much summed them up with his reply.Im 5ft10 with shortish legs but I manage mine ok as long as I am careful at very low speed.Mine has had the rectifier replaced and the wiring altered slightly with the cable available from Triumph but otherwise no problems.
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BondEquipe
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Joined: 10 Dec 2014 Location: Barnacle Status: Offline Points: 1074 |
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Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 15:09 |
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Compared to the GS you'll find a 955 Tiger very top heavy and bulbous tanked. Varedaro less top heavy but could you live with anything that ugly? Varedaros are also notoriously thirsty and the linked brakes don't suit everyone. Both have nice engines and comfy seats.
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Stephen
Black & Gold LM2 + Other Bikes & Projects! |
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iansoady
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Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 16:03 |
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Yes, they are top heavy and Dave's reply reminded me that I managed to drop mine twice in the first couple of weeks of ownership - fortunately with no damage. Both were when walking speed manoeuvring and were essentially down to my lack of skill with that type of bike having just sold my Norton Commando - a very different kettle of fish, although I used them both for the same purposes - mostly touring in France. The triple motor is a peach although I rarely used mine to anything like its full potential.
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Ian
1982 V50 1952 Norton ES2 |
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jpc
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Joined: 06 Oct 2016 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 314 |
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Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 16:13 |
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I have used up three VTR Firestorms (over 100.000 km on each), same engine as the Varadero.
Nice engine, but has a big drawback of "chain snatching" at low revs in low gear, perhaps due to a combination of light, revvy crank and big capacity cylinders. I once asked a Varadero owner about it, he called it horrendous, especially on slow, bumpy backroads and city streets.
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jog53
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Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 17:18 |
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I hear that fuel economy on the Fi bikes with 6th additional gear is good, the Varadero, that is. Had a 1998 VFR Fi for 14 years and loved it. It also had linked brakes. Had to give it up due to bad wrists and crap roads down here. Like many others, I trust Honda. The low speed snatchiness sounds on par with other big twins. Maybe someone who had a Varadero will post their experience of it. If a Tiger is more top heavy than a GSA with full tank fully loaded, maybe I should re-consider.
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jog53
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nab301
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Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 20:28 |
Haven't ridden either ( although I am 6' 4") but I did ride a workmates Sprint and it certainly felt very top heavy compared to my similar BMw R1100S. The engine did have a lovely induction roar though..
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Nigel
Keep smiling , it makes people wonder what you've been up to! '04 Breva 750, '99 Bmw R1100S, '06 Triumph Bonneville '05 CBF 250, '03Bullet 65 500, '93 MZ301 Saxon fun |
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Glawster
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Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 20:56 |
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Did you consider a Tiger 800? I had a GS1200 LC and while it was perfectly competent, it was physically huge. I changed it for a Tiger 800, which is 40kgs lighter and much more agile. Doesn't have the sophisticated suspension of the GS, but neither does it have the lousy gearbox.
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1979 Guzzi T3 California
1973 Guzzi V7 Sport 1955 Guzzi Falcone Sport 2015 Triumph Tiger 800 |
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jog53
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Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 21:05 |
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Tiger 800 would be substantially dearer to buy than the 955i. I hear the 800 is a fine machine though.
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jog53
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Glawster
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Posted: 01 Aug 2018 at 21:43 |
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Yes, the 800 is newer so more expensive. Well I’ve had an original Speed Triple and a Tiger 1050 as well as the Tiger 800 and I really rate all of them. I’d go for the 955 Tiger.
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1979 Guzzi T3 California
1973 Guzzi V7 Sport 1955 Guzzi Falcone Sport 2015 Triumph Tiger 800 |
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GuzziHero
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Posted: 02 Aug 2018 at 08:00 |
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I had the 2006 955i Dulltona... Great bike, powerful enough, handles well once you set it up, great fuel mileage but boring as hell. The engine has no song to it, even on track I had to take my earplugs out to hear it. It emits a quiet whine and thats about it. Thats why I call it Dulltona... It puts quite a lot of weight on your wrists (though the Tiger will fix this), the heat coming up off the engine when static is uncomfortable and it overheats quickly at sub 40mph speeds. If you do get one, you have to use super unleaded or the plastic tank paint will bubble up due to ethanol poison in regular fuel. The only known issue that I know of is reg / rec failures as its mounter under seat and doesnt get enough airflow. |
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A tappy Guzzi is a happy Guzzi!
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iansoady
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Posted: 02 Aug 2018 at 10:34 |
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I didn't have any problems with bubbling paint on my tank. I just used whatever fuel was available when I needed it.
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Ian
1982 V50 1952 Norton ES2 |
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jog53 wrote: