While on the subject of my recent trip around the western US Did 4500 miles 2 up with paniers on a tiger 800 great little bike plenty of torque for low speed and steep hills while loaded and it was well nimble.......so much so we got bollocked for using the paniers as knee sliders. Some of the twisties in and out of sequioia were unreal. Only down side was not enough wallop and the annoying whinning engine sound.
One of my mates traded in his tiger 1050 sport for one of the 800's, I never realised the whining sound was the engine.
I had one for a couple of hours last week when the Speed was in for a service - like you said - nimble, flickable, very comfy and quick enough up to a ton, also the screen did a good job of keeping the wind noise down. That said i wouldn't trade the Speed for one as the torque just wasn't there when pushing on but I can see why people buy them. Check out the Crumble on youtube - he loved his but I suspect he gets bored easily!
The whining noise is a Triumph characteristic, its gear whine Had it on my Street Triple R, unmistakeable when you hear it
