Chasem
Well-known member
So I brought my ’14 KTM 690 Enduro R to GP Bikes for a few warranty issues… While I was getting the warranty issues taken care of, I decided to test ride the Triumph Tiger 800 XRx. Little did I know, this would be a loaner bike (The KTM required an overnight stay).
Now I’m not a professional reviewer or anything, but I have ridden quite a few bikes… and can make a general opinion. I will keep it super short, and hopefully it will help anybody in the market.
Engine/Transmission
The 800cc in-line three cylinder engine is absolutely incredible. I would wager it’s the smoothest engine I have ever encountered. There seems to be ample torque throughout the rev range, always on tap. The torque curve felt more like a line. Due to the linear torque and super smooth engine, you can be going a lot faster than expected. The fueling and ride-by-wire seemed to be spot on, no hiccups and buttery smooth. I owned the Yamaha FZ-09, which also has a triple engine and I would say the Triumphs triple is smoother. The Yamaha FZ-09 felt substantially faster though, which is a combination of lower weight, gearing and higher output. The Tiger 800 didn’t feel that fast, but the combination of wind protection, linear torque and smoothness takes away from the visceral feeling of speed. Make no mistake, you can have an HTA172 real quick. The transmission is very smooth, and has a very positive neutral feeling. My only complaint is that 1[SUP]st[/SUP] gear is incredibly tall, and the ratios are very close. Lower first gear, plus wide-ratio gears would be nice. The exhaust note is awesome in the higher RPM ranges (reminds me of my GSXR), but the slight whistling sound can be annoying.
Suspension
The showa suspension felt quite good, akin to a magic carpet ride. It gobbled up the terrible back roads around Ajax with relative ease. Large potholes did cause a solid thunk, whereas the KTM’s WP suspension would have gobbled it up. I would have liked to test the Tiger XC, as the new 2015 model carries WP suspension with 220MM of suspension travel. The Showa unit did handle graded pavement without blinking an eye, and keep in mind the XR unit is the road version. So I don’t think you will be going off-road with it…
Ergonomics
Now ergonomics can be a very personal thing, but for me there were a few niggles. At 5’11 I felt slightly cramped on the Tiger. The pegs were relatively high causing my knees to cramp up, the slight rake on the handlebars was causing my back to tweak a bit. As fitted the Triumph Comfort seat did not add much comfort. My butt was getting sore after about an hour or so. I would prefer the dash unit to be up higher, as you have to look down quite a bit to read the gauges. Even at the maximum height, the windscreen was causing some serious buffeting on my face. Now I’m sure even some slight adjustments could make a massive difference. The front fairing is relatively small, and provides okay wind protection.
Electronics
Fuel guage… Check
Fuel range indicator… Check
Trip meters out the ying yang… Check
ABS + Traction Control… Check
Electronic Cruise Control… Hell yes! And it works fantastic. One simple press and you are gliding along with no worries.
I’m not going to delve into all the electronics, but the XRx definitely delivers on the front.
Brakes
The brakes work well, but don't have the strong bite that my KTM 690's have.
This is just off the top of my head, and if I think of more I will add it here. In closing I really liked the Tiger 800, and if the ergonomics suited me better... the XCx would probably be in my garage
Now I’m not a professional reviewer or anything, but I have ridden quite a few bikes… and can make a general opinion. I will keep it super short, and hopefully it will help anybody in the market.
Engine/Transmission
The 800cc in-line three cylinder engine is absolutely incredible. I would wager it’s the smoothest engine I have ever encountered. There seems to be ample torque throughout the rev range, always on tap. The torque curve felt more like a line. Due to the linear torque and super smooth engine, you can be going a lot faster than expected. The fueling and ride-by-wire seemed to be spot on, no hiccups and buttery smooth. I owned the Yamaha FZ-09, which also has a triple engine and I would say the Triumphs triple is smoother. The Yamaha FZ-09 felt substantially faster though, which is a combination of lower weight, gearing and higher output. The Tiger 800 didn’t feel that fast, but the combination of wind protection, linear torque and smoothness takes away from the visceral feeling of speed. Make no mistake, you can have an HTA172 real quick. The transmission is very smooth, and has a very positive neutral feeling. My only complaint is that 1[SUP]st[/SUP] gear is incredibly tall, and the ratios are very close. Lower first gear, plus wide-ratio gears would be nice. The exhaust note is awesome in the higher RPM ranges (reminds me of my GSXR), but the slight whistling sound can be annoying.
Suspension
The showa suspension felt quite good, akin to a magic carpet ride. It gobbled up the terrible back roads around Ajax with relative ease. Large potholes did cause a solid thunk, whereas the KTM’s WP suspension would have gobbled it up. I would have liked to test the Tiger XC, as the new 2015 model carries WP suspension with 220MM of suspension travel. The Showa unit did handle graded pavement without blinking an eye, and keep in mind the XR unit is the road version. So I don’t think you will be going off-road with it…
Ergonomics
Now ergonomics can be a very personal thing, but for me there were a few niggles. At 5’11 I felt slightly cramped on the Tiger. The pegs were relatively high causing my knees to cramp up, the slight rake on the handlebars was causing my back to tweak a bit. As fitted the Triumph Comfort seat did not add much comfort. My butt was getting sore after about an hour or so. I would prefer the dash unit to be up higher, as you have to look down quite a bit to read the gauges. Even at the maximum height, the windscreen was causing some serious buffeting on my face. Now I’m sure even some slight adjustments could make a massive difference. The front fairing is relatively small, and provides okay wind protection.
Electronics
Fuel guage… Check
Fuel range indicator… Check
Trip meters out the ying yang… Check
ABS + Traction Control… Check
Electronic Cruise Control… Hell yes! And it works fantastic. One simple press and you are gliding along with no worries.
I’m not going to delve into all the electronics, but the XRx definitely delivers on the front.
Brakes
The brakes work well, but don't have the strong bite that my KTM 690's have.
This is just off the top of my head, and if I think of more I will add it here. In closing I really liked the Tiger 800, and if the ergonomics suited me better... the XCx would probably be in my garage
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