Triumph Tiger 800 test-ride

[jkrijt]

Yesterday I got a leaflet from Motoport Goes with an invitation to testride a Triumph. I called them and asked if it was possible to ride a Tiger 800 and yes, they had a demo-bike available.
This morning I went to Goes and I had about half an hour to test-ride the Triumph Tiger 800.

After (test)riding the BMW's R1150GS, R1200GS, F650GS and F800GS twins, the Benelli TRE K 1130 and my own F650GS single, I found this bike, next to my old F650GS, the easiest to ride. It was very smooth and easy to steer, shift gears and brake and it has more than enough power.
For off-road use, the handlebars are 5 cm (2 inch) to low which makes it harder to stand on the pegs while riding a dirtroad (on the more off-road, 800XC the risers are higher then on the 800)
On backroads the comfort is excelent. On the highway, riding 130 km/h, the small windscreen creates to much noise around my head. Maybe a taller windscreen will solve that.
The disadvantage of this three cilinder engine compared to the BMW single is the better fuel consumption of the BMW.

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by jkrijt

Yesterday I got a leaflet from Motoport Goes with an invitation to testride a Triumph. I called them and asked if it was possible to ride a Tiger 800 and yes, they had a demo-bike available.
This morning I went to Goes and I had about half an hour to test-ride the Triumph Tiger 800.

After (test)riding the BMW's R1150GS, R1200GS, F650GS and F800GS twins, the Benelli TRE K 1130 and my own F650GS single, I found this bike, next to my old F650GS, the easiest to ride. It was very smooth and easy to steer, shift gears and brake and it has more than enough power.
For off-road use, the handlebars are 5 cm (2 inch) to low which makes it harder to stand on the pegs while riding a dirtroad (on the more off-road, 800XC the risers are higher then on the 800)
On backroads the comfort is excelent. On the highway, riding 130 km/h, the small windscreen creates to much noise around my head. Maybe a taller windscreen will solve that.
The disadvantage of this three cilinder engine compared to the BMW single is the better fuel consumption of the BMW.

For another view you might like to take a look at the reviews in here:-
Bike Tests | Ash On Bikes

Triumph Tiger 800 review | Ash On Bikes

Warning: the content in that website can drag you away from the HUBB!

[blacktiger]

Originally Posted by jkrijt

Yesterday I got a leaflet from Motoport Goes with an invitation to testride a Triumph. I called them and asked if it was possible to ride a Tiger 800 and yes, they had a demo-bike available.
This morning I went to Goes and I had about half an hour to test-ride the Triumph Tiger 800.

After (test)riding the BMW's R1150GS, R1200GS, F650GS and F800GS twins, the Benelli TRE K 1130 and my own F650GS single, I found this bike, next to my old F650GS, the easiest to ride. It was very smooth and easy to steer, shift gears and brake and it has more than enough power.
For off-road use, the handlebars are 5 cm (2 inch) to low which makes it harder to stand on the pegs while riding a dirtroad (on the more off-road, 800XC the risers are higher then on the 800)
On backroads the comfort is excelent. On the highway, riding 130 km/h, the small windscreen creates to much noise around my head. Maybe a taller windscreen will solve that.
The disadvantage of this three cilinder engine compared to the BMW single is the better fuel consumption of the BMW.

With all due respect to Jan, his dislikes are all personal things. Screens and handlebar height might well suit someone else as it is.
I bought one and adapted those things to suit me and I've now run my 800XC for 18000 miles and it's a fantastic bike.

[jkrijt]

Originally Posted by blacktiger

With all due respect to Jan, his dislikes are all personal things. Screens and handlebar height might well suit someone else as it is.
I bought one and adapted those things to suit me and I've now run my 800XC for 18000 miles and it's a fantastic bike.

Ofcourse. This was what I think about the bike. That is not the absolute truth but an opinion. (and I did like the Triumph very much).

[coolblackbird]

Hi all
I love my 800xc the first bike i ve had that is more at home on country roads then motorway not tried it of road yet i think a day at triumph of road day might help that one, puts a smile on your face at 40 mph . The xc is very hign even for me at 5' 10" some people have lowered there's with no problem. I want to get some panniers but at something like £1200 to much for what they are i think.
But the real test for any bike is lots of miles down the road
Happy biking

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by jkrijt

yes, they had a demo-bike available.
This morning I went to Goes and I had about half an hour to test-ride the Triumph Tiger 800.
.

It's a UK Triumph policy for their dealer network to have a wide range of demo bikes in their stores; the idea is, of course, that the bikes sell themselves.
It seems like this policy applies elsewhere.

Originally Posted by Walkabout

For another view you might like to take a look at the reviews in here:-
Bike Tests | Ash On Bikes

Triumph Tiger 800 review | Ash On Bikes

Kevin A died while testing the new 1200GS less than a month ago; I hope that his website stays up for his reviews; it would be a good, useful tribute to him.

[becsta]

I have test ridden the Tiger 800 Roadie a couple of times and love it. It will be my next bike.

[Leão]

Originally Posted by jkrijt

Yesterday I got a leaflet from Motoport Goes with an invitation to testride a Triumph. I called them and asked if it was possible to ride a Tiger 800 and yes, they had a demo-bike available.
This morning I went to Goes and I had about half an hour to test-ride the Triumph Tiger 800.

After (test)riding the BMW's R1150GS, R1200GS, F650GS and F800GS twins, the Benelli TRE K 1130 and my own F650GS single, I found this bike, next to my old F650GS, the easiest to ride. It was very smooth and easy to steer, shift gears and brake and it has more than enough power.
For off-road use, the handlebars are 5 cm (2 inch) to low which makes it harder to stand on the pegs while riding a dirtroad (on the more off-road, 800XC the risers are higher then on the 800)
On backroads the comfort is excelent. On the highway, riding 130 km/h, the small windscreen creates to much noise around my head. Maybe a taller windscreen will solve that.
The disadvantage of this three cilinder engine compared to the BMW single is the better fuel consumption of the BMW.

I have an 800XC. Wonderful motorcycle.

It has a few niggling things for dirt riding (or for the dust you get when dirt riding): a stepper motor that actuates idle is located on a spot where it collects dust which eventually may stall the stepper motor progress (its arm, actually), and your motor will not have idle. Knowing how to work with it is helpful (lube/grease). And second, the air filter needs tank removal for access. Installing a pre-filter would be helpful.

For riding itself on the dirt, it is a very stable machine. Suspension is good enough.

One other problem I've seen developing on mine is the cam chain tensioner. I hear of some failures on other bikes, mine is getting louder with about 6k miles - really annoying ticking sound and you can feel the vibration in the handlebars. I will check with the shop on the next service and see if warranty covers putting a new CCT in.

Windscreen, yes, very noisy. But there are options out there.

The fuel consumption gets better. I know I can get close to 50 mpg, more if I pay close attention to my riding. Which usually is not the case.

I really like this motorcycle. Really comfortable and still offers plenty of power.

Leão

[Gipper]

I took a Tiger 800 roadie out for a test ride on Saturday, initial thoughts were that the engine is very good, powerful and smooth, gearbox is slick, seat is pretty good, the screen is not very good, I found the front suspension a little harsh, maybe it was the way they had the demo bike set up, I also found the throttle extremely light, with a bunch of slack, so the first 1/8 of a turn nothing happened, Im hoping the cable needed adjusting, also on the overrun it was lurching and did not feel smooth at all, this was probably more of a chain tension isue?

Does the XC have the same exremely light sensitive throttle too ? I would not enjoy rough dirt trails with the throttle that sensitive.

Some knit picking here, but I would like to have seen an 'I' info button on the left switchgear (Like the Explorer) to toggle through the info display, a hydraulic clutch would be a nice touch too on a bike this expensive. Also, the way that you disable ABS is not well thought out, you have to toggle through menus instead of (another) dedicated button on the left switchgear.

I will take an 800XC out soon hopefully soon, im hoping the throttle/overrun issues were just on the demo bike and not normal.