Motorcycle specifications TriumphTIGER 800 XC 2014 Let's play in the forest!

the Tiger name has been around for ages at Triumph, designating since '93 the big trail bike par excellence; first in 955, then sportier in 1050 cc. Too bourgeois, too road-going to truly officiate as a trail bike and venture between the rocks, it delegates the all-terrain torch to its new 800 little brothers. And the new Tiger 800 XC (Cross Country) opens Triumph's doors to the forest, just when you're ready to play in the mud.

physically, there's nothing to complain about, especially as it really feels like an adventure. A light, resistant tubular steel trellis frame (frankly reminiscent of the BMW 1200 GS), large spoked wheels, good ground clearance supported by 220 mm front and at the front and 215 mm at the rear, hand guards and an uncomfortable, adventurous face, this is Indiana Jones in concentrate. The short video below, in which the XC is fitted with enduro tires, illustrates perfectly the adventurous, almost Amazon jungle-crossing side of this machine.

admittedly, it's a far cry from the single-cylinder machines of yesteryear, with their low weight and unfailing simplicity. Time has multiplied capacities, combustion chambers, horsepower and technology. Before, a 500 XT weighed next to nothing and let you do anything, but not too fast on the road, thanks to its single piston and the technology of the time. After that, the Africa Twin boasted remarkable versatility and capacity - but by then, the number of cylinders had already been doubled and displacement increased by 50%. Now it's Triumph's turn to take things up a notch.
The 800 Tiger must remain faithful to the company's architecture. So a 3-cylinder engine is installed on board. Its 799 cm3 displacement is the result of a number of modifications to the boiler of the Street Triple and Daytona 675. A quick tour of Hinckley's surgical workshop: we push the walls, we press hard all around, ggnnnnn.... As a result, stroke and bore are increased. All these efforts are not intended to increase the power of the 3-leg, but to give it torque and much greater availability at mid-range. Out of the box, it's more than 1 mkg more than on the Street, with maximum torque obtained before 8,000 rpm. The roadster spits out its maximum torque above 9,000 rpm, and for the sports bike, it's even worse: approaching 12,000.

this torque figure is virtually identical to that of the BM 800 GS. Funny, this is its direct competitor, and from the technical solutions, visual identity, suspension travel, tire size, consequent seat height and playground, it looks like twins separated at birth and each raised in a different country. The Teutonic delivers its maximum torque earlier with its parallel twin and announces a lower weight. Unimpressed, and ready to explain itself vigorously during a country outing, the Tiger 800 XC retorts with one more cylinder, 10 more horsepower (95 at 9,300 rpm) and a predictively more aggressive price tag.

copiously powered for a medium-displacement trail bike, the Tiger 800 will be able to line up some nice stages without dragging its feet, then adopt a muscular riding style on paths where tarmac doesn't exist. Be careful, though, and learn how to handle a 215 kg machine on soft ground. A life-saving ABS is fitted as standard, and can be disconnected if necessary. The Triumph is sure of its mettle and will take on the stones with vigor, thanks to its appropriate chassis: 21" and 17" spoked wheels, new aluminum swingarm, high inverted fork, 308 mm brake discs up front and the serious frame mentioned above.

in every episode of Indiana Jones, the big guy bags a chick. The Tiger 800 has foreseen this, and features an individual passenger seat surrounded by imposing grab handles. In addition to the tire-pressure gauge, the Englishman can be equipped with a good range of options.
Let's let the imagination take over a little: the weather's rotten, the state hasn't had a penny for years and all the roads are potholed, there's mud everywhere... That's when the Triumph Tiger 800 XC comes knocking on the door and says cheerfully: "It's so cool out there!!! Shall we go for a ride?"

M.B - Manufacturer's photos