Triumph Tiger Review
Bike Tested: Triumph Tiger 800 XRx; Road Test No. 850; Test Location: Rajmachi, Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 13,79,800/-
The sound of an inline-3 is the sweetest small engine sound you can ever hear
The Triumph Tiger range has been expanding and how! The British brand has noted the demand for adventure motorcycles and given a slew of variants to the Tiger with four of them available in India. The XRx which is the road focused variant of the Tiger, is a mile muncher and we decided to test it extensively, taking it for an off-road excursion too with the Ducati Multistrada for company. The test bike has done close to 30,000 kms and yet it feels like new, so is it worth spending more than a million rupees on an adventure motorcycle?
The overall design, the grooves, the edges, it’s completely different
Styling – The design language of the complete Triumph Tiger series portrays adventure. But the Tiger XRx says a little different story, more like a tourer. Although the semi-fairing with a windshield, dual headlamp setup, USD forks at the front with a monoshock at the rear and the semi-open trellis frame speak for the Tiger’s aesthetics. The alloy wheels with road spec tyres and an overall shorter bodywork design don’t do so. The rear has no mass except for the LED tail-lamp and the high raised exhaust while the tank design keeps the bulk visible at the front. But as an overall view, the Tiger XRx looks smaller and similar to the current gen middle-weight bikes.
The instrument cluster is simple and yet is looks rad!
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The analog-digital instrument cluster is one of a kind and to be honest I seriously like how the needle goes all the way to 10,000 RPM on a hard throttle. The tell-tale lights stay along the tachometer while the digital LCD unit is small but shows decent amount of information. The LCD unit contains the speedometer, gear position indicator, fuel and temperature gauge, traction setting and a clock. While it also displays two trip meters, distance to empty and fuel consumption being toggled within a switch. The quality of switchgear is nice while the switches are shared equally on both the sides, including the ones for cruise control.
Even if we go complete low angle, the Tiger XRx doesn’t look huge
Ergonomics – The Triumph Tiger XRx is more like a middle-weight than being an adventure bike. The ergonomics are spot on like the lower seat height, manageable weight, comfortable seating and center-set footpegs. The only thing that might bother a few is the distance from the handlebar to the rider. The tank is pretty long and wide while the handlebar sits far from the rider, making the arm angle more straight. The visor too is non-adjustable and with the design of the visor, it was more clearer and easier to look above it instead of looking through it. However, it does not show much weight but the front feels a little heavy while it has a comfortable rear. The pillion would rather be more comfortable on a longer ride.
The Tiger XRx delivers power very smoothly all out
Performance – The whistle from the inline-3 800cc motor is to die for. The power delivery is so linear through the band that the engine feels alive even at 2000 RPM. The powertrain is revv friendly and pulls strongly to its redline, feeling almost sports bike like, crossing the double top with relative ease. The output numbers sound really good for this powerplant but it is the traction control that ruins the fun sometimes. There are 3 levels of traction control while we road it mostly in the road mode, switched it to the off-road mode a few times while did not engage the programmable mode at all. The road mode wouldn’t let you skip a beat while the off-road mode allowed some amount of sliding in the slush.
Off the road you can have a bit of fun too
Linear power delivery and an amazing engine sound, the Tiger is desirable
While the electronics did their job, the tyres had to do theirs and the Metzeler rubber on our test bike performed really well on road. Off the road, the tyres weren’t of any help at all. At one point of time, even the traction control went mad as we were in the road mode playing along in the slush. The sequential seamless shifts of the gearbox are like a cherry on the cake. Not a single mis-shift and a decently weighed clutch is the perfect match for the engine. We thought that the Tiger being a smaller capacity engine wouldn’t drink much but the average fuel consumption was considerably lower at 18 km/l. Maybe the extra fun off-road was the reason for that.
It’s better to slow down with deteriorating terrain as it can handle that too
Riding Dynamics – As I mentioned the ergonomics were spot on except for the distance of the handlebar from the rider. The arms stay stretched and it does not really help much. The width of the tank is just enough for the rider and the bike feels thin while riding. The Tiger XRx weighs over 200 kgs and it can be felt when you ride it sanely. But with determined riding, the Tiger keeps you engaged and it’s always fun pushing a little towards the redline. The electronics do generate good amount of confidence while the Tiger feels more like a smaller bike which has grown into a bigger bike with more matured dynamics. Perform a little cornering and you will be amazed by the compact nature confidence it inspires.
Get the traction right because it’s just slip and slide
The XRx is road focused but doesn’t really mind with some off-road adventure
The front USD suspension does the job really well and the monoshock at the rear is good too, giving the bike a very good ride quality even on our bad roads. But off the road, the setup isn’t the best coupled with the road tyres and alloy wheels, the Tiger XRx is a gem on the road, not really off it. The front tyre is smaller but thicker than its elder siblings which makes braking much more confidence inspiring. The 308 mm dual discs at the front with the 100 section front tyre generate good amount of feedback for proper braking. And coupled with the switchable ABS and 255 mm rear disc with 150 section tyre at the rear, the bike stops when you need it to stop.
Perfect package for an entry level adventure-tourer motorcycle
Verdict – The Triumph Tiger 800 XRx is an entry-level motorcycle in the adventure category. However, it has a better presence on the road while having some capabilities to go off-road and have some fun. The Tiger XRx has the mix of both worlds and it isn’t the costliest of the lot. It fits right in for the people looking for a bike that is an upgrade from anything below 500cc and has the adventure spirit within. Also not to forget, it can be a better touring machine with the right minds to explore. The best part about owning one would be the exhaust note and the inline-3 whistle.
Just a basic size comparison with the top of the line Ducati Multistrada
What’s Cool
* The power delivery is linear and sounds really amazing
* Riding dynamics are predictable and the bike rides surefooted
* Available in a slew of variants, there is a Tiger for everyone
What’s Not So Cool
* The low handlebar and seating ergonomics are not comfortable
* The windshield is just for wind protection, you cannot look through it
A worthy wallpaper image? I bet you it is!
Triumph Tiger 800 XRx Specifications
* Engine: 800cc, In-line 3-cyliner, 12-valve, DOHC, liquid-cooled
* Power: 95 PS @ 9250 RPM
* Torque: 78 Nm @ 7950 RPM
* Transmission: 6-speed, wet multiplate
* 0-100 km/hr: 3.4 seconds
* Top Speed: 230 km/hr
* Fuel Consumption: 17-25 km/l
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Frame: Tubular Steel Trellis frame
* Suspension: Showa 43 mm USD Forks (Front), Showa Mono-Suspension with adjustable preload (Rear)
* Tyres: 100/90/19 (Front), 150/70/17 (Rear)
* Brakes: 308 mm Dual Disc (Front), 255 mm Disc (Rear), ABS
Triumph Tiger 800 XRx Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 2215 mm x 795 mm x 1350 mm
* Wheelbase: 1530 mm
* Ground Clearance: 160 mm
* Seat Height: 810 – 830 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 19-litres
* Kerb Weight: 201 kgs