Comments on: 2011 Triumph Tiger 800 and 800XC: MD Ride Review – Part Two (Bike Reports) (News)

By: John

John — Tue, 31 May 2011 13:47:06 +0000

I am waiting for Kawasaki to put their 650cc twin motor(ninja 650) in the KLR chassis.If they did and if they kept the price down they would have a blowout sales success.
This bike is not even a good dirt road/gravel road bike because of.. paper filter under the tank,no engine protection,welded on rear pegs etc,etc.Nice street bike though!!

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By: Trpldog

Trpldog — Fri, 27 May 2011 22:18:29 +0000

Just now got off a test ride on the new 800 Tiger XC. I’m kind of itching for a Adventure bike, but not quite sure if I am really ready to scratch that itch yet – hence the Tiger demo ride today. I currently ride a 07 1050 Speed Triple. I made the following observations on the short road test:
The stroked and bored 675 Motor is a real peach – buttery smooth, pulls smoothly from idle to redline without a hint of hiccups or anything at all – fantastic motor! Very very linear power band – usable tractable power to the ground.
I personally think a triple cylinder is the perfect street motor, and I’ve ridden since 1973. The 1050 Speed Triple has both fat bottom end torque and high rpm capabilities.
One thing I wasn’t expecting – that the new Tiger may have the best shifting transmission on the planet! And this was a new unbroken in motor! I was floored – especially when compared to the agricultural feeling Speedy transmission I am used to rowing through every day!
The Tiger has plenty of steering lock, and very good slow speed maneuvering manners, at least during my limited time on the bike.
I was really curious as to how the Tiger’s 800 stroker motor compared to the 1050 Speedy motor. My seat of the pants estimate is that the 800 has about 70 or 75% of the big brother’s torque. (I have long since been ruined by 1050′s torque) You won’t be doing effortless Speed Triple power wheelies on the Tiger, but 130hp on a slippery dirt road environment would certainly be a handful to say the least. The 800 motor in my opinion is absolutely perfect in it’s application in the Tiger. For me, I’m not yet ready to sell the Speed for the Tiger, but I have to tell you, at least from what I experienced this morning, between the outstanding 800 motor, a really great shifting transmission, and outstanding road manners, if I did pull the trigger on an Adventure bike – I’d be shooting off to the Triumph dealer without any reservations whatsoever! If you do happen to swing a leg over the Triumph Tiger – don’t be surprised if you get bitten, and like it!
Just my 2 cents worth.
Ride safe!

By: nome

nome — Fri, 27 May 2011 06:10:17 +0000

Hydraulic power transmission is compact, easy to package but not at all efficient. It has been used to powwer the front wheel on 2WD motorcycles such as the Öhlins Yamaha.

About chains: with modern x-ring (or slightly less modern O-ring) there is no need or ability for the end-user to lubricate them. The lubricant is enclosed in the pins with the rings, there’s no way to add more. Reason you might occasionally want to use “lubricant” is rust protection. Good quality oil or wax stays put for thousands of miles in even occasionally wet conditions.

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By: Trevor

Trevor — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:50:57 +0000

There is? Not that I can see, nor anything mentioned in the manual. Throttle adjustment is made at the throttle bodies….
If you can take a pic of this adjuster…I’d be happy.

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By: Tom R

Tom R — Thu, 26 May 2011 11:14:09 +0000

So the street is wrong…..? I’m crushed!

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By: BikerDad

BikerDad — Thu, 26 May 2011 06:51:02 +0000

Yes, and ridden judiciously, the Tiger800XC will return 50mpg on the highway carrying two passengers. When not riding judiciously, you’ll have a lot more fun on the Tiger than you’ll have driving the Fit non-judiciously.

But if you want true effective mileage, then get a schoolbus. Fill it with 50 people. And and 6 mpg you’ll get better gallons per person/mile than you will with the Fit, or the Tiger.

IF fuel efficiency is your #1 concern, then make sure that you rate it correctly. And correctly means based on what you’re transporting, not simply the mechanical efficency of the vehicle. If you want to do a family road trip around America while using the least amount of fuel you can, don’t take motorcycles for each person, everybody pile into the smallest passenger car that’ll hold all of ya. On the other hand, if there’s only one of you? Get a 49cc scooter and enjoy more than 100 mpg. Person-Miles per gallon. That’s the real number to look at, it’s how buses can make sense.

Of course, if you’re a normal person, then there are other considerations than just fuel efficiency. Comfort, excitement, fun, cargo capacity, safety, reliability, cost, image, and more, all weighted differently by different people.

Which leads back to what MikeD said.

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By: deltaboy

deltaboy — Thu, 26 May 2011 03:00:06 +0000

Not likely. the XC has already smoked the GS in most European mag shootouts. It’s as good off road and way better on road.

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By: MikeD

MikeD — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:27:17 +0000

Both of u make valid points, STICK to whatever tickles your pickle. Can’t go wrong.

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By: zap2504

zap2504 — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:05:51 +0000

…vs Yamaha FZ8.

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By: Goose

Goose — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:39:01 +0000

First, I don’t think you know what anachronism means. It doesn’t mean old, it means an object existing outside its time. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/anachronism

Back to the subject, I’ve owned shaft driven, open chain, enclosed chain and belt driven bikes. They all have a place, its just that, to me, an open chain on a touring/ general riding bike like the Tiger seems out of place. I would love to see an option for an enclosed chain or belt on a bike like the Tiger. It isn’t going to happen but I can dream.

Goose

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