Duel Africa Twin Adventure Sports Vs Tiger 800 XCA 2018
The unprecedented Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports and the Triumph Tiger 800 XCA put on their most beautiful backpacker outfit in 2018 to appeal to fans of efficient and well-calibrated trails … Opposing them gives rise to a new very close comparative test as these two motorcycles are attractive ! Complete MNC duel.
Duel Africa Twin Adventure Sports Vs Tiger 800 XCA 2018 – Page 2: dynamic
A few kilometers of gymkhana in town with the Africa Twin Adventure Sports are enough to reassure us: the balance appreciated by the beautiful Honda since its release in 2016 is generally preserved! Despite its increase in volumes and weight (+13 kg), the CRF1000L adventurer version has not become too "anvil". Phew !
- Duel Africa Twin Adventure Sports Vs Tiger 800 XCA – Page 1: static
However, with 243 kg all full (+10 kg with DCT), its overweight is relentlessly felt: the Honda requires more involvement compared to the standard Africa Twin. Its preserved maneuverability, however, allows it to be steered with the tips of the gloves, aided by its riquiqui turning diameter of 4.50 m (against 5.15 m for the Triumph according to the measurements taken by the Motorcycle Journal of the Net during this new .
Barely lighter despite its lower displacement (208 kg dry), the Tiger 800 XCA does not have this almost magical ability to forget its extra pounds from the first km / h. English steering exerts a hint of additional resistance due to a higher center of gravity.
However, it remains to integrate the dimensions of the Honda – especially its height! -, which will remember you fondly in the event of the unforeseen: if her beautiful balance is upset during a failed maneuver at low speed, catching her requires Teddy Riner’s biceps and Adriana Karambeu’s leg length !
In return, this "XXL" format offers a breathtaking view of the flow of traffic: well installed, straight chest and relaxed legs, the pilot of the Africa Twin Adventure Sports evolves serenely, almost majestically. For a little, it’s barely if his handlebars would not pass over the cars !
The Africa takes off off-road
Same story off-road, where its limits are directly conditioned by the legitimate apprehensions of the one who rides it … Unless you are cut like a Soviet athlete, it is difficult not to fear a fall! Because if the Adventure Sports lies there, at the bottom of this rocky and sloping ditch, which will help you to raise it while night falls ?
The Triumph is less intimidating thanks to its superior accessibility. Being able to put one foot on the ground is extremely reassuring when the tar gives way to the earth! The Tiger 800 XCA, however, has a lower improvisation capacity than the Honda and its handlebars are too low to be comfortably grasped while standing..
In this, the ergonomics of the Africa Twin Adventure Sports are a total success: its handlebars generously raised by trigger bars can be easily caught while in the saddle or standing on the footrests. The bust is also closer to the steering, which contributes to the feeling of direct and obvious control of its golden spoke wheel..
In addition, the enormous suspension travel of the CRF1000L gives it almost unlimited crossing skills. Well tuned and efficient, its "suspensions" absorb the worst impacts with the smoothness of a "real" enduro bike. Everything is possible on its handlebars … provided you have the level and physique to match your claims !
On the road, the Tiger sticks out its claws !
Back on the road, the Tiger 800 XCA holds its revenge by emphasizing the exceptional qualities of its cycle part: what the English consent to the Japanese in terms of liveliness in the changes of angle, it takes back with its rigor in curves. The Triumph turns in one block and holds its course perfectly, with a pleasing efficiency.
The particularly fine tuning of its WP suspensions harmoniously reconciles efficiency and comfort, with a welcome touch of sportiness. Knowing that its 220 and 215 mm of travel successfully face the majority of off-road obstacles, the compromise found by the English brand is very close to flawless. !
Much softer (too much?) At the start of the race of its suspensions, the Africa Twin Adventure Sports is penalized when the pace picks up. The large mass transfers generate movements liable to disturb its stability and precision. The hydraulics of its damping deserve to be strengthened to gain in rigor, at least in sporty driving.
As part of a more "peaceful" piloting, the Africa Twin Adventure Sports delivers a score without false notes: holes and bumps are swallowed as if laughing by its big "suspensions", for the benefit of greater comfort than that of the Triumph. Its smooth damping partly erases the relative firmness of its saddle, not as soft as the springs of its fork.
On the Tiger 800 XCA, as MNC had noted during its presentation, the seating comfort is insufficient for a motorcycle of this caliber. The new shape memory saddle introduced for 2018 isn’t exactly a success: the Triumph could take inspiration from the plush support offered by the !
Another area in which the Tiger 800 XCA is dominated by the Africa Twin Adventure Sports is braking. Its new Brembo two-piston calipers are shy when taking the lever, with a touch on the edge of spongy (several heavy braking is enough to vary the guard). Honda’s 4-piston Nissins provide more consistency, and above all consistency.
Exceptional three-cylinder vs. sensational twin
In 2016, during our, MNC had the – unpleasant – surprise to find that the "small" 3-cylinder of the Triumph overpowered the twin-cylinder of the Honda despite its displacement deficit (-199 cc). Let us specify for all intents and purposes that the big German "fleet-twin" made everyone agree during our tests of times !
Two years later, nothing has changed: the Africa Twin Adventure Sports is dominated under 4000 rpm, a regime under which the "3-legged" gives it no chance. Shame anyway: a 999 cc taxed by an 800! The forces are balanced from 5000 rpm: the two motorcycles are then on an equal footing, but the Triumph retains the advantage thanks to its higher extension (10,000 rpm Vs 8,500 rpm).
Despite the improvements made by Honda engine manufacturers to improve the liveliness of the block – lightened balancing weights and elongated intake ducts – the twin lacks niaque in the first third of the tachometer. And yet, the Honda claims a solid 99 Nm of torque against 79 for the block of Hinckley !
Still, if the Triumph engine is full as an egg and strong as an ox, its continuous thrust makes it fairly linear before 5000 rpm. Then things get better, but nothing helps: the Africa Twin’s twin cylinder is much more sensational! Lively and full of energy in the second part of the tachometer, he pushes with joyful strength and energy..
Its almost villainous sound comes to boost this lively temperament, undoubtedly the most temperamental of current Honda engines: the new silencer grunts shamelessly then crackles silently when the gas is cut off. Here again, the parallel with an enduro motorcycle is pleasing !
The soundtrack delivered by the Tiger 800 XCA is also a real auditory treat: the three-legged purrs at low revs in a superb hoarse tone, before roaring in the towers. A success ! It is impossible to separate the two: it is above all a matter of taste.
The opportunity to applaud the efforts made in this area: both the Honda and the Triumph have in common a silencer that is sufficiently elegant and sound not to have to worry about replacing them with an adaptable one. No pot for "Akra-Vince-Gnoni" !
Verdict: Triumph shakes up the benchmark
Here is a duel as the Journal moto du Net likes them: interesting from start to finish! Let it be said: between the Africa Twin Adventure Sports and the Tiger 800 XCA, the gaps are extremely tight. This match ends neck and neck for these typical "adventurer" motorcycles, which also have similar power and price in common (95 hp and 15,000 euros).
But at MNC as in life, a winner always ends up not standing out thanks to a set of superior quality: Triumph takes on this role with commendable application, with the flawless homogeneity of its Tiger 800 XCA. The Hinckley trail commands admiration for its finish and its "Premium" equipment, before convincing definitively with its dynamic skills..
Its optimal engine filling is a real treat, as is the very successful rigor of its cycle part. Road, paths, solo or duo: the Tiger 800 XCA is exactly the kind of versatile motorcycle to steer towards to cross the world on roundabout routes, regardless of the condition of the pavement or the track..
The only downsides: a price that is also very "upscale" in this full option. Remember that the € 15,000 bar was recently reserved for maxi-trails: when it came out in 2012, it cost, for example, € 14,890! In addition, the Tiger 800 lacks a bit of character to upset the senses …
The Triumph does everything perfectly, but almost too seriously: amazing as it may sound, the Honda offers more fun! Yes, fun on a motorcycle with the winged crest: who would have believed it ?! Admittedly, the Africa Twin’s engine lacks a bit of trunk, but its thrust full of panache is then worth the detour..
Finally, even if this criterion is totally subjective, the Honda CRF1000L is quite simply a magnificent motorcycle! Its racy look hits the mark, in addition to captivating the imagination: it doesn’t matter that the rain and the traffic jams pick you up when you wake up, on its handlebars even the periphery seems to lead to the Dakar !
Be careful, however, not to be intoxicated by its dune-swallowing appearance, because this Adventure Sports is wickedly high on legs and broad shouldered! The balance between reasonable weight and power claimed by the Africa Twin since its release is noticeably disrupted: Honda is close to the limits of the genre, at the risk of tipping over to the "dark" side of the force trail…
A good advice to lighten it: rather than the version equipped as an option with the DCT double clutch (+10 kg and +1000 €!) The one which receives the new bidirectional shifter. As explained in our report, this system which works on upshifting and downshifting is a brilliant alternative to Honda’s automatic gearbox. !
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