Trail – Triumph Tiger 800 XCx test: Keep calm and ride on – The real trail midsize of Triumph

Posted on by admin

Triumph Tiger 800 XCx test: Keep calm and ride on

Trail - Triumph Tiger 800 XCx test: Keep calm and ride on - The real trail midsize of Triumph

After having tested and approved the road and high-end ” XRx ” version of the new Tiger 800 2015, Site tried the more adventurous – but still premium – version of the Triumph trail midsize: the Tiger 800 XCx… First contact !

The real trail midsize of Triumph

At Triumph, the "real" mid-capacity trail is called Tiger 800 XC (short for Cross Country). Launched at the end of 2010 at the same time as the "short" Tiger 800 (read our, this more adventurous version represents "half of our Tiger 800 sales", tells us Stuart Wood, chief engineer at Triumph.

Tiger 800 XCx: availability, colors and price

  • Availability: January 2015 in the

  • Colors: white, black or blue

  • Price: € 12,490 (-€ 1,200 for the XC)

In France, a country where motorcyclists ride more "road" – even daily – than in England or Germany, the proportion of XC is however limited to "about 30%", explains Eric Pecoraro, Marketing Director at Triumph France..

Tested as a priority by Site, the Tiger 800 XRx (read our) will therefore undoubtedly be more successful with us than its XCx counterpart, which nevertheless benefits from the same 2015 updates with regard to the engine and electronics (read our and our ).

As a reminder, the new "Tigresses" now have a "ride-by-wire" system which allows the sensitivity of the handle to be adjusted and has authorized the transplant of a traction control (TTC) in addition to the ABS. These two electronic crutches are fitted as standard on the four versions of the Tiger: XR, XRx, XC and XCx.

Like the top-of-the-range XRx road model, the XCx that MNC is testing today comes standard with hand guards, a center stand, a second 12 V outlet, cruise control and ” an automatic turn signal stop function.

What makes it possible to differentiate this time the XC "classified x" from a "standard" XC, it is the engine protection bars and the aluminum shoe … which one hopes as sturdy as it has. air! And we have the same thought about the chassis…

Made of steel – easier to mend than aluminum – the frame is still built in one piece: some adventurers will continue to regret that the rear buckle is welded and not bolted, like the passenger footrests which protrude quite a bit. on the sides and cannot be removed in order to lighten the beast and limit breakage in the event of a fall.

Good point – common to all the 2010 or 2015 versions – on the other hand for the Tiger: the visible tubular trellis of the rear part is extremely practical to fix all its gear and go to a (d) venture !

If that’s not enough, 37-liter suitcases and a 42-liter top box – all aluminum, thank you very much – are available in the generous Triumph accessories catalog alongside the heated grips, additional LED lights, saddles low (-20 mm) or comfort, etc..

When getting on the bike, MNC does not perceive the 5 mm lowering of the original 2015 saddle compared to that of 2010 (840 against 845 mm). On the other hand, the seat is much higher than on the XRx: pilots less than 1.70 mm can no longer graze the ground on both sides..

The handlebars of the XC – with or without an "x" – are also much wider than that of the XR: 22 mm more according to the technical sheet (see page 2), a difference that you can clearly feel when installing the hands on orders.

The attitude adopted on the XCx is ultimately very close to that taken on maxi-trails: arms outstretched and legs stretched out to touch the ground. Showing 221 kg fully loaded on the Triumph scale, it requires less effort to be operated with the engine off than the Explorer 1200 XC (267 kg, necessarily …).

By walking the end of the road towards the lake of "La Concepción" – and its surrounding small paths, passable by motorized two-wheelers! – Site finds the typical "trail" behavior of the XC, due to its 21-inch front wheel (read our).

Very wide (851 mm from end to end according to Triumph), the handlebars allow the pilot to better overcome the inertia of this large wheel and to clear his way more effectively in the ruts … but at the same time will limit ascents between lines of cars !

The crossings of the first roundabouts highlight the less agile character of the XCx compared to the XRx and its 19-inch front wheel. Even compared to the old XC, the new XC (x) favors stability: the caster angle opens from 23.1 to 24.3 ° and the caster increases from 91.1 to 95.3 mm. . while the reduced wheelbase from 1568 to 1545 mm !

French bikers who want to find a replacement for their roadster – a Street 675, for example, which over time has become too nasty and not comfortable enough ?! – will therefore continue to prefer the road version of the Tiger to its "off road" version.

Arriving on the off-road course, MNC understands this time the choice of Triumph as for the original tires: the Pirelli Scorpion Trail of the XR are exchanged for Bridgestone Battle Wing, which gives the XC a better grip on stony roads..

Our opener of the day, – the French stunter in charge of making the Street Triple shine internationally, to be discovered in particular in the – asks us to switch to "Off Road" driving mode: a flick on the "M" button on the board on board, a clutch stroke to validate – it works while driving – and voila !

Therefore, the Triumph Traction Control (TTC) agrees to let the rear wheel slip for a few moments before taking control again, gently but effectively. More permissive in "Off Road" mode, the Tiger 800 XCx is not sufficiently permissive to take a good turn … and end up wallowing miserably in front of the photographer or friends ?!

For those who perfectly master the delicate art of sliding, it is however possible to deactivate the TTC: you must select the "Rider" mode, then enter the on-board computer submenus where you can configure traction control (Road, Off Road or disconnected), or even ABS (with the same three settings) and throttle control management (Road, Off Road, Rain or Sport).

This time, the manipulation can only be done at a standstill. It requires a certain logic and requires a little more concentration than the simple changes of modes with the single key "M", in order not to tangle the brushes buttons which are on the left stalk..

Remained wisely in Off Road mode, Site appreciated the work of electronic assistance which avoids any unpleasant surprises. Their interventions are so gentle that they allow the pilot to remain calm, fully focused on his piloting.

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *