First official photo of Triumph Tiger 800 XC

[tri boy]

Called in Ham/cycles just before.
They only have the more road based model at the moment.
Tis an interesting bike, and after throwing a leg over it etc, I could live with one as an all round NZ road bike.
The fr suspension seems way to firm for gravel/twin track work though. (not sure if the XC carries a similar spring rate/valving)
It's got a nice seat, and clever touches, but I'm not sold yet.
I know the test ride will be great, (like allnew bike test rides), but I'm not sure it's the bike for me. MHO
(don't ask about the accessories costings)

[Crim]

I had a sit on one today. If i could stay upright on bikes & keep them clean then it would be nice to own.

I went to have a sit on one - but the bloke was flat out and i didn't just want to help myself - that's twice I have been down there and not even had a sit on it

But ..... did have a decent look at it +1 for Padmei's quote "if I could stay upright......." don't reckon it would be a one stop shop though if you had one you'd have to have a DRZ400 or WR250 for the "good" bits

couple of comments - Passenger pegs, you could make them removable quite easily with a bit of grinding / welding. Oil filter and other bits look a bit exposed (same as new super 10) so would need bigger aftermarket bashplate. I like the footpegs - removable rubber inserts which would, hopefully, fit both styles of boots without having to move gear / brake levers.

Now I have just got to get a sit / ride on one

[Racing Dave]

I had an hour's ride on both models, and liked them both. In particular the engine, clutch, brakes, seat. mirrors are all excellent. Perfect fuelling and just the right amount of flywheel. A wee skid on a shingle road shows they'll have great promise when knobblified, but they also need a proper bash plate and metal handguards (Barkbusters or similar) as the plastic ones won't save a lever in a spill. Most of all, both need the bars raised and moved forward (the XC has reversable clamps to help this) as the standing position is only comfortable for short periods. Add the optional centre stand and heated grips and it'll be a fine mid-sized bike for pretty much all conditions. Lovely rasp from the muffler when under load. The height adjustable seat allows footing for most people, and the pillion perch appears roomy enough. The footpeg rubbers are removeable, leaving cleated pegs for slippery conditions.

[MD]

Motorad have a white XC and green-ish road Tiger. Smart looking machines.
I only went around the block for a 3 minute ride. Engine is smooth ..just like the rest of the Triumph triples of course. Lots of nice touches like the adjustable seat heights, removeable rubber peg inserts, some handlebar adjustment. I found the reach to the bars was a fraction further forward than expected, not wrong, just further than, say my Tiger 1050. Guess that's why it has some adjustment!

If my riding was heading towards gravel roads the XC would be a ripper choice. Since I'm more into sealed roads I'll stick with the extra punch of the 1050cc

[Devil]

.... Add the optional ......heated grips...

Triumph price: $500.

[Bass]

First picture I saw, I thought "that needs a decent bash plate", but what do you attach it to?
With the engine as a stressed member, there's no frame tubes there and mounting it to the motor seems to defeat the purpose a bit.

[Ocean1]

First picture I saw, I thought "that needs a decent bash plate", but what do you attach it to?
With the engine as a stressed member, there's no frame tubes there and mounting it to the motor seems to defeat the purpose a bit.

Don't know what they'll do, (if anything) but I've moulded potable rubber between cases and bash guards before now. Works bloody well.

[Crisis management]

there's no frame tubes there and mounting it to the motor seems to defeat the purpose a bit.

The 640 bash plate bolts to the crankcase.......it's a hard fix too, no absorbtive material between and it seems to work (you should see the condition of my bash plate!)

[Eddieb]

Airhead GS bashplates bolt to the sump and seem to work fine.

[Oscar]

Airhead GS bashplates bolt to the sump and seem to work fine.

GS sumps are made out of bits left over from Tiger Tank construction.

[warewolf]

The 640 bash plate bolts to the crankcase.......it's a hard fix too, no absorbtive material between and it seems to work (you should see the condition of my bash plate!)

Que? It bolts solidly to blocks (part 93) on the inboard lower engine mount bolts, and to the frame downtube at the front above the spin-on oil filter. It's got 4 rubber bungs (part 95) between the outboard frame rails and the bashy... well at least my '05 640 Adv is like that OEM.



Personally I don't see why mounting to the crankcase is any real problem. It's a stressed member so it should be strong enough.

[Taz]

The 640 bash plate bolts to the crankcase.......it's a hard fix too, no absorbtive material between and it seems to work (you should see the condition of my bash plate!)

You sure? Mine bolts to the frame.

[Crisis management]

Well bugger me sideways, you guys are right........ I could have sworn the four lower bolts went into the crankcase.








Clearly bolting to the frame is the only way to do it and anything bolted to the engine is an inferior design!

[michael e]

Coulda dropped it off in Wanaka bro!!




The F8's are the same! ... dumb idea, why not make them boltable.

yeah i reckon,should be like yhose wicked tyre eating orange 950 adventures..unbolt everything,straighten out,bolt back together

[javahead]

Had a good ride on the Motorad demo XC800 yesterday. Swapping between it and a 1200GSA over the Rimutakas, Wairarapa, Lake Ferry and Ngawi. Mostly seal and some easy gravel.
Lots of visual similarities but they couldn't have been more different to ride.

It's a beautiful motor - very smooth, perfectly fueled, a good balance between detuning for traction on gravel, and free revving for enjoyable riding on the seal.
Brakes were capable and didn't grab. On tar it felt like they needed more bite but on loose surfaces they seemed appropriate.
Perhaps due to the 21-inch front, the relatively small size and the way it carries its weight low, it felt very secure on gravel - despite the street-oriented tyres it had fitted.
Suspension was firm but quite compliant. For a 200+kg bike it felt light. Under-seat fuel tank right? If so then maybe that's what makes such a difference.
Adjustable height seat with a reasonably good shape, light controls, and a screen just large enough to take the worst of the wind made it quite comfortable for a day's ride.
Felt very much like it was in its element as an all-road tourer. A nice bike for sure.