Triumph Tiger 800 XCx Long Term Report: Introduction

Introduction

Say hello to the highest selling big adventure bike in the country. The Tiger, a brand that is so strong that it has a special place in the ADV culture of the country. 

Over the last few months, we have ridden this bike in various places. First in Morocco, followed by some riding in the home country. But now we’ve had the Tiger 800 XCx for a few months and that’s a good thing because we have never lived with the motorcycle, and that’s an important aspect to consider when it comes to the ownership of an adventure bike.

The bike

I have a special place for ADVs in my heart because they are all about practicality and are very purposeful. And in a country like India, which is still largely inaccessible and the infrastructure development is still in the early stages, the ADVs like the Tiger 800 make a lot of sense. The extra ground clearance, the long travel suspension and that wide and comfortable seat makes things easy-peasy for the rider. Then you have a great motor that offers good grunt and performance – all that’s present on the Tiger 800 XCx. 

When it comes to features, the XCx is loaded to the brim, almost. It gets switchable ABS, traction control system (TCS), adjustable seat height, adjustable brake and clutch levers and 12V and USB power sockets. It also gets engine protection bars, an aluminium sump and radiator guards. This variant loses out on the custom rider riding modes, but gets the off-road pro mode. It loses out on the all LED lighting and just gets LED DRL. The heated grip is part of the package. My personal favorite is the TFT display that shows a host of ride information in a cool way.

So the plan is to ride the Tiger for a few thousand kilometers over a period of three months, and highlight the best and the not-so-best aspects of it. So things like long distance touring, trail riding and water crossing have been planned. In fact, this Tiger will also attend an off-road competition, and that will definitely give us an idea about its off-road prowess. 

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi