TERRIFIC TIGER BURNING BRIGHT
Tigers and I have had a long love affair. I rode the 955cc version from Chile to Alaska, and the 1050cc one all the way around Australia.
When the 800cc version came out in 2010, I immediately pronounced it the best handling bike I’d ever ridden, and I wasn’t alone in my praise. It instantly became Triumph’s most popular model in the UK, with sales equally balanced between the XR road-going model and the dual-purpose XC.
The seating position on this latest incarnation of the Tiger 800 is as good as before, with a commanding view of the road ahead – and behind thanks to superb mirrors – and the most obvious difference when you plonk yourself in the saddle is the full-colour TFT dash.
It’s a perfect marriage of form and function, with all the information you need at a glance, including which of the five riding modes you’re in, controlled by a stubby joystick on the left handlebar.
The best bit of it was the gear indicator, which twirled around at every change like a horizontal one-armed bandit. And you win the jackpot no matter what gear you’re in, for the engine’s got such low-down torque that you get seamless grunt all the way from just above 1,000rpm to the redline at 10,200rpm.
Triumph claims it’s made more than 200 changes from the previous model, but won’t say what they are apart from more power and torque at low revs, and a lower ratio first gear for better acceleration.
It’s certainly more frisky away from the lights, accompanied by a slightly deeper snarl from the exhaust than the anodyne whine of the previous incarnation, which always sounded like a giant sewing machine late for an appointment.
The power delivery is also smoother and more linear, which, combined with that torque, means you could ride all day in sixth gear, crossing entire continents in perfect comfort.
And although it weighs a reasonably hefty 213kg wet, the balance is so perfect that you can come to a stop and sit there for a couple of seconds before you put a foot down.
Out on the road, the handling is as sweet as all the other Tiger 800s I’ve had the pleasure to ride.
In fact, I’ve only one question to ask Triumph about the bike. Why does it only rain when I’ve left my waterproofs at home? ■ Test bike supplied by Phillip McCallen Motorcycles phillipmccallen.com