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2011 Triumph Tiger 800 XC First Ride Photo Gallery

Yes, the Tiger XC was worth the wait.

Check out photos of the new 2011 Triumph Tiger 800 XC during our first ride in Southern California. Triumph built the new Tiger to claim some of the middleweight adventure touring segment. Read the full review in our 2011 Triumph Tiger 800 XC First Ride.

The shock is adjustable for rebound and preload, the latter with a hand-turn knob.

New headlights and a stubby front fender add to the aesthetics.

Between the surprising torque and equally shocking prowess on and off the highway, the Tiger 80 XC should be a big seller for those in-between-sized adventure riders who want a non-German machine.

The front end resists diving on the pavement despite dual 308mm brake rotors with twin-piston Nissin calipers.

The tiger has an engine that is happy to provide smooth torque for slippery off-road conditions, or high-revving horsepower for the street.

To some ears, the three-cylinder might be more harmonious than the wail of an Inline-Four, but one audible we don’t like about the Triple is the ridiculous burble it gives off on deceleration.

Handguards droop a bit, even after we tightened them down, which worked to our advantage when splashing through creek crossings.

The mellow bottom end works well in the dirt, especially with the tires that are more geared for the street.

12.0:1 compression ratio squishes fuel inside the 799cc mill. Four valves per cylinder handle intake and exhaust duties and fuel is metered via electronic fuel injection.

The Triple design blends high-performance revving with real-world usability, meaning it has nearly the top-end thrill of an Inline-Four and some of that lovable Twin torque.

High footpegs and ground clearance mean we found the edge of the tires before scraping boots.

Seat height is adjustable from 32.3 to 34 inches and the foam is so good you won’t want to stand up.

The Tiger XC is very well-mannered in the dirt. We'd love to get a set of knobbies on this to see what it can really do.

Both ends will bottom over just a small waterbar, but the 800 can be jumped slightly.

Triumph matches the engine with a very slick six-speed transmission. We had no trouble with the gearbox and the ratios are well spaced, including the final chain drive sprockets.

Triumph offers crash guards and a heavy-duty skidplate as accessories. We’d definitely take the underbelly protection with the soft suspension.

A windscreen diverts buffeting very well, though our taller rider noted a bit of pressure on his shoulders.

The clutch lever must be pulled all the to the hand grip in order to fully disengage, which leads to a stalling tendency at low speeds or technical off-road riding.

This brake pedal is hard to find, and often the rider hits the taller case guard causiing extreme braking.

The LCD display offers a digital speedometer, trip computer, gear position indicator and clock, with an analog tach located to the right of the multi-functional instrument pack.

The rear section of frame looks a bit unfinshed to some testers.

The 5-gallon tank is a little thick and has a distinct Tiger look.

The Tiger produces realistic numbers for a mid-size adventure bike. These numbers represent power at the rear wheel.