2011 Triumph Tiger 800 XC Comparison Review Photo Gallery

Riders lauded the Tiger’s 45mm inverted Showa fork (it proved a deciding factor in the Triumphs win over the BMW F800GS earlier this year). Though it lacks the adjustment options found on its rivals, the settings jived with our testing cadre.

See the new Triumph adventure bike in action during the 2011 Triumph Tiger 800 XC Comparison Review. Read the full report in our 2011 Triumph Tiger 800 XC Comparison.

As motorcycle engines continue to grow in displacement and power production, at what point does raw performance and elevated costs exceed practicality?

The dual-piston caliper Nissin front brakes rated second only to the BMW – perhaps in part because of they had to stop the least amount of weight.

Triumph has rumors of a bigger Tiger, but accourding to our riders the 800 XC is plenty of bike to handle the job.

When it came time to hit the dirt, the XC model gave the Tiger some extra chops. Only the KTM and BMW rated higher in the dirt overall.

The Tiger loses the most ground to its more powerful competitors in touring creature comforts.

The biggest sales pitch for the Tiger is its $11,999 MSRP, two Gs less than the next thriftiest Yamaha.

The Triumph’s Inline Triple gives up 200cc to its nearest rival – the 999cc KTM.

The tank bag limits standing, but without it the Tiger 800 is more comfortable.

The Triumph Tiger 800's fork is not adjustable, but the suspension is still better than some of the bigger bikes.

Fully-laden the Tiger 800 handled its load without ill effect – even on the freeway where it could power by on high-speed overtakes without a hiccup.

While the XC may not be an optimal touring mount, it can still pull off long hauls without breaking stride.

In the beginning the Triumph was right there with the best of them on the street and the dirt, but towards the end the worn tire made cornering difficult in the dirt.

The Triumph placed behind only the BMW and Ducati in our Engine Performance and Engine Character categories.

The sonorous effect of the Triple has long been an endearing Ace in the hole for Triumph.

The punchy middleweight traded blows with its stronger opponents right through the final bell.

Keep the 800 XC singing and it rewards with a long-reaching powerband that's as playful as it is effective.

Tossing the wild card Tiger 800 into mix was a fun experiment. It allowed us to make broader comparisons and enriched the scope of our conclusions.

Don’t tell the little Tiger it can’t scrap with the big kids. Its three-cylinder mill revved our dyno up to 84.59 horsepower and 51.49 lb-ft of torque.