Triumph Announces Tiger 800 XC, XR, XCx And XRx

[caption id="attachment_35411" align="alignright" width="300"] 2015 Triumph Tiger 800 XC[/caption]

More motorcycle companies are putting multiple on- and off-road adventure touring bikes in their lineups to give riders a variation. According to Motorcyclist, BMW has two variations of the F800GS and the R1200GS, while KTM currently manufacturers two versions of the 1190 Adventure.

It didn't take long for Triumph to follow suit and split it's standard adventure touring motorcycle into two versions, each aimed for more specific riding styles. According to the source, the Triumph Tiger 800 used to come in the standard cast-wheel version and a spoke-hooped model called the XC. However, the simplistic engineering and barely different designs are a thing of the past.

Redefining Dual Sport Riding

[caption id="attachment_35416" align="alignright" width="300"] 2015 Triumph Tiger 800 XR[/caption]

For 2015, Triumph is releasing the cast-wheel Tiger 800 XR, designed for primarily on-road adventures with lighter off-road capabilities, and the fully dual purpose, spoke-wheel Tiger 800 XC. However the dividing of the adventure touring market segment doesn't stop there, as the company will also offer XRx and XCx versions that will include more advanced electronics that are popular with dual-sport riders, as well as additional parts on each model, the source cited.

The Tiger XC is intended more for the off-road rider than the XR because of the difference in the suspension and wheels, as well as additional guards designed to protect the motorcycle from off-road terrain. The road-intended XR has a Showa fork and Showa monoshock rear, while the XC has WP suspension to give it more miles off the beaten path, Zig Wheels reported.

The XC includes spoked wheels for increased durability on unforgiving terrain and the bike also has a 17-inch rear wheel and a 21-inch front wheel that is formatted for off-road riding. The XR on the other hand, includes light-weight aluminum wheels for street riding. The XR rear wheel is 17 inches, but the front is 19 inches - still within the acceptable dual-sport tire size range.

Upgraded Electronics

[caption id="attachment_35421" align="alignright" width="300"] 2015 Triumph Tiger 800 XRx[/caption]

Both the XR and XC include traction control and an on/off switchable ABS, but if customers upgrade to the "x" models, there's more electronic control available. The upgraded motorcycles get an additional off-road ABS mode, three-mode switchable traction control, and four different throttle maps for various weather and road conditions. With this many options to cycle through, changing the electronic controls on the fly could become cumbersome, but there are two pre-programmed ride modes that will change the ABS, traction control, and throttle maps to either Road settings or Off-Road settings. There is a third ride mode, aptly named "Rider", that allows the rider to cycle between all options at will - effectively giving an additional 34 riding modes.

The top-spec editions come with advance trip computer displays that show the rider's average speed, trip time, fuel economy, range and consumption. According to the source, there are four throttle maps to choose from, including, off road, rain, road and sport.

Some of the XRx special features include an adjustable windshield and a "comfort" saddle, while the XCx does not have these perks, Motorcyclist reported. The XR has a $11,399 price tag, and the XRx adds $1,100 for the upgrades for a total of $12,499. As for the XC, the bike is priced at $12,399, and the XCx is also $1,100 more at $13,499.

2015 Triumph Tiger 800 Image Gallery