Triumph Tiger 800 review: first thoughts

VISORDOWN'S Laura Thomson is in Morocco for the press launch of the 2018 Triumph Tiger 800.

Here are her first thoughts, straight after riding: 'With 80 years of off-road heritage behind it, Triumph would have a lot to answer for if the new Tiger 800 was bad.

'Luckily, it’s not. With a range of updates, the 2018 Tiger 800 is more refined that its predecessor and gives other middleweight adventure bikes a serious run for their money. 

'While the engine is fundamentally the same as before, a number of tweaks have made a huge difference. A shorter first gear makes the off-road-biased XC edition much better in the dirt, while a throatier engine note replaces the whine of the previous generation. The XC keeps the long travel WP suspension of its predecessor and now comes with Pirelli Scorpion Rally tyres – an excellent set of rubber.

'The top-spec road-biased XR editon meanwhile boasts adjustable Showa forks, improving handling on tarmac. 

'The Tiger 800s have also inherited a number of features from their bigger brother – the Tiger 1200 – including heated rider and passenger seats and a smart TFT dash.

'Up close the new styling is spot on: sharp, aggressive, everything you’d want of an adventure machine.'

Watch out for Laura's full review coming soon.

Read more about the new Tiger 800s here and check the prices here.