We put the new Triumph Tiger 800 XC against the BMW F800GS. Our mission: to see which is the best middleweight adventure touring motorcycle.
They are lighter, cheaper, less sophisticated, but ready to take you almost anywhere you want. Sometimes, the middleweight adventure-touring motorcycles seem to be a better option compared to the heavy and ultra high-tech big adventure bikes.
Both the Tiger XCX and the F800GS have the same specs: a 21 inches front wheel, similar wind protections, similar chassis, and electronics. But there is one big difference: the engine. While the BMW uses the 800 cc parallel twin, the Triumph has an 800 cc inline-three cylinder power plant.
To see what these bikes are capable of, we tested them both on curvy roads and off-road. The Tiger XCX was fitted with Continental TCK 80 tires, while the F800GS’ tires were Michelin Anakee II.
It had to be a captivating place the battlefield where Triumph met the GS. We rode the Tiger and the F800 through the Carpathian mountain villages in Romania. Charming views, delightful curves and a fascinating place to put our tents. Watch our film in the window above and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more similar videos.
Video: Ionuț Ivana