Triumph Tiger 800 - XRT or XCA Which is the one for you? 

I rode over 13,000 miles on my 2016 XCX last summer, gravel, sand, and paved highways. I agree, 800cc provides plenty of power. I easily passed trucks on the interstate at 90 mph...I don't care to go any faster. The most common bike I saw in BC, Yukon and Alaska was the various BMW 1200 models. I don't see any advantage to those more powerful bikes. The Tiger has a great seat, nice suspension. I've been very satified.

Great videos. I had a 2017 XRT and loved it, but swapped it for an Africa Twin last year as I couldn’t resist the lure of that throbbing 2 cylinder engine. I do love the Africa Twin and its engine character but I also now miss the Tiger. It was a more comfortable and practical bike, and was so incredibly well specced from the factory. I’m already leaning towards switching back to a Tiger XRT as my next bike.

Good comparison Tony, as you know I got the XRT last March. For me cleaning the cast wheels is easier & I don’t intend taking it off road. Glad your enjoying yours. Happy new year!

Fantastic video Tony! The tiger is one of my favourite bikes. 🏍🇬🇧

Did the Tiger adventure last week in wales, I ride a Tiger 1200 and I was amazed by what these bikes can do. Great fun day and well worth doing.

After months of deliberation between Africa twin , BMW1200GS , Tracer GT and 800 Tiger I bought the 800 XRT just before Christmas and I think you have pretty much summed both versions of the Tiger and the benefits against the larger capacity machines perfectly,only managed a couple of rides so far but I love it ..As a relatively inexperienced road rider the Tiger really inspires confidence and is so easy to ride ,and So far I’ve not missed the extra power of my Thruxton R 👍

Great video! Spot on with your review on the differences between the two bikes.I have the XRT, added a few extras. front mud guard extension, rear shock protector and lower crash bars with all the full aluminium luggage.I agree with what you said, 94 bhp is more than enough. Love the bike, over 7000 miles since May. Just cant stop riding it!

Put deposit down, Tony / Your reviews provided great insight, thanks. Also bought Halvarssons Advance glove based on your review and they have exceeded my expectations. Keep up the great work. All the best from West cost of Ireland 👍🇮🇪

I own a 2018 Tiger 800 XCA & agree with everything you say. I would like to add 1 more point. The XC range has tubes in the tyres. This has pros & cons. I live in Australia so what's a pro for me may not be for you. I can be out of mobile range & on back roads that may not see another vehicle that week. So whilst changing a tube is time-consuming compared to plugging a tyre. It gives me more get out of jail free cards, slashed side walls, bent rims etc. I may do a tubeless conversion, but I would still carry a tube. A bent cast rim is a broken cast rim. I'm 6'4" & the wrong side of 16 stone with size 12 feet. I fitted an adjustable length SW-Motech gear lever I just couldn't get adventure boots under the standard lever, although it's OK as standard in road boots. Also because of my height, I fitted bar risers & added spacers to push the top of the screen out deflecting the wind a little more. I also lowered the gearing 16 down to 15 tooth front sprocket for the narley stuff. As a bonus, it's better in the 60kms zones. It gains 300rpm @ 100kms/hr but doesn't seem to use more fuel. Great review looking forward to seeing how you get on with the new bike.

Nice video, I went for the Matte Cobalt blue XRT, 2019 in the Spring. Did some accessorizing to push it to XCA level. Love it. (My 1200 Scrambler XE, fills another need!!!) Great videos, Thanks..

Been riding the XRT for just over a year. 12 thousand Km in the Austrian Alps and Italian Dolomites. Can’t fault it really. I make multi camera videos of most of my trips and I have rented many other models around the world as part of that. The Tiger triple engine is the only one that doesn’t give me vibration problems with mounted cameras. Also has the best wind protection of any bike I’ve ridden. Can ride at any speed with visor open in a bubble of calm 😁👍

I have an 800XRT and love it! As for the ride you can adjust the suspension front and back so you can get a "plush" ride. Also it is a triple that sounds like one, unlike the 900 that sounds like a twin. The main thing for me is the linear power band and total absence of vibration through the 'bars. The 800XRT has lots of goodies, like cruise control etc which make it ideal for the road.

Just came across this video. Hopefully soon I will be in the market for an ADV MC. I really like the Tiger 800. Have a local dealer here southern California, USA. I have always wanted to know some differences between the XRT and XCA's. I found your video very informative. If I go in the Triumph Tiger 800 direction, it will be an XRT. Thank you very much! Cheers!!

Love my 2016 XRX ,its my main work bike, through city traffic,all year round,all weathers and its perfect for what I want it for. I have all the kit on it and its all used rather than for show. Its fast enough for anyone,comfortable enough for anyone. The gearing is spot on in all gears,clutch is light. Its the Swiss army knife of bikes. Triumph R&D riders are all 5'10" and must test their products on city roads.

Beautiful bikes!

94 hp. is more than adequate, particularly on the XCA.If it were shaft drive, it would be just about perfect.Excellent review comparing and contrasting these two excellent machines.Thank you.

I have a ex demo XRT and love it so comfortable and fun to ride especially on long trips.

Thank you for the video, comparing the two models side-by-side it's just what I was looking for. Thank you.

Nice review Tony, I love my 2014 xc, like you I prefer it to the rt, just feels a bit bigger and much better suspension, looking forward to the scrambler 1200 through, are you going to get a chance to review it ?

I have a 2016 XCA. It is exactly as you report it. My seat is on the lowest setting and the soft suspension hasn't been touched. It gives me enough compression that I'm almost flat footed. For interest when I was on a trip1 up with side panniers and a large backpack, full fuel plus me at 190 lb the total weight was 825 lbs. It handled all conditions impeccably except in the mountains in cross winds where it proved a little light.

As ever a well crafted video and very informative. Separate note, what is the adventure helmet you have on please? Is it a shoei you reviewed previously? Cheers

i have the xrx ,, ive had loads of bikes over the years inc R1s,, the xrx is the best all round bike ive had ,,, good video thanks

Great video looking to get an XRx, mainly as I am not a fan of Matt finishes, and will save a bit of cash over the XRt. This was very helpful👍

Would have been nice to compare how you sit on the bikes.

I do about 20-30% dirt do i go for the xca or the xrt since the xrt is suppose to be better for the road due to its cast wheels.

If the gearbox are perfect 90bhp are more then enough, even with luggage an pillion. My dl650 with only 68bhp life is great on tour fully loaded...only in takeovers l could need some more. Great review sir, l just love that xca and is on my considering list together with the new DL1000 and Africa Twin.

Great video

Great video! How would you compare them for on-road? If I would get one of them I would probably not ride it many times off-road but having the option would be cool. Unless the XC is noticeable worse on-road...

I’m looking to black out the 2019 800 XCX (like Norman Reedus did - for reference) - what is the fairing called with the letters on it - the sliver piece? Does it even have a name lol? I was hoping to buy an after market piece made of black plastic instead of just painting them.

MCave, informative video. I appreciate your comment that the XC is a little more plush on rough roads than the XR. I’m an older rider and I’m looking for more comfort and less jolts on the terrible California roads I ride. Would you say seating ergos are equally comfortable once riding?

Good review 👍 I was tipping towards the XCA anyway but this just cemented it for me 🙂 still undecided if I need the 1215 or if the 800 will be ample. I like doing long rides including overseas, do you know the main differences between the 2 engine sizes and what it really means in a real life scenario?

First time on this channel, and I liked the review. However, seat height in millimetres and inside leg measurement in inches - how do the two figures correlate? Is it just me? It's the same with fuel tank capacity in litres and fuel consumption in MPG - again no correlation.

I have the xca and it's like riding on a cloud I like the wider bars and that bike handles like a dream it just wants more in the corners I love it like I said

I tried both last year. I have an Explorer 1200 at the moment. I agree the XRT steers better. I also found more legroom. The XC has a higher seat but I think the pegs are higher too and I found my legs more cramped. They are both great bikes though. The problem is that I have just ordered a KTM 1290 SAS for about the same price as the XRT.

In 2015 I went XRX rather than XCx. I couldn’t justify the extra outlay for the XCx, mainly because the XR was truthfully as much as I needed, and I rarely go off proper roads, but the XR does handle tracks OK.

Do you think it is a problem to go off-road with the cast wheels? Is there a danger they will break?

Can the xca be considered a reliable long term bike?

triumph twin owner here. Like your style on this video. You covered many of the questions that I had between these bikes but also whether the Tiger is a great bike or not. If I was going to get an extra bike with a lot of money to play with...ha ha. I would get one of these and not sure which one...Cos I have delusions of doing more off road....Thanks again for a very good and informative vid.

Would you recomment this bike as a learners bike? I'm 6'2 and my girlfriend is 6'.

How well does it run on the motorway? cheers

I finally received 4 Motone black turn indicators. I installed them on my 2017 Triumph Street Cup with a Tec Bike Parts tail tidy. I was about to add shrink tubing over the connectors when I saw something glitter at the 6 pin rear lighting connector. Sure enough one of the tail light wires came out of the crimped pin. Can you help with the part numbers, mfg name of the connector and pins so I can repair the wiring loom I received from Tec Bike Parts. The Mfg name and part number of a crimp tool you would recommend. I know you make cable assemblies. This is frustrating to say the least. Motone did not have their new tail tidy available until just recently in the USA. I wish I would have waited and purchased it. The Tec tidy I had to buy new longer 6 mm bolts and spacers to have it fit correctly. I would just take the harness into work and crimp the new pin there, however I am a retired electronics engineer and I can not go back to my workplace due to security restrictions etc. . . . . Bill

How is the XCA or off road version nicer on the road than the XRT road version?

Are there any heat issues with the engine on your legs?

Nice review! Did you have a chance to do any riding at all on roads without tarmac? I know that this bike is the more road-oriented model but am curious as to its abilities to carry on when the roads turn from hard surface to dirt.

I'm deliberating between the the XR and the XC models here in India. I want to upgrade from my Street Twin 2016. I plan to ride in the country side and the hills of North East India and the Himalayas. I'm not looking to do hardcore off-road riding but am apprehensive about how much beating the alloy rims can take from bad roads here. What do you suggest?

Hi mate, really enjoyed the video. New subscriber. About to watch your video on XCA next as im deciding which one to get, im only about 5ft 9 so in the end that might make the decision for me!

Has the Street Twin gone Tony?

does the xrT have a quick shifter or option to get one?

@ManCaveMoto Do you want another license plate for the wall?

The “beak” on the xca is a deal breaker for me unless its easily removable.

Any 2019 street scrambler review coming?

Aren’t the wheels 17” on the XR not 19”?

I have 200hp sport bikes that I track and I prefer 80-125hp on the road. Its nice to dick measure with your 200hp for bike meets but most people will have more fun with a sub 150hp bike with a good suspension setup

A Tracer 900GT is $5,000 cheaper than an XRT and has 10 more bhp. Can't see it myself.

Did you trade the Street Twin?

the xc has tube type tire. when you get punture you'll get a huge job. and if at a middle of nowhere. tube less tyre on xr are much-much easier to fixed it.

Neither. How about the FTR 1200?

If you want a pure road bike, for commuting and some moderate sport-touring: xr. If you want a road bike that can properly handle more spirited riding: xc. The xr is quite low, and you will quickly get annoyed by scraping pegs. The xc has way more headroom ... but of course you will not be able to use pure road focussed tires. If anyone from triumph would read this, id say: give us a road focussed tiger that has equal height of the xc!