2018 Triumph Tiger 800: All you need to know

Ever since its global launch in 2010, the Triumph Tiger 800 has been one of the most fancied adventure-tourers on sale – it gave little reason to enthusiasts not to be. And this love for the Tiger spawns from its versatility and capability, on and off the road. Late last year, Triumph took the wraps off the updated 2018 Tiger and it promises to be better than ever. With the updated Tiger scheduled to be launched in India tomorrow, we highlight some of the important changes.

1.)    Engine and gearbox: Although the Tiger continues to use the same 800cc three-cylinder motor that has been derived from the Daytona, Triumph has made a lot of improvements to it. The specs too remain more or less unchanged – 94bhp at 9.500rpm and 79Nm at 8,000rpm. Thanks to the new, lighter crankshaft power delivery is expected to be smoother too. Triumph has also shortened the first gear, in this update. This essentially results in better poke lower in the rev range which essentially means improved off-road capabilities. The new exhaust is lighter and sounds better than the one fitted on the outgoing model. 

2.)    Features and equipment: The new Tiger 800 also comes with better equipped than before. Just like the Street Triple RS, the Tiger 800 too comes with a TFT colour screen for display – this screen is only available in the mid and top-spec variants though. It is a high-resolution auto contrast screen and its viewing angle can be adjusted as per the rider’s comfort.  

In terms of certain mechanical parts too, the 2018 Tiger 800 betters its predecessor. Just like before, the new Tiger will also be launched in different variants – the XR range is road-biased while the XC range is off-road focused. To ensure that the Tigers stay true to their nature, Triumph has fitted them with suspension to match as well. For instance, the road-focused XR range comes with Showa suspension up front as well as at the back. The XC, on the other hand, comes fitted with WP suspension at both ends. Suspension travel on the XR is also less in comparison to the XC range.     

3.)    Riding Modes: While the outgoing model used to come with four-riding modes, the new Tiger 800 comes with as many as six riding modes – depending on which variant you choose of course. Let me explain. The base XR trim only comes equipped with a Road mode, the mid-spec trim comes with four-riding modes. The XRt version gets five modes and the top-spec XCa trim gets six riding modes. The fully loaded XCa now comes with an off-road pro mode that allows you to either switch the ABS to the front wheel or switch it off completely. In this mode, you can also switch off the traction control. 

4.)    Design: While Triumph has gone all out in terms of mechanical updates and tech, they haven’t ignored aesthetics. While the overall shape of the Tiger may look identical to the outgoing model, look closely and you will notice the changes quite easily. The fuel tank is possibly the only part that remains untouched. The new Tiger 800 gets new headlights that now gets horizontal strips of LEDs. The windscreen too has been remoulded and it now is five-way adjustable. Lastly, there’s also the Tiger 800 decals on the tank. 

5.)    Expected Price: Considering the changes and developments, Triumph is sure to demand a premium for the new 2018 Tiger range. Currently, the base Tiger 800 XR starts at Rs 10.8 lakh while the top-end XCa variant costs Rs 14.37 lakh. All prices ex-showroom Delhi. Expect the new launches to demand a slight premium over the models it replaces. Triumph will launch the new Tiger 800 in India on 21st March. Stay tuned for more information and pictures.