Words by Afzal Rawuther
The Triumph Tiger has been the go-to adventure motorcycle in India since the time it was launched. Its sheer ability trumped everything else and for years there wasn’t even a clear competitor to the Tiger 800. But things have begun to change. The recently launched BMW F 750 GS and the F 850 GS have been aggressively priced and match the Tiger XR and the Tiger XCx feature for feature. However, the 2018 Tigers are a force to reckon with and with over 200 changes made to the new Tigers, this segment has now become rather fiercely contested.
We have compared the road oriented Tiger 800 XRx and Tiger 800 XR with the F 750 GS and the off-road focussed Tiger 800 XCx with the F 850 GS spec for spec.
Read on to find out which manufacturer stands out.
Triumph Tiger 800 XCx vs BMW F 850 GS-
| Name of motorcycle | Triumph Tiger 800 XCx | BMW F 850 GS |
| Engine Type | 3-cylinder, liquid cooled | 2-cylinder, water cooled |
| Displacement | 800cc | 853cc |
| Transmission | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Max Power | 94 bhp @ 9,500 rpm | 93 bhp @ 8,250 rpm |
| Max Torque | 79 Nm @ 8,050 rpm | 92 Nm @ 6,250 rpm |
| Frame | Tubular steel trellis frame | Bridge-type frame, steel shell construction |
| Front suspension | WP 43 mm upside down forks | Telescopic Fork |
| Rear suspension | WP monoshock with remote oil reservoir | Cast Aluminium Dual Swing Arm |
| Front brakes | Two 305mm Discs with Twin piston calliper | Two 305mm Disc with Twin piston calliper |
| Rear brakes | 255mm disc with single piston calliper | 265mm disc with single piston calliper |
| Suspension travel(front) | 220mm | 204mm |
| Suspension travel(rear) | 215mm | 219mm |
| Front tyre | 90/90 R21 | 90/90 R21 |
| Rear tyre | 150/70 R17 | 150/70 R17 |
| L x W x H | 2305 x 922 x 1356mm | |
| Wheelbase | 1545mm | 1593mm |
| Saddle Height | 840mm | 860mm |
| Kerb Weight | — | 229kg |
| Price, ex showroom Delhi | Rs 13.76 lakh | Rs 13.7 lakh |
Triumph Tiger 800 XRx vs BMW F 750 GS vs Triumph Tiger 800 XR-
| Name of motorcycle | Triumph Tiger 800 XRx | BMW F 750 GS | Triumph Tiger 800 XR |
| Engine Type | 3-cylinder, liquid cooled | 2-cylinder, water cooled | 3-cylinder, liquid cooled |
| Displacement | 800cc | 853cc | 800cc |
| Transmission | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Max Power | 94 bhp @ 9,500rpm | 75bhp @ 7,500rpm | 94 bhp @ 9,500rpm |
| Max Torque | 79Nm @ 8,050rpm | 83Nm @ 6,000rpm | 79Nm @ 8,050rpm |
| Frame | Tubular steel trellis frame | Bridge-type frame, steel shell construction | Tubular steel trellis frame |
| Front suspension | WP 43 mm upside down forks | Telescopic fork | WP 43 mm upside down forks |
| Rear suspension | WP monoshock with remote oil reservoir | Cast Aluminium Dual Swing Arm | WP monoshock with remote oil reservoir |
| Front brakes | Two 305mm Discs with twin piston calliper | Two 305mm Discs with twin piston calliper | Two 305mm Discs with twin piston calliper |
| Rear brakes | 255mm disc with single piston calliper | 265mm disc with single piston calliper | 255mm disc with single piston calliper |
| Suspension travel(front) | 180mm | 151mm | 180mm |
| Suspension travel(rear) | 170mm | 177mm | 170mm |
| Front tyre | 100/90-R19 | 110/80 R19 | 100/90-R19 |
| Rear tyre | 150/70 R17 | 150/70 R17 | 150/70 R17 |
| L x W x H | 2255x922x1225mm | ||
| Wheelbase | 1530mm | 1559mm | 1530mm |
| Saddle Height | 830mm | 815mm | 810mm |
| Kerb Weight | — | 224kg | |
| Price, ex showroom Delhi | Rs 13.13 lakh | Rs 12.2 lakh | Rs. 11.76 lakh |