Triumph Tiger 800 XRt 2015 — Specifications

Imagine a machine that can’t decide between smooth asphalt and a rocky path, and ultimately doesn’t care. That’s the spirit of this 2015 Tiger 800 XRT. Triumph, with this model, clearly targeted the demanding globetrotter who wants to open his garage on a Saturday morning and leave without having to fit a single accessory. The entry price, around €12,500 at the time, positioned the machine as a serious competitor to the BMW F800GS and similar models, but with a different philosophy. Here, there’s no pretending; it’s an adventure touring bike, not a two-wheeled tractor.

The heart of the beast is this 799 cc three-cylinder engine delivering 95 horsepower at 9250 rpm. A mechanical unit that sings, vibrant and generous in the rev range, typical of the Hinckley signature. Some, accustomed to large twin-cylinder engines, may find a slight dip at low revs despite its 79.4 Nm of torque, but once in its range, it pulls away with a lightness that makes you forget its 220 kg fully fueled. The chassis, a classic tubular trellis, is surprisingly neutral and easy to handle. You find yourself maneuvering it with the lightness of a roadster, the 43 mm inverted Showa fork swallowing up the tarmac with seriousness. It is indeed this agility in all circumstances that comes up in all tests of the Triumph Tiger 800 XRT, whether it is from 2015, 2018 or 2020.

But the real argument for this XRT is its factory equipment. Triumph thought of everything for those who travel, sometimes two-up. The oversized 650W alternator, the three 12V sockets, the heated grips and seats, the integrated luggage supports, the GPS kit and the tire pressure monitoring system… it’s all there. Add a radiator grille, a machined brake master cylinder and handguards, and you get a motorcycle ready for the big departure, much more than a simple XRx dressed up. All that remains is to clip on the panniers, available as an option like many other accessories for the Triumph Tiger 800 XRT. For a test in real conditions, it is stunningly complete.

So, for whom? Clearly for the traveler who spends more time on the road than in his garage. The seat height of 810 mm is accessible, the 19-liter tank offers a good range, and the engine is as comfortable on the highway as it is on mountain passes. It doesn’t claim to be a true trail bike for extreme trails, but it eats up kilometers with remarkable comfort and assurance. Today, looking for a used Triumph Tiger 800 XRT, perhaps a 2018 or 2019 model, is an excellent idea to acquire a versatile and already equipped motorcycle, without the teething problems of the early versions. It is a reliable and charismatic road companion, which proves that adventure often begins… on the tarmac.