Great comparison report. I am glad you are pleased with the XC. I certainly am well pleased with mine - and I have done some serious off roading. with it.
BMW F800GS vs. Triumph Tiger 800XC
- Thread starter DirtRider
- Start date
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great report nothing better than an actual owners review in my mind 
rudedogg13
Member
Looks like I bought the right bike! Gotta love the Tiger.
That makes two of us and I tried them both.
I have experienced that mistaken identity, too. But usually the person who made the mistake becomes more interested when I point out that it is Triumph.
Triumph is definitely getting more exposure and name recognition.
When I was shopping my criteria was more room for wife and I as it was a bit cramped on the Kaw Versys. And a little more capable offroad although I was primarily looking for on-road performance. Thought I was going to buy the roadie version. Once I was assured the XC would perform on road, and with plusher suspension, that decision became clear.
One look at the F800 seat and it was scratched off the list. Plus too many horror stories of problems with that motor and broken shock mounts and on and on and on. And EVERYTHING at the BMW store is stupid-expensive; I've always cringed everytime I walk into my local dealer.
One of the first things I did was mod the pillion seat, took off that stupid gray cover, dished out the foam, left the front high to improve the slope, added an inch of foam on top, and made a new cover. Next a backpad for the topbox (seahorse SE720). Wifey loves it. And she's a big girl, we are about 350lbs together, the bike handles just fine. Pic below.
We tried R1200GS together. It was great on the freeway, but everywhere else, well, the best description I heard was 'agricultural'. The motor is a tractor and shifting was clunky. Parking lot handling is best described as HEAVY.
I rode S10, not two-up, but liked it better than the GS. But still too heavy, and almost boring. Quality was there though, and the driveshaft a plus. For less money the Tiger was all it was and more, so that was also a no-brainer. Were it not for the Tiger I would probably be riding a Tenere, or a 990.
Ducati Multistrada was fun to look at, but cost to buy and maintain was highly questionable, and another bike with a 17" front didn't make sense for me. I wanted a true adventure bike, something more capable in all types of terrain, on and off pavement.
KTM 990 looked really good. But I'm a KTM fan from way back and they are just fussy and expensive to maintain. I did not like all that plastic shrouding to remove before you could do anything. And way too many complaints about EFI modulating, I understand the throttle is like a light-switch, either on or off. I thought serious about a new one, but decided the Tiger was so much better on road.
MotoGuzzi Stelvio. Really nice bike, lot of bang for the buck. But also too heavy and the brand is just too obscure. Break down in the boonies on that one and you can write to Italy for parts. Nawwwww.
I didn't even consider the F800 for more than a glance. Triumph did a MUCH better job at their execution of the design. And the motor is just pure delight. Makes you giddy when you twist the throttle. :rock:
Our passenger setup:
One look at the F800 seat and it was scratched off the list. Plus too many horror stories of problems with that motor and broken shock mounts and on and on and on. And EVERYTHING at the BMW store is stupid-expensive; I've always cringed everytime I walk into my local dealer.
One of the first things I did was mod the pillion seat, took off that stupid gray cover, dished out the foam, left the front high to improve the slope, added an inch of foam on top, and made a new cover. Next a backpad for the topbox (seahorse SE720). Wifey loves it. And she's a big girl, we are about 350lbs together, the bike handles just fine. Pic below.
We tried R1200GS together. It was great on the freeway, but everywhere else, well, the best description I heard was 'agricultural'. The motor is a tractor and shifting was clunky. Parking lot handling is best described as HEAVY.
I rode S10, not two-up, but liked it better than the GS. But still too heavy, and almost boring. Quality was there though, and the driveshaft a plus. For less money the Tiger was all it was and more, so that was also a no-brainer. Were it not for the Tiger I would probably be riding a Tenere, or a 990.
Ducati Multistrada was fun to look at, but cost to buy and maintain was highly questionable, and another bike with a 17" front didn't make sense for me. I wanted a true adventure bike, something more capable in all types of terrain, on and off pavement.
KTM 990 looked really good. But I'm a KTM fan from way back and they are just fussy and expensive to maintain. I did not like all that plastic shrouding to remove before you could do anything. And way too many complaints about EFI modulating, I understand the throttle is like a light-switch, either on or off. I thought serious about a new one, but decided the Tiger was so much better on road.
MotoGuzzi Stelvio. Really nice bike, lot of bang for the buck. But also too heavy and the brand is just too obscure. Break down in the boonies on that one and you can write to Italy for parts. Nawwwww.
I didn't even consider the F800 for more than a glance. Triumph did a MUCH better job at their execution of the design. And the motor is just pure delight. Makes you giddy when you twist the throttle. :rock:
Our passenger setup:
I really like your backrest. I am going to mod the pillion seat on my XC. It slopes too much for SWMBO. She gets tired from fighting the tendency to slide forward. But she likes sitting high.
I am going to mod the pillion seat on my XC. It slopes too much for SWMBO. She gets tired from fighting the tendency to slide forward. But she likes sitting high.Thanks. It's pretty simple - a block of cabinet plywood covered with foam and vinyl seat material, and mounted with a piece of aluminum L channel. Quick and dirty...just how I like it.
And yes, the slope puts the passenger sliding into the pilot. I was curious about the factory gel seat, but $200(?) seemed ridiculous for that little seat. I've modded enough seats to know what it needed and what to use.
The pilot seat on the otherhand, is wonderful. Best stock seat I've ever had the pleasure of riding on. It even beats the GS1200.
And yes, the slope puts the passenger sliding into the pilot. I was curious about the factory gel seat, but $200(?) seemed ridiculous for that little seat. I've modded enough seats to know what it needed and what to use.
The pilot seat on the otherhand, is wonderful. Best stock seat I've ever had the pleasure of riding on. It even beats the GS1200.
I agree. I am will satisfied with the stock pilot seat.
I run my pilot seat in the low position but would much prefer it in the high for leg room. I could manage it with an empty bike, but loaded or 2-up I worry I can't get enough leverage to hold the bike up. Removing the peg rubbers helped...those got tossed the day the bike came home.
I have mine in the low position for th very same reason.
Very nice seat mod
