Triumph Motorcycles beefed up its Tiger 800 line ahead of MY2018 and carried the improved models -- including the Tiger 800 XCa -- directly over into the 2019 model year. The Tiger “XC” range represents the more off-road-oriented models within the Tiger family, and the “A” variant brings everything the marque has to offer in a mid-displacement adventure bike. Among the new features are a half-dozen riding modes and TFT-screen setups along with bright LED lighting to make it an all-LED ride, and that's on top of the top-shelf features the previous models already carried.

2018 - 2019 Triumph Tiger 800 XCa

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 - 2019 Triumph Tiger 800 XCa
  • Engine/Motor: inline-3
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Triumph Tiger 800 XCa Design

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The distinctive style of the Tiger 800 XCa is in full effect, and it starts out with its rather unique front end. A wide bird's-beak fairing extends over the front wheel with a close-fit fender complete with splashguard uprights to manage the front-wheel fling and keep the swept area of the forks clean and free from grit.

Dual LED headlights split the night from their recesses in the fender that's rail-thin in profile -- even with the new five-position adjustable windscreen perched on top -- and the lights come with LED DRLs for greater daytime visibility. Behind the glass, a five-inch color TFT display handles the entirety of the instrumentation with three new configurations to bring the total of the display choices up to six, so potentially, there's a setup for everyone regardless of taste. LED turn signals fore-and-aft and LED foglights finish out the illumination.

In addition to the windscreen and handguards, the XCa comes stock with heated handgrips and seats along with power outlets to run heated clothing for the truly hardcore winter riders and a USB port to power your mobile devices. The rider's triangle is typical for the genre with a fairly relaxed, upright riding position that has a wide range of adjustability. Not only does the saddle come with a 0.78-inch (20 mm) range of motion that lets you choose between a 33.07-inch and 33.85-inch seat height, but the handlebar position, as well as the clutch and brake levers, can be adjusted to accommodate a range of body types.

The flyline is also typical of the genre with a tall fuel-tank hump and precipitous drop to the saddle. It then rises up slightly along with the upswept subframe to a generous pillion pad that comes complete with a beefy set of J.C. handles and a luggage rack for some open-air cargo capacity.

The LED taillight rides tucked away beneath the rack with a mudguard-style plateholder to finish the gear in the rear. Around the engine compartment, a set of crash bars and an aluminum bash plate protects the lump from terrain strikes to give the XCa some real off-road capability.

Triumph Tiger 800 XCa Chassis

The main structure of the Tiger 800 XCa is a Trellis frame made of welded, tubular-steel members, as is the subframe. In a bid to keep the unsprung weight down, the factory opted to use aluminum for its yoke-style swingarm. Wire-laced rims round out the rolling chassis with a terrain-busting, 21-inch wheel up front opposite a 17-inch out back with Bridgestone's Battlewing hoops in a 90/90 and 150/70 that are meant to perform on the pavement as well as in soft/light terrain.

New for this generation are dual premium Brembo calipers up front that bite 305 mm discs with a 255 mm disc and single-piston Nissin anchor out back. Both ends benefit from switchable ABS.

In addition to the laced wheels that are preferred by off-road riders, the suspension is geared toward rough terrain with 8.66 inches of travel in the 43 mm, usd front forks and 8.46 inches of travel from the WP monoshock that tames the rear wheel. All in all, the chassis reveals the intended use of the XCa, and it definitely ain't just a conversation piece or the motorcycle version of a soccer mom's SUV, it's meant for serious commuter/tourer/globetrotting business.

Frame:

Tubular steel trellis frame

Swingarm:

Twin-sided, cast aluminum alloy

Front Suspension:

WP 1.69 in (43 mm) upside down forks, with adjustable rebound and compression damping, 8.66 in (220 mm) travel

Rear Suspension:

WP monoshock with remote oil reservoir, hydraulically adjustable preload, 8.46 in (215 mm) rear wheel travel

Rake:

23.4º

Trail:

3.68 in (93.5 mm)

Front Wheel:

Spoked, 21 x 2.15 in

Rear Wheel:

Spoked, 17 x 4.25 in

Front Tire:

90/90­-21

Rear Tire:

150/70 R17

Front Brakes:

Dual 305 mm floating discs, Brembo 2­piston sliding calipers, switchable ABS

Rear Brakes:

Single 255 mm disc, Nissin single piston sliding caliper, switchable ABS


Triumph Tiger 800 XCa Drivetrain

Among the new features on this next-gen Tiger 800 XCa is a new 800 cc powerplant. This mass-optimized triple is built to spool up even faster than its predecessor with a total of 95 ponies and 58 pounds o' grunt on tap that max out at 9,500 rpm and 8,050 rpm, respectively. Not only is the torque well a bit deeper to give it greater control at low speeds, the transmission has a shorter first gear making the XCa easier to manage coming out of the hole or doing technical work.

With this great power comes great control in the form of the Riding Modes feature that comes with a total of six power-delivery profiles, including the new “Off-Road Pro” mode that delivers superior traction on the brown.

The liquid-cooled inline-three runs four valves per bore with a dual over-head cam to actuate the poppets. Oversquare, the bores mike out at 74.05 mm with a 61.9 mm stroke and an 11.3-to-1 compression ratio that'll take nothing but the finest pump champagne, but is a necessary trade off for the power.

A traction control feature delivers another layer of safety, and it's switchable, 'cause let's face it, sometime you want to break that rear end loose, especially when you're off the civilized roads. In addition to safety and comfort electronics, security comes stock with an engine immobilizer feature to help keep your ride from growing legs.

Engine:

Liquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder

Displacement:

800 cc

Bore x Stroke:

2.92 in (74.05 mm) x 2.44 in (61.9 mm)

Compression:

11.3:1

Max Power EC:

95 hp (70 kW) @ 9,500 rpm

Max Torque EC:

58 lb-ft (79 Nm) @ 8,050 rpm

Fuel System:

Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection

Exhaust:

Stainless steel 3-into-1 header system, side mounted stainless steel muffler

Final Drive:

O-ring chain

Clutch:

Wet, multi-plate

Gearbox:

6-speed


Triumph Tiger 800 XCa Pricing

The 2019 Tiger 800 XCa rolls in Korosi Red, Crystal White, or Marine (my fave) for $16,200 across the board. This puts it at the apex of the Tiger 800 family in both features and price, and the factory offers a full line of accessories that'll let you pump the sticker up even more.

Instrument Display and Functions:

TFT multi-functional instrument pack with digital speedometer, trip computer, digital tachometer, gear position indicator, fuel gauge, service indicator, ambient temperature, clock, and six rider modes (Road/Off-Road/Off-Road Pro/Sport/Track/Rider Customizable)

Colors:

Korosi Red, Crystal White, Marine

Price:

$16,200


Triumph Tiger 800 XCa Competitors

The 800 cc plant in the Tiger puts it in a bit of a 'tween area betwixt the usual 650-ish and 1000-ish brackets. To find a good match for my head-to-head, I had to go to Europe's Boot for the Ducati-Multistrada 950 for something that was close enough.

As usual, it's hard to beat the sensual nature of Ducati's products, and the “950” rocks the almost feminine curves to which we've become accustomed from this Italian marque. It leads off with a blunted bird's-beak fairing with what I like to call an “angry-bird” look below a clear screen with stock handguards to complete the rider's protection. It more-or-less matches the Tiger, though Ducati gets points for integrating the front turn signals with the handguards.

The base model rolls on cast wheels, but if you like to have laced wheels for your off-road work, you can spring for the 950 S Spoked Wheels. Suspension travel measures in at 6.7 inches front and rear to fall a bit short of the performance of the Trumpet's stems, and the front wheel is only 19-inches in diameter against 21 inches from the Tiger so it, too, falls a bit shy in the off-road performance category.

Ducati powers its entry with a 937 cc Testastretta L-Twin engine that, naturally, has its signature Desmodromic valvetrain. The Desmodromic system trades the valve return springs for a pull-closed cam that delivers positive poppet closure and eliminates harmonic valve float so it can safely rev up with no danger of valve-to-piston contact.

Greater displacement translates into greater power, and the Multistrada puts out a claimed 113 horsepower and 71 pound-feet of torque against 95/58 for a slight edge. Ducati comes into its own in the electronics with Bosch cornering ABS, Power Modes, Riding Modes, Traction Control and Vehicle Hold Control. To compound the pain for the Brits, the base Multistrada 950 rolls for only $14,395, but you better like Ducati Red over black, 'cause that's the only color on the palette.

He Said

“The Tiger may fall a bit short in a few areas against the Eye-Tie, but it's still hard to beat British pragmatism. I don't know if it's the toned-down curves or what, but to mine eyes, the Tiger looks like a more serious machine. To be honest, I don't find either one to be particularly attractive visually, but ADV bikes are definitely a genre for which form always follows function.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “The tells are evident that this is a serious adventure bike. Keep in mind, to me adventure bike means off-road touring and not just on-road-oriented with a few off-road accessories available in the catalog. Spoke wheels, the 21-inch front wheel, hand guards, skid plate, engine guards, and ample suspension travel let you know this isn't a poser when you're talking about journeys without pavement. The Tiger 800 family has a lower first gear now, which is better for slow maneuvers in terrain, and a taller top gear. So yeah, I'm diggin' it.”

Triumph Tiger 800 XCa Specifications

Engine & Drivetrain:

Engine:

Liquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder

Displacement:

800 cc

Bore x Stroke:

2.92 in (74.05 mm) x 2.44 in (61.9 mm)

Compression:

11.3:1

Max Power EC:

95 hp (70 kW) @ 9,500 rpm

Max Torque EC:

58 lb-ft (79 Nm) @ 8,050 rpm

Fuel System:

Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection

Exhaust:

Stainless steel 3-into-1 header system, side mounted stainless steel muffler

Final Drive:

O-ring chain

Clutch:

Wet, multi-plate

Gearbox:

6-speed

Chassis:

Frame:

Tubular steel trellis frame

Swingarm:

Twin-sided, cast aluminum alloy

Front Suspension:

WP 1.69 in (43 mm) upside down forks, with adjustable rebound and compression damping, 8.66 in (220 mm) travel

Rear Suspension:

WP monoshock with remote oil reservoir, hydraulically adjustable preload, 8.46 in (215 mm) rear wheel travel

Rake:

23.4º

Trail:

3.68 in (93.5 mm)

Front Wheel:

Spoked, 21 x 2.15 in

Rear Wheel:

Spoked, 17 x 4.25 in

Front Tire:

90/90-21

Rear Tire:

150/70 R17

Front Brakes:

Dual 305 mm floating discs, Brembo 2-piston sliding calipers, switchable ABS

Rear Brakes:

Single 255 mm disc, Nissin single piston sliding caliper, switchable ABS

Dimensions & Capacities:

Width Handlebars:

31.69 in (805 mm)

Height Without Mirror:

54.72 in (1,390 mm)

Seat Height:

33.07 - 33.85 in (840 - 860 mm)

Wheelbase:

60.83 in (1,545 mm)

Dry Weight:

459 lbs (208 kg)

Tank Capacity:

5 Gal.

Top Speed:

130 mph (est)

Details:

Instrument Display and Functions:

TFT multi-functional instrument pack with digital speedometer, trip computer, digital tachometer, gear position indicator, fuel gauge, service indicator, ambient temperature, clock, and six rider modes (Road/Off-Road/Off-Road Pro/Sport/Track/Rider Customizable)

Colors:

Korosi Red, Crystal White, Marine

Price:

$16,200


Further Reading

Ducati Multistrada 950 / 950 S

See our review of the Ducati Multistrada 950 / 950 S.

Triumph Tiger 800 XCx

See our review of the Triumph Tiger 800 XCx.

Triumph Motorcycles

Read more Triumph news.