Handling is always a priority with Triumph and on this evidence they’ve succeeded again. The road, 19inch-wheeled, lower, lighter 800, is inevitably the sharper, slightly easier of the two Tigers through the twisties – but not by much.
What’s most impressive is the handling quality given pretty basic components. Their set-up is such that, overall, on road, both are more than capable of mixing it with sports bikes and are a real blast to ride, while at the same time being decently stable, comfortable, distance machines, although I prefer the higher stature and more substantial size of the XC.
