DIRT AND TRAIL APRIL 080PG AND COVER A4 CMYK

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The new Triumph 800XCX: R139 500. We raved about this bike when it was launched two months ago. Having owned the original XC for a few years, you might say that we were a little bit biased in our write-up – but this trip just reinforced what we said back then. When the boffins at Hinckley sat down to improve the 800, they drew up a short but crucial hit list – to make it more refined, better off road, more comfortable and with a longer range. For the first and second bits, they made the throttle ride by wire, with no mechanical cables in sight, and although early Triumph ride-by-wire throttles, such as that on the Tiger Explorer, were a mite sensitive and twitchy until you got used to them, this current version is a work of art, giving delicate control of power even at low speeds, which is just what you need when you forsake tarmac for the rough stuff. For the third, there’s a slightly better riding position, with the bars moved forward and up slightly for faster turning and more weight over the front wheel. The engine is more efficient thanks to new injectors and a bigger airbox, improving economy by 17% and giving a better range to get you between filling stations. We saw just on 300KM’s between each refuel – and consumption on all three bikes was very close. The Triumph also comes with traction control and ABS as standard, which along with a sump guard and engine protection bars adds 6kg to the 215kg of the previous version, but adds hugely to safety and confidence, particularly on the XCx version we rode, on which you can set the power modes for road, which stops the rear wheel sliding or locking under harsh acceleration or braking even in slippery conditions, off road, which allows it to slip a bit, or bespoke, which allows would-be Dakar Rally heroes to switch it off completely. In order to keep a very balanced view, our Kyle Lawrenson rode this one for the bulk of the trip. In fact we could not get the little sod off the thing… The raft of changes has made a great bike even better. Kyle points out the bits that really made an impression: He says: They have taken the previous model and made the new one “Hey Wow”. Riding position: Triumph has changed the bar position – it has made a big difference – particularly when standing on the gravel roads. Overall, the bike has that big bike feel – roomy and comfortable, perfect for lots of miles. The adjustable screen does a great job at keeping the bugs out of your teeth. Electronics: Very user friendly when you know how. Changing modes between off-road, On road and rider, ABS, etc is simple and it remembers your rider setting when you go back to that specific mode. The addition of mapping on this bike is a great feature – and you can feel a noticeable difference between modes. Cruise control is very cool – especially on the longer roads. The only criticism is that the control is on the right, which means that you have to let go of the throttle to set it. Most other bikes controls are on the right. Not a biggie, but at first it was strange. When Glenn came back from the launch, he raved about the new suspension. I tested it properly on this ride and can only agree – it is really, really good, especially in the gravel. I would have liked to set it up a bit, but we were too busy riding to fiddle. The ABS system works really well, changing it for gravel to off-road, it gives you more freedom to lock up the back wheel – and it is very subtle. Engine wise, although not a huge difference, the engine does feel more powerful and perky than our previous bike. Triumph still has that unique triple feel and sound that is amazing. Handling is beautiful. Bear in mind that my experience on tar is less than on dirt-bikes, so I was a bit more timid in the huge twisties through Mpumalanga – and I did not really want to have to explain to the good people at Triumph why I had fallen over. Needless to say, the Triumph made me a better rider – it is just such a pleasure– it never feels intimidating. Off the dirt and back on the road, the bike was a gem, since Triumph has very wisely kept all the bits that made the original 800 so good – the relatively light weight, the perfect balance and a fork rake angle which gives a perfect marriage of agility and stability. One black mark: Tube tyres. The only bike of the three without a tubeless rim. Bet that’s the next big feature for this model. Luckily it was the only bike of the three that did not get a puncture on this ride. But we did carry tyre spoons and tubes – which is quite bulky compared to a compact tubeless repair kit… checking the front brakes... 50 MAY 2015 1505 DT Givi tour.indd 50 2015/04/25 8:51 AM
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