Tiger Tales - Dialling in the 800XC for the dirt

[OhioPT]

Excellent bike review! We share very similar riding preferences.

Would you mind elaborating on your experience with the F800GS and comparisons to your 800XC?

[KildareMan]

Some mods I've made so far;

Handguard extensions - The 800s are not as good as the 1050s


Raising the touring screen




And a splash guard to combine with the Traxxion Shock Sock

[TallRob]

Originally Posted by av_mech

because i can!

GOOD ANSWER!

[Nevada]

Originally Posted by Guyver

Every man can do as he wants with his own toys; so I'm not criticizing....but, I'm trying to figure out why someone would want to spend 12 or 13 grand on a brand new high performance riding machine and then take it out to thrash it?

I mean, for 2500 bucks you could get something like this that's actually better for that job, and then you (or at least I wouldn't) mind if it got stuck, dropped, scratched, thrashed, or broken.

Well, aside from the obvious that if everybody decided to follow your path, that bike wouldn't be $2,500, and bikes would never get better, kinda like the cars in Cuba. Undoubtedly, for some folks that DP will work fine. For others, who are going to do hundreds of miles or more before they get to their off pavement playground, it ain't gonna do the trick. "Just toss it into the back of the truck," you say? So spend another 10-45k on a truck?

[Rob Dirt]

What do you plan to do about the air filter?

[av_mech]

Originally Posted by Rob Dirt

What do you plan to do about the air filter?

I've been wondering about this too. I do my air filter after every ride on my KLR and CRF. But I'm usually with people in dusty conditions. So far that hasn't happened on the Tiger. I haven't had the tank off to look yet, but any chance of a pre filter?

[av_mech]

Just fitted the bash plate from Triumph. Anybody else unimpressed? Coverage is good, but it's flimsy. Of course, so is the bracket it mounts to. Kinda wish there was some frame under there instead of just the oil pan to attach to. I guess I won't be able to bash this thing off rocks like I do my other bikes.

[dhula]

I got the SW-M sump guard cause I didn't like the lack of coverage the Triumph one had to the oil filter.
The SW-M one isn't a bad bit of kit but like the OEM one mounts using the same points so definatly not a grind and bash kinda plate.
Having said that I reckon it will suit my needs as I'm really only up for dirt roads and maybe easy 2wheeled tracks (well probably till the off road bug hits anyways)

[bretedge]

Really interesting build up and review thus far. I just picked up my 800 XC in Denver and rode it 650 miles home to Moab over tarmac and dirt roads. I've got TKC 80's on mine and I'm seriously impressed w/ the capabilities of this bike. I share your opinion that it's a little doughy on the low end. I had a hard time getting the back end to break loose in the dirt, but that may also be attributed to the TKC's, which grip really, really well.

You've given me some good ideas for my own bike. Definitely need to get a rear mud extender and do something about the rocks and mud that spray up from the front tire. Just ordered some neoprene fork seal covers for the front. Gotta figure out what to do about the rear shock. I'll be watching to see how your solution works out.

Thanks again for the great write-up. I'm definitely in!

[av_mech]

Anybody bypassed the clutch and kickstand safeties yet? Looks like a pretty simple case of splicing some wires. Just want to know if anybody found out the hard way it screwed up something in the computer. If I hit the starter button, I need it to work. Now. Not try to get the bike in neutral, clutch pulled in, kick stand up, while I'm hanging off the bike on single track and my dumb ass snubbed it. That's why I need my starter to work. I did these mods on all the other bikes and I can't even count the times it's saved my ass.

[av_mech]

Originally Posted by dhula

I got the SW-M sump guard cause I didn't like the lack of coverage the Triumph one had to the oil filter.
The SW-M one isn't a bad bit of kit but like the OEM one mounts using the same points so definatly not a grind and bash kinda plate.
Having said that I reckon it will suit my needs as I'm really only up for dirt roads and maybe easy 2wheeled tracks (well probably till the off road bug hits anyways)

The guys at Happy Trails were supposed to have had the prototype built and delivered to me for testing last week. They didn't cause they were building a ton of stuff to take to the vstrom rally. I had to have something. I've been doing a ton of riding off road and it's only a matter of time before I do something stupid. I'm going to make recommendations to the HT guys to improve on the Triumph one. It should be superior in every way when it hits the market.

[Rob Dirt]

I asked about bypassing the clutch safety switch & my dealer said it has multiple functions. He asked me to please not muck with it.

[av_mech]

Originally Posted by Rob Dirt

I asked about bypassing the clutch safety switch & my dealer said it has multiple functions. He asked me to please not muck with it.

I'm curious if he told you what those functions were. I think the dealer is required to say don't mess with anything on the bike so they can charge you 85 bucks an hour.

[Guyver]

Originally Posted by Nevada

"Just toss it into the back of the truck," you say? So spend another 10-45k on a truck?

Good point. Kinda wish I never asked now...getting hammered here a bit!! hahaha.

I say, it's Burren's bike.....ride it like you want and let it rip BR!! We only pass this way one time, ya know?!

Besides, I like your combo. Sweet tiger and a nice woods bike as well. Assuming the carb is jetted of course...:]

[Deano955]

Originally Posted by Burren Rider

Great photo

What is happening with yours? Hope it is something they can fix without too much of a delay?

That motor certainly is a thing of beauty. Seems to be content crawling up rocky hills, purring along the highway or doing big skids on dirt roads. Hard to ask for more than that.

Edit: Just read your thread, nothing worse than getting something back worse than when you dropped it off. Hope they get it sorted soon.

Mine is still in the shop. Don't know what is wrong or when I might get it back. Piss poor luck with motorcycles this year. Lots of $$$ spent vs. ....

I'm enjoying your thread, pictures and comments. Best wishes with your new Tigger! I know, precisely, your motives and limitations (I've got a family same as yours- but a tad older) with the new ride. I'm on the same boat, half the world away from you... I bought my new XC with dreams of riding it to places I've not been before, seeing sights I've not seen before, all while just hours from home. I never thought I'd be enviously reading someone else's thread about kitting out their new black XC with envious eyes. Oh well, you roll the dice.

I'll keep reading. Cheers!
:freak