TR650 Terra vs Triumph Tiger 800XC

[fasteer]

A friend is selling a well set-up 800XC with 10-k km for $12K
Local husky dealer has brand new Terra for $7K
I know another couple grand will get bolted onto the Terra (skid plate, rad guards, bark busters, etc)
The XC has all that stuff already.
Reading about Terra lean FI issues on here... But a Tiger forum has many of the same threads!

Guess i should mention the riding: mostly day trips, mostly gravel, mild dirt roads, jeep trails some rough pavement. 500-km days?
Occasional two-up day rides. Not long tours due to work and family.

Whattaya think?

 

[Darman]

Hi, I'm a new Terra rider myself and did the same comparison with the XC. Most of the reviews I read/saw on youtube rated the XC very highly for general road use but not so good off particularly when compared to the BMW F800. Everything I read about the Terra suggested it was a good mix for both road & trail. I'm new to the dual sport scene and have found the Terra to be a great bike to learn the basics. Enough control to stop when I need and the torque to pull away or power up a steep slope. My riding is mostly road with a 30% mix of off road. Even after the extra's on the Terra you'll still have change from 12k. The longer term riders will have better advice

 

[Toyboy]

I do not like the Tiger for one big reason. The sub frame and main frame are one, welded. The passenger foot peg out riggers are welded to the sub frame. So, one big unit. Drop it and bend the out rigger for the foot pegs and your bike is totaled.......

Sounds like it might be a tad heavy for you needs. I am thinking you could have the terra set up and ready to rock for under 9 by a bit. Good luck deciding.

 

[krussell]

Is the 12k canadian? Motorcycle Consumer News has the 2012 800XC Priced at $9865. At $12k, your friends bike should have a TON of upgrades. They are often on Craigslist in that range. http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/mcy/4168894686.html is a 2013 with 1600 miles with goodies asking $11,250. The US bike sells for $12k brand new.

If you buy the used Triumph at a fair price, then ride it all summer, you can probably sell it for nearly what you bought it for.
If you buy the new Terra, farkle it, ride it all summer, you'll take a big hit if you find you don't like it.

The Tiger has an incredibly smooth road bike engine. It reviews well as a road bike, although the plain 800 seems to be preferred for that purpose. I demoed the XC recently, on pavement, and it's a really fun bike and the engine is incredibly smooth with a lot of power.

The Tiger has ABS, but MCN measured 60-0 stopping distance at 129 vs 122 for the Terra. The Tiger is about 1/2 sec faster 0-60.

They both get about 45mpg or so, although the Terra mileage varies widely among Terra riders. They both run lean, the Terra is an easy fix with a booster plug, wuka plug, etc. The Tiger has an extra 1.43 gallons of fuel. Range on the Terra is 160+, Tiger about 225.

The Tiger is an EXTRA 100 POUNDS. It carries it's weight very high. The Terra is 20% lighter, and feels much more lighter do to where the weight is. Put them side by side, the Tiger dwarfs the Terra. Ride them back to back in slow speed stuff, I can't emphasize enough how heavy the Tiger rides.

The Tiger is more complicated. If it's reliable, that's not a big deal other than greater maintenance cost.

Have you ridden either? It sounds like your going to be spending most of your time off road. The Terra will be much, much better there. On the road, it's the Triumph. Two up goes to the Triumph unless you both weigh 100lbs. If the two up is really occasional, I'd remove it from the equation completely. Rent an HD or a Wing for the occasional two up ride, you'll both be happier.

Disclaimer: I've put 6000 miles on a Strada, 4000 miles on a Terra, they are great bikes. I've put 50 miles on the 800XC across a couple of demos, I didn't look at the Triumph when I bought the Huskys. If I was planning to ride MOSTLY off road as you describe, I would but the Terra again.

 

[fasteer]

Is the 12k canadian?
Two up goes to the Triumph unless you both weigh 100lbs.

Yes, both prices are CAD.
I'm about 170#, wife is 110#, son is 60# but growing fast.
He likes to ride on the back more than his mom does.

 

[krussell]

Yes, both prices are CAD.
I'm about 170#, wife is 110#, son is 60# but growing fast.
He likes to ride on the back more than his mom does.

Hmm, so I'm 280#. I guess I've been riding two up all this time.

The Terra might work for your combination, It's just a question of fit.

 

[rww]

Simple really...... the Terra will go off the gravel roads in a fun way and stay on 2 wheels. If you push the Triumph it will too .....but you will have to pick it back up.......a lot....its a street bike with knobbies. The terra is a dirt capable street bike, the weight is low, the bike is easy to maneuver at low speeds, you can get a foot down when needed. It does street and dirt well which makes it unique in the motorcycle world.....by the way I off road a 96 KLX 650

M2C

 

[Coffee]

...Local husky dealer has brand new Terra for $7K...

Whattaya think?

I'm not terribly impressed with how well Canadian Husqvarna owners have been supported over the years. For instance you could ask that Canadian dealer if he has a MOSS tool and how well he knows how to use it. Many dealers have stated that MOSS no longer works so they sent it back, which as far as I know is false.

That said - I really like my TR650, but it is probably approaching 440lbs with the protective items on it, and a tank of fuel (maybe more), so probably not that much lighter than the Tiger (473lbs wet if I read the Triumph website correctly just now).

 

[krussell]

That said - I really like my TR650, but it is probably approaching 440lbs with the protective items on it, and a tank of fuel (maybe more), so probably not that much lighter than the Tiger (473lbs wet if I read the Triumph website correctly just now).

MCN measures the weight of the bikes they test. They show the weights as Terra, 405, 800XC 503. I trust them a bunch more than the spec sheet, but they could have made a mistake. The MCN weight is wet. The protective items need to be added to both bikes, so I think apples to apples it's 100 lbs, and the center of gravity on the 800xc has to be at least a few inches higher.

 

[mag00]

Hey, doesn't someone here have a well outfitted one for sale in washington oregon area? Calgary is not that bad of ride is it?

 

[Coffee]

MCN measures the weight of the bikes they test. They show the weights as Terra, 405, 800XC 503. I trust them a bunch more than the spec sheet, but they could have made a mistake. The MCN weight is wet. The protective items need to be added to both bikes, so I think apples to apples it's 100 lbs, and the center of gravity on the 800xc has to be at least a few inches higher.

Good to know, thanks!

Hey, doesn't someone here have a well outfitted one for sale in washington oregon area? Calgary is not that bad of ride is it?

Good point. I just checked and Calgary is about 800 miles from Bills in Salem OR...

 

[mag00]

Something the Tiger will never have or be. A Terra. Why does that matter? The Terra is an orphan. This could be a good thing or bad thing, I'm betting on good thing.

In all the history of motorcycles, the Husqvarna/BMW marriage is signified in the Terra. It is the best of both manufacturers, never to happen again.

 

[Ogre_fl]

A real world near 100# difference between the weights of bikes sounds realistic to me too.

If you are really going to be riding primarily off pavement, it’s the Terra hands down.
Had you not mentioned the 2 up riding I would have even suggested a KTM 690 given the Husky/Canada issues.

Given the 2 up riding and off pavement I can’t think of a better bike than the Terra.
I am heavy like krussle (the equivalent weight of an average 2 up load), the Terra handles that kind of weight really well.
I have even done a little 2 up with my 100# boys and its OK.

 

[mario33]

Had you not mentioned the 2 up riding I would have even suggested a KTM 690 given the Husky/Canada issues.

With all due respect, the only advice here is"" NO, dont listen to that advice ! 690 is one of the KTMs most prone to failures ever produced. Its completely unreliable... and any repair costs LOTS. If you travel to some distant places - DONT buy it. Thats of course my opionion (and some of the users forced to fly from distant places to pick up replacement fuel pumps). BTW, 690's seat is hardly bearable for one person. For two-up its a horror thing.

I would say if you need Tiger, you'd be better with Suzuki V-Strom (lower centre of gravity and equally good on pavement plus reliable and cheap to upkeep in case of trouble - which is unlikely). You may even check the new 1000 V-strom. Tiger is one sweet machine with regards to engine but fails with weigth and high centre of gravity.

Check F800GS by BMW if you want machine good on pavement, even two-up and still retain relitively good off-road capabilities.

Terra is best of them all (apart from KTM) off-road (although not perfect), good on pavements, riding two-up is a bit overstretching for her IMHO. I like my Terra for the purpose it serves best (commuting and two-trail offroading) but for longer travel, my previous F800GS was better.

 

[visegrip]

A friend is selling a well set-up 800XC with 10-k km for $12K
Local husky dealer has brand new Terra for $7K
I know another couple grand will get bolted onto the Terra (skid plate, rad guards, bark busters, etc)
The XC has all that stuff already.
Reading about Terra lean FI issues on here... But a Tiger forum has many of the same threads!

Guess i should mention the riding: mostly day trips, mostly gravel, mild dirt roads, jeep trails some rough pavement. 500-km days?
Occasional two-up day rides. Not long tours due to work and family.

Whattaya think?

Can you give me the name of the dealer in Calgary that has some of these elusive Terra's can't find any in Ontario except for some Strada's at $9000 a pop and that's not including tax. Its got me looking at the Yamaha wr250 as an option.Have ruled out the bmw because of cost.

 

[fasteer]

Can you give me the name of the dealer in Calgary that has some of these elusive Terra's ...

BowRidge Sports in Cochrane.
http://www.bowridgesports.com/index.htm
None show on the website but Bryan told me a couple days ago that they have one on the floor and two in crates.

 

[fasteer]

Mario33; I actually had a 650 V-Strom a couple years ago and didn't like it much.
Cast wheels and heavy front end.
Despite the marketing it seemed to me a pavement only bike.
I know some guys have taken them way off-road but a rough rutted jeep track was too much for a Strom with me on it.
The 690 was never on my list, too focused on off-road. I have the 511 for that.

Thanks for all the thoughts, you have convinced me to pass on the Tiger.
Now about that Ural Patrol................

 

[krussell]

Now about that Ural Patrol................

Well, by the book it's 705lbs, geared low, 65mph top speed. 25ish mpg, 125mi stock range, but 37 locations to strap on a 5 gal jerry can. Works in SNOW, which you might like. TWO wheel drive, perfect for those slow steep climbs. Urban legend is you can get all parts required to do any repair at 7-11. Your pillion will either love it or hate it. Takes up lots of garage space. I think they are awesome, especially with a big oi' dog ridin' hack with doggles on.

I'll take the camo Ural with Conan's beast in the last pic.