By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
Triumph Tiger 800 XCx (MY2015) vs Suzuki V-Strom 1000 (DD)
Triumph Tiger 800 XCx vs Suzuki V-Strom 1000: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
Up through the gears, the Triumph Tiger 800 XCx's triple pulls eagerly and it's silky all the way to the top. The Suzuki V-Strom 1000 picks up clean and doesn't buzz.
So which one do you buy?
The Tiger 800 XCx has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
By a nose: Tiger 800 XCx
The Tiger 800 XCx nudges ahead once the miles pile up. Credit better wind protection and a smoother engine. Still, it's a narrow gap.
The V-Strom 1000 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: V-Strom 1000
Back-road fun leans slightly toward the V-Strom 1000. Thank better suspension for that. It's a narrow call, so trust your test ride.
Which one's the smarter buy
Even on value
At these used prices, neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Tiger 800 XCx
At seven on a workday morning, the Tiger's seat is the one you'll actually want to climb onto. There's no harsh edge anywhere in the inline-three's rev range, and it still hauls hard from low revs. Gravel ruts sink into the long-travel WP suspension. The spoked wheels keep tracking.
Nils rode the Tiger 800 XCx in Austria in 2015 (NastyNils Testride).
V-Strom 1000
Down a twisting mountain road, the V-Strom tips into each bend like a sport tourer. It invites a harder pace. Out of the bend, the throttle opens onto the V-twin's fat middle revs, and there's peak torque waiting at 4,000 rpm. The twin's got exactly enough for every apex.
Nils rode the V-Strom 1000 in 2014, and in Austria in 2015 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tiger 800 XCx has the lower wet weight: 487 lb (221 kg) vs 503 lb (228 kg).
- The V-Strom 1000 makes more peak power: 100 hp (74 kW) vs 94 hp (70 kW).
- The V-Strom 1000 makes more peak torque: 76 lb-ft (103 Nm) vs 58 lb-ft (79 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Wrong tool: V-Strom 1000
No first-bike verdict for the V-Strom 1000. It's a step up for later.
They come out level on commuting and running costs. The better-kept used example is the smarter money.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Tiger 800 XCx
Strengths
- Kit List Gets It Right
- Better Than Its Spec Sheet
- Strong and Smooth Together
- Carries Gear, Goes Far
- High build quality and reliability
Trade-offs
- Off-Road Looks, Road Character
- It Can Refuse to Start
- Rattle From the Rear End
- Coolant Clamps Can Seep
- Suspension undersprung for heavier riders
V-Strom 1000
Strengths
- Power That Fits The Bike
- V-Twin Punches Above Its Tier
- Genuinely Sporty In Corners
- Easy Step Into Adventure
- Agile handling with sophisticated suspension
Trade-offs
- Power Feels Modest By Comparison
- Wind Gets Through At Speed
- Switchgear Shows The Price
- Chain Wants Regular Care
- Hard, uncomfortable seat
What they cost used
These prices compare a 10-year-old Tiger 800 XCx with a 10-year-old V-Strom 1000.
- Tiger 800 XCx
- about $6,300
- V-Strom 1000
- about $6,700
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Rear tire
- 150/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Tiger 800 XCx | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) | 33.5 in (850 mm) |
| Wet weight | 487 lb (221 kg) | 503 lb (228 kg) |
| Tiger 800 XCx | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 799 cc | 1037 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | 90° V-twin |
| Power | 94 hp (70 kW) | 100 hp (74 kW) |
| Peak power at | 9,250 rpm | 8,000 rpm |
| Torque | 58 lb-ft (79 Nm) | 76 lb-ft (103 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 7,850 rpm | 4,000 rpm |
| Tiger 800 XCx | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 US gal (19 L) | 5.3 US gal (20 L) |
| Tiger 800 XCx | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 308 mm | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 90/90-21 | 110/80-19 |
| Wheelbase | 60.8 in (1545 mm) | 61.2 in (1555 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in (220 mm) | 6.5 in (165 mm) |
| Front travel | 8.7 in (220 mm) | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
| Rear travel | 8.5 in (215 mm) | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Tiger 800 XCx | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Cruise Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Adjustable Seat Height | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
