When the Triumph Tiger 800 joined our fleet in 2024, we wanted to talk about this English brand, not very well known in Costa Rica, with more than 140 years of history.
Key points
- Triumph was born in Coventry, England, where Siegfried Bettmann imported sewing machines and sold bicycles; its first motorcycle dates from 1902.
- Thanks to Johnson Motors, the brand sold more motorcycles in the U.S. than anywhere else, setting speed records at Bonneville in the 1960s.
- Facing Japanese competition, Triumph survived thanks to the Meriden workers, before being bought by Triumph Motorcycles Ltd and built in Hinckley.
- The Tiger 800, built from 2010 to 2021, is an 800cc three-cylinder adventure bike, at ease on the highway as well as on mud and gravel roads.
- The Tiger 800 joined our fleet in 2024; it is no longer one of our rental bikes today.
When the Triumph Tiger 800 joined our fleet in 2024, we thought it was a good time to talk about this brand of motorcycles. (The Tiger 800 is no longer one of our rental bikes today.) In Costa Rica, these English motorcycles are not very well known. But this hasn't stopped Triumph from bringing out models of motorcycles that are so well suited to the roads of Central America.
Triumph has more than 140 years of history. They are not some newcomers to the market trying to carve out a niche. They cater to a niche that is looking for a certain type of off-road motorcycle that combines style and performance.
Let's take a look at the history of this company and the Tiger 800!
The history of Triumph motorcycles
The first years
The year was 1884 and Siegfried Bettmann was living in the town of Coventry, England. His business was importing sewing machines and selling bicycles.
With money invested by John Dunlop, Bettmann decided to change the name of the company from Bettmann to New Triumph Co, later marketed simply as Triumph. Later, Mauritz Schulte, a German engineer, convinced Bettmann to manufacture his own products instead of importing them. All this happened in 1887.
It was not until 1902 that Triumph brought out its first motorcycle. They could have done so as early as 1895, but the laws regulating motorized vehicles in England were strict. This made this type of transportation unattractive to the general market.
The Great War and the Great Depression
During the First World War, they sold more than 30,000 motorcycles to the Allied armies. This was good business, considering that the company had connections with the enemy of the time, Germany. In addition, they had a branch office in Germany.
Triumph was not spared by the 1929 stock market crash and was forced to sell the German branch. Then, in 1936, the company was split in two: the automobile business and the motorcycle business.
In 1946, racer Ernie Lyons won the Manx Grand Prix on a Triumph Tiger 100.
Success in the United States
Thanks to Johnson Motors, a company based in the United States, the distribution of Triumph motorcycles was simplified. Triumph began to sell more motorcycles in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world, including the United Kingdom.
The creation of a model for the North American market, the TR6 Trophy, established the brand among racing enthusiasts. Sales success continued throughout the 1960s, as Triumph motorcycles set speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats near Salt Lake City.
Add to this the victories of Triumph motorcycles on race circuits such as the Thruxton 500 and the Daytona 200.
The 70s and Japanese competition
Due to the incursion of Japanese motorcycles into world markets, it was difficult for BSA, the company that had bought Triumph during the 1950s, to stay afloat. The British government came up with a plan to merge Triumph with Norton Villiers in exchange for state funding.
The plan did not work out: while Norton Villiers ended up going bankrupt, Triumph stayed alive thanks to the workers of the factory in Meriden. They bought the brand and continued to produce the classic models until 1988. That year, the brand was acquired by Triumph Motorcycles Ltd and manufacturing moved to the English town of Hinckley.
Modern times
The official reintroduction of Triumph motorcycles in the United States happened in 1994, thanks to the founding of an American subsidiary. Since then, Triumph has been launching new and improved versions of its classic models, such as the Daytona, the Bonneville, the Tiger and the Rocket.
In 2010, they introduced the new Thunderbird model, a direct challenge to big bike manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Honda, Victory and Kawasaki.
The Triumph Tiger 800
Introduced in 2010, the Tiger 800 stayed in production until 2021, when it was replaced by the Tiger 900. During those 11 years, the Tiger won praise from owners and outsiders alike.
These are the specifications of the motorcycle.
- Displacement: 800cc
- Engine type: liquid-cooled, 12 valves, in-line triple
- Frame type: tubular steel trellis
- Seat height: 810 mm
- Bike weight: 208 kg
- Fuel capacity: 19 liters
- Front suspension: Showa 43 mm forks, rebound and compression adjustable
- Rear suspension: Showa single rear shock, adjustable for preload and rebound
- Front brake: 2 x 305 mm discs with Brembo four-piston radial caliper
- Rear brake: single 255 mm disc with single-piston caliper
- Front tire: 100/90 x 19
- Rear tire: 150/70 x 17
Details about the Tiger 800
It is a dual-purpose motorcycle, ready for high-speed highway riding and, at the same time, with the power to handle mud and gravel roads. Some sub-models feature an adjustable windshield to reduce wind resistance when riding at high speed.
Described by many as an adventure motorcycle, it allows for extra cases on the sides and rear to carry luggage of all kinds. It accommodates the extra weight very well, without overdoing it of course.
But as a daily city bike, it may fall a bit short because it is not that maneuverable. The front tire is thinner than the rear, and both can be switched between radial and off-road tires. The seat may be a bit high for people slightly shorter than average.
It is not a motorcycle for making deliveries or weaving between cars. It is an off-road motorcycle with paved-road and high-speed capabilities. It needs its personal space. Like any English vehicle, parts can be expensive. However, many parts, especially accessories, can be replaced with parts from other brands.
The Triumph Tiger 800 joined the Pura Vida Motorbike fleet in 2024 because we want to take you on a unique adventure, with the best bikes to get to know Central America. It is no longer one of our rental bikes today.
The bikes we rent today are on our rental page. Our rental motorcycles
And to get to know Central America with us, take a look at our tours. Our tours
Disclaimer
A human wrote this article. We aim to help our readers using our experience or trustworthy third parties.
Source on the history of the brand. History of Triumph, Motorcycle.com
Source on the Tiger 800 XC. Tiger 800 XC review, Motorcycle News
A video review of the Tiger 800, in Spanish. The video on YouTube
