Spec Comparison: Ducati Multistrada 950 vs Triumph Tiger 800 XR vs Honda Africa Twin

The premium adventure touring segment, particularly the sub-1000cc category is gaining popularity in the Indian market. The bikes in this segment are not only well-equipped but also less intimidating. After Honda launched the Africa Twin, Ducati is all set to jump into this bandwagon with its latest affordable premium adventure tourer, the Multistrada 950. Read on to find out where it stands against the current crop of adventure bikes in the segment. Also read: Ducati Multistrada 950: Top 5 Facts

Engine and Performance:

The Multistrada 950 is powered by a 937cc Testastretta L-twin, liquid-cooled engine. The powerplant is sourced from Ducati Hypermotard with revised cylinder heads. While power output remains the same at 113PS at 9000rpm, peak torque has gone up by 1Nm and now stands at 96.2Nm at 7750rpm. A 6-speed, slip-assisted gearbox transfers power to the rear wheel via a chain drive.

The Triumph Tiger 800 XR uses an 800cc, inline 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine which belts out 95PS of power at 9250rpm and 97Nm of torque at 7850rpm. This three-pot engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission and also comes with ride-by-wire throttle.

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Coming to the Africa Twin, this Honda is powered by a 999.11cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor tuned for the Indian market to produce 88.3PS of power at 7500rpm and 91.9Nm of torque at 6000rpm (both at the crankshaft). When it comes to pure numbers, the Multistrada 950 trumps its competitors. But there’s more to a bike than just power and torque figures, don’t you agree?

Features:

The Multistrada 950 comes with a plethora of safety features like Ducati Traction Control (DTC), four riding modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, Enduro) and switchable ABS. The DTC comes with 8 levels of intervention while the three stage ABS offers optimum control. The DTC is also linked with the riding modes and can be switched off completely, if required. The Tiger 800 XR is equipped with switchable traction control and dual channel ABS. Riding modes have been given a miss to keep the costs low. However, it does get cruise control to make long distance rides easy on the wrist. Apart from this, the bike also comes with adjustable levers, 12V power socket and an immobiliser. 

The most talked-about feature of the Africa Twin is the 6-speed DCT gearbox. It offers both manual and automatic modes. In the latter, there are ‘Neutral’, ‘Drive’ and ‘Sport’ modes. Furthermore, the sport mode can be fine-tuned to three different levels to suit rider’s preference. For shifting manually, all you need to do is press the corresponding button on the left handlebar. It’s as easy as that! Additionally, the Africa Twin also comes with a three-stage Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system and switchable dual-channel ABS. There’s also a ‘G’ switch for expert riders which calibrates the throttle operation and is ideal for off-roading. The DCT ensures better rideability, especially in urban conditions where the rider need not bother about shifting gears and can just concentrate on the pleasure of riding. 

Cycle Parts:

The Ducati Multistrada 950 is built on a trellis frame made of tubular steel and the bike uses top-notch cycle parts for optimum performance and handling. The 19-inch front wheel is suspended by 48mm fully-adjustable KYB inverted forks with 170mm wheel travel and the 17-inch rear wheel uses a Sachs monoshock with remote spring preload adjustment which offers the same amount of wheel travel as the front wheel does. The wheels are wrapped with Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tyres and braking duties are taken care by dual 320mm Brembo discs up front and a single 265mm disc at the rear. 

The Triumph Tiger 800 XR also uses a tubular steel trellis frame and the swingarm is a twin-sided aluminium unit. The bike comes with 43mm Showa inverted forks at the front which offers 180mm of travel. At the rear, you get a Showa monoshock with hydraulically-adjustable preload that offers 170mm of wheel travel. The 19-inch front wheel and the 17-inch rear wheel are anchored by twin 308mm discs with Nissin callipers and a single 255mm disc with Nissin calliper, respectively.

A split double cradle frame does duty on the Honda Africa Twin. The front uses an adjustable 45mm Showa inverted forks with a massive 228.6mm of wheel travel, while the rear employs a pro-link monoshock with remote preload adjuster. The rear wheel travel stands at 220.9mm. The Africa Twin uses dual 310mm wave-type discs with Nissin callipers at the front and a single 256mm disc at the rear. The bike rides on 21-inch spoke wheels at front and 18-inch spoke wheels does duty at rear. Talking about weight, the Triumph Tiger XR is the lightest at 188kg (dry weight) followed by the Ducati Multistrada 950 at 206kg (dry weight) while the Honda Africa Twin is the heftiest at 245kg (kerb weight). 

Pricing And Practicality:

The Multistrada 950 is expected to be priced at Rs 11 lakh when launched. The Triumph Tiger 800 XR retails at Rs 10.6 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi while the Honda Africa Twin is more expensive at Rs 12.9 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. Each motorcycle has its own character. While the Multistrada 950 and Triumph Tiger 800 XR are more road-focussed, the Honda Africa Twin is capable of taming harsher terrains thanks to its generous 250mm ground clearance and spoke wheels. When it comes to seat height, the Triumph Tiger 800 has a standard seat height of 810mm (reduced to 790mm with optional seats) is the most accessible bike for vertically-challenged riders. The Africa Twin’s adjustable seat height ranges from 820mm to 840mm while the Multistrada 950’s seat height is the tallest at 840mm (820mm with optional adjustable seats).