Best Dual-Sport: Triumph Tiger 800XC - Ten Best Bikes 2011

This is as much a nod to the well-rounded capabilities of the newest middleweight adventure bike as it is to the company that produced it. Triumph has made a powerful push to expand its product range, all with an eye on staying true to the modern spirit of its brand. The Tiger 800XC exemplifies this, while also being a damn fine adventure bike. What it gives up in rock-bashing, descend-the-vertical-face off-road capability of last year’s winner, the KTM Adventure R, it makes up for with fantastic on-road (and fire-road) performance, while retaining the ability to torque up all but the most technical trails. The Tiger 800XC just makes you want to ride there. Wherever “there” may be.