Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer XCa 2016 — Specifications

Can a motorcycle weighing close to 260 kilos and boasting generous power fade into the background on small trails? With the Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer XCa, that was the challenge British engineers set out to meet. It must be said that facing the BMW GS models or the Ducati Multistrada, a significant argument was needed, and this triple provides several. Beneath the 20-liter tank, the 1215 cm3 engine delivers a quiet force of 139 horsepower, but it is above all its torque of 123 Nm, available early, that makes the difference. It pulls with the suppleness of a locomotive, making the riding surprisingly easy despite a dry weight of 258 kg. Far from the nervousness of a V-Twin or the roughness of a boxer, everything here is fluid, almost muted, right down to the shaft drive which seals this impression of robust, hassle-free reliability.

The magic mainly works thanks to the electronic arsenal it is equipped with. The 2016 Explorer XCa is not just a large engine in a trellis frame, it is a driving management hub. ABS, traction control, semi-active suspension, everything is adjustable and designed to adapt the behavior of the beast to the terrain. We go from road mode, where the 48 mm inverted fork and the mono-shock are discreet, to off-road mode where they release their travel to swallow obstacles. The braking system, signed Brembo at the front, is up to the task, offering power and a feeling of control that reassures when speed accumulates.

So, who rides this Triumph? Clearly for the great traveler who wants to make no concessions. The one who sets off for a continental crossing with tarmac, gravel, and perhaps even a track, without ever wanting to change mounts. The seat height of 837 mm may be intimidating, but once in the saddle, the low center of gravity and the overall balance dispel the apprehension. It devours the kilometers with the ease of an ocean liner, isolating its rider from the vicissitudes of the road, where a lighter competitor might prove more demanding.

Its price, around 20,000 euros at the time, placed it in direct competition with the high-end versions of the GS Adventure. Its advantage? A distinct personality, more road-focused and refined in its mechanical operation than the German boxer, without sacrificing versatility. The choice then becomes a matter of sensitivity: do you prefer the character and the deep sound of the British triple, or the off-road heritage and low-end torque of the twin cylinder? The Tiger 1200 Explorer XCa leaves no one indifferent, it seduces with its comprehensiveness and typically British composure, a machine designed to go far, very far, without ever raising its voice.