Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer 2023 — Specifications

Can a trail bike weighing close to 255 kilos fully fueled still claim the title of ultimate travel machine? That’s the question many globetrotters ask themselves before signing the check for a Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer. Triumph answers with this 2023 version, which marks a radical shift from the previous XR models. Here, we clearly have to do with an animal reworked to lose weight and gain precision. The weight, indeed, is a hot topic: with 25 kilos less than the previous generation, the beast remains imposing, but it feels lighter once in motion, notably thanks to its new frame and redesigned swingarm.

Under the 30-liter tank – a veritable cistern that promises 600 kilometers of range – ticks a detuned triple producing 150 horsepower. Don’t be fooled, "detuned" is not synonymous with soft: the 130 Nm of torque at 7000 rpm stick you to the seat, and the power is there, linear and frank. It's less brutal than a large twin at low RPM, but more civilized and incredibly supple for swallowing tarmac. Facing a BMW R 1250 GS Adventure or a Ducati Multistrada V4, the Tiger plays the card of finesse and versatility rather than excess. The Brembo Stylema brakes, standard equipment, are up to the task of stopping the mass, with a bite and feel that inspire confidence.

The real selling point of this GT Explorer is its standard equipment, which borders on the indecent. You go from a well-equipped motorcycle to an over-equipped flagship. In addition to the GT Pro pack (semi-active Showa suspension, cruise control, heated grips, quickshifter, etc.), you inherit blind spot radar, heated seats, tire pressure monitoring, and crash bars. Only the luggage is missing, but at this price level – count around €22,795 for a new model – it’s almost a formality. For those hunting for a used bike, a Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer 2022 or even an older XRT can represent a good deal, but you will lose the latest software updates and perhaps that famous blind spot detector.

On the saddle, the 850 mm seat height can be impressive, but the active 20 mm lowering function facilitates stops. Once underway, this Tiger swallows curves with the stability of a liner, the semi-active suspension masterfully erasing road imperfections. It is clearly a machine designed for the rider who sees the road as a starting point, not as an end in itself. It targets the demanding globetrotter, the one for whom kilometers are not a constraint but a reason to leave, and who accepts the compromise of a considerable weight against a very high level of comfort and technology. The Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer is not the lightest, nor the cheapest, but it asserts its rank with technical arguments and equipment that make the bill, however salty it may be, almost justified.