Triumph Tiger 1200 XCA 2019 — Specifications

You wonder what remains adventurous in an XXL trail road bike loaded with electronics and displaying a price approaching €22,000? Get on this 2019 Triumph Tiger 1200 XCA, and the answer comes quickly: everything. Beneath its appearance of a large, sedentary machine, it hides the soul of a globetrotter capable of taking you to the ends of the world without ever hesitating. The secret lies in this 1215 cm3 three-cylinder engine, a mechanical component that sings like no other in this category. Its 141 horsepower is delivered with exemplary smoothness, and its 122 Nm of torque, present from low RPM, gives a feeling of quiet strength that inspires absolute confidence. We are far from the sometimes stressful brutality of a V-twin; here, power is an undercurrent, always available for serene overtaking or to tow its imposing bulk.

Yes, weight is the weak point of this beast, with a dry weight of 242 kg that, once the tanks are full, should be around 260 kg. On paper, that’s a lot. But once in motion, the magic happens. The steel trellis frame and the 48 mm semi-active WP fork absorb a large portion of this mass. The Tiger 1200 XCA leans with a disconcerting ease for a motorcycle of this size, and its shaft drive betrays no jerkiness during acceleration. It is a machine that swallows mountain curves with the seriousness of a sportbike, while retaining its trail fundamentals. The 835 mm seat height, combined with a wheelbase of 1520 mm, ensures an imposing presence on the road and straight-line stability worthy of a liner, even in strong winds.

On the equipment side, we are in the high-end category, justifying in part its price of €21,600. The semi-active WP electronic suspensions adapt in real time, the Brembo radial 4-piston brakes bite with precision, and ABS can be deactivated at the rear for light off-road use. The TFT dashboard is complete, and the riding modes allow you to radically transform the character of the motorcycle. For an opinion on the Triumph Tiger 1200 XCA, it's simple: it is designed for the demanding globetrotter who refuses to compromise on driving pleasure. Its reasonable consumption, around 5L/100km, and its 20-liter tank offer a good range for long raids.

The comparison is inevitable with its direct rivals, the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure and the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. The BMW opposes a more characteristic flat-twin engine and a denser dealer network, while KTM focuses on greater aggression and lightness. The choice of the Tiger 1200 XCA, especially used for 2018 or 2019 models, is justified by its unique three-cylinder engine, its superior refinement and its road handling of great serenity. It is the trail road bike of the gentleman adventurer, the one who prioritizes smooth travel and absolute comfort over pure performance. For those who plan to push the adventure further, the addition of crash bars for the Triumph Tiger 1200 XCA will be a wise precaution to protect this mechanical gem during more committed excursions.