Triumph Tiger Explorer XCx 2016 — Specifications

Imagine a workhorse that has swallowed a sports bike engine. That's what Triumph achieved with the 2016 Tiger Explorer XCx, a machine clearly aiming for the top of the large trail bike class, facing off against BMW R 1200 GS Adventure and other KTM 1290 Super Adventure models. Under the hood, the inline three-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1215 cm3 isn't just for show: it delivers 139 horsepower at 9300 rpm and, above all, a torque of 123 Nm available from mid-range. It's this suppleness that defines its charm, allowing you to pull this 253-kilo dry behemoth with disconcerting ease, whether on the highway or on a rocky path.

The chassis lives up to this generous engine output. The trellis frame and the 48 mm inverted WP forks, both assisted by electronic damping adjustment, offer remarkable versatility. You switch from "Road" mode to swallow up the tarmac to "Off-Road" mode to relieve the suspension with a simple click on the handlebar. The braking system, entrusted to Brembo radial monoblock calipers with four pistons at the front, is of exemplary power and feel. The main drawback is its weight. When stationary or in slow maneuvers, the 837 mm seat height and the mass are keenly felt. It's not a motorcycle for a beginner or a slight build, that's an obvious fact.

Where the Triumph stands out is with its drive shaft. A shaft drive on a trail bike of this size is the promise of simplified maintenance and increased reliability for long-distance travelers, even if it slightly adds weight to the mechanics and modifies the sensations during acceleration compared to a chain. With its 20-liter tank and a consumption of around 5L/100 km, the range is there for long getaways. But at nearly 18,000 euros new, it directly competed with the German and Austrian references, requiring a well-stocked wallet.

Who is it for, then? For the demanding globetrotter who travels thousands of kilometers on all surfaces and who places comfort, engine suppleness, and technology above pure aggression. It's an adventure touring motorcycle, more civilized and more road-oriented than a KTM 1290, but which retains a real off-asphalt capability thanks to its spoked rims and trail-type tires. It doesn't cut corners, it asserts its size, but it transports you, and your luggage, with an assurance and mechanical refinement that makes you forget many flaws. A very accomplished British compromise, for those who master its stature.