Triumph has revamped its entire Tiger adventure-bike lineup for 2018. Six variants of the Tiger 1200 (the “Explorer” moniker has been dropped) are available, including the top-of-the-line off-road-ready Tiger 1200 XCA tested here. (Photos by Kingdom Creative)
Intense competition in the popular adventure-bike category makes life difficult for manufacturers, but the rapid advancement of the breed makes life beautiful for riders. Soon after receiving news about the 12 new Triumph Tiger adventure bikes for 2018, we were invited to a two-day ride aboard the top-spec 1,215cc three-cylinder models?one day for pavement riding, the next for some off-road work. At the end of that all-too-brief first taste, we definitely came away impressed. Fresh styling, less weight, more power and new electronics keep the Triumph Tiger 1200 competitive in the big-bore ADV wars.
During our ride in the south of Spain we spent all of our time aboard the spoke-wheel XCA, and perhaps the biggest news is its claimed 22-pound weight reduction. Following rides and comparison tests with the prior-generation Tiger Explorer 1200, some staffers voiced concerns about its top-heavy feel. In 2016 I logged about 2,000 miles on an Explorer 1200 XRT, riding from Southern California to Oregon. So I can understand those misgivings; it?s definitely not a small or light bike but my 6-foot hefty-something physique allowed me to enjoy the bike thoroughly, without any serious concerns.
On the street, the powerf...