MOTORCYCLING

Triumph Tiger Explorer XCA

TESTED1,215cc four-stroke triple, six-speed gearboxPRICE/ON SALE£15,800/AprilPOWER/TORQUE137bhp @ 9,300rpm/91lb ft @ 6,200rpmTOP SPEED130mph (estimated)VERDICTThoughtfully updated adventure bike that offers enhanced comfort and versatility

THE FACTS

A roaring success for Triumph Tiger Explorer earns its stripes back at the head of the pack

Versatile: on or off the road, Triumph has an Explorer for all terrains

T he arrival of Triumph’s updated Tiger Explorer is timely. It’s four years since this

machine put the British marque on the map as a maker of large-capacity adventure bikes. But since then the tall triple’s status in the class has slipped with the arrival of some increasingly sophisticated rivals.

Now Triumph has sharpened the big Tiger’s teeth. The familiar format of a 12-valve, shaft-drive engine and tubular steel frame is retained, but the Explorer gains a revamped chassis, windscreen adjustment and semi-active suspension.

The Explorer also follows Triumph’s Tiger 800 by giving birth to a six-bike family, split into two distinct halves. Three models are road-focused, with cast wheels: the basic XR, better-equipped XRX and top-specification XRT. The other three are for off-road use, with tougher wire-spoked wheels: the XC, XCX and flagship XCA.

Of the six it’s the XCA that ticks most adventure-bike boxes. It’s a two-wheeled army commando, especially in the matt green paint option. But while it’s a physically big bike and weighs more than 250kg with fuel, it’s a gentle

giant that is now more polite and refined.

The XCA receives the full complement of Triumph’s electronic advances, including five riding modes, plus safety features such as cornering ABS.

As before, though, the Explorer’s greatest asset is its wonderfully flexible power delivery, accessed via a throttle response so sweet that multiple modes are barely required.

The Explorer is also very comfortable, thanks in part to its well-designed screen, which protects even tall riders while generating minimal turbulence. Meanwhile,

the heated grips and seat (standard with the XCA, but extras on the other models) also contribute to its all-weather capability.

Elsewhere, the XCA incorporates Triumph’s first semi-active suspension system, which changes with engine mode and adjusts automaticallyto suit load, for example when adding a pillion.

The Normal mode gives a well-controlled feel with emphasis on ride quality; the firmer Sport is better suited to enthusiastic cornering.

Like other adventure bikes, the Explorer is limited by its

tyres, in this case dual-purpose Metzeler Tourances that are wider than the old model’s. These work well on dirt tracks, but lack the chunky tread needed for softer ground.

However, even this most off-road-friendly Explorer is at home on a Tarmac-based touring trip, where it benefits from features including cruise control, two power sockets and rails to accept panniers. It doesn’t come cheap, but its newfound sophistication gives Triumph a leading large-capacity adventure class contender once again.

PAU

L BA

RSH

ON

Roland Brown

13The Daily Telegraph Saturday 12 March 2016