If the Tiger didn’t cost a bomb, it would have been a very deserving recipient of a ‘Best of 2017’ award. At any rate, it was just .2 points off an award – that’s how close it was at the top this year.
Up until now, Triumph only offered the XC variant of the bike, but this year the XCx was launched and it’s really blown everyone away in terms of technology and overall performance.
The new Tiger Explorer XCx is powered by a 1,215cc engine with three-cylinders on board. It develops a healthy 137bhp and 123Nm of torque. On top of that, it’s got a new frame, ride-by-wire system and three riding modes (Road, Rain and Off-road), cornering traction control, corner optimised ABS, a hydraulic torque assist clutch, and semi-active suspension that adjusts the suspension electrically while on the go. The new Tiger is the ‘tour de force’ for Triumph in terms of overall engineering and technology.
We first got to ride the bike for this test at the BIC, and we were immediately in awe of the super smooth triple engine. However, it wasn’t until we took the bike on a road trip to Spiti (which you can also read about in this issue) that we were truly blown away by its range of capabilities and performance.
The Tiger is a big machine, and it’s also very intimidating for some people. But, you have to ride it to truly feel how amazing the overall ride quality is. There’s plenty of power to get your heart pumping and the sound of the triple is truly exhilarating. The bike is so incredibly well balanced that you can ride it like a sports bike and blast in and out of corners. Even if you want to go off-road, the Tiger doesn’t disappoint. In off-road mode the suspension loosens up and you can disengage traction control and ABS, or decide what level it needs to be on.
The unfortunate part, though, is that this go-anywhere high-tech marvel on two-wheels will cost you a small fortune. Plus, it’s not really the most practical motorcycle to own – unless, of course, you buy it for the specific purpose of adventure touring. Still, though, it is comfortable enough to do some leisurely highway cruising as well. The fact that it was the 4th fastest bike in this test in Sarath’s hands gives you some indication of how impressive the performance really is.
No matter what anyone says, the Tiger XCx is one of the best all-round motorcycles available in the world today.
Best of 2017 : << BACKNEXT >> : Ducati Monster 797
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