2014 Triumph 1200 Explorer XC review, test ride

Here's Triumph's offering that intends to get you across continents. We get astride the gargantuan Explorer XC to find out how accomplished it is.

Published on Apr 10, 2017 07:00:00 AM

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2014 Triumph 1200 Explorer XC review, test ride

Beneath the surface

As mentioned earlier, this 2014 version of the Explorer is a bit dated in terms of features and equipment when compared to the likes of other prime adventure tourers like the Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro and the BMW R1200 GS Adventure. If you're not a big fan of electronic nannies, this could definitely work in your favour. You do get a three-stage traction control (off, 1 and 2) and switchable ABS, but that's about it. It misses out on more advanced electronics like power modes, a TFT screen and electronically-adjustable suspension.

The Explorer comes equipped with KYB 46mm inverted forks with manually adjustable spring pre-load at the front, and a KYB monoshock with manually adjustable pre-load and rebound dampening. It also gets ultra-durable spoked wheels, where the steel spokes sit on a rail on the aluminium rim, instead of on the rim itself; this allows for the bike to get tubeless tyres. It rides on a 19-inch wheel at the front and a 17-inch one at the rear.

The heart and soul of this Tiger, however, is its motor. The fuel-injected 1213cc engine has double overhead cams, with an inline triple-cylinder layout and ride-by-wire throttle. The 137hp of peak power and 121Nm of torque is directed to the rear wheel via a shaft-drive that is not only durable, but really curbs the amount of transmission loss that is synonymous with conventional chain drives. This results in an extremely sharp throttle response that's great for the road. But couple this up with the absence of power modes and it can complicate things a bit when riding in the dirt.

It gets dual 305mm discs at the front and a 282mm one at the rear. The brakes feel strong and the ABS kicks in cleanly and doesn't give you the sort of jerks that are associated with ABS systems.

Into the wild

The Tiger 1200 Explorer XC is a vehemently large motorcycle. But once you get astride this beast, it's really not as intimidating as it appears. At the lower 837mm setting, the seat isn't really that tall. I'm about 5 feet 10 inches and my feet were sitting flat on the ground, which is a definite bonus when moving such a large motorcycle around with the engine off. Once you get a move on, the seat feels extremely comfortable and well cushioned. There's a well-shaped taper to the front of the seat that allows you to grip the tank with your knees quite comfortably. The wide handlebars do feel like a bit of a stretch thanks to the long tank. But once you get accustomed to this, you could go on riding for hours at triple-digit speeds. The tall, adjustable front windscreen shields you well from the wind blast that accompanies high speed.

The motor feels just brilliant when cruising along the highway, with the deep howl from the inline triple providing you with a pretty affable soundtrack. The torque is spread well amongst the rev range and pulling away from speeds as low as 25kph in third gear means you don't have to work through the six-speed gearbox too much. If you decide to push the motorcycle, you'll notice that it has a very strong and linear mid-range that tapers off into a not so punchy top end; all in all, this is a very tractable motor.

Despite the Explorer being an absolutely brilliant companion for the highway, its off-road credentials are a bit more subdued. First, the handlebar tends to feel a bit low when in the standing position. Second, the throttle feels way too sharp for off-roading, although the traction control does iron this out considerably. Finally, this motorcycle weighs a whopping 259kg, and this weight certainly makes itself quite unsubtly apparent when out on the dirt. So, even though the Explorer is capable of some amount of trail riding, the motorcycle and you would be the happiest out on wide open stretches of highway; it is definitely a road-biased machine. Set the suspension up on the stiffer side and the Explorer will conquer twisties effortlessly; dipping in with poise, it feels decently sporty when you hit the bends.