TRIUMPH’S SEEN THE LIGHT WITH ITS TIGERS
When legendary Lotus car designer Colin Chapman was asked what his secret was, he said: “Simplify, then add lightness.” Triumph has certainly taken the latter on board, since the Tiger 1200 GT, the lightest version of its biggest adventure bike, is 240kg.
That’s pretty remarkable given that the original Tiger 1200 in 2011 weighed in at 267kg. Even the Rally Explorer I was about to ride, with a 30-litre tank instead of the GT’s 20, is 261kg.
But boy, this Explorer is tall. The seat height of 895mm meant I dislocated both hips and a knee swinging my leg over it. And I’m 6ft 7ins. As a result, anyone under 6ft can stop reading now and go and make a nice cup of tea.
Ride off, and that weight loss is apparent in the handling which is a doddle even at walking pace. At speed, progress is gloriously swift and smooth even in Road mode.
Handling on Triumphs is always a joy, and with neutral balance and high, wide bars, this is no exception.
Switching to Sport mode adds a delightful urgency, although unless you’re running late to get to the off-licence before it closes, Road is entirely adequate for brisk but relaxed touring.
And now for the $64million question – is it better than the BMW GS Adventure, for so long the world’s leading big adventure bike? The answer is yes, thanks to 14bhp more power than the 1250 GS, 7kg less weight, sharper handling and a slicker quickshifter. However, I was about to have a revelation in the manner of St Paul, if he’d been a biker. For Joe back at the dealers handed me the key to the Tiger 1200 GT Pro version, and it was lower, lighter, sharper and significantly better than the Rally Explorer.
The seat is a more manageable 850mm, weight is 245kg and the front wheel is 19in compared to the Explorer’s 21in, making it an absolute joy to fling around bends. It’s also cheaper at £16,700, or even less for the £14,600 base model GT.
So the GT Pro would be my choice over the Rally Explorer unless you’re 8ft tall and plan to ride across the Atacama Desert... and I’ve already done that, thanks for asking.
■ Test bikes supplied by Phillip McCallen Motorcycles, phillipmccallen.com.