This is a very large motorcycle and this XCX is the only variant of the Tiger 1200 you can buy in India. It’s a sophisticated touring motorcycle with enduro capabilities, so we put it through a proper test.
As soon you get started you’ll notice the wide handlebar, which is set at a comfortable height, so you always feel in control and have a great view. The 265kg weight isn’t a hindrance on the go and despite being seated 835mm off the ground, it’s quite easy to manage the Tiger in traffic. The brakes, which are a (305mm) twin-disc setup at the front and a (282mm) single disc at the rear, also work well and offer enough bite. Thanks to the Triumph Semi Active Suspension (TSAS), you can just choose your riding mode and set off. There are six riding modes - Road, Rain, Sport, Off-road, Off-road Pro and the fully-customisable Rider. Ride quality is great once the suspension gets used to the surface it’s on.
The Tiger is fitted with an enormously powerful powerplant – a 1,215cc, four-valves-per-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that makes 141hp and 122Nm. Transmission is via a six-speed unit. The engine does its best work in Sport mode – tractability is brilliant, with the 1200 being able to potter around in sixth gear even at 40 kph. This bike is a highway machine and it is supremely comfortable at sustained high speeds.
Off the road is where the Tiger 1200 XCX really shines – switch to off-road Pro mode and this bike feels almost like a pure enduro machine and its transformation is almost unbelievable. It blasts through undulations without a care in the world and the electronics help with everything, you literally just have to point the bike in the right direction.
The lights on both ends of the bike are LED units and come with adaptive cornering lights. The bike also comes with an adjustable full-colour TFT screen, illuminated switchgear, cornering ABS, keyless ignition, cruise control, heated grips and a heated seat as well. Shift Assist is available as an accessory on the XCX but is standard only on the XRT and the XCA. The bike also comes with two-position seat height adjustment (835/855mm), USB and 12V power sockets.
Should I buy one?
Is this genuinely an expedition motorcycle? Yes, it is, down to every detail. The Tiger 1200 is backed up by Triumph India’s relatively strong sales and service network, offers easy-to-meticulously-tailored rider assists and is a motorcycle that’s guaranteed to turn heads in most scenarios south of the Dakar rally.
