BRITISH STEEL

The first time I rode a Triumph I wasn’t all that impressed. It was some years ago and I remember how the front end on the 800 folded under brakes like a stick of wet, aged celery. I kind of painted the whole range with that brush, which is wrong, and never earnestly approached the British manufacturer again.

And now I sit at my computer, just minutes after getting off yet another ride on the Tiger 1200 XCa, baffled as to what I could possibly complain about. Not only did this bike impress me but it made me want to ride further and further and to find challenges to take on. The 1200 XCa is a stunning bike and let me take the following pages to explain why.

ALL THAT GLITTERS

The Tiger 1200 XCa is the tip of the Triumph adventure spear. It carries every conceivable electronic feature from heated seats to cornering lights, separate ride modes and electronic adjustable suspension. This is the big cheese, the whole enchilada and a host of other Mexican food metaphors. It doesn’t come