2022 Triumph Tiger Rally Explorer | European Adventure | 2300 Miles Test!
- MotoUK
- Aug 18, 2022
- 16 min read
In August we took delivery of a loan bike courtesy of Triumph UK, this was the all new for 2022 Triumph Tiger Rally Explorer. We had been planning this 7 day trip for a while now, a real adventure test riding through five countries spanning 2300 miles from the UK via the channel tunnel into France and riding through Belgium, Luxembourg to get to our start destination in Germany the Black Forest, where we would start filming a 4 part series for our Youtube Channel “MotoUK”.
From the Black Forest we would then make our way down into Switzerland, take in some of the famous lakes and passes and head then west towards Lake Geneva and make our way through France back to the UK. Our main aim for the trip, to find out just how good the new Tiger 1200 is and how does it stack up on a real long adventure test. Could this just be the best adventure motorcycle of 2022 - Find out below.
To Watch the trip you can see here on our youtube channel, don't forget to subscribe and like! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI0xgBQVW_f94A7pu0nBDzvijHGwa50hY
Motorcycle,
2022 Tiger Rally Explorer features we loved,
30 Litre Fuel Tank - Range 350 - 375 miles or 560 -600 km
1160cc Engine, 148bhp & 130Nm torque
Showa Semi Active Suspension
Blind Spot Radar, integrated illumination on mirrors signalling cars in blind spot
Hill Hold
Shift Assist, up & down clutch less shifting
Cruise Control
TPS - tyre pressure monitoring system
7 Inch TFT Dash, very clear with all information needed, fuel range
Seat, very comfy
Windscreen, actually works very well
Tyres, Metzeler Karoo Street
Gear Used,
Helmet - Arai Tour X4 - Very good ventilation
Intercom - Cardo Packtalk Bold
Jackets, Gloves - Merlin Edale Jacket, Shenstone Mesh Jacket, Merlin Ranton II & Finlay Gloves
Riding Jeans - Bull-it Covec Kevlar Lined
Boots - RST Tracktech perforated leather for ventilation
Sponsors,
3 sponsors came on board for the trip to help with fuel costs etc, big thanks to them all for their support.
Speedo-Angels: who make dash/screen protectors and we fitted their anti glare one to the tiger prior to the trip to keep the glare low and enable clear reading of the dash, great for those sunny days. https://speedo-angels.com/
SP-Connect: who make motorcycle phone mount systems. On this trip we used a mount, anti vibration module & wireless charging pad so we could keep our phone charged at all times as we were using this for navigation and music streaming through the intercom.
Merlin Bike Gear: who manufacture motorcycle clothing using only the best materials and I've used now for a few years. On the trip we chose to take two jackets, their Edale Cotec Jacket which is made from wax cotton, has D30 armour and Reissa waterproofing for the colder UK part of the trip, then once in warmer climates we switched out the the Shenstone Air Jacket which blends wax cotton and mesh panelling front and back, this was a life saver in the 37c heat we encountered in Switzerland. We also took along their Ranton II Wax/Leather waterproof gloves if it rained and for warmer days used their Finlay summer gloves.
Packing & Essential Items,
Left Side Pannier, All our Camping gear, Tent, sleeping bag, chair, air-pillow, jetboil, mug, sleep matt
Right Side Pannier, Inner bag containing, jeans, 5 tee shirts, trainers, Ipad, toiletries, underwear
Top Box, First Aid Kit, Tyre repair kit, NOCO Boost - Jump Start Kit, Water, Camera gear
Note: while i love how much you can fit in these panniers, they do make the bike heavier and my preferred set up is just a top box and use a roll top bag on the rear seat keeping weight more centralised.
Hotels, all booked via Booking.com
Note: first nights hotel in Lille and second in Seebach we booked prior to the start, all other hotels were booked the night before so as not to plan too many hours in the saddle and pace ourselves depending what turned up on the trip. Prices were from £55 to £75 roughly not including breakfast, most charged an extra 12 euros.
Le Befroi Loos near Lille
Pension Williams, Seebach
Hotel Rheingold in Gailingen
Basic Rooms Interlaken
Crêt-Bérard hotel in Puidoux
ibis Saint Dizier in Saint-Dizier
Trip Costs & Facts,
Hotels £420
Fuel £292.80 Note: 6.5 tank fill ups on the Tiger compared to my Yamaha MT10SP 17 tanks of fuel 😲
Food & Drink £280
Channel Tunnel £140
Total = £1,132.80
Day 1-2 UK 🇬🇧 to Loos near Lille France🇫🇷
We set off around 6am on Saturday30th July heading from our base in Lancashire all the way down the M6, M1, M25, M20 heading for the 2pm train from Folkestone Kent to Calais exit in France. The journey down to the tunnel was 321 miles and this is where the fuel tank range hit me being so good on the new Tiger Explorer, i stopped just once around the toll services near Birmingham not for fuel but for some water deciding i would top up with fuel prior to getting on the Eurotunnel leaving later to France. With it being holiday season i had expected more traffic but was pleasantly surprised that i encountered very little and arrived at the terminal building around 11:30am which was a lot sooner than i had anticipated but was able to get on the earlier train around 12:30.
The temperature had risen around 5 centigrade from Lancashire to Kent and it was time once on the train to take off the Merlin Edale Jacket and swap out to my Shenstone Mesh Jacket, I'm so glad i bought this on the journey as i knew it was going to get a lot warmer as we headed south. The journey was over quickly around 25 minute and the train stopped and the doors opened letting in some fresh air which i was glad about due to all the cars onboard, however not as smelly as the ferry journeys i have done in the past, sitting in a metal ship with all engines running waiting to disembark the vessel, not very pleasant.
Once off the Eurotunnel i headed up the slip road straight on to the motorway, remember keep to the right Nick a voice was telling me in my head. Looking at my phone it was another 68 miles to get to my first night hotel near Lille that also had underground private parking and the days total mileage would finish on 389 with approx 6 hours in the saddle, only at this point did i realise just how comfy the bike was feeling like i could ride further but i needed a good nights sleep ready for my next long day from Lille to Seebach in the Black Forest. Now i had planned to plough through France, Belgium, Luxembourg to get to the Black Forest where my journey really begins due to having done a similar route on a past adventure and find northern France a little dull, flat and not a lot to look at other than straight roads, so wanted some curves soon so i thought hit the miles first two days then take it easy and enjoy the beautiful scenery that awaited me in the Black Forest and on the famous route the B500.
Day 2 Lille 🇫🇷 to Seeback in the Black Forest 🇩🇪
Waking up early as i wanted to get a good start to eat up some miles to get to the hotel ready for the B500 next day, i checked out of the very lovely hotel in Loos near the city of Lille, very nice room and secure underground parking. Do be aware most of the hotels on this trip did not come with breakfast apart from two of them and normally there is a charge of 12 euros for what is just a cousant, cheese, ham, jam, coffee, orange juice. I did find that most days leaving hotels i found a bakery nearby with seating to stop and grab some breakfast actually cheaper than the hotels with more choice.
I filled the bike up just down the road prior to jumping on a motorway and to my surprise the cost was 1.74 euros and when i left UK the day before priced were in the region of £2.06 per litre. With the tiger topped up i hit the road and was super excited about the sights i will see over the next few days. the screen on the Tiger was really great at deflecting the wind over my helmet and just splashed air around my upper chest a little which i was glad about as we were now in the mid 20’s temperatures. On the motorways there were two things i loved about the Tiger, one being the radar blind spot mirrors, now while i know not to rely on tech and always do life saver shoulder checks, found the system to be very effective and i don't know why all adventure touring bikes don't have this feature. Second thing i used a lot and was super easy is the cruise control, while harder to do in the UK due to traffic congested motorways, the roads in Europe are less congested and Cruise control was really handy for sticking to the speed limits.
Once down towards Metz, crisscrossing the borders between the E411 Belgium, A30,A31 Luxembourg, A4 toll road in France which was i think 7 euros so not too bad, i was heading in the region of Saarbrucken prior to entering the National Park region first crossing the Rhine River. While nearly at the hotel now, the scenery was breathtaking with pine forest, winding roads and the reason why i am here. My hotel for the night was Pension Williams, a small hotel owned by a British couple who I've met before and also stayed here, this one also included breakfast and cost just 55 euros for the night, basic room but with a balcony overlooking the forest and mountains, amazing.
Day 3 Seebach B500 🇩🇪 to Gailingen am Hochrhein near to Lake Constance
Again an early morning wake up with temperatures in the mid 20’s rising to low 30’s by early afternoon, i couldn’t stop grinning as i knew i was in for a treat, yes the scenery but a crafty stop somewhere for Black Forest gateau, you’ve just got to right :)
After a good breakfast i said farewell to a super host and threw my leg over the tiger ready for all that the forest had in store for me that day. My plan was to head down to near Triberg to see the worlds largest Cuckoo Clock, well according to the Guinness book of records it is!. After winding my way up the mountain to reach the B500 just a few miles away, i was in heaven! The roads were so smooth, twisty and the smell of the pine trees and nature, just a huge wow factor, if you’ve never been get it on your to do list asap.
I stopped at a place just down the road called Kniebishutte, where in winter you can ski from here down the mountain, ski lifts stopping at the top next to this great place and have lunch. Moving on i head down to the worlds largest cuckoo clock which opens up every half hour, well as long as you put 1 euro in the meter.
We then head south a short distance to a town called Wolfach for a slice of that famous Black Forest Gateau that we promised and it did not disappoint, i found a great little coffee & cake spot in a beautiful little medieval town. I can tell you it was a spectacular piece of gateau, only issue i had was the cafe only accepted cash so always good to take a few euros, then a quick stroll along the main street and a cash point later i was back on the bike rolling down the most beautiful gorges, lined with flowing rivers and nature at its finest.
We then headed out of the Black Forest at the south east corner and into the Schaffhausen Naturpark while heading in the direction of Lake Constance where i have stayed and been to before so wanted to try a town on the Rhine River which we also crossed on day 2 up near Strasbourg. Our hotel for this evening was in a small town named Gailingen am Hochrhein, and a fine hotel it was too, just 1 mile north of the Rhine with a little wooden bridge to which it borders Switzerland where we will cross the next day. The town had many little restaurants, and a great one next to the hotel named Gasthof Hirschen with some rather splendid beer.
Youtube Link to this day: https://youtu.be/ppVvT5OG1-s
Day 4 From Germany 🇩🇪 into Switzerland 🇨🇭
I woke from a good nights sleep, and checked out with my bags and wondered round to the car part only to find a wet bike! The motorcycle next to mine a MotoGuzzi V7 Stone and chatting to a nice Dutch gentleman who was on his way to Rome Italy said did you not hear the storm last night thunder and lightening! Haha i must have slept through it i told him. I grabbed a cloth and dried the bike while thinking about how good the new Tiger has been so far on the trip, never missed a beat and so comfy, the comfiest motorcycle I've ever ridden in 30 years of riding bikes.
I rolled out of the car park again with a huge grin, such a pleasureful experience and felt very grateful to be on the Tiger and to Triumph for lending me this awesome bike for the trip and not forgetting our sponsors that have contributed and helped with trip costs. As i wound my way down the hill through the village streets i could see a bridge in the distance lower down at the bottom of the steep hill. The bridge was a wooden covered one and looked old. I could see lots of Swiss flags the other side and a perfect place next the river for me to stop and get the camera out, to grab a few pictures and also start our new video for the day, truly a beautiful place.
My plan today was to head down to Lucern town on Lake Lucern another beautiful place from memory having visited some years ago. To see the old Chapel bridge that spans the water, this bridge is from the 17th century and is unique that it contains a number of interior paintings dating back to the 17th century, although many of them were destroyed in a fire back in 1993 but then subsequently restored and it is known to be the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. I had a lovely lunch while there at a local cafe overlooking the water and river, but it was now time to head out of town around some lakes and through some mountains.
After that home made tomato soup and all that yummy bread, I'm now refreshed, full and ready to hit the road to our next stop which is approximately 1.5 hour away, being Interlaken lake a stunning place you just have to see. The colour of the Glacial water is spectacular here and i just have to get my drone up when we get there so dont forget to check out episode 2 out here https://youtu.be/3ZprGdpCMwY
The road down the side of Lake Lucern is amazing as it twists and turns following the contour of the lake and then with its ups and downs through very long tunnels dug through the mountains until we arrive in Brienz town and then stop just after to get the drone up in the air. Interlaken town a little further down the lake is a great place to stay in summer with lots of activities to do, you always see paragliders dropping from the sky and cable cars taking you high onto the tops of mountains for those epic vistas. From here you can also go a short trip up the road to see the amazing waterfalls at lauterbrunnen where they just cascade off the high cliffs above the small town, just amazing!. Also close by is the Eiger and amazing sight.
Day 5 Grimsel Pass to Lake Geneva
As i open my hotel room curtains and see the view today I'm smiling before i even get on the bike, stunning blue skies and as i check the time 7am there are even paragliders loading up their cars outside to hit the mountains, epic!. Today i am to cross off one pass that last time i was unable to cross due to its closure so i am super excited Today. I head out fidling the bike up at the nearest gas station i can find which was just up the road 100 yards, petrol prices similar to UK at 2.08 euro a litre, but with a full tank and 350 mile range on the new tiger, its plenty to get me to my next destination hotel for the evening an old convent in the mountains above Lake Geneva.
I head back round the lake and follow the signs for Grimsel Pass, a very straight road through the valley, walls and mountains closing in together at the end before i start my accent. The roads snakes up the mountain and not a drop of snow but i guess its august so wont be long now before its cut off again For the winter months. The ride up wasn’t long and i hit the top next to a stunning glacial lake and a much needed pit stop at the cafe next to a car park for my morning coffee with a view from the gods.
Ok now for the ride down the other side past the Furka Pass, with an elevation of 7,968 feet then turning right on the Furkastassa road through the valley passing Swiss villages along the way. I spot fields to my left that go on for miles and miles full of Teepees with what seams to be thousands of school kids, it must be a summer camp, biggest I've ever seen stretching for miles with them all building what looked like wooden forts, truly an amazing sight to see.
The Triumph Tiger has been so good on this trip, its a very tall bike being an adventure tourer, and yes i picked the tallest with a 875mm high seat, good job i am tall At 6’2 with an inside leg measurement of 32 inches. What’s impressed me the most is its fuel range and getting roughly between 350 - 365 miles per tank and not having to worry about where the next fuel station is and do i have enough or will i run out. in the past 30 years i have had many a trip like that on other bikes. I have been asked is the bike top heavy, well yes a little its got 30litres of fuel in and I wouldn’t say thats a slight negative but you quickly get used to the weight distribution and once rolling its a dream to ride. One one or two occasions i have had an issue when parking on the side stand wrong way on a slope, soon learned not to do that again. But i blame myself and it didnt help having 7kg of camping gear in the left hand pannier. Now you may ask why the camping gear if your in hotels, well long story short i had planned to camp every other night and due to the scorching afternoon temperatures in the late 30’s reaching 37/38 by 3pm, it was too just too hot to camp, well for me anyway so the trip was a few days shorter due to this and the budget.
Our last part of the days journey we headed past sign posts for Chamonix and Mont Blanc, which i could see in the distance but thats for another adventure. Our last stop was at the side of Lake Geneva for the day to find some shade and cool off next to the water. A small place called Bourgeois en Lavaux, it was simply stunning, look at the pictures.
What an amazing place and i will be back soon for sure. after cooling off i headed up through the small village past old medieval buildings and up the steep winding roads where houses had literally vineyards in their front gardens, i was speechless how beautiful it all was. I finally got to my hotel for the night which was an old convent situated on the hill top. The Convent was a working one up to 1953 when it then became a hotel and conference centre. My room was where the nuns used to sleep, what a lovely place, setting to spend the evening very peaceful.
Day 6 Lake Geneva🇨🇭 to Saint Dizier France 🇫🇷
Starting out early this morning knowing i had allot of miles to do today to break up France into 2 days and it was forecasted to be the hottest day of the trip, so with no messing around i was all packed and on the road by 7:30am and heading north west into France. I first hit the motorway to get a few miles up the road then crossing the border from Switzerland to France and its the only time ive seen an official border the whole trip, ok it was unmanned but funny to see. I started riding through some beautiful forest areas with small towns and town squares along the way, and decided to stop for some breakfast at a wonderful little cafe for a pan eu chocolat and a strong coffee to keep me going.
The rest of the journey up to Saint Dizier was long but epic and gave me time to reflect just how good and how much I've enjoyed the trip, not just the splendid scenery, cultures, feeling of total freedom, but my final thoughts on the new Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer. In 30 years of riding its one of the most comfortable motorcycles I've ridden. very cabals for on or off road, although i am no off road expert or pretend to be one. But for the average person who uses adventure motorcycles a bit like the amount of off road jeeps, range rovers doing only school runs these days, this motorcycle is incredible in every way With so much going for it.
Some of my favourite features, now i get why the T Plane triple, strange firing order sounding like a v twin at lower rpm’s, but it makes the bike really tractable at low speeds for off road and sounds like a triple at higher revs. The suspension being semi active electronic Showa, is amazing being the first bike ive ridden that actually adjusts the preload when you sit on it, or a pillion or just to calculate the weight of extra luggage, truly amazing. The way you can adjust with one switch to soften or make it harder depending on different conditions again is amazing.
A genuine factory screen that actually works well, Blind spot radar detection, something i though why! But i get it now and was most certainly very useful on this trip as it would be daily. A clear dash board with all the information you need, accurate mileage range figures tested on this trip with that awesome 30lt tank range. What’s not to like well there may be some bad! The height for one, for many riders even the GT, GT Pro with 850mm Seat height is tall, is it top heavy well maybe if you compare it to its rival, but totally different engine configuration so its a hard one but certainly doesn’t take long to get used to.
Ive been asked do you get any vibrations through the handle bars or foot pegs ? The answer is no not at all, after 2300 miles on this bike i had no issues. The up and down Quickshifter works perfectly so smooth, amazing brakes from brembo, shaft drive so virtually no maintenance, Illuminated switch gear, great headlights, running lights, cornering lights on this model. Ive also been asked about heat and i can say after being sat on it in 37 degree centigrade that you don't feel any, the side mounted radiators with active cooling fans blow the hot air our of specially designed ducts the take the heat away from the rider.
There are many adventure bikes or other bikes out there on the market today, similar priced but i truly hand on heart believe that the new Tiger range is very good value for money and worth every penny. Would i buy one absolutely if i had the money, definitely my top pick bike of 2022.
Thanks for reading,
Nick @ Motouk
Don’t forget if you would like to see the trip, here are some links below.
Full Video Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI0xgBQVW_f94A7pu0nBDzvijHGwa50hY
Spec Review: https://youtu.be/pb18ILtR7o8
Final Thoughts Video after the trip: https://youtu.be/GWnZlwux-pI
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