2016–2017 · Adventure · Buyer's Guide
The Tarmac-Biased Triple
Triumph's big adventure flagship in road-biased XR form: a 1215 cc inline-three making 137 hp and 91 lb-ft, sent back through a six-speed box and a shaft. Cast wheels, a 120/70-19 front, and manually adjustable suspension at both ends tell you where the priority sits. The rider aids are standard rather than a wish list: ABS, traction control, ride modes, and Triumph Ride-by-Wire Throttle Maps (1st generation). Cruise control, an electrically adjustable screen, adjustable seat height, and a center stand come fitted. This is the touring end of the adventure class, built with the detail work Triumph tends to get right.
On the road it works like a large, smooth express. The triple pulls from low in the range and keeps pulling, the shaft asks nothing of you between services, and 5.3 gallons at around 44 mpg puts real distance between fuel stops. It suits riders who cover states rather than singletrack: two-up loads, luggage, weather, long days in the saddle. The honest caveat is mass. This is a heavy bike with a 33.0 in seat, and it feels top-heavy at walking pace and you learn to pick your parking spots. Long term, the bevel box in the final drive is the part to watch as the miles stack up.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 137 hp (102 kW) @ 9,300 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 91 lb-ft (123 Nm) @ 6,200 rpm |
| Displacement | 1215 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 305 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-19 |
| Rear tire | 170/60-17 |
| Ground clearance | 7.1 in (180 mm) |
| Front travel | 7.5 in (190 mm) |
| Rear travel | 7.6 in (194 mm) |
| Seat height | 33.0 in (837 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 gal (20 L) |
| Fuel economy | 44 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Safety
Fork seal weeping
Some owners report oil residue on fork legs and premature seal failure, which can worsen and lead to fluid leaking onto brakes if left unchecked.
Bevel box final drive failures
The shaft-drive bevel box (rear hub) is a known weak point, often showing signs of wear (grumbling, oil leaks) after ~50,000 miles. Rebuild or replacement is expensive.
Caliper pin corrosion
Front brake caliper pins can suffer from corrosion, leading to sticky or dragging brakes. Regular cleaning and greasing recommended.
Where this Triumph Tiger Explorer XR pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Tiger Explorer XR is actually built for.
Blue Ridge in the morning and 300 miles behind you by dark is this bike's natural habitat. It holds a line through sweepers better than its size suggests, and you get off it without the usual ache.
Made for Highway 1 / Big Sur · Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway
Loaded, two-up, and crossing state lines is exactly the job it was drawn for. Cruise, the electric screen, and shaft drive keep the long days simple. Just budget for the weight at fuel stops and campsites.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2012–2015
Britain's First Long-Haul Triple
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Triumph Tiger Explorer XR. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2013–2016
Brakes That Corner Hard
Roughly $1,000 pricier used than this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2013–2018
The Boxer That Rewired Everything
Roughly $4,000 pricier used than this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2015–2017
Italian Muscle, Digital Brains
About the same used price as this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2015
Italian Triple, Serious Miles
Roughly $1,100 pricier used than this bike at 9 yr
Same Platform · 2016–2017
Adjustable, Connected, Ready for Distance
About the same used price as this bike at 9 yr
Similar Character · 2016–2019
Italian Twin, Built Rough
Roughly $3,400 pricier used than this bike at 9 yr