
Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer Review
"The best used adventure bike if weight doesn't intimidate you."
Used Buyer Review
The Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer is genuinely one of the best adventure bikes money can buy used, but you need to go in with eyes open. The 1160cc triple is spectacular — torquey, smooth, and it pulls hard from embarrassingly low revs. The semi-active suspension is properly good off-road, not just marketing fluff, and that 30-litre fuel tank means you're genuinely doing 300-mile days without sweating fuel stops. Check the heated grips work on both settings and verify the cornering ABS hasn't been tampered with — some clowns disable it and don't mention it. At this weight class — we're talking 245kg wet — you need to be honest with yourself about your riding. Drop it on a rocky trail and recovery is a two-person job minimum. Earlier 2022 models had some software gremlins around the ride modes that Triumph mostly sorted through dealer updates, so confirm those have been applied. Shaft drive keeps maintenance simple but inspect for any oil seepage around the bevel box.
Pros
Cons
Sub-five-ten riders or novice adventure riders
Similar Adventure Reviews
"The adventure benchmark that justifies every penny, used or new."
Tall touring riders wanting one bike only $11,000-$17,500
"The best big adventure triple money can buy used."
Long-distance tourers wanting genuine off-road credibility $10,000-$16,000
"The benchmark adventure bike, best bought used with patience."
Experienced riders wanting the ultimate adventure touring machine $16,000-$22,000
"The sensible used adventure bike that genuinely delivers on every promise."
Riders wanting reliable, versatile, fuss-free adventure touring $4,500-$8,500