It’s been almost a year since Tigger, my Triumph 1200 GT Explorer, rumbled into the garage with that distinctive three cylinder growl. It was never that Scarlet was lacking, just that Tigger ticked a few more boxes for me at this moment in my long and interesting motorcycling career.
Tigger offered a few things I genuinely liked. The engine. There is no getting past 150 ps making the most glorious sound under acceleration. He just hammers. No two ways about it. Add in a fuel tank large enough to set sail for 600km before a refill and making miles quickly is easily within grasp. The icing is it handles like a sports bike and is comfortable for G on the back.
The first year has not been sitting idle. Tigger has been to Roma a few times, to Rockhampton overnight and was my companion for the 2026 Wall 2 Wall Ride for Remembrance in Canberra. All up over 13,000 km so far.
At every stage Tigger has proven to be a worthy travelling buddy. Yes, we have suffered the mirth of BMW riders who seem to think their GS equivalents are the top shelf pick, but Tigger has stood tall laughing at them lining up at Jenny Craig’s front door. Multiple sport bike riders have eaten pride soup having tired but been found out. Tigger is a weapon in every environment.
In the months to come the adventures of Tigger and Pete will appear more regularly in this site. I have a commitment to publish more often, so lets see how that goes.
See you on the road.
