Ironically, English weather welcomed the world’s moto-journalists to southern Spain for the all-new Triumph Tiger 1050 press launch. Damp be damned, I was eager to get off the plane and onto the bikes—not only because the man I sat next to smelled like a dirty gearbag, but I was looking forward riding great roads I’d never traveled before.

Checking my assigned machine over before the ride, it was clear Triumph had used all the right bits to build this bike: 17-inch wheels; radial-mount brakes; long-ish, well-damped suspension travel. Compared to the old Tiger, the 1050 is a new breed of cat. This Tiger doesn’t go in the woods, nor does it pretend to have any off-road prowess, even though its upswept pipe and high-wide bars give that impression—as does the fact that it’s some 40 pounds lighter than its predecessor. Read the rest of this entry »