Triumph Tiger 1200 XCa: between the Langhe, Monferrato and Roero with a first class ticket

Land of cultural and culinary value, its white truffle is famous throughout the world, its churches in the perched villages protect frescoes dating back to 300 AD, there is a magic here, you can feel it crossing the region, immersed in a landscape which seems to have been painted by a Macchiaioli painter. Even UNESCO has felt this magic and has included the area in the list of world heritage sites.

In addition to this magnificent area, the other protagonist is the new Triumph Tiger 1200, in XCA trim, the top of the range recently updated with over 100 changes, including goodies that we are used to seeing only on premium cars. Power and technology, mixed to create a cocktail of comfort and performance, with a bold and aggressive aesthetic. In fact, it has the lines of an "overland" flagship, with the new LED headlight, equipped with Adaptive Cornering Light technology.

We decided to combine them, the Langhe and the "Tigerona", to discover what the best they both have to offer. Departure from Milan, on a sunny and warm Friday morning, of this spring which at times seems more like late autumn. Just seeing it in the garage, in silence, on the pearl white central stand, complete with side bags and black metal top case, makes you want to leave. You don't need a destination, just don't stay here, make your way, discover something and don't stop, with that headlight looking up at you, its additional LED fog lights, the wide metal off-road footrests, the tubular engine guard black. The Tiger 1200 has a mix of sex appeal, like a bad sportswoman, but ready to face the desert and the Bedouin slopes. If I were to make a comparison with a car, I would think of a luxurious SUV with lots of horsepower, one of those that offers the performance and comfort of a flagship on the motorway, but which is also capable of tackling an off-road route. .

The exposed trellis frame is beautiful, which merges to form one with the three-cylinder engine, here combined with an Arrow muffler in titanium and carbon, capable of giving it a dark sound, while it blends relaxed at a thousand rpm, without a minimal vibration. TSAS: Triumph Semi Active Suspension, i.e. WP suspensions adjustable with a finger, using the buttons to easily manage the countless functions, including the choice between the 6 available modes, from Rain to Enduro Pro, which completely disables ABS (type Cornering) and traction controls.

Come on, just look at it, we cross Milan to take the motorway towards Asti. It's hot, we lower the windshield electrically to get some air, while we move through city traffic, engaging third gear and practically never changing gear again. The three-cylinder picks up peacefully from 1.000 rpm without problems, bringing you back up, until the next deceleration, very smooth and always full. The weight is felt at low speed. The center of gravity isn't the lowest and you have to get used to it a bit at the beginning, but as soon as you pick up speed all the problems disappear, with the suspensions making you roll like on velvet, despite the Milanese cobblestones. As mentioned, there are many functions available, but everything can be done with one finger, such as setting the Cruise Control on the motorway, or raising the windscreen, to enjoy aerodynamic protection that allows you to remain with the visor open even at 130 km/h, despite 1,95 meters in height, without vortices or lateral tossing. All that was missing was the cigarette in my right hand, which with the cruise is free from having to manage the accelerator. Jokes aside, we go smoothly, without a vibration, neither in the handlebars nor on the footrests, the kilometers that separate us from Asti fly by.

The only sore point is that on a hot day like this (the LCD instrumentation reads 29 degrees), the engine can be felt between the legs, especially on the right side. We are not at unbearable levels, but the heat is there and rising. On the other hand, we are sitting on a 1.200, three cylinders, not much fuss. The temptation to light up a cigarette grows, so we stop at the Autogrill, 30 kilometers to go to Asti and we need a coffee. We set off again using the clutch for the first time in several kilometres, given that the electro-assisted gearbox allows you to go up and down the gears without the clutch and without having to play with the gas. Entering the motorway, reeling off first – second – third and fourth with the throttle wide open, with the engine becoming nasty from 5.000 rpm and pushing without hesitation. In an instant the rev counter reads 10.000 rpm: stop, fifth and sixth without gas and we return to the canonical 130 km/h, which is better. Shift Assist is fast and precise, but among the few we have tried that can also be used for tourist driving. It can therefore be a fun gadget when you pick up the pace, as well as being convenient when travelling.

Once in Asti we leave the motorway and head to Alba via a beautiful state road, playing with the suspension settings and changing mapping, even when moving with the throttle closed. Alba alone deserves an article, with its center and its ancient history. It is said to have been inhabited since the Paleolithic age, we allow ourselves a break, turning off the motorbike and engaging the steering lock, simply pressing a button on the right-hand handlebar block, always keeping the keys in our pocket. We want to get around the Langhe well, the citadels that follow one another with names that, at least, are familiar to everyone: Barolo, Verduno, Montà, La morra. We have plenty of irons on the fire in this region, it just depends on your appetite. Lunch in Barolo, this is the program. The state road that takes us between one vineyard and another begins to paint increasingly evocative landscapes, a palette of greens on horizons with soft profiles, hills of wine that cover truffles.

The last stretch climbs towards the town, with a succession of more or less tight curves, which allow us to test the behavior of the Tiger 1200. In curves you have to enter it decisively and shifting the weight of your body, as mentioned the center of gravity is not very low , but then she holds the trajectory like a train on the tracks. If it's a bit physical to drive in traffic and on narrow roads, as the speed increases it feels like you're on autopilot. So you get off your saddle fresh, even after hours of riding, with the desire to never stop travelling. With the suspension set to Sport, even when braking, the bike doesn't sink too much and remains very precise, both on entry and exit. You choose the lean angle and it catapults you out, with an infinite torque range. Its 141 horsepower run badly above 5.000 rpm, or carry you out of a bend at 40 mph in fourth gear, pushing you towards the next one decisively and quickly.

Barolo, with the wine museum and countless wine bars and restaurants, makes us relax, with local cheeses, sausages and ragù. Better not to have wine at lunch, too many kilometers still to go, but we have side bags to fill and we can't forget a Barolo here. From here the travel possibilities are practically endless, we aim for La Morra, with its breathtaking, unmissable viewpoint and the narrow streets that climb up to the central tower in the town square. Even the road to get there is worth it, full of curves, between rows of vines and undergrowth that open up, descending from the hills to give uniquely evocative panoramas.

From here to Montà driving fun is guaranteed, everything is close by, a few kilometers divide one town from another, a winery and a farm from the next, all visitable, all unique. A few kilometers that allow you to wander between ups and downs of curves and medieval villages, castles and cellars, food and history, diluted by some of the best wines in Italy. An international tourist destination not many kilometers from Milan, which gives us the pleasure of choosing whether to simply take a day trip, visiting just one town, or stay for a weekend (recommended), to better enjoy the atmosphere of the place and savor the delicacies of the region, perhaps in one of the many farmhouses in the area.

The prices are for everyone and the possibilities are practically infinite, both for eating and sleeping, you will be spoiled for choice, while driving between one bend and another or parking your motorbike, you will find yourself greeting French, Swiss and Germans, as well as Italians, who are never lacking here. We now have to return, but without the motorway up to Asti, kilometers of motorbike fun still await us and excuses to stop and see other places, such as Verduno and its church, which overlooks the belvedere lawn. The curves will give us the excuse to stay on this Triumph longer. A first class Gran Turismo, with the character of a sports car and the capabilities of a jeep, which makes us dream of pointing the fork towards Spain, ferrying to Morocco to get to Senegal, but that's another story. Who knows, maybe one day we'll tell you about it.