Triumph Tiger Explorer to battle BMW R

Not since actor Steve McQueen made a great escape on a Triumph motorcycle from the clutches of the Germans has the British brand thrown out such a challenge.

Triumph has announced a shaft-drive 1200cc adventure bike to compete head-on with the best-selling adventure machine in the world, the BMW R 1200cc which actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman made famous on their Long Way Down trip through Africa.

The Triumph Tiger Explorer is one of three new models for 2012. The others are an R version of their Speed Triple naked bike and a Steve McQueen tribute version of their classic T100 Bonnveille.

Triumph Australia spokesman Mal Jarrett says pricing has not yet been released, but he says they will be here in May.

The Tiger Explorer follows the brand's first foray into adventure biking with the release of the Tiger 800 this year which took on and beat the BMW F 800 GS in sales.

The Tiger 800 is now the second-biggest-selling adventure bike in Australia behind the bargain-basement Kawasaki KLR650.

Triumph's new big adventure bike is powered by a shaft-driven, three-cylinder engine "in excess of 1200cc". Triumph isn't yet revealing actual capacity.

It will feature a ride-by-wire throttle system with cruise control, switchable ABS and traction control as standard.

Like the BMSW R 1200 GS, it comes with cast alloy 19- and 17-inch wheels and a single-sided swingarm/shaft.

It will arrive with a "suite of bespoke accessories" including hard and soft luggage, low and high seat options and "a wide range of heated and electrical accessories" which probably means heated grips and seat and satnav.

The Speed Triple R is yet another uprated version along the lines of the Street Triple R and Daytona 675 R with Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes.

It will arrive in March with lightweight five-spoke forged aluminium wheels and an optional electronic anti-lock system.

McQueen made Triumph famous with his antics on a TR6 in the 1963 war film, The Great Escape.

Now Triumph and the McQueen estate have create a limited edition of 1100 T100 Bonnevilles with a military-style matt khaki green livery, stencil-style Triumph decal on the tank and the actor's signature on the side covers.

It arrives in July with a solo seat, black luggage rack, skid plate, small black-bodied headlamp and a host of blacked-out components, including wheel rims and hubs, handlebars, rear springs, mirrors and front mudguard supports.

Each bike is individually numbered with a plaque on the handlebar clamp and owners will receive a certificate of authenticity.