Triumph’s Tiger 1200 represents a compelling proposition in the adventure bike segment.
Believe it or not, Triumph’s Tiger line of motorcycles has been around since the 1930s, built back then under Triumph Engineering, and then later by Triumph Motorcycles Ltd from 1993 onwards.
From the present-day company’s rally-pedigree Tiger 900 in 1993 to various models in the interim, we come to the most brawny adventure bike in Triumph’s line-up, the Tiger 1200, here in Rally Explorer guise.
Folks, this is a big boy.
Sittin’ High
It looks mean, tough and ready to conquer pretty much any surface that can be thrown at it. Hand guards, an aluminium sump guard with moulded upper, engine protection and fuel tank protection bars mean you can bush-bash and not fret.
With ground clearance this good, the Tiger 1200’s go-anywhere credentials will not leave you wanting no matter the terrain. Jaunts up north and further off the beaten track are wholly doable.
Illuminating your path off the beaten track is a full LED headlight with adaptive cornering lights and a built-in daytime running light (DRL). If that isn’t enough, there’s also a pair of LED foglamps to further light the trail.
Just above it sits a manually adjustable windscreen. One simply needs to grab its handle and pull upwards or push downwards to adjust, and it’s simple enough to do on the move.
Part of its great ground clearance comes courtesy of the standard-fit Showa semi-active suspension with 220mm of travel.
The rear shock features automatic preload adjustment and can lower the seat height by up to 20mm by pressing the ‘Home’ button on the right handlebar controls for one second.
Wish I’d known about this sooner, for it would have made getting on and off the bike much easier. Not a biggie though, for it was easy enough to mount up via the foot pegs, and then retract the side stand once seated.
Oh, and the other part of its great ground clearance comes from the foot pegs themselves being moved up and closer to the bike.
Stopping duties fall to twin Brembo Stylema 4-piston monobloc radial callipers with 320mm floating discs up front, and a solitary Brembo single-piston calliper clamping down on a 282mm disc in the rear, aided by ABS. They’re strong and feel reassuring right out of the gate.
I like how the wire-spoke Akront rims add a classic touch to the Tiger 1200. Measuring 21-inches in front and 19-inches in the rear, they’re wrapped with off-road-looking Metzler Karoo Street rubber in 90/90-21 and 150/70 R18 sizes fore and aft respectively.
Even though they look off-roady, their on-road manners are impeccable.
Ergonomics on board are well executed, as are rider aids. Controls are well positioned, falling naturally to fingers, and easy and intuitive to use. A seven-inch full-colour TFT display can be customised to one’s liking and displays pertinent information clearly.
Them’s the basics. Let’s ride.
Flyin’ High
Riding the Tiger 1200 is easy, since it is very ergonomic and one can get used to it quickly.
Moving off requires little effort, thanks to its 1,160cc triple-cylinder engine putting out 150hp and 130Nm of torque. Drive is sent to the rear wheel via a low-maintenance driveshaft, so no worries about having to scrub and oil a chain.
Power delivery is very linear, and one is always aware of the driveshaft whirring away down below with the gearbox. It isn’t unpleasant in the slightest, and adds to the visceral experience that adventure biking is sure to bring.
Aiding the ease of riding is the Triumph Shift Assist quick shifter which lets the rider bang up and down through the gears clutchlessly while on the move. Use this to your advantage, and the engine note goes from gruff to a wail and into a howl at the top end.
Then bang in another gear and do it all over again.
Through it all, the Tiger 1200 remains unflappable. Straight-line stability is good, and the bike remains planted and solid-feeling. But it also cossets the rider, thanks to the semi-active Showa suspension.
Bumps and ruts picked up by other bikes are pretty much non-existent on this Tiger, and one can sail smoothly down the road.
Helping out the rider are some creature comforts. There are six ride modes to choose from, such as Rain, Road, Sport and Rider, to further fine-tune the throttle response and handling characteristics of the bike. Standard cruise control is there for longer and quieter stretches of highways.
There’s also a blindspot monitoring system that blinks amber below each mirror to warn of unseen traffic, and this is the first time I’ve seen this on a motorcycle. It’s not gimmicky and actually works very well.
There’s no getting away from this bike’s width. Lane filtering is best left to larger gaps, but it can be done if one is prudent and sensible about it.
Its 30-litre fuel tank means amazing range for a motorcycle between fill-ups, but it also adds to the heft of the bike.
However, despite its 262kg wet weight, and by using the counter-steer method, the Tiger 1200 can smartly tip into a lean and carve-up curves with those Metzler donuts remaining grippy on the blacktop.
Practicality is catered for, with suitable mounting points already set up for panniers and a box, so your next adventure is but a ride away.
Should You Buy One?
At $58,800 before COE and insurance, the Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer offers a lot of kit for the money. Add to that its three-year unlimited mileage warranty and you have even more reason to consider it.
It looks rough and ready to rumble, but it remains really comfortable. It can sing throatily and set your nether regions tingling with glee. And it can do the daily-ride duties well. That’s a really compelling package if you ask me.
Head on down to the showroom and take a test ride. I’m pretty sure you’ll come back with a big smile on your face.
Only serious bikers need apply because the Tiger 1200 comes across as a serious adventure bike.
Photo Credits: Joel Tam (@carboy_365)
Technical Specifications
Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer
Engine: liquid-cooled, 12-valve DOHC, 1,160cc inline 3-cylinder
Gearbox: 6-speed manual with Triumph Shift Assist
Clutch: hydraulic, wet, multi-plate, slip and assist
Driveline: driveshaft
Power: 150hp @ 9,000rpm (100hp in Rain Mode)
Torque: 130Nm @ 7,000rpm
Fuel Economy (combined): 5.1-litres/100km or 19.6km/litre (claimed)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 30 litres
Wet Weight: 262kg
Width: 849mm (handlebars), 982mm (handguards)
Wheelbase: 1,560mm
Unladen Seat Height: adjustable 875mm/895mm
Rake: 24.0-degrees
Tyres( front): 90/90-21
Tyres( rear): 150/70 R18
Brakes (front): twin 320mm floating discs, Brembo Stylema 4-piston monobloc radial callipers
Brakes (rear): single 282mm disc, Brembo single-piston calliper
Suspension (front): Showa 49mm, semi-active damping upside-down (USD) forks
Suspension (rear): Showa semi-active damping monoshock, with automatic electronic preload adjustment
Price: $58,800 (before COE and insurance, accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Triumph Motorcycles Singapore
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