Triumph’s new Tiger 1200 clearly ain’t no pussycat. No fat cat either – as it was before. No, for 2022 the new lean mean Tiger not only has sharpened teeth and claws – it intends to use them. It might primarily be aiming at taking down the mighty BMW R 1250 GS, but others could take a mauling on the way, too, not least KTM’s 1290 Super Adventure. Suddenly, Triumph have got very serious, very real about big time adventure.
There are key measures we should consider here. After years as being the heaviest kid in the class, Triumph has at last seriously attacked the Tiger’s excess girth, to the tune of shedding a claimed 25kg. It now undercuts the Bavarian master but a fair margin. It’s also lost a fair few cc’s, down from 1215cc to 1160cc. But this smaller motor is more powerful, pushing out nine more horsepower, to hit a peak of 148hp at 9000rpm, and the torque is up too. And in Rally Pro and Rally Explorer guises it’s got a full 220mm of suspension front and rear, while rolling on a 21” front and 18” rear.
There’s a new look, too. The headlamp might remind us slightly of H-D’s Pan America just a little for the wide horizontal daylight running light, but the rest of the looks are a lot closer to the GS. And if you watch the promo video which very much looks like it was filmed at Lockhart Basin in Utah (we know all about that, here at RUST) you can see the dynamic is very, er, dynamic! Ah yes, and while we’re very dirt oriented here at RUST, we have mention that in all there’ll be five Tiger 1200 variants, with three street-biased GT models and two dirt-biased Rally models. In both types you can opt for a long range model with a 30-litre tank (very GSA…).
And one more standout feature – the tri-link swingarm, which certainly is a significant departure from the mono-arm that went before, being two-sided, 1.5kg lighter and featuring an interesting linkage system that runs from the axle to the swingarm pivot.
Here’s Triumph’s abbreviated tech run-down…
The all-new Tiger 1200 Family
- Tiger 1200 GT family; tailor made for the perfect road-focused adventure ride,
with 19” front and 18” rear cast aluminium wheels- Tiger 1200 GT (20 litre tank)
- Tiger 1200 GT Pro (20 litre tank)
- Tiger 1200 GT Explorer (30 litre tank)
- Tiger 1200 Rally family; tailor made for the perfect all-terrain adventure, with 21” front
and 18” rear tubeless spoked wheels- Tiger 1200 Rally Pro (20 litre tank)
- Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer (30 litre tank)
Transformation in weight, capability and specification
- Significantly lighter
- More than 25kg lighter than the previous generation
- Up to 17kg lighter than the closest shaft drive competition
(based on a comparable specification of motorcycle)
- New dedicated wheel dimensions for enhanced capability tailored to the ride
- 21” front / 18” rear tubeless spoked set-up for off-road supremacy
(Rally Pro & Rally Explorer) - 19” front / 18” rear cast aluminium set-up for dynamic road riding capability
(GT, GT Pro & GT Explorer)
- 21” front / 18” rear tubeless spoked set-up for off-road supremacy
- New fuel tank capacities
- 20 litre (GT, GT Pro & Rally Pro)
- 30 litre (GT Explorer & Rally Explorer)
- All-new light weight chassis and class-leading specification of equipment
- New lightweight frame with bolt-on rear aluminium subframe and pillion hangers
- New lighter and stronger ‘tri-link’ swingarm
- New category-leading Brembo Stylema® monobloc brakes
plus optimised cornering ABS with IMU - Advanced Showa semi-active suspension set-up tuned for
maximum road and off-road capability
- Slimmer waist and a more compact overall design
- New rider ergonomics designed for a comfortable and stable ride
- Adjustable seat height, which can be lowered even further with an accessory low seat
All-new T-plane triple engine advantage
- New 1160cc triple engine, designed to set a new benchmark for engine character
- More power with 150PS at 9,000rpm and more torque with 130Nm at 7,000rpm.
9PS more than the previous generation, and 14PS more than the closest shaft drive competition - Unique T-plane triple crank with uneven firing order
- Enhanced low down tractability and responsiveness
- More exciting and engaging mid-range to top-end response and feel
- Improved acceleration
- More characterful and distinctive soundtrack
- New lightweight low maintenance shaft drive
All-new comprehensive technology package
- All-new Triumph Blind Spot Radar System, developed in partnership with Continental
(GT Explorer and Rally Explorer only) - All-new Showa semi-active suspension set-up for dynamic rider control
- All-new 7” TFT instruments with integrated My Triumph Connectivity System
- Optimised Cornering Traction Control with IMU
- Up to six riding modes
- All-new keyless system, including ignition, steering lock and fuel cap
- All-new LED lighting with DRL, plus Adaptive Cornering Lights (not available on GT)
- Triumph Shift Assist (standard on all except GT)
- Heated grips and seats (heated seats standard on GT Explorer & Rally Explorer only)
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (standard on GT Explorer & Rally Explorer only)
- Hill Hold (not available on GT)
New distinctive and purposeful style, poise and attitude
- More dominant adventure focused stance and poise with new bodywork,
new twin radiator design and minimal new silencer - New rider ergonomics with tailored bar and peg positions
- All-new bodywork
- Premium detailing and finish
- New colour schemes and graphics for each family
Dedicated Tiger 1200 accessory range
- 50+ Genuine Triumph Accessories for capability, comfort, style, technology and protection
- Full luggage systems – all hard luggage developed in partnership with Givi
- New Trekker panniers – moulded luggage, side/corner opening
- New 52 litre Trekker twin helmet top box with upholstered passenger backrest
- New Expedition panniers – alloy luggage, top opening
- New 42 litre Expedition top box with two-piece passenger backrest
- Comprehensive protective range
- Precision engineered tubular stainless-steel engine and tank protection
- Heated seating options
- Rider, pillion, standard height and low seat options
- New Triumph Sena Bluetooth communication system
- Dedicated new partnership with the leading motorcycle communication brand, Triumph Sena headset featuring a new Harman Kardon sound system
Price, service and availability
- Three years unlimited mileage warranty, with the option to extend
- High service intervals: 10,000 miles (16,000 km) / 12 months
- Competitively priced, starting at £14,600 for the Tiger 1200 GT
- Available in dealers from Spring 2022
So, in short, Triumph started completely afresh with the new Tiger, the only things carried over from the old model is the name and colour palate…
