As Triumph teased last week, the Tiger 1200 line has been overhauled to bring it into the future. The changes are mostly minor, but there are many updates, which should result in a significantly improved motorcycle when they’re all added together.
First off, the motor has been revised, but Triumph isn’t saying much about what’s changed; displacement and output remain unchanged, so performance gains will have to come from the weight savings Triumph claims (although the bike does supposedly have more down-low power).
According to Hinkley, the 1200 models (the dirt-oriented XC model and the street-oriented XR model) have lost up to 11 kg due to trimming down the chassis, including a lighter exhaust (for the top spec models, the exhaust is by Arrow from titanium and carbon-fibre), and tinkering with engine internals.
Overall, Triumph says the platform saw over 100 changes. Most of them aren’t screamingly obvious. There’s a new semi-active suspension system from WP, and an inertial measurement unit that allows Triumph to include cornering ABS (necessary to keep up with the competition in this segment now). Triumph included adaptive cornering lights, updated traction control, electronically-adjustable windscreen, LED lighting all around, heated seats, and up/down quickshifter. There’s also a five-inch colour TFT dash, illuminated switchgear, and keyless ignition.
None of those upgrades are make-or-break deals on their own, but throw them all on a bike, and a prospective buyer now sees a machine that has everything the modern sport touring rider adventure rider has come to expect.
Triumph also updated the ECU and ride-by-wire throttle system; there are now six riding modes, but the electronic trickery can also be disabled with the Off-Road Pro mode.
As usual when Triumph updates the Tiger line, there’s a confusing array of models in the 1200 lineup, some aimed at street use and some at dirt. Check out Triumph’s Canadian website for a further breakdown of the differences between the various XR and XC models. We’d expect to see most, if not all, of these bikes make it to Canada, but we’re not sure of timing or pricing yet.
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