Adventure bikes come with tall seats, and that’s a problem for many riders. So how do we get the ground clearance that ADVers need while also keeping the bikes easy-to-ride? The Triumph Tiger 1200 series answers that question with a new auto-lowering feature. For 2023, the whole lineup of Tiger 1200s gets the new Active Preload Reduction technology.
This technology will see the bike drop as much as 20mm when it rolls up to a stop, by reducing the suspension preload. Here’s how Triumph says it works:
The new Active Preload Reduction feature allows these seat heights to be reduced further. Depending on the combined weight of the rider, pillion, and luggage this could further lower the height by up to .78” (20mm) when the motorcycle comes to a standstill, offering the rider greater ease and confidence. New Tiger 1200 owners will be able to access this new minimum preload feature by simply pressing the ‘Home’ button on the right switch cube for one second, as the feature will now come standard on all new Tiger 1200 motorcycles.
So—it’s not automated. It only activates if the rider presses the correct button. That may alleviate some riders’ fears of malfunction. And while it isn’t a huge difference in height, it may be enough to make some riders feel more comfortable with their bikes at a stop.
Given Triumph’s availability of Low accessory seats, this allows them to have some of the lowest ADV bike seats on the market right now, making their machines more accessible. And Triumph also tells us that this feature is now available on 2022 Tiger 1200s as a retro-fit at no cost to the customer. The next time you bring your bike in for a paid service, the techs can plug in a software upgrade that enables this Active Preload Reduction system. Ask your local dealership for more details on that, if you’ve already bought one of these flagship ADVs.
Is this good news for buyers? Offering the feature at no added cost premium is positive (although it’s obviously baked into the MSRP), and considering how many riders previously avoided adventure bikes due to the awkward ergos, this may open up the ADV scene to a lot of new motorcyclists.
