Triumph Tiger 1200: more touring, more high-tech, less off-road

At the heart of the large-displacement enduro remains the characterful 1200cc three-cylinder engine with its irregular firing order of 0°–180°–450°–720°, known by Triumph as the ‘T-Plane’. Its power output has been increased by 8 PS for the new model generation, now reaching 158 PS at 9250 rpm. Maximum torque of 130 Nm is available at 6750 rpm.

Thanks to a redesigned cylinder head, lighter valves, optimised pistons and a refined balance shaft, the engine not only runs more smoothly but also delivers more power in the lower rev range. Shorter gear ratios in the first three gears and a crawling speed in first gear reduced by 6 km/h make manoeuvring and driving in slow-moving city traffic noticeably easier. Revised gearbox and cardan shaft components round off the mechanical refinements.

Eigene Mode-Taste für das semiaktive Fahrwerk von Showa

Foto: Triumph Motorcycles

One of the most striking innovations concerns the chassis and wheel configuration: All four variants – GT Pro, Rally Pro, GT Explorer and Rally Explorer – are fitted uniformly with a combination of a 19-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel, each with 200 mm of suspension travel. Whilst the GT models feature sporty, lightweight cast wheels, the Rally variants are fitted with more robust spoked wheels.

Triumph had previously promised the most advanced suspension in the Triumph range. This refers to the semi-active Showa Eera Heightflex system – currently Showa’s most advanced suspension system – with which all variants of the 2027 model year Triumph Tiger 1200 are the first motorcycles in the world to be equipped. A dedicated button allows the rider to select from three suspension settings: Firm, Medium and Soft. Naturally, the spring preload of the central shock absorber is adjusted to the load condition to ensure the ride geometry is always correct. There is also an automatic ride height reduction feature, whereby the system automatically lowers the seat height by 30 mm when the bike comes to a stop. In combination with the optionally available lowest seat, the seat height can be lowered to 790 mm when riding on sand. This means that, when stationary, the touring enduro is no taller than a road motorbike. Furthermore, raising the bike onto the centre stand is made significantly easier by a temporary spring preload increase known as Centre Stand Assist.

Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer: Komfortabel durchs Outback

Foto: Triumph Motorcycles

The Triumph Tiger 1200 is equipped with the Bosch ARAS rider assistance system featuring front and rear radar. As well as adaptive cruise control with cornering and group riding assist, the package also includes blind-spot warning, distance warning, emergency braking assist and forward collision warning with haptic feedback via the brake pedal.

The interface for the rider is a new 7-inch TFT touchscreen, which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This allows the smartphone display to be mirrored onto the touchscreen and used for navigation, communication and media playback. This is complemented by a cooled, waterproof storage compartment integrated into the fuel tank, featuring a USB-C fast-charging port.

The new design makes the 1200 Tiger models sleeker and incorporates adaptive LED cornering lights. Triumph distinguishes between the Pro variants, which feature a 20-litre fuel tank, and the long-distance-capable Explorer models, which come with a 30-litre fuel tank, a tyre pressure monitoring system, wider handlebars and comprehensive engine guards.

High-quality Brembo Stylema monoblock brake calipers, working in conjunction with a Magura radial brake master cylinder, continue to ensure adequate braking performance. The ‘Tri-Link’ swingarm design with integrated cardan drive, which minimises cardan torque, has also been retained.

Radar an der Front für das Bosch ARAS-Fahrerassistenzsystem

Foto: Triumph Motorcycles

Generous service intervals of 16,000 km or 12 months underline the touring credentials of the new British flagship touring enduro, whereas its off-road capabilities, with a 19-inch front wheel and a kerb weight of 250 to 268 kg without optional accessories, take a back seat.

The models, which are available to order now, start with the Tiger 1200 GT Pro at €21,395, whilst the most expensive variant, the 1200 Rally Explorer, is priced at €23,995. The price range in Switzerland is from CHF 22,695 to CHF 24,995, and in Austria from €23,695 to €26,495, with deliveries to dealers set to begin in December 2026.