Triumph have just launched their brand-new Tiger 1200 range! This includes three more road focused GT models (standard GT, higher spec GT Pro and GT Explorer featuring a 30 liter tank for long-distance traveling). And of course the more off-road capable Tiger 1200 Rally range: the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro and the Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer!
I count myself incredibly lucky that I was able to take the new Tiger 1200 Rally Pro for a little spin ahead of the global Tiger 1200 reveal! Whereas I didn’t have enough time on the bike to provide a detailed ride report, I do want to share my first impressions with you. I am also very familiar with the Tiger 900 Rally Pro, having ridden over 15,000 + miles on it since its launch, so I will also point out some similarities and differences, for those wanting to make up their mind between the Tiger 900 Rally Pro vs Tiger 1200 Rally Pro.
My First Impressions
My first thought was: “Wow. The Tiger 1200 doesn’t actually look much bigger than the Tiger 900”. It has the same slim and narrow design which I really love.
Next the 21 inch front wheel stood out immediately. As a tall rider (I’m 1.80 m) who doesn’t struggle with the seat height, having maximum ground clearance is a huge advantage!
Then my eyes caught the shaft drive and I thought “yes”!! When you live on the road, having one less thing to maintain is a big bonus!
But of course what left me speechless was the low weight of the bike! It feels light and easy to handle. I honestly can’t wait to put some proper mileage onto the Tiger 1200 and take it off-road!
Tiger 1200 Rally Pro vs Tiger 900 Rally Pro
As I know the Tiger 900 Rally Pro so well, I was happy to see some of my favourite features carried over to the Tiger 1200. Let’s take a look at some of the similarities and then dive into all the new features the new Tiger 1200 Rally Pro offers!
T-Plane Triple Engine
The Tiger 1200 features the same T-plane triple engine featuring the new 1-3-2 firing order. But what does that actually mean? Simply put, the bike feels like a V twin at lower speeds to provide a better off-road riding experience but delivers all the benefits of a triple engine at higher speeds. You are essentially getting the best of both worlds!
7 inch TFT Screen
The 7 inch TFT screen displays the information crisp & clear. You can change the colours and layout however you like. And the graphics on the new Tiger 1200 are now even better!
6 Riding Modes
You can select one of 6 Riding Modes from the home screen. Choose between standard Road riding, Rain, Sport mode and two off-road modes. The regular Off-road mode will disable ABS on the rear wheel, whereas Off-road Pro removes it completely and also switches off Traction Control. And just in case that’s not enough you can even fully customise your own Rider mode. Honestly, I never tried as I feel that the various riding modes cover any riding situation I might find myself in already. But I think it’s pretty impressive to have this option!
Easily Adjustable Seat & Windscreen
The windscreen is easily adjustable to suit your adventure! You can lower the windscreen for off-road riding and raise it up for touring! I really like this feature as Adventure Bikes often come with tiny little windscreens designed for off-road riding. They often aren’t suitable for long-distance travelling. However, the new aero windscreen on the Tiger 1200 deflects even more wind providing maximum comfort for long-distance riding!
The seat is also easily adjustable by 2 cm. At my height I prefer the higher seating position. However, when riding two up fully loaded off-road I like the option of lowering the seat to give me a bit more confidence that I can still reach the ground on uneven terrain. You can also purchase a lower seat option which will reduce the height by an additional 2cm. The standard seat height on the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro is 875-895mm.
My Triumph Connectivity App
Underneath the seat is a little storage with usb charger. So you can charge your phone on the go and control calls and music via Bluetooth using the “My Triumph Connectivity” app. You can also access turn-by-turn navigation via the app. It works pretty well but I still like seeing a map, so personally I prefer to use Google Maps on my phone instead.
Control your Go-Pro on the go! We don’t use this feature enough because having the Go-Pro in stand-by drains the battery faster. But when we ride off-road it’s so handy not having to stop and start all the time. You can also see on the screen that the camera is actively recording so you are less likely to accidentally record or even worse think you are recording when you are not!
Quickshifter & Cruise Control
The new Tiger 1200 also has a quickshifter. Having enjoyed it on the Tiger 900 Rally Pro for the last couple of years I have to say I would miss not having one anymore. It’s so much fun in the twisties and surprisingly handy when switching gears off-road.
Cruise control is another very useful feature and really handy for the occasional long, mandane rides down the highway. I also find that I tend to go too fast on boring straight stretches so cruise control definitely helps me avoid those speeding tickets 😉
Tubeless Tyres
Both the 21” front and 18” rear spoked wheels are tubeless
New Tiger 1200 Rally Pro Features
Now let’s take a look at all the fantastic NEW FEATURES you can expect from the TIGER 1200 RALLY PRO:
Keyless Drive
Keyless Drive including ignition, steering lock and fuel cap. Opinions always seem divided on this one, personally I love it!
Shaft Drive
Lightweight shaft drive. Again, for someone who travels permanently, the lower the maintenance the better!
Hill Hold
Hill Hold prevents the Tiger 1200 from rolling backwards by applying the rear brake until sensing that the rider is starting to move off. Although I never had issues starting on a hill I am embarrassed to admit that we did roll backwards once down a steep hill in Costa Rica. Our break pads were completely worn out and I panicked on a steep hair pin turn. I didn’t have the reflex back then to stall the bike in gear, so instead I pulled the clutch in and we essentially started rolling backwards. A horrible feeling! I doubt it would ever happen again (lesson learnt!) but nonetheless I think Hill Hold is a pretty useful feature to have!
Semi-Active Suspension
Showa semi-active suspension automatically adapts the pre-load for each riding mode. The rider is then able to adjust the front and rear suspension damping, which can be selected from 9 predefined settings. This can all be easily selected directly from the TFT screen. Now this is something I missed on the Tiger 900 Rally Pro and I’m very happy to see this feature on the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro!
Magura HC-1 Lever
The lightweight, compact Magura front brake and hydraulic clutch are easily adjustable and offer better feel and control off-road!
Brembo Stylema Monobloc Brakes
New category leading Brembo Stylema Monobloc brakes. As somebody who has been in a head-on collision I certainly appreciate having the best quality and most responsive brakes available!
LED Lights with Adaptive Cornering
The new Tiger 1200 Rally Pro also features a lightweight silencer and new LED lights with adaptive cornering
How does the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro compare to the old Tiger 1200?
It truly is a completely new bike compared to the old Tiger 1200 which was quite top heavy. The new Tiger 1200 is a complete transformation in weight, performance and capability and a whole 25 kg lighter than the old model! A lot of the weight loss comes from the new lightweight frame which is about 5 kg lighter.
But the Tiger 1200 is not only significantly lighter than the previous model, it is also significantly lighter than its closest competition! If you compare it to the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure, you’ll find that the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro is 19 kilos lighter!
The Tiger 1200 Rally Pro weighs 249 kg (wet)
In COMPARISON the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure weighs 268 kg
How much will the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro set you back?
The cost of the new Tiger 1200 Rally Pro is £ 17,700 ($ 22,500).
It’s available in the following colours: Matt Khaki, Sapphire Black and Snowdonia White.
The high service intervals of 10,000 miles help keep the maintenance costs down!
And if this is your first Triumph motorcycle, you will benefit from 3 years warranty (unlimited mileage) which can also be extended!
What accessories are available?
Triumph provides 50+ accessories to fully customise the style, comfort, technology and protection of the bike covering everything from luggage system, crash bars, seating options and even a Bluetooth communication system designed in partnership with Sena to offer an improved sound system!
Tiger 1200 Rally Pro vs Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer
I have only had the chance to ride the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro (not Explorer). But let’s have a quick look at the ADDITIONAL FEATURES you can expect from the higher spec TIGER 1200 RALLY EXPLORER:
- The 30 liter tank offers a fantastic range of up to 600 km for long-distance riding
- The Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer has higher and wider handlebars for better off-road handling
- Both rider and pillion seats are heated and can be adjusted individually
- It has a newly developed Blind Spot Radar system. Blind Spot Assist uses a rear facing radar to let you know when another vehicle is in your blind spot. Lane Change Assist gives off a warning if you want to change lanes while a vehicle is approaching!
- In addition to engine crash bars you also get fuel tank protection bars
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring
The Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer weighs 261 kg (wet)
Cost: £ 19,100 ($ 24,200)
COMPARISON: 7 kg lighter than BMW R 1250 GS ADVENTURE
Why I am tempted to switch to the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro
The Tiger 900 Rally Pro was love at first sight for me. But certainly after putting some proper mileage on it I was sure – this is the the perfect adventure bike for me! I have ridden a few 1200cc Adventure Bikes before (KTM, BWM) and I never felt I wanted such a big bike for a round-the-world trip! Why? I felt that the additional benefits (more comfort, more power) outweighed the disadvantage of having a much heavier bike.
But now the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro is only 10% heavier than the Tiger 900 Rally Pro. That’s pretty impressive! And when I rode it, I really liked it.
It’s light, has a low centre of gravity and is very easy to handle and maneuver!
FIrst impressions riding the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro – Sandra (ADV TRavelbug)
Taking the Tiger 1200 for a spin has definitely inspired me to consider a larger Adventure Bike to continue my round-the-world travels on! Of course I need to spend much more time with it, take it on some adventures and most importantly see how I feel riding off-road with it. And I certainly can’t wait!
We’ll be sure to update you with a more detailed ride review next year after taking the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro for more than just a spin!
We hope you enjoyed reading about our first impressions of the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro. Check out our YouTube video as well and stay tuned for more updates! We’d also love to hear your comments below. Looking forward to the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro? Do you have any questions or feedback on this blog post? Let us know below 🙂
