Triumph has finally spilled the beans on its thoroughly redesigned Tiger 1200. A substantial reduction in weight and an emphasis on power and handling is the name of the game for 2022. Bringing its big ADV into line with the 900s, the Tiger 1200 will be offered in five trims: GT, GT Pro, GT Explorer, Rally Pro, and Rally Explorer which follow the same naming scheme with the GT trims being more road-focused while the Rally versions offer off-road accoutrement such as larger wheels and more suspension travel. The Explorer models also hold 7.9 gallons of petrol with the other trims utilizing a 5.2 gallon tank.
The T-plane crank has made its way to the 1160 cc Triple with Triumph claiming 147.9 horsepower and 95.8 lb-ft of torque from the big Tiger. Showa semi-active suspension is equipped with the rear shaft drive using what Triumph is calling its “tri-link” suspension set up. Electronics are now thoroughly modern with the 1200s now equipped with much of what we saw on the 900s with the addition of blind-spot monitoring on the Explorer trims.
For a thorough overview of the new models, we’ve included Triumph’s press release below. To say we’re excited to test the Tiger 1200 line would be an understatement. If our time on the Tiger 900s is telling at all of the improvements to the new 1200s, the big adventure bike segment is showing no signs of cooling down any time soon. We’re told Spring 2022 for arrival in dealers, but we hope to get our grubby mitts on one as soon as possibly to bring a thorough ride review to MO’s digital pages.
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)
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)
The result of one of the most ambitious projects in Triumph’s history, the all-new Tiger 1200 line-up represents a transformation in weight, performance and capability, all focused on delivering every advantage a rider is looking for in their adventure motorcycle. Building on the previous generation’s strengths, including its practical shaft drive set-up and its great long-distance comfort, plus the triple engine platform which suits touring so well, the new Tiger line-up introduces a new generation of T-plane triple engine, lightweight chassis and advanced technology – all focused on delivering the most agile and capable large capacity adventure motorcycle you can buy. With all-new names to reflect the new capability, each Tiger 1200 model is now more tailored and focused to suit the adventures that different riders want.
The new road-focused GT and higher spec GT Pro come with cast wheels, 19” on the front and 18” on the rear, plus all-new Showa semi-active suspension, tuned to deliver the ultimate road-focused adventure ride.
With the new Rally Pro, this brings for the first time a dedicated 21” front and 18” rear tubeless wire-spoked wheel set-up, plus the new Showa semi-active suspension with even longer travel, tuned to deliver the ultimate in all-terrain riding, off-road and on.
Completing the new 5 bike line-up, for the first time Triumph introduces two new 30 litre tank Tigers, with the new Rally Explorer and the GT Explorer – the only cast wheel, 30 litre tank, adventure bike in the class. Both featuring the new Triumph Blind Spot Radar system, these bikes are built to travel the world in comfort and style, with the highest level of specification and capability ever.
Designed to deliver all the advantages that have made the Triumph Tiger 900 so successful in the middleweight category, the new the T-plane triple crank brings the best of both worlds, with the low down tractability of a twin at the bottom end, making it great off road, combined with the performance benefits of a triple at the top end, which makes the Tiger even better on the road where riders spend most of their time. Technically, the T-plane crank gives the new Tiger 1200 engine firing pulses at 180, 270 and 270 degrees, resulting in one short gap and two long gaps between the firing, delivering improved character and tractability at low rpm.
The new 1160cc engine brings a major step up in performance with 150PS peak power at 9,000rpm, 9PS up on the previous generation, making it the most powerful shaft drive motorcycle in the class. The torque is also significantly higher than the previous generation, with 130Nm of peak torque at 7,000rpm, 8Nm up on the previous engine.
In addition to the step-up in power and torque, the new engine, tune and T-plane triple crank also bring improved acceleration and a much more responsive and exciting character, where the uneven firing interval gives excellent feel and tractability at the bottom end, combined with the really strong triple power and torque delivery all the way through the rev range. Completing the transformation, every Tiger features the new lightweight low-maintenance shaft drive, a key practical advantage valued by adventure touring riders.
Compared to the previous generation engine, absolutely everything is new, including new bore and stroke, crank, cylinder head, gearbox and clutch, and a completely new shaft drive and bevel box. Overall, every single component has been designed to be significantly lighter and more compact, which has allowed the new engine to have a much tighter overall package, transforming the riding dynamics.
Add to that the new minimal lightweight silencer, and the result is a significantly enhanced soundtrack, with a new distinctive triple tone and bark.
The Tiger 1200 has been designed to set the new benchmark for road and off-road adventure handling, courtesy of a major reduction in weight, an all-new lightweight chassis, a class-leading specification of equipment and all-new rider ergonomics.
Following an extensive mass optimisation programme across the whole bike, encompassing every component, the new generation is now more than 25kg lighter than the previous Tiger, and up to 17kg lighter than the closest shaft drive competition, based on a comparable specification of motorcycle.
For this new generation, each Tiger 1200 family now comes equipped with dedicated wheel dimensions, tailored to suit the adventures that different riders want. On the Rally Pro and Rally Explorer, there is a 21”/18” tubeless spoked set-up for incredible all-road ability, and on the GT, GT Pro and GT Explorer there is 19”/18” cast aluminium arrangement for more dynamic road riding ability.
Ensuring outstanding grip and stability, Metzeler Tourance™ tyres are fitted to all of the GT models, while the Rally models feature Metzeler Karoo Street™ tyres for true all-terrain riding. For advanced off-road riding, the Michelin Anakee Wild is the handbook approved option.
Class-leading Brembo Stylema® brakes are fitted to all Tiger 1200 models for powerful and progressive performance. These have been selected to meet the demands of long distance road riding and the advanced off-road adventure capability of the Rally models.
The incredible stopping power provided by the Brembo calipers is managed by the advanced Optimised Cornering ABS system fitted to all of the new models, which is supported by a sophisticated IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), which continuously measures the motorcycle’s movement (pitch rate, yaw rate, roll rate, vertical acceleration, lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration) to calculate the lean angle of the bike and deliver the optimum level of ABS intervention. Magura HC-1 levers, adjustable for reach, deliver a progressive feel and further enhance rider comfort and control.
Making a significant contribution to the transformation in weight and handling capability, the Tiger’s new frame, which is 5.4kg lighter than the previous design, features a bolt-on aluminium rear sub-frame and bolt-on pillion hangers, enhancements developed from customer feedback.
Additional weight savings comes from the new aluminium fuel tank and all-new tri-link swingarm, which is 1.5kg lighter and stronger than the previous single-sided set-up, and incorporates a smaller and lighter shaft drive and bevel box.
Bringing the rider enhanced confidence at low speeds and during non-riding manoeuvres, as well as enhanced comfort and control, all of the new 1200s come with new seat and tank ergonomics, where the seat has been slimmed down at the front, where it meets the tank. To further enable each rider to find their comfort zone, all models feature a built-in easily adjustable two-position seat mechanism which enables the rider to change the seat height by 20mm to their preferred set-up.
For the GT, GT Pro and GT Explorer there are two seat height settings – 850mm and 870mm, while for the Rally Pro and Rally Explorer these are 875mm and 895mm. Through the accessory-fit low seat option, customers will also be able to lower the seat position by an additional 20mm.
A further enhancement to comfort is provided by the new easily adjustable screen, with a simple one-handed adjustment mechanism, plus new aero screen diffusers that deflect the wind off both the rider and pillion.
Each model family has been designed with a more focused look, with the GT family delivering even more road biased style, whilst the Rally family brings even more off-road attitude and stance, courtesy of the new 21’’ front wheel set-up.
The new generation also features a much slimmer waist and more compact design with narrower stand over, which not only makes it easier to get your feet on the floor, but also makes it easier to move around on while riding.