I’ve had mine for 2,000 miles, same exact bike as in the video. Coming from an older GSA, I love this Tiger and am happy with my choice to go with Triumph. I’m over 6 feet tall (190cm) and do not find the weight to be an issue, although it does feel heavier than other bikes when at walking speed. Off-road it actually does pretty well since they did a nice job with the Off-road mode. But, I really see this bike as a long distance tourer where you can ride some gravel roads along the way. It’s by far the nicest bike I’ve had for setting cruise control at 75 and cruising for a couple hours, and it handles great on curvy roads too. Definitely not an urban commuter. Overall I think it’s a much nicer and purpose built bike than many of the reviews give it credit for.
Thanks for the review, i just purchased this exact bike four weeks ago and so far I love it, Triumph had a special for the month of May for free panniers, but I had to buy the top box, the box catches and locks were giving you a hard time but mine operate smooth as butter, I took the bike for a tour to the coast of California and it was a pleasure to ride, the power is incredible and you just have to love the smooth sound of that triple engine, I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think this Tiger is beautiful in the looks department. I'm 5'9" 185 lbs and I feel comfortable moving it around, it is heavy mind you, I had the panniers off and was lane splitting through the coast of Santa Cruz because I was following a group of people and traffic was gridlock, so I had to be careful. Ridding this bike at home with temps at 100F you can feel the heat from this engine on your legs and crotch, but at the coast, 60F and 70F I couldn't feel any heat. The wind screen in the up position does hit my helmet and there is wind buffeting, but maybe the buffeting is from my Arai Signet-X helmet, I could try a wind shield extension and see if that helps or another style of helmet, but I do need the air flow in the hotter temps. I changed my oil at the 500 mile service but I hate that I need to still take the bike to the Triumph dealer for them to reset the service warning message on the tft display. So far I'm really happy with my purchase, but time will tell. Thanks again for your reviews.
Thank you for another cracking video. I popped off to my local dealer today to try a Tiger 1050 (currently on a Sprint GT) but felt the knee position was not that much improved for me so jumped on a Tiger 1200 (XC model) and when I felt the weight an size just jumped off and thought "bugger, what am I going to do", salesman sat me on a Tiger 1200 XRx low - what a difference! Went for a ride, loved it and felt so maneuverable . Thanks for all your video's.
I think the triumph is at the level of the Gs, design well achieved and personally the noise of three cylinders engine is fantastic. Great review mate, as always. cheers Ed.
I've just taken hold of the 2019 xrt as you said a bit of a beast, took it to Devon for a 5 day tour 2 up plus luggage weighing in close to 500kl Total 740 miles, once moving great bike was a little scary coming out of lymouth up the hill lol, the power on overtake was amazing but had to cover the rear brake as kept trying to lift the front up 😅, was getting an average 47.5mpg during that time, by myself 52mpg and I'm a progressive rider. Great review as always 👍
Thanks for the review, I believe you never mentioned anything about the transmission. When I test rode one it was one of the best shifting bikes I ever rode, especially compared to the 16' GSA.
Those panniers look just like the Givi Trekker Outback panniers and if the info I got at my local dealer is correct, Givi makes them for Triumph. They are EXCELLENT panniers, especially the top box. I have no idea why you were struggling so much with that top box. Mine works like a charm and I use it daily when I commute to and from work. I purchased a larger pannier (48L?) for the non-exhaust side and that one can also fit a full face large helmet. I've done trips long distance trips two up and went camping in death valley with those panniers. Never had an issue. In fact, on my way to Death Valley, CA I was riding in the rain and the dark and hit a construction cone with my left pannier. I heard a LOUD thud and immediately pulled over as I thought my pannier was surely gone or badly damaged. Not even a scratch! The pannier was solid even though I hit the cone at like 40mph. Paint the panniers? WHY?! You are supposed to lubricate them with a special light oil in order to protect them after you clean them. I absolutely love my 2011 Tiger 800XC even though there are a few points of improvement. One, is that there is too much heat coming from the engine when you ride the bike below 45 mph over a long period of time. Two, the bike is a bit to low for me. I find myself scraping pegs or the bottom of the bash plate when I ride two up or even solo during cornering. They need to increase the clearance at the bottom or improve the suspension which they did with the newer models. Triumph also needs to try and lower the center of gravity. Perhaps redesign the fuel tank? Besides that, this is probably one of the best touring options for people who like to travel and camp on a motorcycle. The 2018 Tiger 1200 and BMW 1200GS are both on my short list. Its sad to know that most people won't take the thing off road because thats partly what the bike is made for, especially the xCA version. I simply recommend installing some BarkBuster hand guards before taking it off road. I probably wouldn't do too much single track on the thing unless I was riding with others and it was relatively smooth. I love pushing bikes to their limits and think this bike would be ideal for a cross-country trip to Canada or Alaska during the summer. Plenty of beautiful places out there that are only accessible by dirt roads. Throw some TKC80s on this bike and it would eat all the offload you can feed it, assuming you feel comfortable pushing it a bit (I would). I've done some really gnarly stuff on my 2011 800xc in Death Valley and up north in Oregon. With the right tires, you would be surprised by what these bikes can do. I mean, I've had mine airborne and it handled like a champ. I found that these bikes require somewhat of an aggressive approach as, like you said, they tend to feel a bit heavy at slower speeds. I still remember the grin on my face and the exhilarating feeling of getting the rear wheel to power slide through the corner. Just add throttle and let the bike do the rest. Absolutely addicting!
Having watched quite a few of your videos on all adventure bikes I have gone with the triumph 1200 xca and love the bike have done 5000 ks now and the only negative is I live in Australia and it's the start of summer yesterday I rode home an 8 hour trip the temperature was 36 deg and when I'm sitting on the bike I seem to end up up near the tank and I couldn't figure out why the Crown Jewels were so hot l checked I to make sure the seat heating was not on I got home got off the bike and felt the tank and couldn't believe how hot it was so I got a digital laser temp gauge and it read 68deg so will be limiting my rides to a lot shorter or the cooler months probably not the best choice for hot countries . But love the bike .keep the videos coming thanks rod
Hi TMF. Great review. Many thanks. I know this video is nearly a year old, i'm playing catch up. I recently purchased the 1200 XRT. Funnily enough in my quest of wanting a shafty for long distance touring, I went to Triumph instead of BMW. I have had an older GS in the USA, and I had an older Tiger 900 here in the UK, years ago. Just thought I'd raise a point about the seat height. Looking at your long term bike in the video and mine in my garage. You have the seat in its highest position not the lowest. Therefore your feet would probably be more planted than you were saying, if you had adjusted it down. Many thanks again.
I've got one of these and I love it. I don't like display lag when interacting with the TFT; the Low Fuel light comes on with 1.6 gallons in the tank (not 1 gallon like it's suppose to); I personally get only 37 MPG; the clutch doesn't grab soon enough and when it does it's too long (I stall it more often than I'd like to admit); Hill Hold is a guaranteed stall if you don't dis-engage it before moving; it vibrates more than it should; Weight is an issue only when in slow awkward speeds/moving it around the garage; Cuts out at 130 MPH; it's too damn hot when over 75 degrees. I'm 6'2" 170 LBS and it fits great! Love everything else, and there is a LOT to love.
@@TheMissendenFlyer I removed the adjuster knob on the clutch lever, this brings the lever closer to the handle bar and I find it helps the clutch release feeling quite a bit. I guess I could have replaced the clutch lever with a shorter throw one but I am cheap.
After first 2,000Km I’m so impressed with ‘18. Tiger. Comparing it to my previous bike Tracer900, it is heavier, but much stable at slow speeds. I’m 5’5” and lowered it 1.5cm at forks. Bike is made for touring, can take bad roads, gravel and trails. Have tried it on gravel and suspension is amazing. Looking forward my ‘19. tour.
Great review, I've just ordered mine with a low seat (1200 xrt), I think as a gs rider you overemphasise the top heaviness of the tiger, it is amazing how light it is to pick up from the side stand compared to my 800xca and I don't give that a second thought now I am used to it, I love the flexibility of the triple as a road bike. Wish triumph would offer all the specs in low version though and I agree keyless is dubious advantage
@@gregmatty6393 you are correct, in hindsight I would have bought the low version and added the toys, don't tell tmf but it's a bit daunting wheeling the big one out of the garage too now that I have had it long enough to evaluate.
@@malcolmmuirhead8833 No worries. So you did buy the bike? The fully kitted XRT? Here in the US the low versions are hard to find but I'm looking for a discounted 2019 somewhere. I am also in the 5'9" club and while the bike on the showroom floor (XRT not XRX-low) feels just fine, add 5 gallons of fuel and 50 pounds of luggage and the bike becomes tricky to manage in parking lot maneuvers and jockeying back and forth. What kind of fuel range to you see? I am hoping for 45 miles per US gallon on average. I don't ride aggressively that often and can easily keep speed and associated fuel economy in check if I know it is a while between fill ups. Any blog or trip report with you and your Tiger? I love to see photos of bikes on trips in foreign places. Ride safe and keep the germs away.
Thanks a lot for the rewiew. I own a Tracer 900 and i'm going for a Tiger 1200! I'm not tall, 1,73cm, but i've tested the Tiger and felt much more confortable than the tracer or the Kawasaki versys 1000 se, 2019! I tested the Tiger on motorway, Traffic and on road and always felt great! Never feared to let her fall! About the weigth... I don't see how can you claim the GS has less than the Tiger... I have a technical magazine at my side with the specifications of both and the GS has One more kg than the Tiger...so the GS is heavier! The Tiger is much more stylish! Exclusive! Better engine! I'm in love 😂 i just can't see how you can prefer a german bike! Having such a British Treasure!😉 Greetings from Portugal and Ride safe.
It's not the weight that's the problem, it's where the Tiger carries it (high up) that makes it so lardy compared to the GS....sales figures speak for themselves!
Honest review, would still have one over the GS. Agree completely re fuel economy, its poor, my 16 year old bandit gets better mileage, but then the 1200 goes like stink and is extremely good fun in the twisties so I can live with it. There is another vid on this tube thing here about the panniers and how high they sit affecting pillion leg room. Current set up works for me as I rarely carry a pillion but others might find it useful to look up if they are considering the bike, there is a fix for it, at a cost!. Any bike with panniers is a bitch to filter, take them off and its no issue in normal traffic situations. Clutch you get used to, balance is a matter of familiarity, washing it is a pain, looks are a personal thing, I like them, although not a huge fan of any of the new colours or the stupid 1200 decals. You are spot on with the finish of the panniers, I didn't ACF mine and the salt has made them look very old after one winter. Stand closer to the bike when you move it, its easier to control the weight, although it is bloody heavy, no denying. Highish service costs are to be expected with a big fully loaded bike. Look forward to seeing what they can do with a few more years development.
I bought a 2004 Tiger 955i with 20,000 miles in 2010 and put 45,000 more miles on it since... and it's been a fantastic bike. Love the triple and though they're very top heavy bikes, on the road the silky smooth throttle is very enjoyable and the high cog isn't an issue. The bike has been totally reliable, and while I have my Multi apart for some mods I've been riding the old Tiger all week and enjoying the laid back manners (compared to the Duc... which is a leashed beast). If someone is looking for a comfortable road bike with a bit more suspension and ability to deal with dirt roads the Tiger is worth a look. Nothing wrong with the GS (I rent them whenever I'm in Germany in the Summer), but if you don't need the better dirt performance of the Beemer then the Tiger may be a good choice .
When my beloved Multi's electronics cratered the dealer gave me an excellent trade on a new old stock '14 Speed Triple 1050R. I threw on a set of Motech soft bags and put 12,000 miles on it in two years without a hitch. Triumph's triples are amazingly rewarding engines. I miss the Multi's rush though. Once you let the demon out of the box... !
I really like the sound of the Triple too... pretty unique. My bike has a pretty loud (Triumph branded but not stock) exhaust and on the throttle the bike sounds fantastic. I bought the Multi new in 15 because I was worried that the Tiger with 60,000 miles would start to have mechanical issues (especially on the long tours I take) but I suspect it will continue to run as a fun backup bike for many years to come (I'm only putting 2k miles a year on the Tiger these days). I certainly don't regret the Multi - it's an amazing mix of gonzo sportbike and comfortable distance tourer that I don't think any other bike quite matches - but I'll always have a soft spot for the Tiger.
Absolutely Brilliant!! Excellent review. Confirmed everything I had hoped for and just bought a 2017 XRx yesterday with only 5500miles. 1) Agree about the panniers and, thankfully, mine has none. I'm diehard soft-luggage guy and my Kriega bags will fit like a glove. FAR less weight. 2) At 6'2", 230 (105kg), this bike was perfect. Definitely feel like I'm sitting IN the bike and not ON it. 3) Having the front forks compress when braking is the essence of trail braking and loads up the front contact patch to give more grip in the twisties. I would rather control that myself than rely on electronics. Can't wait to get to the mountains! 4) The switchgear and display on the 2017 are more simplistic (as am I) and easy to use, especially the heated grip and fog light actuators. 5) Handling: I came from a Super Ténéré with a trail of 4.9". The Tiger is 3.9 so I will anticipate a more nimble and festive behavior on the paved backroads Thanks again for yet another superb video. I'll drop in a followup after I get several thousand miles in the rearview. Cheers!
Gotta say Mr flyer - great channel. I have the 2017 - xcx just cam back from gravel roads, twisties and motorways. It was brilliant . Yes it’s a little heavy up too but that helps - on the road it’s great , on gravel and light trails it’s great . But with pillon - it gets a little too heavy even for me . But we must support triumph - British manufactures are like hens teeth - we must support them .... I commute and filter on mine! You have to get used to the bike - it takes time ....but British :)
41MPG to me seems like a good thing on a bike that size. Riding in cooler/colder weather always drops the MPG I see on both my bikes. My Kawi Versys 1000 gets right around 42MPG in winter and right around 48MPG in summer riding. The difference is significant. Just sharing data here. Love your channel, TMF!
I have the earlier incarnation of the 1215 model and just returned from a 1500 mile round trip to the Bad Kissengen overland show in Germany. I went fully loaded with camping kit and managed to get everything into the panniers, but I do have the larger 58L top box. My riding buddy came with me on his monstrous 1200 GS. We decided to fill up the bikes on one pump and later split the cost of fuel down the middle. Quite amazingly, both bikes took exactly the same amount of fuel every time. Doing the physical calculation we we doing 50mpg. His GS computer said the same. However, my Tigga told me I was only getting about 41 mpg. Mr Lazy decided to stay in a hotel instead so he was only carrying three T shirts and pair of clean pants (just in case) Chances are that I'f I'd be so lightly loaded I might have done better than him on the fuel. Lesson here is that the Triumph fuel computer is perhaps not to be considered accurate. Both bikes were faultless. Nice that the Triumph digital dash can be swapped to KMS to save having to reckon up speed limit conversions when in foreign places.
Visited with a colleague who owns a Yamaha WR250R....my idea of a 'dual sport' bike.....love it. Love the TE because it showcases Triumph's new tech they many very well incorporate into new models. Keep the hits coming!
Thanks for your Review. Have the 2017 "last explorer" model XCA top the line. I can absolutely relate to all of your pros and cons. I'm 5'8 like you and the Top heavy issue is one that you have to live with and it is always there. So I used my bike from ocean to ocean and back in the US touring 9K miles. What a great for this purpose was and I absolutely love it. My 3rd tiger and I have not had more reliable bikes. Now, other than the claimed 10KG less on the bike, the keyless use, the quick shifter and the Display (which is awesome) and the great stickers, the bike changes too much. I believe the key electronics are the same: Electronic suspension, the Bosch cornering abs and the geometry are the same (gas milage and power, will be the same believe me) In short what I do believe is that these bikes will not let you down and have a personality lead by that triple that can't be matched. Long Live Triumph!
I own an XCA Desert addition. I fitted a 40mm lowering kit from Lust racing. It has transformed the bike for me. I am 5`9.5" and feel a lot more comfortable when i stop. I can now flat foot the bike. I also go off road on it and it does make one hell of a difference.
Love the comments regarding the size and weight of adventure bikes, once moving it disappears. The only time you notice it is fully loaded or backing it into a garage and yes I love my standard GS LC😉
Still have the 2012, been a great all a rounder for me. The 18’s are sooo much nicer than the older models. Much smoother and infinitely better suspension.
Personally, I think it’s a crackin’ looking ‘bike, *and* I love the “Matt Khaki Green” colour scheme too. All down to personal taste, I suppose. I’m a bit shorter than you, at 5’6, but I’m a lot heavier (many, many years of contact sports and weight-training), and so probably somewhat stronger too. I currently have the Tiger 800XCx (I think a little more manoeuvrable than the 1200), but I also bought the lowering kit to have it lowered to a more suitable height for me. As far a lugging it around is concerned I don’t have too much of a problem with the 199kg ‘bike. I know the 1200 is substantially heavier at 242kg, but considering one of my other ‘bikes is a 320kg Harley, I don’t think the 242kg weight would be too much of a problem for me. Having said that, I suppose the design of the ‘bike may add to any awkwardness. I am seriously thinking of trading in my 800 for the Tiger 1200XCa as my 800 will be three years old next year. We’ll see... It would have been useful to mention what exactly comes with the price of the ‘bike, and also such things as the (I believe) sealed tubeless tyre spoke wheels. Great review though. Enjoyed it. Thanks.
Another interesting review,i particularly liked the honesty here with regard to what you did not like. So many Triumph reviewers never look past the flag. Thank you once again for the time and effort,it is much appreciated by a lot of us out there.
Excellent review as always. Regarding the weight, I fully understand your comments as I had the Trophy 1200 SE which was over 300kgs and I couldn’t hardly move it about. It was ok on the move but impossible to move otherwise. Now have a VStrom 650 which is much easier on my back and legs and as a result more enjoyable to ride. Bigger isn’t always better.
Another great review TMF. I’ve had my Tiger Explorer for nearly three years now and absolutely love it. In terms of comparisons with my bike and your review, I’ll just highlight a few things. Insurance for me is around £170 a year fully comp and that’s for a 48 yr old male with a clean licence and thirty years riding experience. I paid £75 for my first service, £170 for my second ‘annual’ service and the last service was £215 but that included a brake and clutch fluid change. I average 50 mpg and on a 400 mile run I saw 54 mpg, which I don’t consider too bad for a big old bus and compared to some other premium marques I find the service costs excellent. 😊
I waited to watch this video as I was torn between the ‘18 Tiger 1200 & the ‘18 GSA. Based on my riding both bikes I gave a slight advantage to the GSA but was afraid what you were going to say about the Tiger. Although I liked both bikes I opted for the GSA & the approximate $4K US more. I believe down the road the GSA will hold its value better plus we have many more dealers here in the USA that can help me out during travels. The cost of maintenance on the Tiger was better, however, I would have to travel farther to have it done. The 7.9 gallon tank vs. the 5.2 tank played into my consideration as well. Lastly, I felt a lot of heat from mid calf down to my foot on the Tiger, not sure why. Thanks for the review, was very interesting.
Brilliant review Great in depth and having just ordered one before this review I'm a little worried about the weight but I'm sure I'll get to grips with it.. Thanks for your time and efforts making the video 👍
I am 5’ 9 1/2 and 11 stones and I somehow struggle with the weight and high located center of gravity of my T 800 XCA. So this one would definitely be an issue for me. I found in this analysis all the pros and cons which I already noticed on my more humble machine. Including waiting time for fuel gauge to display the correct situation after refueling, including comfort of the heated seats. Conclusion: this is a comprehensive and fair presentation that can be used for choice making. Thanks !
The panniers are givi clones ... they really do stand up to touring.. have taken me over 20k miles through europe . great capacity and easy to keep clean... on fuel economy mine averages over 50 mpg so it may be your riding style ...good objective review ... yes its way too heavy but only when you are stopped
Hit a cone at 45 mph and the heard a loud thud. Not a scratch on the pannier. Absolutely love those panniers. Work like a charm! I probably wouldn't take them off road but who does that anyway. I leave all my boxes and gear at base camp and then go do all the single track I want with a much lighter bike and one soft bag on the rear.
They’re not clones, they’re Triumph badged Givi Trekker Outbacks. I have these on my 2014 model. Triumph used to sell their own plastic ones and the attachment points are still there. The ones in this video are 37L. Givi sell 45L also. I got 37L as they are then no wider than the bars. The clips are a bit fiddly, but Ok. I’ve dropped mine on to a pannier once. The pannier squashed very slightly (it was full at the time). I was able to use a jack to starighten it. I have a plastic Givi Trekker topbox as it will hold two helmets rather one.
Great review as always. I believe the reason that the fuel gauge doesn't give an instant reading is because with fuel moving around in the tank the Triumph takes several level readings and then gives an average reading on the screen, this allows for greater accuracy, worth the wait👍
Just having a “hair o’ the dog” after New Year’s Eve excess watching some of your old videos TMF. I’ve owned this bike for 18 months and your review is spot on. It’s a great tourer and my Mrs loves the comfortable heated rear seat. I’m constantly tempted though with the GS and now, the new Multistrada V4 but at this spec your not getting any change from £20k for either of those, so weight aside, its a great value big adventure style bike. Cheers and happy new year 🏍
I generally like your reviews TMF but there were a few things missed or mis-represented here I think which I hope you'll not mind me responding to. If you'll bear with me and in no special order: Balance and weight: yes, these are big heavy bikes and feel more ponderous than the GS which weighs about the same BUT: Ride one for a few thousand miles and you soon atune to it. I can whisk my mk1 around hairpins on adverse cambers without any issues because I've learned to control it second nature. Height: there are two options which were overlooked. You can buy a low model (or have linkages lowered for about £70) or change the seat to the comfort low model. I have done the latter for an 824mm seat height which I suspect is lower than a standard GS. Suspension on these is very advanced and automatically adjusts for preload. It's arguably the best in the business by all reports and whilst the front dives a bit it's meant to be better than most. No use comparing it with telelever because that's apples and oranges. Engine. Fuel ecenomy is mis represented. Most of your journeys I suspect were urban or semi urban? Take one touring on open roads...stop going up and down the box and use the impressive torque that allows 30mph upwards smooth progress in top and the true mpg will be closer to 50mpg. I just completed a week and 720 miles on mine for 54mpg returned. Filtering with luggage is no different to filtering with luggage on any adv bike similarly equipped. Frame is designed for 200kg payload. No snapped frames on these unlike some GS and KTM bikes but yes...the strength adds to the heft. Pace: sporstbike like performance and buttery smooth...glad you liked that motor! Cleaning: not difficult at all. I can clean mine properly in under 2 hours...no different to most of these adv bikes: Snow foam,brushes, cloths and a pressure washer. Keeping it coated in acf50 is a must though Road manners: coming from bm boxer twins to a Tiger my opinion fwiw is that even the mk1 tiger1200 explorer is one of the finest handling, confidence inspiring bikes available today...really it has no right to handle like a sports bike but it comes pretty darned close. All in all the major gripe is off the stand manouvring...it's a pig to move about and on a serous note people do need to be realistic about their strength capabilities with these. On the move it is a complete pussycat. Off the bike it's more a Hippo! Off road...actually quite capable but not recommended! For a lighter bike with more all round capability the new 800 xca or xrt are highly recommended. I had one for a test ride and really it gave nothing much away in performance but was much lighter...an absolute gem and certainly my pick of current 800 class bikes BUT lacking the load lugging capacity or comfort of the big Tiger. If people do not intend touring or at least will stick to short touring breaks in the uk then the 800 makes far more sense. It's great fun. Thanks for the reviews...keep 'em coming!
Good review but all the negatives on the old explorer and after trying a fair few I went for the multistrada 950 .I agree with others the mid size adventures are a better bet .yes a great engine .
thanks for the comprehensive review. I ride with a Triumph 1200CC Alpine 2020 version I share most of the comments except some cons. The weight is definitely not the problem the Tiger has to cope with. No more as it is so easy and so smooth to ride with such a machine. I'm not particularily big (5.80 feet) but the height of the Tiger is not a problem. I share the opinion about the luggages. The finition of the alu is not good enough and they could be altered quickly (Scratches and aging of the coating - It grays). i'm not so convienced abot the engine which to my opinion is not pusshy enough. But on along ride, the machien is excellent. It used it last year riding on mountains roads, highways, urban, day and night, rain and dry, hot and cold (I do not use the warming sit, not good at all for the body) conditions and the Tiger is better than anyother else, GS included. I'm living nearby Lyon (F).
I can't agree more with your complains about the heavy feel of the bike. I'm pretty much same size as you and had same feelings. At the end I went for XRX 800 and have no regrets.
Another great review TMF. You covered just about everything. Looks like a bit of a beast and weighs slightly less than a small planet. If I go the adventure bike route, I think I’ll look at the Tiger 800, but this looks like a great option for someone built like Arni.
I love your reviews, Flyer! I came up with an idea for you. I think you may like it. To show what headlights actually look like at night. Get yourself into a vacant parking lot and pull your phone out and make sure your flash is off and take a snapshot of the low beams on then the high beams on. If you have to you can adjust the exposure. Try it out and see how it works some night on your Street Triple. If the phone is poor quality, try an actual high quality camera. Cheers, Flyer!
I have owned that exact model of bike for 6 months now. Bought it used with 15000km on the clock. The only real gripe I have is the pannier position. I had the 800 Tiger prior to this one and it feels like the panniers are further forward than on the 800. Does not bother me to much but if the girl decides to leave her bike at home and jump on the back of mine she finds the front edge digs into the back of her legs on longer rides. Other than that I find the bike pretty awesome. Gets ridden on everything except single trail and handles it all well. If I want to get really down in the dirt I take my DR650SE. I do still find the clutch strange though. The bite being nearly all the way out. At first I thought my clutch was going but it just seems that the way they are made. I also do love the looks of my big Tiger
I already purchased my new Tiger Explorer yesterday, Andy. Couldn't wait to test drive it in April and then wait until a delivery. It should be delivered somewhere in june my dealer told me. Color selected : Lucerne Blue as well as some extra's of course ! Soon after that I shall sell my almost eight years GS. 40.000 miles on the odometer. Always cherished !
Great review, gave a lot of answers about this bike - I'll have to try this thing one day, really like the specs of this. Funny that people in the comments compares this caregory of bikes to SUV's and claim thats a negative thing, while watching I thought the same thing and figured thats why I like them.
So here is my pedigree I bought the Explorer in 2012 and loved it, although I had my fair share of issues and warranty claims, once it got to three years I changed it for another one, the main reason was the warranty, I loved the bike and didn't want to have a GS as everyone had one and my experience of a GS rider was not a good one. so I had the 12 plate and the 15 plate which meant that when the GEN two came out in 2016, I spent the extra cash and had one, I think 2016 was my overall favorite, I did some serious touring on that! when in 2018 the GEN 3 was released that was reported to be lighter with quick shift TFT screen and all the toys, I swapped again, at that point I looked at the 1200GS but went for the Tiger again. Sadly I started to get disappointed with my purchase, the heated grips were almost pointless as they were weak, (Triumph replaced them but still weak) Keyless was pointless as I needed the key for the tank. the power delivery (low down grunt) was lacking. so with experiencing 4 bikes three versions, It was time for a change, Full marks for effort Triumph and 22 out of 10 for dealer and Factory support, My summary it's far too heavy and needs more low down grunt! Oh and the important bit the residual value is really really bad.
I love Triumph Tigers & almost bought one but went for a Yamaha Tracer 9GT instead as it was more Touring oriented. I REALLY wish Triumph Tiger GT & GT Pro versions had a lower exhaust & a better selection of panniers. The high exhaust is suitable for going off road, but it compromises the luggage options for the road going GT & GT Pro.
May just be me mate, but I did have to laugh when you were testing out the bike in the dark and said "lets see what the high beam is like" and suddenly the backdrop behind the hills on the right lit up! I'm thinking "f*ck me, that's impressive" :D :D :D
Watched the first part of this months ago, but only just finsihed it. I bought a Tiger 1200 XRT back in May; I owned a Yamaha FZ1 and wanted something better suited to touring. Before buying the triumph, I tried a Ducati Multistada, a GS1200 and the Tiger. The Ducati was ruled out immediately - going from a smooth 4-cylinder bike to a big twin was a shock to the system, to say the least. The GS was better than the Ducati to ride, but I still struggle with the cylinders sticking out in terms of looks - I like the Adventure a lot more (didn't ride one), but they are physically HUGE. So, to the Triumph: more character in the engine than the Yam (especially with the Arrow exhaust), but not as radical as the Ducati; looks were spot on - I still find myself stepping back and looking at it...love it. Handling - blew me away; from low speed hairpins and traffic, to fast twisties and motorways, all are great. Fuel economy - my average is approx 44.5 (I reset at each fill up, and it finishes, inevitably, on 44 'point' something); interestingly, I ride quite a lot on the twisties in North and East Yorkshire, and I am 6'2" and built like a brick erm...outhouse, so surprised at your lower average. Weight (mine and the bike!!) is heavy - jeez its tough to shove about off the bike, and I hardly ever put it on the centre stand as its so heavy. I recently dropped the bike - got off on a rough-ground viewing point, for whatever reason the stand popped up (think it moved forward a bit as I got off), and it tipped over. As I say, I'm a big chap, and quite strong, but lifting that bike took all I had to give (and a bit more I think). All things considered tho, I really like this bike - I love riding it, the way it looks and oddly enough, while I don't exactly have a St George cross hanging outside my house, the fact that its British is a point in its favour too. Good, thorough video though - I like the way you do the real-world costs. I think you were as fair as you could be, while still being very much a GS man ;-)
Thank you Phil - I try and be objective, I am a GS fan as you point out but I'm not wedded to BMW and I'm also (like you) a Triumph fan....I particularly like the 800s these days....
A very good assessment, thank you TMF. I am currently selling my 2012 explorer and contemplating getting the 1200. Being 6' 4" I find that most bikes are too small nowadays for comfortable riding. Keep up the very good reviews.
I really enjoyed your review. I must say, that I was grinning often. I have ridden HD Touring bikes for many years. My current mount, is a 15 Road Glide Utra SE, or FLRTUSE. It has a stage 2 110cu engine.... about 1800cc. Unladen it's about 950 lbs. It has upper fair w/windshield and lower fairings. When you call the Tiger windscreen massive, well you haven't see massive. I am taller 6' 3" and with a seat that is 2" higher than stock, I easily stand flatfooded when stopped. My wife also owns an 2018 Road Glide. She touches with her feet like you. Her previous was a 2013 Road Glide that we traded in after she put 115,000 miles on it. When you said the Tiger wasn't a girls bike... good thing my wife didn't see that. We have done dozens of long tours all over the US. The longest was 29 days and 9,000 miles.... with 10 national and state parks in the mix. Both bikes hit their service intervals during the trip. We typically would ride 10 hours per day, 500-600 miles. Freeways only when necessary. I only mentioned the above for frame of reference. It's hard for me to interpret some of your commentary. I think I would find the Tiger to be so very light, 400 lbs less than what I ride now. I also wonder about the wind protection. I have ridden in very heavy rain, hail, not so much in snow. I am retired, 70, and don't commute. I love fast country roads. Usually posted at 60+. I usually add 10 to the posted limits but focus more on speed in curves (bends as you might call them). Oh, you will like this my tourpak (top case) and saddlebags (paniers) all can be easily opened with one hand. They all lock and unlock with the press of a button on the key fob. I did laugh when you were fussing with the key and awkward release latches. Oh, our bikes typically get 40 mpg except at high altitudes when I have seen as much as 60mpg... 6 gal tanks.
Fair play an honest review, personally cant see any reason own these types of bikes. Still they do seem to be popular...But very interesting to watch your video
Yeah I thought that until I tried one, not a Triumph but I do own an Africa Twin and for my 100% road 60 mile a day commute it is fantastic, 95% of the time it is 95% perfect, I've never owned another bike that was that "all round". At the end of the day we have a huge choice of excellent bikes and its down to what you do with it and what you like..
Yeah I agree loads of different types of bikes to choose from, as a kid I liked to make noises on my pushbike, pretending it was a Moto X bike. Then they started making BMX.... Perhaps thats the attraction with these Adventure bikes...
TMF another excellent review. I checked out the low chassis XRX today and although nice I do agree that it is rather hefty. Keep the videos rolling and safe travels.
Thanks for taking the time to do this review ! It's very helpful for me since I'm trying to figure out which shaft driven big adventure bike I should upgrade to (currently riding a F700GS).
I bought the 1200. I don't have any issues with the weight and I am a weakling :D The only downside as I see it regarding the weight is that I need to apply all tricks up my sleeve when lugging it around. One such trick is to never refuel on my way home because then I will have more weight to lug around my garage. I never store it with the bags on either so I can detach them before lugging the bike into the garage. When the bike is unloaded and low on fuel it's not really that heavy. If I can manage a bike like this, I'm sure most lads can. I'm 6ft tall though and my bike has the low ride seat.
Great review. Nice to hear you talk about the 'old bike' from 2018. Seen more tests about Triumph bikes and they seem to be more thirsty than comparable bikes from other brands.
Never watched a review that complained about the weight of a light adventure sport tour bike so much before (but I’m used to 1,000 lb bikes without issue), but good review, picking up an 18 next weekend, gave HD a try again after 12 years and still doesn’t do it for me so my road king is going down the road and the triumph is taking its place.
Good review as usual mate , the luggage is made by givi (outback trekker) I have the same on my Africa twin (no problems in 3 years) I had the 800 tiger in the USA last year with the side boxes held my stuff for 2 weeks no problem much prefer top opening , so my stuff doesn’t fall on the floor.. stay safe bud
Besides which MF, its probably fair to say that if factory fitted accessories like Top Boxes aren't very good, there are many after market options. It shouldn't be a black mark against a bike because you have access to alternatives. Most of the factory fitted options are also more expensive.
As a rider of about your height (with short legs) I absolutely agree with moving it around at slow speeds. I've got an "Explorer" variant that has about 45,000 miles on it so far. LOVELY bike on the road - but getting it back to vertical from a horizontal position is every bit as bad as you think it is. Maybe a bit worse. DAMHIK. Fuel consumption is about the same as you experienced. I could probably get better, but that throttle is just SO much fun. The fuel gauge response delay seems to be a new thing with bikes - mine does the same thing as does my little BMW Baby GS (G310GS). I assume it's due to being filtered by the ECU rather than just being a straight wire from the sender to the gauge. And your service charges are MUCH lower than I pay here in the metro Washington D.C. area.
I agree. I don't have any real issue with the way the GS looks but this Triumph is freaking gorgeous. They nailed the styling on this bike. It is, by far, the best looking ADV being made in my opinion.
Před 4 lety+1
SuburbanHobbyist yeah man i never liked the looks of this kind of bikes till i saw the tiger 1200 explorer and i just bought one and im very happy with it, incredible machine
Another comprehensive review! I spent an hour on one of these today and it’s not great. It has a sports bike engine in an Enduro package, far too revvy. That shaft drive is a huge chunk of change. It looks like the PTO on the back of a tractor and it saps shaft horse power. If this bike had a chain final drive it would be loads better. The mirrors were vibration free, I’ll give it that. Jumping on the KTM for the ride home I felt a bit glum, because the SA was so obviously a better bike. I live a couple of miles from the Triumph factory and in my chequered past I’ve owned a few Meriden built bikes, so I really wanted the XCA to be excellent but it isn’t. Triumph have tried to compete with the shaft drive GS but they are starting with a transverse crankshaft and they need a lot more torque at lower RPM.
I have 2015 model. Very heavy but I've got used to it. Fantastic engine goes like stink and I can get 56 mpg out of her. Great for long distance and comfortable I wouldn't take it off-road though.
what you need is a concrete square laid into the tarmac, easy fitted just cut out hole in tarmac using disc cutter remove, replace with concrete seal with hot tar simples...
Not sure if you got the jist of the rider modes being linked to damping on the excellent WP suspension which is quite special and you didn't seem to convey an understanding of how the bike measures SAG at the rear and auto compensates with rear preload. This is what makes this bike such a dream to ride on all sorts of roads. I agree, it's no commuter though (with or without panniers?) but that is not it's design brief. Riding this for 11hrs straight with superb comfort is this bikes forte. You didn't like the panniers, that is a bit subjective, they have a plastic version too, not as handy as the BMW Vario but still an option which won't tarnish. With that and your passion for bike washing makes me thinks there is a little OCD'ness going on here, I mean that in a nicest possible way! As for the top end feel, no doubt about it, but there are plenty of other bikes and awful lot heavier ones out there, BMW K1600GTL at 348Kg anyone! I think the factory low version would of suited your height much better. Did you note the brakes are linked, you only need to use the front lever in normal riding. I think "long term reviews" should be replaced with high "mileage reviews". What does long term review mean, in your garage for 4 weeks with 150/500/2000 miles put on it?
Great review again TMF....don't like the sound of top heavy....I'm three weeks into my 09 GS Adv and very happy....amazed at its "flick ability" and all round practical competence and it's now my first touring choice over my Rocket Touring or XJR.....okay so "every bugger has one" but it's not hard to see why.
I asked you on your first review for help with a decision. You told me wait for this review. Decision made. It's going to be a GS. Thank you TMF. Brill vid.
Peter, the GS is a great bike.. I owned an oil head. The water boxer is much better. But it flattens out at 5K RPMs. So the Tiger has a better motor. But the lower center of gravity makes it better for offroad. And like Flyer has stated, the weight is a challenge for a shorter rider. So... if you're going offroad and you're shorter, buy the GS. If you're tall and you're not going offroad, the Tiger. Personally I find the boxer a bit agricultural, but people have been swearing by them for decades so ride them both.
Hi MrF and excellent review again. Servicing on bikes is horrifically expensive. 1st service on my Renault Clio was €85 (that’s Euros) with no service at 500 miles. The first years expected distance covered on the Renault is 30,000km. What do they do on bikes that they don’t do on cars....my guess would be nothing! Might be worth investigating that sometime.
Yes I have wondered that myself, it seems car tech is way ahead of bike tech when it comes to cost of ownership doesn't it...generally speaking my bikes each cost more to run than my cars...nuts!
I have currently the 1200 Tiger and indeed if they only could do something about the weight 🙄🙄🙄 That’s why the new KTM 1290 GT R 2019 is probably on my shoppinglist fully fueled approx. 30 kgr less than the Tiger is a lot. Test rides are planned with the new KTM GT and the new Beemer 1250 GS decisions decisions 😀😀 Thanks again for a correct review 👍
Thanks for another in depth review. RE: Fuel Economy: When I toured on a 2017 R1200GS "Triple Black" around the South Island of New Zealand, I averaged 5.0 Ltrs per 100 Kms over a trip of about 2500 Kms, which I thought was extremely good! I get only slightly better fuel consumption from my 321cc MT-03 (4.8 L/100K), albeit around town.
It amuses me too about the fuel range. My little CBR500R immediately recognizes it is full to the brim even before the engine is started. Anyway another good honest review. having ridden one of these heavy sort of bikes i wouldn't want to go much heavier than my 500r. It would give me kittens dropping the bike on my gravel drive and manhandling on uneven surfaces would make it too difficult. Dropping a 15k bike is an expensive problem.
I know it's outwith the scope of your review, but the long-term cost of ownership is important. My BMW RT (same boxer engine as the GS) was a money pit. So many very, very expensive faults: fuel sensor, swing arm bearings, ABS pump; and the corrosion - bike was melting. Of course, the my 1200 may prove just as bad, so we will see.
Stephen, I had Tiger 1050 for 4 years.. nothing broke. NOTHING. Was the suspension and headlight shitty? Yes. But the engine was amazing and ran like a swiss watch.
Nice review but I'm with others that don't really understand why people buy these. No one uses them off road so why not get the Tiger 1050 Sport instead? Just as comfortable/practical but quicker, cheaper and better looking.
Some of us do actually use them on surfaces that are off-road - even if you only need it for 10 mins of a ride to go down some crappy farm track, it's nice. I visited a coffee at a castle in the rain just yesterday, the entrance road was a two track green lane full of deep potholes, mud and loose gravel (I was standing on the pegs), the "car park" was deep gravel and where I parked was very muddy. The 1290 SA S was totally composed. Lovely.
I live at the end of a long dirt track in the countryside, so have no choice but to take mine offroad(ish). It's no enduro I grant you, and mine is mainly used on road, but they are very capable of this sort of offroad use. Also, for those wondering if it's going to be a bit much in terms of height and weight (it has both of these of course), I have the Xrx low and even with 5'5" and 28" inseam it's fine to ride. Shorties: If you are thinking of one of these my advice would be to ride one before you dismiss it out of hand. I like mine. YMMV.
Samuel Gillard - not just as comfortable at all, not as practical either. Those two bikes are like chalk and cheese. They are two completely different bikes.
Terry Cox I've ridden the 1050 Sport and it was really comfortable, you could ride it all day so what more comfort d'you need? And I would argue it's more practical than these big adventure bikes because when you remove the panniers you can actually filter with ease, so they're much more practical for daily use.
As always, a very comprehensive and structured review - Good stuff! I currently own a Tiger 800 ABS (2014) and was looking to get a bigger bike as I'm forever riding longer distances with a pillion and although it doesn't struggle parse..it could do with a little more to make those hard climbs and moving out of junctions a little bit easier. Maybe look towards a GS in the future...
Triumph tiger review sponsored by BMW..!! And suprise suprise its hard to filter with panniers on !! Ill stick to my ancient vstrom "with giant panniers and a top box you can fot 2 full faced helmets in"" ..... Sorry brother it was a great review as always and i cant blame you for comparing it to a bike you own and know..im just pulling your leg ..peace and love brother☮❤...
This was such a helpful video for me, I had to decide between a GS and the Tiger 1200. My heart and most of my head wanted the Tiger but I was worried about the weight. I am 6ft1 but no muscle, so whilst I can flat foot it, my confidence was low moving it about and on whether I could handle it generally. Having said that, my heart wanted a Triumph and it wanted a triple so I bought the Tiger. I've now done 800 miles and dropped it once getting on it. I dropped it simply out of being a newbie and rubbish technique - I know why it happened and can stop that happening again. I would now say that I can handle the weight, practice has given me confidence and the only way is up. I really wanted this bike and am delighted that my confidence is now such that I will be fine with it, for me it would have been a shame to have to buy the GS on weight alone - my heart would have been sad! I do think we are lucky that there are so many great bikes out there and we all need to buy what suits us personally. I love my Tiger!
@@TheMissendenFlyer so here we are at the three year ownership point and perhaps more importantly 4 years of biking experience including taking my RoSPA test. Now I actually own this bike so could keep it but... the enjoyment factor has been slightly lacking but the top heavy nature of it and the difficulty of moving it about made it test ride a GS again. The result? A new GS on order for delivery before end of the year (with I must say a very good deal) Now I know there is a new Tiger 1200 coming but I have come to the conclusion that there is no better bike than a GS (for me that is) and goodness I enjoyed the GS - the torgue and power of the 1250 is fabulous and I don't need huge horsepower. Really looking forward to many years of GS ownership plus if I change it again there will be problems at home!
@@TheMissendenFlyer she’s arrived and I’m in love! Incredible to ride even restricted to 5000rpm, big thanks to you and teapot for your balanced and informative reviews. It’s so hard to buy the right bike but you guys do a great job helping the rest of us
I don't understand why these 1200-class bikes must be so big. Why can't Bmw or Triumph fit that engine to a GS750 size frame. That would be perfect for many of us. I ride a KTM Duke R 690 (~160kgs) and I can't see myself riding a bike that is twice the weight. I would love to have a lighter adv bike in some point. Maybe 790 KTM adv gives us hope.. :)
Yes I think the mid-size adventure class makes a lot of sense...the Triumph 800 for example, and as you say the new KTM 790 adventure has a lot of promise I reckon...thanks for watching - TMF
Yep. And because A2 bikes sell good numbers it makes all the big manufacturers limit their mid-size adv bikes output to ~70kw. It would be great to have a light weight 800-1000cc adv with a bit more punch than tiger 800 or Bmw 750 Gs. Something like Tracer 900 with less budget orientated feel.
A smaller adventure bike with a super-charged 800-1000 is what Kawasaki should do, bring out something with the H2SX motor that competes with the 1200 GS, 1290 KTMs etc.
Because the market is there for them and people are willing to buy them, there is an 800 if you don't like the 1200, a 600 if you don't like the 800, a 300 if you don't like the 600 in all sorts of brands, it's just called market segmentation. No manufacturer is expecting you to like every model in their range, you didn't and went for a 690, it doesn't make the rest a poor choice for someone else. The big GS/GSA/Tiger like bikes also have a massive load carrying capacity which suit some peoples requirements, e.g. two up & camping.
It is all about the mission of the bike. These 1200 class bikes are really built for riding with a pillion and luggage. My 1200rt has a payload of near 550 lbs. The larger frame is required I suspect for this sort of payload. If I mostly rode by myself, I would seriously think of an 800 class bike.
I really wish all bike reviews followed your format - far more actual 'real world' understanding of the bike than any other reviews I ever see. I love Triumph and as of yet am not in the adventure bike realm but it is content like this that really helps me understand different bikes I have not rode. Well done TMF!
Thanks as ever Scott - when I came up with this format my intention was to cover the sorts of practical aspects I would want to know if I were considering buying the bike, and assumed others went through a similar thought process - hopefully I’m getting close to that!
Thanks TMF, a great all round review. I would be put off by the size and weight of a big adventure bike which is why i went for the new Tiger800. Perhaps you can get one of these to do a comparison??
For all those commenting on why didn't they build a smaller bike. more road orientated, better fuel consumption etc etc. Well Triumph did build one, it was called the errr Tiger 1050??? Rode mine all over Europe, just stuck a Givi top box on, and an SW Motech rack. HID lights, lowered the seat myself. That was back in 2009, and I am seriously considering another one.
I’ve had mine for 2,000 miles, same exact bike as in the video. Coming from an older GSA, I love this Tiger and am happy with my choice to go with Triumph. I’m over 6 feet tall (190cm) and do not find the weight to be an issue, although it does feel heavier than other bikes when at walking speed. Off-road it actually does pretty well since they did a nice job with the Off-road mode. But, I really see this bike as a long distance tourer where you can ride some gravel roads along the way. It’s by far the nicest bike I’ve had for setting cruise control at 75 and cruising for a couple hours, and it handles great on curvy roads too. Definitely not an urban commuter. Overall I think it’s a much nicer and purpose built bike than many of the reviews give it credit for.
Thanks for the review, i just purchased this exact bike four weeks ago and so far I love it, Triumph had a special for the month of May for free panniers, but I had to buy the top box, the box catches and locks were giving you a hard time but mine operate smooth as butter, I took the bike for a tour to the coast of California and it was a pleasure to ride, the power is incredible and you just have to love the smooth sound of that triple engine, I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think this Tiger is beautiful in the looks department. I'm 5'9" 185 lbs and I feel comfortable moving it around, it is heavy mind you, I had the panniers off and was lane splitting through the coast of Santa Cruz because I was following a group of people and traffic was gridlock, so I had to be careful. Ridding this bike at home with temps at 100F you can feel the heat from this engine on your legs and crotch, but at the coast, 60F and 70F I couldn't feel any heat. The wind screen in the up position does hit my helmet and there is wind buffeting, but maybe the buffeting is from my Arai Signet-X helmet, I could try a wind shield extension and see if that helps or another style of helmet, but I do need the air flow in the hotter temps. I changed my oil at the 500 mile service but I hate that I need to still take the bike to the Triumph dealer for them to reset the service warning message on the tft display. So far I'm really happy with my purchase, but time will tell. Thanks again for your reviews.
Congratulations on the new bike Mark!
Thank you for another cracking video. I popped off to my local dealer today to try a Tiger 1050 (currently on a Sprint GT) but felt the knee position was not that much improved for me so jumped on a Tiger 1200 (XC model) and when I felt the weight an size just jumped off and thought "bugger, what am I going to do", salesman sat me on a Tiger 1200 XRx low - what a difference! Went for a ride, loved it and felt so maneuverable . Thanks for all your video's.
I think the triumph is at the level of the Gs, design well achieved and personally the noise of three cylinders engine is fantastic.
Great review mate, as always.
cheers
Ed.
Thanks Ed....
I've just taken hold of the 2019 xrt as you said a bit of a beast, took it to Devon for a 5 day tour 2 up plus luggage weighing in close to 500kl
Total 740 miles, once moving great bike was a little scary coming out of lymouth up the hill lol, the power on overtake was amazing but had to cover the rear brake as kept trying to lift the front up 😅, was getting an average 47.5mpg during that time, by myself 52mpg and I'm a progressive rider.
Great review as always 👍
Cheers Carl!
Probably one of the most thorough and honest review of any motorcycle I have seen. Found you by accident, and I'm happy I did. Thank you
Welcome along!
Thanks for the review, I believe you never mentioned anything about the transmission.
When I test rode one it was one of the best shifting bikes I ever rode, especially compared to the 16' GSA.
Those panniers look just like the Givi Trekker Outback panniers and if the info I got at my local dealer is correct, Givi makes them for Triumph. They are EXCELLENT panniers, especially the top box. I have no idea why you were struggling so much with that top box. Mine works like a charm and I use it daily when I commute to and from work. I purchased a larger pannier (48L?) for the non-exhaust side and that one can also fit a full face large helmet. I've done trips long distance trips two up and went camping in death valley with those panniers. Never had an issue. In fact, on my way to Death Valley, CA I was riding in the rain and the dark and hit a construction cone with my left pannier. I heard a LOUD thud and immediately pulled over as I thought my pannier was surely gone or badly damaged. Not even a scratch! The pannier was solid even though I hit the cone at like 40mph. Paint the panniers? WHY?! You are supposed to lubricate them with a special light oil in order to protect them after you clean them. I absolutely love my 2011 Tiger 800XC even though there are a few points of improvement. One, is that there is too much heat coming from the engine when you ride the bike below 45 mph over a long period of time. Two, the bike is a bit to low for me. I find myself scraping pegs or the bottom of the bash plate when I ride two up or even solo during cornering. They need to increase the clearance at the bottom or improve the suspension which they did with the newer models. Triumph also needs to try and lower the center of gravity. Perhaps redesign the fuel tank? Besides that, this is probably one of the best touring options for people who like to travel and camp on a motorcycle. The 2018 Tiger 1200 and BMW 1200GS are both on my short list. Its sad to know that most people won't take the thing off road because thats partly what the bike is made for, especially the xCA version. I simply recommend installing some BarkBuster hand guards before taking it off road. I probably wouldn't do too much single track on the thing unless I was riding with others and it was relatively smooth. I love pushing bikes to their limits and think this bike would be ideal for a cross-country trip to Canada or Alaska during the summer. Plenty of beautiful places out there that are only accessible by dirt roads. Throw some TKC80s on this bike and it would eat all the offload you can feed it, assuming you feel comfortable pushing it a bit (I would). I've done some really gnarly stuff on my 2011 800xc in Death Valley and up north in Oregon. With the right tires, you would be surprised by what these bikes can do. I mean, I've had mine airborne and it handled like a champ. I found that these bikes require somewhat of an aggressive approach as, like you said, they tend to feel a bit heavy at slower speeds. I still remember the grin on my face and the exhilarating feeling of getting the rear wheel to power slide through the corner. Just add throttle and let the bike do the rest. Absolutely addicting!
Thanks for the info Vic....
Now that’s a man who knows what he’s talking about real life situations Vic Wiseman that is
Having watched quite a few of your videos on all adventure bikes I have gone with the triumph 1200 xca and love the bike have done 5000 ks now and the only negative is I live in Australia and it's the start of summer yesterday I rode home an 8 hour trip the temperature was 36 deg and when I'm sitting on the bike I seem to end up up near the tank and I couldn't figure out why the Crown Jewels were so hot l checked I to make sure the seat heating was not on I got home got off the bike and felt the tank and couldn't believe how hot it was so I got a digital laser temp gauge and it read 68deg so will be limiting my rides to a lot shorter or the cooler months probably not the best choice for hot countries . But love the bike .keep the videos coming thanks rod
Rodney, related to the heat, get yourself a low windscreen and take the hand guards off during summer..
Hi TMF. Great review. Many thanks. I know this video is nearly a year old, i'm playing catch up. I recently purchased the 1200 XRT. Funnily enough in my quest of wanting a shafty for long distance touring, I went to Triumph instead of BMW. I have had an older GS in the USA, and I had an older Tiger 900 here in the UK, years ago. Just thought I'd raise a point about the seat height. Looking at your long term bike in the video and mine in my garage. You have the seat in its highest position not the lowest. Therefore your feet would probably be more planted than you were saying, if you had adjusted it down. Many thanks again.
Another perk of the tiger is that it runs on regular so it’s easier to find places to fuel up, and more cost effective.
I've got one of these and I love it. I don't like display lag when interacting with the TFT; the Low Fuel light comes on with 1.6 gallons in the tank (not 1 gallon like it's suppose to); I personally get only 37 MPG; the clutch doesn't grab soon enough and when it does it's too long (I stall it more often than I'd like to admit); Hill Hold is a guaranteed stall if you don't dis-engage it before moving; it vibrates more than it should; Weight is an issue only when in slow awkward speeds/moving it around the garage; Cuts out at 130 MPH; it's too damn hot when over 75 degrees. I'm 6'2" 170 LBS and it fits great! Love everything else, and there is a LOT to love.
Glad you’re getting on well with the bike, thanks for watching and for stopping by - all the best - TMF
@@TheMissendenFlyer I removed the adjuster knob on the clutch lever, this brings the lever closer to the handle bar and I find it helps the clutch release feeling quite a bit. I guess I could have replaced the clutch lever with a shorter throw one but I am cheap.
After first 2,000Km I’m so impressed with ‘18. Tiger. Comparing it to my previous bike Tracer900, it is heavier, but much stable at slow speeds. I’m 5’5” and lowered it 1.5cm at forks. Bike is made for touring, can take bad roads, gravel and trails. Have tried it on gravel and suspension is amazing. Looking forward my ‘19. tour.
I also had a Tracer 900 from 2018, recently sold and now i'm waiting for my Tiger 1200 xrt! Can't wait 🤪 are you still thrilled?!
Good morning and Thank you for the review TMF it’s nice to see a British built Bike keeping up with the competition. Take care 😎👍🇬🇧.
Always good to hear from you Wayne!
They may be embossed as Triumph's own, but the panniers and top box set up is actually the Givi Trekker Outback system
Indeed....
Great review, I've just ordered mine with a low seat (1200 xrt), I think as a gs rider you overemphasise the top heaviness of the tiger, it is amazing how light it is to pick up from the side stand compared to my 800xca and I don't give that a second thought now I am used to it, I love the flexibility of the triple as a road bike. Wish triumph would offer all the specs in low version though and I agree keyless is dubious advantage
I didn't know Triumph limited the specs on the low model?!! Tell me more??
You can get a 20mm lower seat for any model (at a cost) however the low model itself is only available in xrx spec.
@@malcolmmuirhead8833 But most if not all of the XRT components can be fitted to the low suspension bike but I am sure the cost will grow quickly.
@@gregmatty6393 you are correct, in hindsight I would have bought the low version and added the toys, don't tell tmf but it's a bit daunting wheeling the big one out of the garage too now that I have had it long enough to evaluate.
@@malcolmmuirhead8833 No worries. So you did buy the bike? The fully kitted XRT? Here in the US the low versions are hard to find but I'm looking for a discounted 2019 somewhere. I am also in the 5'9" club and while the bike on the showroom floor (XRT not XRX-low) feels just fine, add 5 gallons of fuel and 50 pounds of luggage and the bike becomes tricky to manage in parking lot maneuvers and jockeying back and forth. What kind of fuel range to you see? I am hoping for 45 miles per US gallon on average. I don't ride aggressively that often and can easily keep speed and associated fuel economy in check if I know it is a while between fill ups. Any blog or trip report with you and your Tiger? I love to see photos of bikes on trips in foreign places.
Ride safe and keep the germs away.
Thanks a lot for the rewiew. I own a Tracer 900 and i'm going for a Tiger 1200! I'm not tall, 1,73cm, but i've tested the Tiger and felt much more confortable than the tracer or the Kawasaki versys 1000 se, 2019!
I tested the Tiger on motorway, Traffic and on road and always felt great! Never feared to let her fall! About the weigth... I don't see how can you claim the GS has less than the Tiger... I have a technical magazine at my side with the specifications of both and the GS has One more kg than the Tiger...so the GS is heavier! The Tiger is much more stylish! Exclusive! Better engine! I'm in love 😂 i just can't see how you can prefer a german bike! Having such a British Treasure!😉 Greetings from Portugal and Ride safe.
It's not the weight that's the problem, it's where the Tiger carries it (high up) that makes it so lardy compared to the GS....sales figures speak for themselves!
@@TheMissendenFlyer yes! But wouldn't you rather ride something much more exclusive?! And pretty?! Than the wolksmoto?! Cheers
Honest review, would still have one over the GS. Agree completely re fuel economy, its poor, my 16 year old bandit gets better mileage, but then the 1200 goes like stink and is extremely good fun in the twisties so I can live with it.
There is another vid on this tube thing here about the panniers and how high they sit affecting pillion leg room. Current set up works for me as I rarely carry a pillion but others might find it useful to look up if they are considering the bike, there is a fix for it, at a cost!. Any bike with panniers is a bitch to filter, take them off and its no issue in normal traffic situations. Clutch you get used to, balance is a matter of familiarity, washing it is a pain, looks are a personal thing, I like them, although not a huge fan of any of the new colours or the stupid 1200 decals. You are spot on with the finish of the panniers, I didn't ACF mine and the salt has made them look very old after one winter.
Stand closer to the bike when you move it, its easier to control the weight, although it is bloody heavy, no denying.
Highish service costs are to be expected with a big fully loaded bike.
Look forward to seeing what they can do with a few more years development.
I bought a 2004 Tiger 955i with 20,000 miles in 2010 and put 45,000 more miles on it since... and it's been a fantastic bike. Love the triple and though they're very top heavy bikes, on the road the silky smooth throttle is very enjoyable and the high cog isn't an issue. The bike has been totally reliable, and while I have my Multi apart for some mods I've been riding the old Tiger all week and enjoying the laid back manners (compared to the Duc... which is a leashed beast). If someone is looking for a comfortable road bike with a bit more suspension and ability to deal with dirt roads the Tiger is worth a look. Nothing wrong with the GS (I rent them whenever I'm in Germany in the Summer), but if you don't need the better dirt performance of the Beemer then the Tiger may be a good choice
.
When my beloved Multi's electronics cratered the dealer gave me an excellent trade on a new old stock '14 Speed Triple 1050R. I threw on a set of Motech soft bags and put 12,000 miles on it in two years without a hitch. Triumph's triples are amazingly rewarding engines. I miss the Multi's rush though. Once you let the demon out of the box... !
I really like the sound of the Triple too... pretty unique. My bike has a pretty loud (Triumph branded but not stock) exhaust and on the throttle the bike sounds fantastic. I bought the Multi new in 15 because I was worried that the Tiger with 60,000 miles would start to have mechanical issues (especially on the long tours I take) but I suspect it will continue to run as a fun backup bike for many years to come (I'm only putting 2k miles a year on the Tiger these days). I certainly don't regret the Multi - it's an amazing mix of gonzo sportbike and comfortable distance tourer that I don't think any other bike quite matches - but I'll always have a soft spot for the Tiger.
Absolutely Brilliant!! Excellent review.
Confirmed everything I had hoped for and just bought a 2017 XRx yesterday with only 5500miles.
1) Agree about the panniers and, thankfully, mine has none. I'm diehard soft-luggage guy and my Kriega bags will fit like a glove. FAR less weight.
2) At 6'2", 230 (105kg), this bike was perfect. Definitely feel like I'm sitting IN the bike and not ON it.
3) Having the front forks compress when braking is the essence of trail braking and loads up the front contact patch to give more grip in the twisties.
I would rather control that myself than rely on electronics. Can't wait to get to the mountains!
4) The switchgear and display on the 2017 are more simplistic (as am I) and easy to use, especially the heated grip and fog light actuators.
5) Handling: I came from a Super Ténéré with a trail of 4.9". The Tiger is 3.9 so I will anticipate a more nimble and festive behavior on the paved backroads
Thanks again for yet another superb video.
I'll drop in a followup after I get several thousand miles in the rearview.
Cheers!
Please do / look forward to how you get on
Gotta say Mr flyer - great channel. I have the 2017 - xcx just cam back from gravel roads, twisties and motorways. It was brilliant . Yes it’s a little heavy up too but that helps - on the road it’s great , on gravel and light trails it’s great . But with pillon - it gets a little too heavy even for me . But we must support triumph - British manufactures are like hens teeth - we must support them .... I commute and filter on mine! You have to get used to the bike - it takes time ....but British :)
41MPG to me seems like a good thing on a bike that size. Riding in cooler/colder weather always drops the MPG I see on both my bikes. My Kawi Versys 1000 gets right around 42MPG in winter and right around 48MPG in summer riding. The difference is significant. Just sharing data here. Love your channel, TMF!
Thanks for watching and for stopping by! All the best - TMF
I have the earlier incarnation of the 1215 model and just returned from a 1500 mile round trip to the Bad Kissengen overland show in Germany. I went fully loaded with camping kit and managed to get everything into the panniers, but I do have the larger 58L top box. My riding buddy came with me on his monstrous 1200 GS. We decided to fill up the bikes on one pump and later split the cost of fuel down the middle. Quite amazingly, both bikes took exactly the same amount of fuel every time. Doing the physical calculation we we doing 50mpg. His GS computer said the same. However, my Tigga told me I was only getting about 41 mpg. Mr Lazy decided to stay in a hotel instead so he was only carrying three T shirts and pair of clean pants (just in case) Chances are that I'f I'd be so lightly loaded I might have done better than him on the fuel. Lesson here is that the Triumph fuel computer is perhaps not to be considered accurate. Both bikes were faultless. Nice that the Triumph digital dash can be swapped to KMS to save having to reckon up speed limit conversions when in foreign places.
Visited with a colleague who owns a Yamaha WR250R....my idea of a 'dual sport' bike.....love it. Love the TE because it showcases Triumph's new tech they many very well incorporate into new models. Keep the hits coming!
Thanks for your Review. Have the 2017 "last explorer" model XCA top the line. I can absolutely relate to all of your pros and cons. I'm 5'8 like you and the Top heavy issue is one that you have to live with and it is always there. So I used my bike from ocean to ocean and back in the US touring 9K miles. What a great for this purpose was and I absolutely love it. My 3rd tiger and I have not had more reliable bikes.
Now, other than the claimed 10KG less on the bike, the keyless use, the quick shifter and the Display (which is awesome) and the great stickers, the bike changes too much. I believe the key electronics are the same: Electronic suspension, the Bosch cornering abs and the geometry are the same (gas milage and power, will be the same believe me)
In short what I do believe is that these bikes will not let you down and have a personality lead by that triple that can't be matched. Long Live Triumph!
Great review. If I was to sell the ST1050 I'd put the 1200 on the replacement short list. Thanks
I own an XCA Desert addition. I fitted a 40mm lowering kit from Lust racing. It has transformed the bike for me. I am 5`9.5" and feel a lot more comfortable when i stop. I can now flat foot the bike. I also go off road on it and it does make one hell of a difference.
Yes really adds confidence doesn’t it….
I had the original 2012 bike rode it all over Europe great bike never let me down
Love the comments regarding the size and weight of adventure bikes, once moving it disappears. The only time you notice it is fully loaded or backing it into a garage and yes I love my standard GS LC😉
Still have the 2012, been a great all a rounder for me. The 18’s are sooo much nicer than the older models. Much smoother and infinitely better suspension.
Personally, I think it’s a crackin’ looking ‘bike, *and* I love the “Matt Khaki Green” colour scheme too. All down to personal taste, I suppose.
I’m a bit shorter than you, at 5’6, but I’m a lot heavier (many, many years of contact sports and weight-training), and so probably somewhat stronger too.
I currently have the Tiger 800XCx (I think a little more manoeuvrable than the 1200), but I also bought the lowering kit to have it lowered to a more suitable height for me. As far a lugging it around is concerned I don’t have too much of a problem with the 199kg ‘bike. I know the 1200 is substantially heavier at 242kg, but considering one of my other ‘bikes is a 320kg Harley, I don’t think the 242kg weight would be too much of a problem for me. Having said that, I suppose the design of the ‘bike may add to any awkwardness.
I am seriously thinking of trading in my 800 for the Tiger 1200XCa as my 800 will be three years old next year. We’ll see...
It would have been useful to mention what exactly comes with the price of the ‘bike, and also such things as the (I believe) sealed tubeless tyre spoke wheels.
Great review though.
Enjoyed it.
Thanks.
Another interesting review,i particularly liked the honesty here with regard to what you did not like. So many Triumph reviewers never look past the flag. Thank you once again for the time and effort,it is much appreciated by a lot of us out there.
Thanks for the kind words Hedge Hog - appreciated!
Excellent review as always. Regarding the weight, I fully understand your comments as I had the Trophy 1200 SE which was over 300kgs and I couldn’t hardly move it about. It was ok on the move but impossible to move otherwise. Now have a VStrom 650 which is much easier on my back and legs and as a result more enjoyable to ride. Bigger isn’t always better.
100% agree - that's what I keep telling the Mrs, maybe you could have a word....
Naughty TMF..........Oh and it's Friday!!!
Another great review TMF. I’ve had my Tiger Explorer for nearly three years now and absolutely love it. In terms of comparisons with my bike and your review, I’ll just highlight a few things. Insurance for me is around £170 a year fully comp and that’s for a 48 yr old male with a clean licence and thirty years riding experience. I paid £75 for my first service, £170 for my second ‘annual’ service and the last service was £215 but that included a brake and clutch fluid change. I average 50 mpg and on a 400 mile run I saw 54 mpg, which I don’t consider too bad for a big old bus and compared to some other premium marques I find the service costs excellent. 😊
Those numbers sound much more reasonable Mark, maybe the bike isn't improved in every area!
Thanks Mark for helping stop the spread of misinformation about the Tiger.
Another great long term review. Love your real world reviews as you address all the things that interest me. Seat height, cleaning etc. Brilliant!
Glad you like 'em Sion -thanks for dropping by - TMF
I waited to watch this video as I was torn between the ‘18 Tiger 1200 & the ‘18 GSA. Based on my riding both bikes I gave a slight advantage to the GSA but was afraid what you were going to say about the Tiger. Although I liked both bikes I opted for the GSA & the approximate $4K US more. I believe down the road the GSA will hold its value better plus we have many more dealers here in the USA that can help me out during travels. The cost of maintenance on the Tiger was better, however, I would have to travel farther to have it done. The 7.9 gallon tank vs. the 5.2 tank played into my consideration as well. Lastly, I felt a lot of heat from mid calf down to my foot on the Tiger, not sure why. Thanks for the review, was very interesting.
Thanks for watching, glad you found It of interest. I think you made the right choice, all the best - TMF
This is one of the best bike reviews and detailed explanations I have seen on youtube. Real quality review. Love your videos.
Thanks for watching and for the kind comments - TMF
Brilliant review
Great in depth and having just ordered one before this review I'm a little worried about the weight but I'm sure I'll get to grips with it..
Thanks for your time and efforts making the video 👍
Yes it is a lardy ol girl for sure!
Love the format you use for the reviews very useful and easy to understand :0)
Glad you like it! Thanks for watching and for stopping by....TMF
I am 5’ 9 1/2 and 11 stones and I somehow struggle with the weight and high located center of gravity of my T 800 XCA. So this one would definitely be an issue for me. I found in this analysis all the pros and cons which I already noticed on my more humble machine. Including waiting time for fuel gauge to display the correct situation after refueling, including comfort of the heated seats. Conclusion: this is a comprehensive and fair presentation that can be used for choice making. Thanks !
Thank you very much Pascal, I'm glad we agree!
The panniers are givi clones ... they really do stand up to touring.. have taken me over 20k miles through europe . great capacity and easy to keep clean... on fuel economy mine averages over 50 mpg so it may be your riding style ...good objective review ... yes its way too heavy but only when you are stopped
Hit a cone at 45 mph and the heard a loud thud. Not a scratch on the pannier. Absolutely love those panniers. Work like a charm! I probably wouldn't take them off road but who does that anyway. I leave all my boxes and gear at base camp and then go do all the single track I want with a much lighter bike and one soft bag on the rear.
They’re not clones, they’re Triumph badged Givi Trekker Outbacks. I have these on my 2014 model. Triumph used to sell their own plastic ones and the attachment points are still there. The ones in this video are 37L. Givi sell 45L also. I got 37L as they are then no wider than the bars. The clips are a bit fiddly, but Ok. I’ve dropped mine on to a pannier once. The pannier squashed very slightly (it was full at the time). I was able to use a jack to starighten it. I have a plastic Givi Trekker topbox as it will hold two helmets rather one.
Great review as always. I believe the reason that the fuel gauge doesn't give an instant reading is because with fuel moving around in the tank the Triumph takes several level readings and then gives an average reading on the screen, this allows for greater accuracy, worth the wait👍
Indeed - but other manufacturers achieve the same much quicker!
Just having a “hair o’ the dog” after New Year’s Eve excess watching some of your old videos TMF. I’ve owned this bike for 18 months and your review is spot on. It’s a great tourer and my Mrs loves the comfortable heated rear seat. I’m constantly tempted though with the GS and now, the new Multistrada V4 but at this spec your not getting any change from £20k for either of those, so weight aside, its a great value big adventure style bike. Cheers and happy new year 🏍
Glad we concur Mark - Happy New Year!
I generally like your reviews TMF but there were a few things missed or mis-represented here I think which I hope you'll not mind me responding to. If you'll bear with me and in no special order:
Balance and weight: yes, these are big heavy bikes and feel more ponderous than the GS which weighs about the same BUT: Ride one for a few thousand miles and you soon atune to it. I can whisk my mk1 around hairpins on adverse cambers without any issues because I've learned to control it second nature.
Height: there are two options which were overlooked. You can buy a low model (or have linkages lowered for about £70) or change the seat to the comfort low model. I have done the latter for an 824mm seat height which I suspect is lower than a standard GS.
Suspension on these is very advanced and automatically adjusts for preload. It's arguably the best in the business by all reports and whilst the front dives a bit it's meant to be better than most. No use comparing it with telelever because that's apples and oranges.
Engine. Fuel ecenomy is mis represented. Most of your journeys I suspect were urban or semi urban? Take one touring on open roads...stop going up and down the box and use the impressive torque that allows 30mph upwards smooth progress in top and the true mpg will be closer to 50mpg. I just completed a week and 720 miles on mine for 54mpg returned.
Filtering with luggage is no different to filtering with luggage on any adv bike similarly equipped.
Frame is designed for 200kg payload. No snapped frames on these unlike some GS and KTM bikes but yes...the strength adds to the heft.
Pace: sporstbike like performance and buttery smooth...glad you liked that motor!
Cleaning: not difficult at all. I can clean mine properly in under 2 hours...no different to most of these adv bikes: Snow foam,brushes, cloths and a pressure washer. Keeping it coated in acf50 is a must though
Road manners: coming from bm boxer twins to a Tiger my opinion fwiw is that even the mk1 tiger1200 explorer is one of the finest handling, confidence inspiring bikes available today...really it has no right to handle like a sports bike but it comes pretty darned close.
All in all the major gripe is off the stand manouvring...it's a pig to move about and on a serous note people do need to be realistic about their strength capabilities with these. On the move it is a complete pussycat. Off the bike it's more a Hippo!
Off road...actually quite capable but not recommended!
For a lighter bike with more all round capability the new 800 xca or xrt are highly recommended. I had one for a test ride and really it gave nothing much away in performance but was much lighter...an absolute gem and certainly my pick of current 800 class bikes BUT lacking the load lugging capacity or comfort of the big Tiger. If people do not intend touring or at least will stick to short touring breaks in the uk then the 800 makes far more sense. It's great fun.
Thanks for the reviews...keep 'em coming!
Thanks for clarifying that lot - all the best - TMF
Good review but all the negatives on the old explorer and after trying a fair few I went for the multistrada 950 .I agree with others the mid size adventures are a better bet .yes a great engine .
MrTrek164 but the 1260 Multi...so nice. :)
thanks for the comprehensive review. I ride with a Triumph 1200CC Alpine 2020 version I share most of the comments except some cons. The weight is definitely not the problem the Tiger has to cope with. No more as it is so easy and so smooth to ride with such a machine. I'm not particularily big (5.80 feet) but the height of the Tiger is not a problem. I share the opinion about the luggages. The finition of the alu is not good enough and they could be altered quickly (Scratches and aging of the coating - It grays). i'm not so convienced abot the engine which to my opinion is not pusshy enough. But on along ride, the machien is excellent. It used it last year riding on mountains roads, highways, urban, day and night, rain and dry, hot and cold (I do not use the warming sit, not good at all for the body) conditions and the Tiger is better than anyother else, GS included. I'm living nearby Lyon (F).
Clearly I disagree but glad you like the bike!
One of the greatest bikes. Unfortunately not for me... Very expensive. But... Thank you for introducing this great bike anyway.
The best bike review I've watched. Excellent information and delivery. Thank you. Subscribed.
Wow thankl ou - and welcome along!
Not a bike that interests me, however your review kept me interested thanks, it's a rather large beast for us 5' 8" 12 stone guys like us though.
Agreed!
Peakwanderer .. I totally agree 👍
I can't agree more with your complains about the heavy feel of the bike. I'm pretty much same size as you and had same feelings. At the end I went for XRX 800 and have no regrets.
I wish they had the gas tank lower and configured into the body more on the tigers.
Another great review TMF. You covered just about everything. Looks like a bit of a beast and weighs slightly less than a small planet. If I go the adventure bike route, I think I’ll look at the Tiger 800, but this looks like a great option for someone built like Arni.
Yeah I agree - for us normal blokes the 800 is the way to go I reckon.....
I love your reviews, Flyer! I came up with an idea for you. I think you may like it. To show what headlights actually look like at night. Get yourself into a vacant parking lot and pull your phone out and make sure your flash is off and take a snapshot of the low beams on then the high beams on. If you have to you can adjust the exposure. Try it out and see how it works some night on your Street Triple. If the phone is poor quality, try an actual high quality camera. Cheers, Flyer!
Good idea!
I have owned that exact model of bike for 6 months now. Bought it used with 15000km on the clock. The only real gripe I have is the pannier position. I had the 800 Tiger prior to this one and it feels like the panniers are further forward than on the 800. Does not bother me to much but if the girl decides to leave her bike at home and jump on the back of mine she finds the front edge digs into the back of her legs on longer rides. Other than that I find the bike pretty awesome. Gets ridden on everything except single trail and handles it all well. If I want to get really down in the dirt I take my DR650SE. I do still find the clutch strange though. The bite being nearly all the way out. At first I thought my clutch was going but it just seems that the way they are made. I also do love the looks of my big Tiger
I already purchased my new Tiger Explorer yesterday, Andy. Couldn't wait to test drive it in April and then wait until a delivery. It should be delivered somewhere in june my dealer told me. Color selected : Lucerne Blue as well as some extra's of course ! Soon after that I shall sell my almost eight years GS. 40.000 miles on the odometer. Always cherished !
Congratulations Alain, I’ll be very interested to hear how you get on with the new bike!
@@TheMissendenFlyer , as soon as it 's been delivered and broken in, I 'll let you know but it shan 't be other than positive, I suppose 😄 !
Great review, gave a lot of answers about this bike - I'll have to try this thing one day, really like the specs of this.
Funny that people in the comments compares this caregory of bikes to SUV's and claim thats a negative thing, while watching I thought the same thing and figured thats why I like them.
Yeah me too!
You have the best moto review channel. Period.
Thank you very much!
I appreciate the fact that the very first thing you put in your sidecase was a can of beer. Your my kind of rider.
Very comprehensive and useful- great review. I took the road version out a couple weeks ago, you pretty much confirmed everything I thought.
Glad we concur....
I'm probably getting a GS ;-)
Great video. I own a Tiger 800 (2012) and would always look at another Tiger. This is a full comprehensive review! Thank you, TMF
Thanks for watching Dean.
So here is my pedigree I bought the Explorer in 2012 and loved it, although I had my fair share of issues and warranty claims, once it got to three years I changed it for another one, the main reason was the warranty, I loved the bike and didn't want to have a GS as everyone had one and my experience of a GS rider was not a good one. so I had the 12 plate and the 15 plate which meant that when the GEN two came out in 2016, I spent the extra cash and had one, I think 2016 was my overall favorite, I did some serious touring on that! when in 2018 the GEN 3 was released that was reported to be lighter with quick shift TFT screen and all the toys, I swapped again, at that point I looked at the 1200GS but went for the Tiger again.
Sadly I started to get disappointed with my purchase, the heated grips were almost pointless as they were weak, (Triumph replaced them but still weak) Keyless was pointless as I needed the key for the tank. the power delivery (low down grunt) was lacking. so with experiencing 4 bikes three versions, It was time for a change, Full marks for effort Triumph and 22 out of 10 for dealer and Factory support, My summary it's far too heavy and needs more low down grunt! Oh and the important bit the residual value is really really bad.
Yes that is about my thoughts on the matter too....glad we concur!
I love Triumph Tigers & almost bought one but went for a Yamaha Tracer 9GT instead as it was more Touring oriented. I REALLY wish Triumph Tiger GT & GT Pro versions had a lower exhaust & a better selection of panniers. The high exhaust is suitable for going off road, but it compromises the luggage options for the road going GT & GT Pro.
May just be me mate, but I did have to laugh when you were testing out the bike in the dark and said "lets see what the high beam is like" and suddenly the backdrop behind the hills on the right lit up! I'm thinking "f*ck me, that's impressive" :D :D :D
Watched the first part of this months ago, but only just finsihed it. I bought a Tiger 1200 XRT back in May; I owned a Yamaha FZ1 and wanted something better suited to touring. Before buying the triumph, I tried a Ducati Multistada, a GS1200 and the Tiger. The Ducati was ruled out immediately - going from a smooth 4-cylinder bike to a big twin was a shock to the system, to say the least.
The GS was better than the Ducati to ride, but I still struggle with the cylinders sticking out in terms of looks - I like the Adventure a lot more (didn't ride one), but they are physically HUGE.
So, to the Triumph: more character in the engine than the Yam (especially with the Arrow exhaust), but not as radical as the Ducati; looks were spot on - I still find myself stepping back and looking at it...love it. Handling - blew me away; from low speed hairpins and traffic, to fast twisties and motorways, all are great. Fuel economy - my average is approx 44.5 (I reset at each fill up, and it finishes, inevitably, on 44 'point' something); interestingly, I ride quite a lot on the twisties in North and East Yorkshire, and I am 6'2" and built like a brick erm...outhouse, so surprised at your lower average. Weight (mine and the bike!!) is heavy - jeez its tough to shove about off the bike, and I hardly ever put it on the centre stand as its so heavy. I recently dropped the bike - got off on a rough-ground viewing point, for whatever reason the stand popped up (think it moved forward a bit as I got off), and it tipped over. As I say, I'm a big chap, and quite strong, but lifting that bike took all I had to give (and a bit more I think).
All things considered tho, I really like this bike - I love riding it, the way it looks and oddly enough, while I don't exactly have a St George cross hanging outside my house, the fact that its British is a point in its favour too. Good, thorough video though - I like the way you do the real-world costs. I think you were as fair as you could be, while still being very much a GS man ;-)
Thank you Phil - I try and be objective, I am a GS fan as you point out but I'm not wedded to BMW and I'm also (like you) a Triumph fan....I particularly like the 800s these days....
A very good assessment, thank you TMF. I am currently selling my 2012 explorer and contemplating getting the 1200. Being 6' 4" I find that most bikes are too small nowadays for comfortable riding. Keep up the very good reviews.
thanks rh1!
I really enjoyed your review. I must say, that I was grinning often. I have ridden HD Touring bikes for many years. My current mount, is a 15 Road Glide Utra SE, or FLRTUSE. It has a stage 2 110cu engine.... about 1800cc. Unladen it's about 950 lbs. It has upper fair w/windshield and lower fairings. When you call the Tiger windscreen massive, well you haven't see massive. I am taller 6' 3" and with a seat that is 2" higher than stock, I easily stand flatfooded when stopped. My wife also owns an 2018 Road Glide. She touches with her feet like you. Her previous was a 2013 Road Glide that we traded in after she put 115,000 miles on it. When you said the Tiger wasn't a girls bike... good thing my wife didn't see that. We have done dozens of long tours all over the US. The longest was 29 days and 9,000 miles.... with 10 national and state parks in the mix. Both bikes hit their service intervals during the trip. We typically would ride 10 hours per day, 500-600 miles. Freeways only when necessary.
I only mentioned the above for frame of reference. It's hard for me to interpret some of your commentary. I think I would find the Tiger to be so very light, 400 lbs less than what I ride now. I also wonder about the wind protection. I have ridden in very heavy rain, hail, not so much in snow. I am retired, 70, and don't commute. I love fast country roads. Usually posted at 60+. I usually add 10 to the posted limits but focus more on speed in curves (bends as you might call them). Oh, you will like this my tourpak (top case) and saddlebags (paniers) all can be easily opened with one hand. They all lock and unlock with the press of a button on the key fob. I did laugh when you were fussing with the key and awkward release latches. Oh, our bikes typically get 40 mpg except at high altitudes when I have seen as much as 60mpg... 6 gal tanks.
You might as well ride a convertible then.
@@richardtaylor9483 what beater do you ride?
@@gbinman 2019 Triumph tiger!!
Fair play an honest review, personally cant see any reason own these types of bikes. Still they do seem to be popular...But very interesting to watch your video
Yeah I thought that until I tried one, not a Triumph but I do own an Africa Twin and for my 100% road 60 mile a day commute it is fantastic, 95% of the time it is 95% perfect, I've never owned another bike that was that "all round". At the end of the day we have a huge choice of excellent bikes and its down to what you do with it and what you like..
Yeah I agree loads of different types of bikes to choose from, as a kid I liked to make noises on my pushbike, pretending it was a Moto X bike. Then they started making BMX.... Perhaps thats the attraction with these Adventure bikes...
TMF another excellent review. I checked out the low chassis XRX today and although nice I do agree that it is rather hefty. Keep the videos rolling and safe travels.
Cheers Fredo!
Thanks for taking the time to do this review ! It's very helpful for me since I'm trying to figure out which shaft driven big adventure bike I should upgrade to (currently riding a F700GS).
Thanks for watching!
I bought the 1200. I don't have any issues with the weight and I am a weakling :D The only downside as I see it regarding the weight is that I need to apply all tricks up my sleeve when lugging it around. One such trick is to never refuel on my way home because then I will have more weight to lug around my garage. I never store it with the bags on either so I can detach them before lugging the bike into the garage. When the bike is unloaded and low on fuel it's not really that heavy. If I can manage a bike like this, I'm sure most lads can. I'm 6ft tall though and my bike has the low ride seat.
They need to light up the buttons on the BMW RT and GS too
Great review. Nice to hear you talk about the 'old bike' from 2018. Seen more tests about Triumph bikes and they seem to be more thirsty than comparable bikes from other brands.
Never watched a review that complained about the weight of a light adventure sport tour bike so much before (but I’m used to 1,000 lb bikes without issue), but good review, picking up an 18 next weekend, gave HD a try again after 12 years and still doesn’t do it for me so my road king is going down the road and the triumph is taking its place.
Congratulations!
Good review as usual mate , the luggage is made by givi (outback trekker) I have the same on my Africa twin (no problems in 3 years) I had the 800 tiger in the USA last year with the side boxes held my stuff for 2 weeks no problem much prefer top opening , so my stuff doesn’t fall on the floor.. stay safe bud
Yes a few have mentioned it's Givi kit rebadged...and yes agree on the top loading....
Besides which MF, its probably fair to say that if factory fitted accessories like Top Boxes aren't very good, there are many after market options. It shouldn't be a black mark against a bike because you have access to alternatives. Most of the factory fitted options are also more expensive.
As a rider of about your height (with short legs) I absolutely agree with moving it around at slow speeds. I've got an "Explorer" variant that has about 45,000 miles on it so far. LOVELY bike on the road - but getting it back to vertical from a horizontal position is every bit as bad as you think it is. Maybe a bit worse. DAMHIK. Fuel consumption is about the same as you experienced. I could probably get better, but that throttle is just SO much fun. The fuel gauge response delay seems to be a new thing with bikes - mine does the same thing as does my little BMW Baby GS (G310GS). I assume it's due to being filtered by the ECU rather than just being a straight wire from the sender to the gauge. And your service charges are MUCH lower than I pay here in the metro Washington D.C. area.
The GS looks better than this bike ? Whaaaaa..... Ok, to each his own I guess :D
Yeah, I did a double take when I heard that too. Lol
Stefan Harnesk the boxer engine makes it look ugly
I agree. I don't have any real issue with the way the GS looks but this Triumph is freaking gorgeous. They nailed the styling on this bike. It is, by far, the best looking ADV being made in my opinion.
SuburbanHobbyist yeah man i never liked the looks of this kind of bikes till i saw the tiger 1200 explorer and i just bought one and im very happy with it, incredible machine
Have to agree, GS has to be the ugliest bike on the road lol
Another comprehensive review! I spent an hour on one of these today and it’s not great. It has a sports bike engine in an Enduro package, far too revvy. That shaft drive is a huge chunk of change. It looks like the PTO on the back of a tractor and it saps shaft horse power. If this bike had a chain final drive it would be loads better. The mirrors were vibration free, I’ll give it that. Jumping on the KTM for the ride home I felt a bit glum, because the SA was so obviously a better bike. I live a couple of miles from the Triumph factory and in my chequered past I’ve owned a few Meriden built bikes, so I really wanted the XCA to be excellent but it isn’t. Triumph have tried to compete with the shaft drive GS but they are starting with a transverse crankshaft and they need a lot more torque at lower RPM.
Thanks for watching Chris.....
I have 2015 model. Very heavy but I've got used to it. Fantastic engine goes like stink and I can get 56 mpg out of her. Great for long distance and comfortable
I wouldn't take it off-road though.
Nice review. Been looking at one of these. I've got a 2009 Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS and its dry weight is 679lbs so this bike is a light weight. LoL
i had a gtr1400 did not like it at all steering was horrid no roll on torque, the 1200 is a much better bike imo.
Nice to see you've got yourself a nice tarmac wash area. But you might find that the stands dig holes especially when it's hot.
Tell me about it! Luckily we don't do "hot" very often.....
what you need is a concrete square laid into the tarmac, easy fitted just cut out hole in tarmac using disc cutter remove, replace with concrete seal with hot tar simples...
Not sure if you got the jist of the rider modes being linked to damping on the excellent WP suspension which is quite special and you didn't seem to convey an understanding of how the bike measures SAG at the rear and auto compensates with rear preload. This is what makes this bike such a dream to ride on all sorts of roads. I agree, it's no commuter though (with or without panniers?) but that is not it's design brief. Riding this for 11hrs straight with superb comfort is this bikes forte. You didn't like the panniers, that is a bit subjective, they have a plastic version too, not as handy as the BMW Vario but still an option which won't tarnish. With that and your passion for bike washing makes me thinks there is a little OCD'ness going on here, I mean that in a nicest possible way! As for the top end feel, no doubt about it, but there are plenty of other bikes and awful lot heavier ones out there, BMW K1600GTL at 348Kg anyone! I think the factory low version would of suited your height much better. Did you note the brakes are linked, you only need to use the front lever in normal riding. I think "long term reviews" should be replaced with high "mileage reviews". What does long term review mean, in your garage for 4 weeks with 150/500/2000 miles put on it?
Lord Varys riding bikes is a joy to look at!!! Fantastic detailed review. Loved it!
Thanks 🙂
Great review again TMF....don't like the sound of top heavy....I'm three weeks into my 09 GS Adv and very happy....amazed at its "flick ability" and all round practical competence and it's now my first touring choice over my Rocket Touring or XJR.....okay so "every bugger has one" but it's not hard to see why.
Exactly!
I asked you on your first review for help with a decision. You told me wait for this review. Decision made. It's going to be a GS. Thank you TMF. Brill vid.
Cheers Peter - Best of luck with your purchase (hope you get a good deal!)....
Peter, you're a sheep- trying riding one. And push it past 7K RPM's, you'll be amazed. Don't bother doing that on a GS.
Great, now I'm all undecided again!
Peter, the GS is a great bike.. I owned an oil head. The water boxer is much better. But it flattens out at 5K RPMs. So the Tiger has a better motor. But the lower center of gravity makes it better for offroad. And like Flyer has stated, the weight is a challenge for a shorter rider. So... if you're going offroad and you're shorter, buy the GS. If you're tall and you're not going offroad, the Tiger. Personally I find the boxer a bit agricultural, but people have been swearing by them for decades so ride them both.
Thanks holden, seems like I need to take a tiger out. I'm 5ft 11 and not going off Rd so your comment is helpful. Cheers.
Your shed is impressive man, I’d love something like that.
Thank you!
I like the chamfered design of the luggage; makes them less of a barn door in the wind.
Hi MrF and excellent review again. Servicing on bikes is horrifically expensive. 1st service on my Renault Clio was €85 (that’s Euros) with no service at 500 miles. The first years expected distance covered on the Renault is 30,000km. What do they do on bikes that they don’t do on cars....my guess would be nothing! Might be worth investigating that sometime.
Yes I have wondered that myself, it seems car tech is way ahead of bike tech when it comes to cost of ownership doesn't it...generally speaking my bikes each cost more to run than my cars...nuts!
From my reading,none of these are very good off road,but shine on the tarmac.That’s fine for me, since off roading isn’t my thing.Thanks TMF.👍👍
I have currently the 1200 Tiger and indeed if they only could do something about the weight 🙄🙄🙄
That’s why the new KTM 1290 GT R 2019 is probably on my shoppinglist fully fueled approx. 30 kgr less than the Tiger is a lot.
Test rides are planned with the new KTM GT and the new Beemer 1250 GS decisions decisions 😀😀
Thanks again for a correct review 👍
What did you end up with? The new Tiger 900 seems to be good too
I like this style of review, i have no questions i need answered. good job
Thank you sir!
Thanks for another in depth review. RE: Fuel Economy: When I toured on a 2017 R1200GS "Triple Black" around the South Island of New Zealand, I averaged 5.0 Ltrs per 100 Kms over a trip of about 2500 Kms, which I thought was extremely good! I get only slightly better fuel consumption from my 321cc MT-03 (4.8 L/100K), albeit around town.
I have an XJR 1300 it does 55 -58 mpg and my MT03 75- 85 mpg think you must have heavy right wrist!
There's another way to ride an MT-03?
It amuses me too about the fuel range. My little CBR500R immediately recognizes it is full to the brim even before the engine is started. Anyway another good honest review. having ridden one of these heavy sort of bikes i wouldn't want to go much heavier than my 500r. It would give me kittens dropping the bike on my gravel drive and manhandling on uneven surfaces would make it too difficult. Dropping a 15k bike is an expensive problem.
Indeed James, indeed!
I know it's outwith the scope of your review, but the long-term cost of ownership is important. My BMW RT (same boxer engine as the GS) was a money pit. So many very, very expensive faults: fuel sensor, swing arm bearings, ABS pump; and the corrosion - bike was melting. Of course, the my 1200 may prove just as bad, so we will see.
Indeed Stephen....and sorry to hear of your bad experiences!
Stephen, I had Tiger 1050 for 4 years.. nothing broke. NOTHING. Was the suspension and headlight shitty? Yes. But the engine was amazing and ran like a swiss watch.
Nice review but I'm with others that don't really understand why people buy these. No one uses them off road so why not get the Tiger 1050 Sport instead? Just as comfortable/practical but quicker, cheaper and better looking.
I waaayy prefer the Tiger 1050 Sport - lovely bike to ride on the road....
Some of us do actually use them on surfaces that are off-road - even if you only need it for 10 mins of a ride to go down some crappy farm track, it's nice.
I visited a coffee at a castle in the rain just yesterday, the entrance road was a two track green lane full of deep potholes, mud and loose gravel (I was standing on the pegs), the "car park" was deep gravel and where I parked was very muddy. The 1290 SA S was totally composed. Lovely.
I live at the end of a long dirt track in the countryside, so have no choice but to take mine offroad(ish). It's no enduro I grant you, and mine is mainly used on road, but they are very capable of this sort of offroad use. Also, for those wondering if it's going to be a bit much in terms of height and weight (it has both of these of course), I have the Xrx low and even with 5'5" and 28" inseam it's fine to ride. Shorties: If you are thinking of one of these my advice would be to ride one before you dismiss it out of hand. I like mine. YMMV.
Samuel Gillard - not just as comfortable at all, not as practical either. Those two bikes are like chalk and cheese. They are two completely different bikes.
Terry Cox I've ridden the 1050 Sport and it was really comfortable, you could ride it all day so what more comfort d'you need? And I would argue it's more practical than these big adventure bikes because when you remove the panniers you can actually filter with ease, so they're much more practical for daily use.
As always, a very comprehensive and structured review - Good stuff! I currently own a Tiger 800 ABS (2014) and was looking to get a bigger bike as I'm forever riding longer distances with a pillion and although it doesn't struggle parse..it could do with a little more to make those hard climbs and moving out of junctions a little bit easier. Maybe look towards a GS in the future...
Triumph tiger review sponsored by BMW..!! And suprise suprise its hard to filter with panniers on !!
Ill stick to my ancient vstrom "with giant panniers and a top box you can fot 2 full faced helmets in"" .....
Sorry brother it was a great review as always and i cant blame you for comparing it to a bike you own and know..im just pulling your leg ..peace and love brother☮❤...
This was such a helpful video for me, I had to decide between a GS and the Tiger 1200. My heart and most of my head wanted the Tiger but I was worried about the weight.
I am 6ft1 but no muscle, so whilst I can flat foot it, my confidence was low moving it about and on whether I could handle it generally.
Having said that, my heart wanted a Triumph and it wanted a triple so I bought the Tiger.
I've now done 800 miles and dropped it once getting on it. I dropped it simply out of being a newbie and rubbish technique - I know why it happened and can stop that happening again.
I would now say that I can handle the weight, practice has given me confidence and the only way is up.
I really wanted this bike and am delighted that my confidence is now such that I will be fine with it, for me it would have been a shame to have to buy the GS on weight alone - my heart would have been sad!
I do think we are lucky that there are so many great bikes out there and we all need to buy what suits us personally.
I love my Tiger!
Always buy bikes with your heart rather than your head - they're meant to be fun! Glad you liked the Tiger more than I did :0)
@@TheMissendenFlyer so here we are at the three year ownership point and perhaps more importantly 4 years of biking experience including taking my RoSPA test. Now I actually own this bike so could keep it but... the enjoyment factor has been slightly lacking but the top heavy nature of it and the difficulty of moving it about made it test ride a GS again. The result? A new GS on order for delivery before end of the year (with I must say a very good deal) Now I know there is a new Tiger 1200 coming but I have come to the conclusion that there is no better bike than a GS (for me that is) and goodness I enjoyed the GS - the torgue and power of the 1250 is fabulous and I don't need huge horsepower. Really looking forward to many years of GS ownership plus if I change it again there will be problems at home!
@@michaelneve3223 Told you the GS was the one!
@@TheMissendenFlyer she’s arrived and I’m in love! Incredible to ride even restricted to 5000rpm, big thanks to you and teapot for your balanced and informative reviews. It’s so hard to buy the right bike but you guys do a great job helping the rest of us
I don't understand why these 1200-class bikes must be so big. Why can't Bmw or Triumph fit that engine to a GS750 size frame. That would be perfect for many of us. I ride a KTM Duke R 690 (~160kgs) and I can't see myself riding a bike that is twice the weight. I would love to have a lighter adv bike in some point. Maybe 790 KTM adv gives us hope.. :)
Yes I think the mid-size adventure class makes a lot of sense...the Triumph 800 for example, and as you say the new KTM 790 adventure has a lot of promise I reckon...thanks for watching - TMF
Yep. And because A2 bikes sell good numbers it makes all the big manufacturers limit their mid-size adv bikes output to ~70kw. It would be great to have a light weight 800-1000cc adv with a bit more punch than tiger 800 or Bmw 750 Gs. Something like Tracer 900 with less budget orientated feel.
A smaller adventure bike with a super-charged 800-1000 is what Kawasaki should do, bring out something with the H2SX motor that competes with the 1200 GS, 1290 KTMs etc.
Because the market is there for them and people are willing to buy them, there is an 800 if you don't like the 1200, a 600 if you don't like the 800, a 300 if you don't like the 600 in all sorts of brands, it's just called market segmentation. No manufacturer is expecting you to like every model in their range, you didn't and went for a 690, it doesn't make the rest a poor choice for someone else. The big GS/GSA/Tiger like bikes also have a massive load carrying capacity which suit some peoples requirements, e.g. two up & camping.
It is all about the mission of the bike. These 1200 class bikes are really built for riding with a pillion and luggage. My 1200rt has a payload of near 550 lbs. The larger frame is required I suspect for this sort of payload. If I mostly rode by myself, I would seriously think of an 800 class bike.
I really wish all bike reviews followed your format - far more actual 'real world' understanding of the bike than any other reviews I ever see. I love Triumph and as of yet am not in the adventure bike realm but it is content like this that really helps me understand different bikes I have not rode. Well done TMF!
Thanks as ever Scott - when I came up with this format my intention was to cover the sorts of practical aspects I would want to know if I were considering buying the bike, and assumed others went through a similar thought process - hopefully I’m getting close to that!
Thanks TMF, a great all round review. I would be put off by the size and weight of a big adventure bike which is why i went for the new Tiger800. Perhaps you can get one of these to do a comparison??
Yes I will do that at some point Andrew...cheers for watching...TMF
For all those commenting on why didn't they build a smaller bike. more road orientated, better fuel consumption etc etc. Well Triumph did build one, it was called the errr Tiger 1050??? Rode mine all over Europe, just stuck a Givi top box on, and an SW Motech rack. HID lights, lowered the seat myself. That was back in 2009, and I am seriously considering another one.
Thanks for watching and for stopping by! All the best - TMF
Lowered the seat? It came too low. I had to raise it up an inch.