Two years ago, Triumph introduced a new-generation Tiger 1200 featuring an all-new engine, a revised chassis, an updated electronics package, and a lighter curb weight. Updating the Tiger so soon after its debut shows just how important it is to Hinckley to remain at the pointy end of an incredibly competitive category. Now, Triumph increased the engine’s rotational inertia, adopted Active Preload Reduction on the rear shock, and refined the ergonomics. Does this revised Tiger 1200 truly live up to its promise as a worthy choice for your next adventure?
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SportsTranscript
00:00For 2022, Triumph introduced an all-new Tiger 1200. We're talking engine, chassis, suspension,
00:07electronics, and a lighter curb weight. Now, just two years later, Triumph has updated the engine,
00:13the suspension, and the ergonomics. After a day riding in Scotland, I can definitely say
00:18that the updates are beneficial. Are they game changers? Maybe not. We'll talk more about that
00:24later. The biggest change for 2024 is to the engine. To increase inertia, Triumph updated the
00:30crankshaft, the balancer shaft, and the alternator rotor. As such, low RPM torque delivery is much
00:36smoother. The update is especially effective for low-speed maneuvers. I wish I could say we tried
00:41it off-road, but today we were only on the street. And I would describe the power delivery as sneaky
00:47fast. So above, say, 6,000 RPMs, it really starts to come into its own. It's not one of these bikes
00:53that you can just leave in top gear to get by a car and just go. I'd say click down a gear or two,
00:59and then it's off. My biggest criticism of this bike is an abrupt on-off throttle response.
01:04It's not a big deal, but in the morning, straight away, it was the first thing I noticed. Once you're
01:09on the throttle, neutral throttle and above, it's fine, but that first initial touch of the throttle can
01:14be a little bit abrupt. In the afternoon, however, it really didn't bother me as much, but if that's the
01:19biggest complaint, then I think Triumph did a really good job. So the Tiger 1200 uses Showa
01:24semi-active suspension, and at the end of last year, Triumph introduced active preload reduction,
01:30which means when you come to a stop, you hold this home button for about a second,
01:35and it lowers the rear shock by about 20 millimeters. It just helps you get your feet on
01:40the ground that much easier. But now for 2024, it's standard across all the models. One of my favorite
01:46features about the semi-active suspension is that you can pull up the damping right on the dash,
01:51and you can on the fly adjust from comfort to sport. So on today's really bumpy roads,
01:56I just turned it all the way down to comfort and could cruise, and it was incredibly smooth.
02:01And then when we could wick it up a little bit in spite of the rain, I had a lot more braking support
02:06and could really dive into corners with much more confidence. Ergonomic updates include a flatter
02:12profile seat, a longer clutch lever, damped handlebar risers, and the GT models also have
02:19improved ground clearance with higher closer-in foot pegs. Triumph puts on parts such as the
02:24Brambo M4.30 calipers. One thing that's important to note for U.S. customers is that for 2024,
02:31only the Explorer models will be available. In 2025, Triumph says that the full range will be available
02:37once again. Explorer models include a larger capacity gas tank, blind spot detection, a heated
02:44seat as standard, and tire pressure monitoring system. What I like most about the 2024 updates is
02:50that it's evidence that Triumph is really listening to its customers. If you already own a 2022 or 2023
02:55model, is it worth trading it in for one of these new ones? Probably not. But is it added value for
03:01customers who are first-time buyers who are looking at the 2024 model? Definitely. So check it out at your
03:07local Triumph dealer.