For the 2011 model year, Triumph launched two all-new models – the Tiger 800 and more off-road-oriented Tiger 800 XC, both powered by a 799cc in-line triple – in what was then a much smaller and less competitive middleweight adventure bike segment, with competition coming primarily from BMW’s F 650 GS and F 800 GS.
Adventure bikes have been a rare bright spot of growth in
what has been a stagnant decade in terms of motorcycle sales since the Great
Recession. And where there’s growth, competition flows in like the tide in the
hopes of raising more boats. We’ve seen a proliferation of new models and new
technology in the segment, with adventure bikes all but displacing traditional
sport- touring motorcycles and some offering nearly superbike levels of power
and specification.
Triumph added a 1,215cc triple-powered Tiger Explorer for 2012, it updated and expanded its Tiger 800 lineup to four models (XR, XRx, XC and XCx) for 2015 and it rolled out no fewer than six Explorer models for 2016. By the time the 2018 model year rolled around, both the Tiger 800 and Tiger 1200 (formerly Explorer) families were comprised of six models each – XR, XRx, XRx Low Ride Height (LHR), XRT, XCx and XCA – offering varying levels of specification and on-/off-road worthiness.
Triumph decided to simplify things somewhat for 2020, with five middleweight Tiger models: Tiger 900, Tiger 900 GT, Tiger 900 GT Pro, Tiger 900 Rally and Tiger 900 Rally Pro. If you’re keeping tabs on the progression of model designations, the Tiger 900 and Tiger 900 GT/Pro models replace the more street-oriented XR models, and the Tiger Rally/Pro models replace the more off-road-oriented XC models.
The Tiger 900 lineup is powered by a larger 888cc, DOHC, 4-valves-per-cylinder in-line triple that makes a claimed 94 horsepower and 64 lb-ft of torque, with more midrange power and 10% higher peak torque than its 799cc predecessor. Widening the triple’s bore from 74 to 78mm (stroke is unchanged at 61.9mm) yielded an 89cc increase in displacement. The updated engine gets a new 1-3-2 firing order for more character, and Triumph says the Tiger 900 offers class-leading acceleration and a distinctive soundtrack.
Triumph revised the Tiger 900 platform from the ground up,
with a new modular, tubular-steel main frame and a bolt-on subframe, top-of-the-line
Brembo Stylema monoblock front calipers, new bodywork and new LED lighting.
Other new features vary by model:
Tiger 900
- Cast wheels, 19-in. front, 17-in. rear
- Marzocchi 45mm USD fork, non-adj., 7.1-in. travel
- Marzocchi shock, adj. for spring preload, 6.7-in. travel
- Seat height: 31.9/32.7 in.
- Standard ABS
- Ride modes: Road, Rain
- 5-inch TFT display
- Fuel capacity: 5.3 gals.
- Dry weight (claimed): 423 lbs.
- Color options: Pure White
Tiger 900 GT
- Cast wheels, 19-in. front, 17-in. rear
- Marzocchi 45mm USD fork, adj. for compression & rebound, 7.1-in. travel
- Marzocchi shock, adj. for spring preload & rebound, 6.7-in. travel
- (GT Low Ride Height: 5.51/5.95 in. travel)
- Seat height: 31.9/32.7 in. (GT LRH: 29.9/30.7 in.)
- Radial front master cylinder
- Cornering ABS and traction control with IMU
- Ride modes: Road, Rain, Sport, Off-Road
- 7-inch TFT display
- Illuminated switches with a 5-way joystick
- Electronic cruise control
- Heated grips
- Secure mobile phone storage with USB charging port
- Fuel capacity: 5.3 gals.
- Dry weight (claimed): 428 lbs. (GT LRH: 426 lbs.)
- Color options: Korosi Red, Sapphire Black and Pure White, all featuring premium tank badges and contemporary new decals
Tiger 900 GT Pro
- Cast wheels, 19-in. front, 17-in. rear
- Marzocchi 45mm USD fork, adj. for compression & rebound, 7.1-in. travel
- Marzocchi shock, electronically adj. for spring preload & rebound, 6.7-in. travel
- Seat height: 31.9/32.7 in.
- Radial front master cylinder
- Cornering ABS and traction control with IMU
- Ride modes: Road, Rain, Sport, Off-Road, Rider-configurable
- Triumph Shift Assist (up/down quickshifter)
- 7-inch TFT display
- Illuminated switches with a 5-way joystick
- Electronic cruise control
- Heated grips
- Heated seats
- Tire-pressure monitoring system
- LED auxiliary lights
- Secure mobile phone storage with USB charging port
- My Triumph Bluetooth connectivity
- Fuel capacity: 5.3 gals.
- Dry weight (claimed): 437 lbs.
- Color options: Korosi Red, Sapphire Black and Pure White, all featuring premium tank badges and contemporary new decals
Tiger 900 Rally
- Spoked tubeless wheels, 21-in. front, 17-in. rear
- Showa 45mm USD fork, fully adj., 9.5-in. travel
- Showa shock, adj. for spring preload & rebound, 9.1-in. travel
- Seat height: 33.5/34.3 in.
- Radial front master cylinder
- Cornering ABS and traction control with IMU
- Ride modes: Road, Rain, Sport, Off-Road
- 7-inch TFT display
- Illuminated switches with a 5-way joystick
- Electronic cruise control
- Heated grips
- Secure mobile phone storage with USB charging port
- Fuel capacity: 5.3 gals.
- Dry weight (claimed): 432 lbs.
- Color options: Matte Khaki, Sapphire Black and Pure White, all featuring contemporary new decals and a distinctive white frame inspired by the Tiger Tramontana rally bike
Tiger 900 Rally Pro
- Spoked tubeless wheels, 21-in. front, 17-in. rear
- Showa 45mm USD fork, fully adj., 9.5-in. travel
- Showa shock, adj. for spring preload & rebound, 9.1-in. travel
- Seat height: 33.5/34.3 in.
- Radial front master cylinder
- Cornering ABS and traction control with IMU
- Ride modes: Road, Rain, Sport, Off-Road, Rider-configurable, Off-Road Pro
- Triumph Shift Assist (up/down quickshifter)
- 7-inch TFT display
- Illuminated switches with a 5-way joystick
- Electronic cruise control
- Heated grips
- Heated seats
- Tire-pressure monitoring system
- LED auxiliary lights
- Secure mobile phone storage with USB charging port
- My Triumph Bluetooth connectivity
- Fuel capacity: 5.3 gals.
- Dry weight (claimed): 443 lbs.
- Color options: Matte Khaki, Sapphire Black and Pure White, all featuring contemporary new decals and a distinctive white frame inspired by the Tiger Tramontana rally bike
The 2020 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally and Tiger 900 Rally Pro
will be available in March. The Tiger 900, Tiger 900 GT and Tiger GT Pro will
be available in April. Pricing for the Tiger 900 starts at $12,500; pricing for
the other models is TBD.
Check out more new bikes in Rider’s 2020 Guide to New Street Motorcycles
Source: RiderMagazine.com