Triumph is rolling out an upgrade for its Tiger 1200 adventure bike range that will allow the rear ride height to automatically lower as the bike slows.
This Active Preload Reduction system, which functions similarly to the Adaptive Ride Height feature that first debuted on the Harley-Davidson Pan America, is capable of lowering the seat height by up to 20mm when the bike comes to a standstill.
Existing Tiger 1200 owners will be able to receive the update at their next service, while INFO MOTO understands new units will come standard with the feature.
As before, the Triumph Tiger 1200 range is priced from $30,490 rideaway in base GT Pro guise, followed by the GT Explorer ($32,990), Rally Pro ($32,190) and Rally Explorer ($34,390).
“This new feature can be enabled on the fly, lowering the centre of gravity at slower speeds, making it even more accessible, thus offering riders more confidence at slow speeds and better contact with the ground as they come to stop,” explains Triumph Motorcycles chief product officer Steve Sargent in a press release.
The road-focussed GT variants currently offer two seat height settings, 850mm and 870mm, while the Rally Pro and Rally Explorer sit at 875mm and 895mm, respectively.
An accessory low-seat options also allows customers to lower the seat position by an additional 20mm, giving a lowest seat height of 830mm on the GT family and 855mm on the Rally family.
The Active Preload Reduction system can be accessed by pressing the ‘home’ button for one second.
The Triumph Tiger 1200 is motivated by an 1160cc triple-cylinder engine tuned to produce 110kW and 130Nm.
For comparison, the current BMW R 1250 GS is motivated by a 1254cc 100kW/143Nm boxer motor, while the KTM 1290 Super Adventure uses a 118kW/138Nm 1301cc V-twin setup.
Standard across the Australian Tiger 1200 line-up is Showa semi-active suspension, a 7.0-inch TFT dash, optimised cornering traction control and ABS, a full keyless system, electronic cruise control, a centre stand, adaptive cornering lights, an up/down quickshifter, and hill hold.
GT variants offer five rider modes, Road, Rain, Sport, custom, and Off-Road, while the Rally versions gain an extra Off-Road Pro mode for increased adjustment on slippery terrain.
The GT versions are the more road oriented of the Tiger 1200 family, with 19- and 18-inch cast wheels with Metzeler Tourance tyres, while the Rally variants are better suited to off-road riding with 21- and 18-inch tubeless spoked wheels shod in Metzeler Karoo Street rubber.
The GT Explorer and Rally Explorer are higher-specification grades that are distinguished by a 30-litre fuel tank, as opposed to the 20-litre capacities of the GT Pro and Rally Pro.
Explorer variants also benefit from a blind spot radar system, heated seats and grips and a tyre pressure monitor, among other upgrades.
Spannerman reviews the Tiger 1200.
Spencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
