Triumph's flagship adventure bikes get an upgrade for 2024
Triumph Motorcycles has announced a series of updates to their potent Tiger 1200 for the 2024 model year.
The updates take a more incremental approach to further developing the Tiger 1200 riding experience rather than drastic changes to Triumph’s big cat.
For 2024, the main focus has been a focus on refinements to the 1160cc engine, improvements to overall comfort and ergonomics, better cornering ground clearance, plus a reduced seat height with Active Preload Reduction. There is, of course, a set of distinctive new colours to boot.
Inside the engine, Triumph has made changes to the crankshaft, alternator rotor and balancer to increase engine inertia, along with some associated engine calibration changes. As a result, the Triumph engineering team has been able to create a smoother and more precise low rev torque delivery. Triumph claims riders will be able to feel the increased smoothness while accelerating or decelerating, especially at low speeds. There is also an updated clutch design which allows for a smoother engagement when changing into first gear.
In the comfort department, Triumph has enhanced the all-day comfort of the Tiger 1200 for customers looking for long-distance touring capability. The engine itself is now even smoother and more refined, thanks to a revised engine balancing strategy, which improves comfort through all the key rider touchpoints.
The dampened handlebars and risers, which have proven so popular in the Explorer models, have also been introduced to the GT Pro and Rally Pro, delivering a smoother ride with increased mirror visibility.
The rider seat has been re-designed with a flatter profile, providing more space for the rider which will help reduce fatigue on longer trips. The accessory low seat, which reduces the seat position by 20mm to give a lowest seat height of 830mm on the GT Pro and 855mm on the Rally Pro, has also been designed to be significantly more comfortable. A longer clutch lever has also been introduced, providing increased space for riders’ fingers adding further comfort especially on longer journeys.
Triumph has also increased the cornering ground clearance of the Tiger 1200 GT Pro and GT Explorer models, by lifting the footpeg positions and moving them closer to the bike. The new Active Preload Reduction feature, which was revealed in August 2023, offers the rider greater confidence by reducing the rear suspension preload as the Tiger 1200 slows to a stop, lowering the seat height by up to 20mm, simply by pressing the ‘Home’ button on the switch cube for one second.
The Tiger 1200 is now available in four variants, with new colours for 2024. The Tiger 1200 GT Pro and GT Explorer, tailor-made for the perfect road-focused adventure ride, are now available in eye-catching Carnival Red, as well as the previous options of Snowdonia White and Sapphire Black. The Tiger 1200 Rally Pro and Rally Explorer, perfect for an all-terrain adventure, are available in stylish new Matt Sandstorm, and Jet Black options, as well as the popular Matt Khaki.
“The updates to the Tiger 1200 range for 2024 will deliver an even more refined ride, broadening its global appeal,” Triumph’s Chief Product Officer Steve Sargent said.
“While the current generation model has already made a big impact on this segment, more than doubling annual sales of the Tiger 1200 around the globe, our world-class engineering team is always looking for new ways to refine and enhance every model.
“By listening to customer feedback and integrating some of the new enhancements already revealed in the new Tiger 900, this range of updates come together to deliver a significant improvement to the riding experience.”
Triumph Motorcycles expects the updated Tiger 1200s to arrive in the New Zealand market in the second half of 2024 with pricing starting at $35,490 for the Tiger 1200 GT Pro
First launched in 2021, the latest generation Tiger 1200 was designed to be the world’s most capable, agile and manoeuvrable large-capacity adventure motorcycle. Since then, the Tiger 1200 range has seen global sales success, and the Tiger 1200 GT Explorer with its 30-litre tank, was even the bike of choice for Enduro World Champion Ivan Cervantes when he took the Guinness World Records title for riding the greatest distance in 24 hours on a motorcycle.