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Test: Triumph Tiger 1200 (Baujahr 2019)

The beast in us

28.10.2019

Photos: Dietmar

The good thing about the BMW GS, in addition to its undeniable objective qualities, is that it spurs the competition. Everyone wants to be at least as good as the German bestseller. Whether this succeeds, we check with the example of the Triumph Tiger 1200.

Big Bike

Oha. What a motorcycle. There are graceful adventure bikes, but, let's face it, the triumph is not one of them. For 19,950 euros you get 271 kilos of motorcycle. However, there is also a three-cylinder in-line engine, which brings 141 hp from 1,215 cubic metres, which are supposed to get the whole thing going. By the way, the predecessor of the current tigers was another 11 kilos heavier.

The Tigers are available in two different versions. We are testing the XC, which should be suitable for both terrain and road. In terms of additional engine protection, this version may make sense in the terrain, but what road tyres (at 211 km/h maximum speed is necessary) and – chic - spoke rims in the terrain are supposed to help, remains somehow unclear.

Not everything about the triumph is real. For example, the aluminium panels on the tank are made of plastic. However, this is of high quality, as the whole motorcycle leaves a valuable impression. There is nothing in this. The price of triumph is therefore not so fierce in this sense. A look over the BMW GS 1250: It's on the price list from 16,150 euros, but that's pure theory. In fact, the GS come as the customer orders them, sometimes to the customer at 22,000 euros, thanks to a heavy surcharge list.

The Tiger has a very good equipment

The Tigers, on the other hand, comes to the customer permanently and fully equipped. Dietmar, who has a weakness for adventure bikes, and I agree, in this respect only sometimes weakly, that we have never ridden such a fully equipped motorcycle – including separately controlled seat heating for riders and passengers. The complete list of extras can be found on the net. Here's what we found particularly helpful: curved light, actually the handle and seat heaters as well as the really brilliant display.

What I call the sham innovation par excellence, unfortunately, cannot be unsubscribed: Keyless Go. Apart from the fact that this system is prone to theft, the key is always stuck or hidden where you don't need it. For example, I was using the bulky camera equipment when Dietmar wanted to start the engine. I had the key in my butt pocket, so I either had to remove the camera or bring my most important thing close to the sensor. It's good that nobody filmed it ...

"Built to take you anywhere. First class," Triumph says in the prospectus. Let's see what is seen as first class in Brexit Britain. Let's go.

The 271 kilos are present

Relaxation: Dropping off with the British tanker works without any problems. This would be no different on the mountain thanks to standard start-up assistant (!). The whole operation, if you have become accustomed to the numerous buttons, happens without any problems and exceeds our expectations. Once captured, you are happy about the extras and advertisements.

For this purpose, the gearbox switches almost without any effort and very precisely. The Quickshifter (series) also works excellently and without jerking. The semi-active chassis automatically detects the subsurface and the load status of the tigers. It can be adjusted from tight to very soft via on-board computer. The comfort levels prevail at the end of our test drives – that's how tiger driving works very well.

How it is not possible, however, is just as clear. The thing supports its driver to the best of its ability, but sometimes, as with jack-up, you feel more like a conqueror. The 271 kilos are noticeable, even in motion. This is reflected, for example, in driving performance, which could well be higher at 141 hp. Between 3,000 and 4,000 tours, the three-cylinder also took a break, only to start again. A tiger is just the biggest big cat in the world, no one has said anything of the fastest.

Travel instead of lawn

First class means that the British primarily mean high driving comfort. And first-class attachments such as the sensible extras or very powerful brakes. If you understand that, the tigers open up all the better. It's not suitable for best times, but who is?

Travel instead of racing. This is not even written down, but a clear recommendation. Whose riding style tends more in the direction of calm and fluid, can buy a bike tailored to him or her. By the way: The tigers are also suitable for short-legged ones thanks to the adjustable seat height, only weak-breasted the interested parties may not be – 271 kilos is not subject to entertainment tax as I said.

However, a test drive is still necessary, because there is something that Dietmar and I could not agree on: He – rather short upper body - found the windshield to be great, I – rather long torso – as not working. Once again it turns out that there is no one, the good wind protection for all despite electrically adjustable disc.

The test bike was provided to us by Triumph Hamburg.

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