I know my two-wheeled vehicle is no match for the icy road as I see the automobile ahead of me does a 360s on the interstate at 60 miles per hour. My brand-new Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer was released in 2017. I’m fleeing a winter storm in the remote areas of Nevada, fully loaded. Thus far, everything had been well, except for some chilly weather and a steady drizzle. However, the weather changed as I reached the top of the pass, and I found myself driving through hail.
A primer on riding a motorcycle, if you will: Put your foot on the brake, don’t make any jerky movements or corrections to the steering, and say a prayer. I know I adore this motorbike as I safely pass the bewildered lady who has just spun out in the middle of the road; I can still see her eyes staring at me as if I were some unexplained aberration as she brakes to a halt.
The 2017 Explorer was a great traveling companion for the three years and 27,000 miles I spent with it. The engine’s smooth performance, linear solid torque, and reassuring steadiness were all my highlights. The motorbike had two fatal problems, though: it ran hot (like a flaming gas tank between your legs hot) and it was heavy (especially considering how high up on the handlebars it was). Not a significant problem when not loaded or driving, but not ideal when traveling through rough terrain. I eventually traded it in for the German class leader, but I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for that delicious triple.
A few years later, Triumph redesigned its adventure motorcycles, with the Tiger 900 range as the flagship model. Currently, Triumph is focusing on the Tiger 1200. For the sake of our readers, I have been sent to Portugal to investigate the progress of the company’s Hinckley headquarters. The 2022 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro is a more street-focused version; let’s see how they do with it.
2022 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro Adventure Bike – Features and Specs
Graphics
Lucerne Blue, Snowdome White, and Sapphire Black are all fantastic colors for the 2022 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro. Even with the Explorer model’s almost eight-gallon gasoline tank, the vehicle maintains a solid but proportionate appearance. The daytime running lights (DRLs) and front-facing LED lights are modern and imposing.
The daytime running lights (DRLs) and front-facing LED lights are modern and imposing.
Ergonomics
The height of the seats is ideal, and the reach to the handlebars is good. There’s a difference of only 0.7 inches between the seat’s two height options. Most of the day was spent with the seat in its highest position, allowing me to relax on the balls of my feet during rest breaks. There are movable parts such as the windshield, brake and clutch levers, grip reach, and foot pegs. The windscreen is simple to raise and lower, although I found it less effective than earlier models.
Engine
All Tiger 1200 models have the same powerful engine. Even though it’s still a triple, the 1160cc, 148-horsepower engine has a different feel than previous triplets. The engine gets going considerably more quickly and maintains a high rate of speed thanks to the robust, linearly provided power.
As its name suggests, the T-plane crank engine is intended to be more exciting and docile at low speeds. The music stands out the most; turn it up loud, and the triple sounds fantastic.
The 2022 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro has five riding modes, one of which can be customized by the rider. At this time, you may choose from Sports, Road, Off-Road, and rain settings. The throttle responsiveness, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and suspension behavior are all modified by the selected riding mode. Continental’s anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traction control (TC) take cornering into account.
The strong and quick-revving engine performs well in practically every setting. In Sport mode, unless you gently roll on the throttle, you’ll feel an unpleasant abruptness unless you’re going very slowly. It becomes especially apparent while navigating sharp turns and varying speeds. I spent most of my day on the bike in Road mode, which provided an ideal compromise between speed and comfort. With Rain mode on, the throttle response is as gentle as it is powerful. By disabling the back brakes, decreasing the amount of intervention the front brakes have, and decreasing the amount of control the traction system has, the Off-Road mode dramatically enhances the vehicle’s performance while off-road. When driving up a steep incline on loose gravel, you need to turn off the traction control.
The quick shifter works without a hitch. Not using a short shifter is not something I often do since I am a bit of a purist. However, I realized that I was utilizing it much more subconsciously when riding aggressively across the gorgeous rolling countryside. That’s how effortless and precise it is.
Chassis
A redesigned linkage swing arm and lighter shaft drive transfer all that power to the pavement. The drivetrain performed faultlessly on the road, sending energy to the rear wheels regardless of the surface.
A Speed Triple? Has someone subbed it in? Large adventure motorcycles, like the old Tiger 1200, tend to be too tall and heavy to handle well on narrow mountain routes. Triumph shifted the engine and rider forward, and the new Tiger lost 55 pounds. You may forget you’re on an adventure bike because of its decreased weight, more aggressive seating position, giant 19-inch front wheel, and rev-happy engine. It caught me off guard when a couple of spins of the foot peg produced flames. Compared to previous models, the 2022 Triumph Tiger 1200 is much easier to operate.
I mowed down the pegs while wasting time trying to find the bike’s legal speed limit. Even during particularly aggressive mountain road riding, the street-oriented Metzler Tourane tires can keep up with the oversized ADV chassis and powerful inline-3. The front end of my 2020 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro gives me all the confidence I need to push it like a sport bike, despite not having 17-inch tires at either end.
Suspension
The new semi-active suspension from Showa adds to the dynamic character of the ride. The TFT screen allows the user to quickly and simply modify the damping to one of nine preset settings, depending on their preference. Because the semi-active package can adjust the spring preload on the shock, ride height is never an issue. The result is a ride that is both comfortable and controlled regardless of the quality of the roadway. Accurate and predictable turn entry and exit; nevertheless, heavy front braking causes the front end to drop. Because of this, it’s recommended that you use the rear brakes more often to maintain the chassis balanced while you navigate corners.
For stopping power, the 550-pound Triumph Tiger 1200 GT relies on Brembo Stylema M4.30 calipers and 320mm discs. It’s nice to know that the front brakes are connected to the rear. To counteract the front brake’s nose dive in corners, you may put extra weight on the rear brake. The automatic Brake System activates at the expected times without jarring the driver.
The new 1200 controls heat far better than earlier open-class Tigers. The new twin radiator layout is neatly integrated into the bodywork, unlike the bulky 900 models. Though I haven’t tried it in the summer heat yet, I could ride my bike for miles without experiencing any overheating from the engine.
Display
The cockpit of the 2022 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro is well-thought-out and comfortable to operate, thanks to features like a seven-inch TFT Display with high contrast and backlighting. The display can be navigated with ease thanks to the inclusion of a joystick and buttons labeled “Mode” and “Home.” The Triumph may be equipped with a connection for smartphones, GPS systems, and GoPro cameras. There are two screen layout options. However, none provided the information I usually need when riding. I had to go through options to get to the data I wanted to see upfront. It would be great if the information shown on the screen could be modified in more ways.
Other Features
Fashionable bags have a practical purpose as well. Give offers hard plastic covers for the GT. The baggage mounts aren’t built in as on some market leaders, so you’ll need to use a separate bolt-on mounting bracket. The drawback is that without the baggage, the area seems congested. The frames help install soft adventure trip baggage.
Standard on every 2022 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT is an extended range of high-quality features. The handguards, center stand, heated grips, cruise control (albeit not radar-assisted), and hill-hold are some features I haven’t mentioned but are essential to the experience. There is no failure or malfunction.
The base GT model provides the essentials with fewer extras for those looking to save money. At $19,100, it’s not a terrible value considering you still get a ripping engine, Showa semi-active suspension, and fantastic Brembos.
After giving the 2022 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro my all, I was delighted with it. Triumph’s stated mission is to dethrone the BMW R 1250 GS, a throne long held by BMW but long coveted by competitors. This motorbike competes head-to-head with the Germans thanks to its sporty street manners and fundamental off-road skills.
2022 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro Adventure Bike – Price
The new 2022 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro Adventure Motorcycle is available at $21,400 only.
2022 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro Adventure Bike – Technical Specifications
Engine
Type: | Inline-3 |
Displacement: | 1160cc |
Bore x stroke: | 90.0 x 60.7mm |
Maximum power: | 148 horsepower @ 9000 rpm |
Maximum torque: | 96 ft-lbs @ 7000 rpm |
Compression ratio: | 13.2:1 |
Valvetrain: | DOHC, 4vpc |
Transmission: | 6-speed |
Clutch: | Wet multi-plate w/ assist and slipper functions |
Final drive: | Shaft |
Chassis
Frame: | Tubular steel w/ bolt-on aluminum subframe |
Front suspension; travel: | Fully adjustable semi-active Showa inverted 49mm fork; 7.9 inches |
Rear suspension: | Linkage-assisted, fully adjustable semi-active Showa shock; 7.9 inches |
Wheels: | Cast aluminum |
Front-wheel: | 19 x 3.0 |
Rear wheel: | 18 x 4.25 |
Tires: | Metzeler Tourance |
Front tire: | 120/70 x 19 |
Rear tire: | 150/70 x 18 |
Front brakes: | 320mm floating discs w/ Brembo Stylema M4.30 monoblock 4-piston calipers w/ Magura H1 radial master cylinder |
Rear brake: | 282mm disc w/ Brembo single-piston caliper |
ABS: | Cornering ABS |
Dimensions and Capacities
Wheelbase: | 61.4 inches |
Rake: | 24.1 degrees |
Trail: | 4.7 inches |
Seat height: | 33.5 or 34.2 inches |
Fuel tank capacity: | 5.2 gallons |
Curb weight: | 540 pounds |
Colors: | Snowdonia White; Sapphire Black; Lucerne Blue |