Tiger 800 XRt (2016) with 810mm-830mm seat height

Tiger 1200 XRx Low (2018) with 790mm-810mm seat height

Benefits are already obvious, first is ownership costs. I cover in the region of 1,000km’s a week on my bike, my service intervals have now been pushed out from 10,000km to 16,000km. Even better, there is now a shaft final drive instead of chain. This will actually be my first shaft bike in over 20 years in the saddle. There was a 5 year period of a Buell Ulysses which had belt drive which was brilliant, so very much looking forward to no more lubing. Then there is just that everything you get on the Tiger 800 is just upgraded, from electric screens, to more power (95PS to 141PS), more torque (79NM to 122NM), more riding modes, more everything seemingly.

Which gets to my only potential negative… more weight. I have loved my light and nimble Tiger 800 (202kg), but I know from riding the Tiger Explorer’s and now Tiger 1200’s the weight has not been an issue, the 244kg only becomes apparent when pushing the bike around. But never going to claim that pushing a dual-sport around is ever an ‘easy’ affair. The Sprint GT I owned probably came closest to the weight in the Tiger 1200, but I will happily admit the Tiger 1200 is an easier bike to man-handle (or so I find). I am guessing it has to do where the weight is actually carried.

That TFT display… it’s stunning.

I am also entering a whole new level of technology, this will be the first bike I have owned with electronic suspension. Again, from riding with bikes with the system it is one of those things you really do not appreciate until you live with it for a bit. Most riders I know will set their suspension once, and then adjust the pre-load when loading up for a trip with luggage and a pillion. But if you have ever been watching your weight you know that what you weigh can vary from one end of the day to the other. Nevermind the roads you end up riding along over the course of a day. Electronic suspension is always working underneath you, adjusting to give you the same consistent ride, you can even adjust the hardness/softness on the fly as you travel. It is just one more thing to take for granted that technology is working away in the background to give you the ride you want.

Also another first will be cornering ABS, now this is something I never want to use in anger, but suffice to say I have seen enough and read enough to know that this is worth its weight in gold if you ever go need it. It is one of those systems that in a couple of years will be the norm, much like ABS, traction control, and ride-by-wire have become everyday technology on the Triumph range. It’s an additional safety net that I am happy comes as part of the package, and would be even happier if I never get to write about how it operates when used in anger.

The list of standard equipment is long, but I will admit that I am probably going to miss the heated seats come the winter months. I wear the Keiss heated jacket for the winter riding, and that combined with the heated grips should keep me comfortable. Looking ahead though, I may consider heated gloves just to bring my heated gear game up to the next level, but will wait and see how things flesh out once the winter kicks in.

Accessories wise the only extra’s I am adding are the Triumph luggage system, mudguard extension, and I really like that new tankbag. That will mean all the touring, and weekly shopping/errand, duties are taken care off. I will be also transferring the excellent BikeTrac GPS system over too from my current Tiger 800. Again, never have had cause to need it, but the peace of mind it gives while out and about is fantastic. There have been several false alarms, usually from gents feeling the need to try on my bike for size. Which we all know is extremely poor etiquette. It also acts as a great way to look back at trips or places you have been on the web interface.

Still another 4-5 weeks before my Tiger will be here so I will need to be patient, but naturally I will probably find myself going back to the accessory catalogue to keep personalising my soon to arrive ride.

I really can’t wait, the summer for me won’t really begin until she is run in.

Patience is a virtue. Or so I will keep telling myself.