Ian The riding mode menu is simple. While scrolling through the modes and getting to the one you want, you hit the enter button on the joystick. NOW you are in that riding mode. No "ENTER", no change. I have the first GT Explorer sold in the USA. I agree the riding mode display on the dash should have text but, I already know the Icons for all the modes. To bump up the suspension, you go into the "Rider Aids" menu and can adjust it for the extra weight you are carrying. Nice video! Ride SAFE and BE safe! 👍🤙👏👌🖖👋🙂
I did a 3 day 2100klm trip on my Tiger1200 Rally Explorer and let me tell you I would take this bike over the current GSA any day! I also didn't experience the rear shock issues Ian did when I went off the pavement. I also never had the bike reseting the riding mode on me so that's another interesting fact. I also think he's being super picky about the ride mode icon. I mean if it shows a road it must be on road mode 🤷. Anyway great review but I only agree partially based on my own experience. Ride safe!
um no.... the vast majority of ADV riders will never see the limits of their bikes..... they should explore the limits of their riding ability first and foremost…
Ian I have the first GT Explorer sold in the Us. The menu is straight forward, you just scroll to the riding mode you want and push the enter button. No push, no mode change. Just because you can see the mode you want while scrolling, if you don't hit enter you won't get it. Easy Peesy! Read the manual first to understand how everything works. That's why you couldn't get the suspension set up the way you wanted it. Every bikes menu is different and I find the Tiger menu very simple when you know how it works. Great video! 👍
Thanks for the review. I already bought mine a few months ago. Living in a remote area of Australia the fuel range and the power for long distance riding as well as the capability to take it out on dirt and gravel roads are what sold me. At first I was a little overwhelmed by the technology but it has grown on me and I am navigating the modes easily. Basically keep it in sport for the street and off road on dirt. I fitted a low height seat which has made it easier to peddle out of my shed and car parks. Thanks again I look forward to seeing your comparison to the BMW.
I'm over 300lbs and don't bottom out on my Rally Pro riding similar trails to what you were on. Complaining about the controls, menu, symbols etc is kinda unfair since you are constantly switching bikes. When you own it, read the manual, familiarize yourself with everything it all becomes second nature. I do agree on your desire for more traction control options or adjustability. I too also wish the main screen included more info like the odometer.
I disagree on the menu functions. Yes you do get used to the menus and functions but for the first year you will probably be doing things wrong until it becomes fully second nature. This is frustrating to deal with. I’d much prefer a menu system that is more intuitive.
@redman2751 it only took me a couple rides. I have five motorcycles I swap between and it's never been an issue, maybe because I'm used to it. My biggest complaint is the odometer should always be on every screen
@@1993kramer You'd know better then me, I dont own a triumph. Im just stating in general I think most will prefer a menu system thats not complicated or hard to understand. Whether thats the case with the triumph or not I dont know.
Thanks for the video!! I just bought the 2023 version of this bike with only 764kms. I got rid of my super tenere. I think I’ll notice changes in every way haha. Stay safe and take care. Darin in Calgary
Thanks Ian for the video!! I own the new 1200 Tiger Rally Explorer, and also a BMW GSA. Both bikes are awesome, each one has its strengths, a few things: upper bars are included (for Canada) in the Triumph 1200 Rally Explorer model, as far as I remember I haven't experienced the riding mode reset every time I turn off the bike, nor the rear suspension issue on off road riding. Regarding the joystick I agree interferes with the turning lights switch, takes time to get used to it. Regarding the Triumph electronics I agree it is a bit confusing, GSA's have been in the market for long time so we have get used to the BMW way and it's logic, this is a different approach to access the menus and show information that I confirm is frustrating and confusing at the beginning (you don't get entirely used to it to be honest). Tiger screen size is awesome, but when sun hit it is hard to read, doesn't happen in the GSA. Also with the size of the Tiger screen more information should be shown at once like BMW. GSA feels lighter and nimble on the road I agree, the Tiger 21 inch front tire doesn't help much on the tarmac, but it does in the off road. I have both in my garage and honestly I can't decide which one has to go in order to open space to the Aprilia Tuareg, looking forward to more videos on the Aprilia .... happy new year !
Thank you for the excellent reviews and your dedication Ian. I'm keen to buy a Tiger 1200 GT Pro and your previous review of that bike is a big factor in my choice. My riding is mostly road use with some gravel roads, but nothing serious, so I think it's the perfect new bike for me. Regarding the riding modes, this is from the owners manual: The riding mode will default to ROAD when the ignition is switched ON, if the RIDER mode was active the last time the ignition was switched OFF with TC set to OFF in the required mode. If the motorcycle was in OFF ROAD or OFF ROAD PRO riding mode when the ignition was switched off, then the riding mode will default to ROAD mode when the ignition is next switched ON. A warning message is shown stating that the riding mode has changed. It also briefly allows the riding mode to be changed back to the original riding mode. Otherwise, the last selected riding mode will be remembered and activated when the ignition is switched ON. If the mode icons are not shown when the ignition switch is in the ON position, make sure that the engine stop switch is in the RUN position. OFF ROAD and OFF ROAD PRO riding modes can not be selected whilst the motorcycle is in motion. The motorcycle must be stationery before selecting OFF ROAD and OFF ROAD PRO riding modes. So, it WILL remember Sport and Rain mode. Otherwise when you switch on, either reselect Off Road mode, or hit the mode button and select which mode you want, and then ride away. Not too hard really :)
I’ve owned mine for 5 months and have ridden it over 6K miles. I absolutely love it! And, I rode every big adv bike for 2022/2023 before purchasing. It’s kind of funny, but the only people I’ve heard complain about it are GS owners. If you want to knit pick, there are plenty of negatives I could point out about the GS that lead me to not purchase it, and go with the Tiger Rally Explorer. Same goes for the Multi V4S Touring & Radar, a bike that I thought I was going to buy until I rode it. But that’s me. The Rally Explorer just fit my personality and needs better than the rest.
Love my Rally Explorer. As far as menu control goes, once you ride for more than a couple of days, you understand the control functions and they become second nature.
Really good review. You did the exact kind of trips I do, i.e. to a camp site, avoiding motorways, full luggage, no pillion. I’d have to agree that a quick read of the manual for unfamiliar symbols on the display negates any negative feedback, and I think heavier springs & shock oil front & rear for serious off-roading may help bottoming out. Rougher ride though. Personally, I’d just slow down when not on paved roads and live with it. They’re throwing in free luggage in the UK at the minute. Not sure it includes the top box & rack, but at close to £1000 savings, I’m all in. Love the huge tank too. Others will follow no doubt!
I bought a 2013 Triumph Tiger Explorer new off the floor. Sounded fantastic, handled great, and a great touring bike. Now the bad. Extremely top heavy, it took two people to pick it up, and to change the air filter, you had to remove the crash bars, fairings, and fuel tank. An all day job. I can see from a mile away, the Explorer hasn't changed. Except for the sound. WIMPY! The reason he is taking it easy, is because if it goes down, he can't lift it. After a year, I traded for a new GS. Best move I ever made.
I think the suspension did not bottom up while you were ofroading. It was probably the center stand that made that noise while u were going over bumps 👍
I have been riding my rally explorer mostly off-road now for about 6 months. The bike is so close to being perfect really… HOWEVER a couple of things that makes it miss the mark. 1. Air filter being under the tank and no ability to fit pre-filters is a concern for anyone who rides in dusty conditions. 2. OEM crash bars are purely cosmetic and due to no aftermarket support you have no viable protection options. I have bent 2 sets with slow speed technical riding drops. The bars fail and bend into the bike causing more damage. Probably better off without them, bike would be lighter. 3. Shaft drive is great however the gearing is way to tall… the triples like to rev meaning 6th gear is pretty much redundant. On the explorer that will likely be getting knobbies you will not have tyres rated for the speed it can do. Make the current 5th gear 6th, make the current 1st gear second and add a gear under it. 20kph idle in 1st is nuts… 4. The windscreen jams once it gets dust in the mechanism. Being plastic it will break if you pull too hard. Mine stopped working correctly after 2 months. 5. The rear brake has a high and low setting. It’s needlessly complex and mine has failed, often vibrating 1/2 way (no grip facing up to boot) while riding making braking with the rear hard/impossible as your foot slips off. So close but a massive miss.
I own a BMW 1250 GS 2022. I ride mostly on the pavement and also on very soft offroad terrain. This bike is perfect for my needs. I would use a much lighter bike for serious offroad …KTM 690 for instance. Happy new year sir , thanks for your dedicated work! 🎉 Marc, province of Quebec 😉🏍
I did enjoy the new 1200 but for me the 900 Rally Pro is a better machine and that is what I parted my money for. I know some will but when I do some soft off-roading (mainly gravel tracks) I find the smaller machine better to handle. My personal view is that it is a big comfortable mile muncher and great for long trips.
Good review, as most of your reviews. It's great when you convert the measurements to metrical for us Europeans. If you could also start converting the fuel consumption to liters/100km it would be 10/10.
Thought it was a decent review. I do agree on the suspension being too soft and with gloves the turn signal location is an issue. If you switch to off-road pro mode or off-road mode when you restart the bike it will ask you if you would like to continue in the previous mode and all you hit is mode then select. It becomes intuitive after about 3 days of riding it, you do it without thinking. I'll Triumph models use the same symbols for their modes I've never found them difficult but I'm around Triumph quite a bit. It's really only four symbols you have to remember that becomes really easy after a while. One comparison I've never seen side by side is a tiger 900 rally pro versus a tiger 1200 rally pro I'd really enjoy to see those two bikes off road at the same time with the same Rider switching between the two. Good luck ride safe I'm going to go watch some more of your reviews.
Would love to see that comparison as well. Have the 900 Rally pro and find that now most my riding is 2 up with my wife and the extent of offroading im doing at the moment is dirt roads. Was thinking of upgrading to the 1200 and whether it would be worth it.
Love your vids. It actually influenced my purchase of the triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro. I must say watching the vid. There has to be something wrong with your bike because even on the softest setting my bike never even comes close to bottoming out. And i'm 6'3" and 275lbs. even with gear.
I go over speed bumps in like 60-70km/h and it's not bottoming. Must be the center stand opening and hitting back. There is a fix for that factory let space for a second spring
Great review as always Ian! I like how the triple cylinder has an improved exhaust/intake sound to it. I have a Tiger 800XC, 2012, the second year of production, and it is a great road bike. Very balanced overall, actually. Yes, I agree 100%, a loaded bike completely changes its geometry, makes the front too light compared to the rear. Which can be a problem even on a straight line if for some reason the suspension is not adjusted - I've heard of nasty tank slappers. That's when these bikes with adjustable suspension are really important. Now on dirt, reducing the speed before a curve helps move the weight to the front wheel. Just enough to countersteer, lean, and start the curve. Then managing the throttle would be a great recipe to settle the suspension and chassis for the rest of the curve. On dirt, if I slow enough as I approach the curve, I start applying throttle immediately after the bike leans, much before the apex. It makes for the the most pleasurable experience, the suspension/chassis settles and it goes really solid, even when without drama (just enough throttle steering). Of course, we are talking here about lower speeds than what someone could approach on a paved surface. I'm looking forward to your next video already.
An excellent and detailed review, as usual. This is one of the best YT motorcycle channels. The Tiger 1200 though? 24 grand for plastic handguards and a Mickey Mouse skidplate on an almost 600lb bike? Triumph (and others too) are taking we bikers for a ride!
I agree that the screen interface needs work. It's like Triumph ran out of money for their software. However, with more seat time you will find it is much easier to interpret the screen and switch between modes and info. It's not something that should be considered a dealbreaker. Remembering that when you restart the bike it gives you plenty of time to continue in the previous mode before returning to the default road setting is important. It's not like the bike just switches modes on you on its own as you seemed to imply in your video. The price you pay for all these advanced electronics is that you have to pay more attention to what you are doing than on a more analog machine.
Great review as usual, Ian! I own the same bike, and initially I was 100% perplexed as to the operation of the electronics, but after a couple weeks my muscle memory kicked in and now I’m only 20% perplexed! I may be wrong, but I believe there have been updates for the bike that have cured many of the issues you experienced. I haven’t ridden the bike in a couple months because our Colorado weather hasn’t been conducive and haven’t been to the dealer to see if the updates were available. I owned a 2016 1200GS and like this bike better.. it’s faster, handles way better off-road, and is more comfortable for me.. Because it is a taller bike, and to keep any additional weight low as possible, I went with the Scout 30L bag for the rear, Nomax tank bag, and 25L panniers, all from Mosko Moto. Thanks again for all you do!
The Radiators look similar to the Super Tenere design. I met up with a buddy that had just bought one in Colorada. He loved the bike, but it seemed a little big and awkward offroad. He was pushing 70 years old though. I like the sound of the Tiger Triple. You mentioned that the RPMs were a little high for 85 MPH, that would be similar to the GSA. Great Review, Ian. I Love your channel. I'm not ready to give up the GSA yet, but a very cool bike.
3 cylinder engines are between 2 and 4 in their character, means they need more revs like a 4 but are torquey at the same time. The issue is, they are rough. Rough translates into vibes or noise or both. And that's where the problem is with this bike.
I have the same bike and did a long offroad ride recently. To me it handled much better than I expected. There is no bottoming out for me, but then I am a little slower. I have heard that for serious offroad, you should put the bike in the stiffest suspension possible. In terms of the menus... I am used to them so they don't bother me at all, and I find them easy to use. I can quite easily see what mode I am in with the graphics
Love the video. On the road it looks like you had it in road mode. If you put it in sports mode it firms everything up and there’s less front end dive and the bike feels nice and tight.
To make the modes even more confusing, it will save up to Sport on my Scrambler 1200XE - but if I go into Off-Road, it will reset to road upon restart. Sport, it will start back up in Sport.
Spot on; I do this w/ my ATAS ES DCT when doing off-road where its weight is beyond my skill level. I have it full in winter and when riding long distance.
Been running the Klymit Static V Lux pad and it's been great. Highly recommend for three season camping. 👌 I'm also a snob when it comes to comfort and this thing has been good.
Great job as always Ian. Aerostich used to have a banana case, not sure if they still offer it, but no smashed fruit with a little hard shell. I can imagine the oh shit moment when you opened the case😂
I am sure it isn't easy to be completly familiar with the different bikes and their different menu structures and operation. I have a 2016 R1200GSA and am very happy with the fact that when i fill up by apron 8 gal tank that it is not too top heavy. I got rid of the hard cases and got Mosko moto panniers(35L) and love them. I am enjoying your video and wanted to stop to comment, thanks
I love the Rallys and I love your new Insta360 X3. I'ts awesome and I used to be sponsored by GoPro and I love them too but the X3 is prefect for moto stuff man!
Hey you didn't do the pick up test! She is a bit heavy but not that bad, my old S10 was way heavier. Not sure how many miles the bike had but after about 6000km most of the buzzing was gone, still some over 6000 rpm like you said. The electronics you get used to, same with the thumb thing on the left but I do disagree with you about the words vs picture, I like the picture better. I did think that all of the ADV bikes always reset to road mode so no big deal. Note to Triumph (and others) they need to make a banana holder! Lol, I actually had a similar thing happen with an apple but I think a banana would have been worse and totally agree with you on the aluminum side boxes, I prefer soft luggage. Good job Ian!
Yikes, the whining about ride modes is a bit ridiculous. It’s actually quite intuitive. Move the selector to the ride mode you want then press in the switch to select it, that’s why there is a check mark next to the ride mode. The road graphic means road, the mountain is off road, the mountain with pro above is off road pro.
My wife sat on the back of this bike and found the top box with pad pushed her too far forward. I note you thought it was set too far back. The bike is also too high for stop start city riding with a passenger. That's why I'm going with the GT version.
I love the triumph triple engines and this is a peach and with shaft drive and the great gearbox, brakes and suspension it sure will be comfortable mile muncher. Seeing as most riders would use it on the road, the 10% its used on the dirt would mean its great for most riders especially on long tours 2 up. The seat, range and economy is really good too. And i trust the electrics, reliability, service costs more than BMW 1250GS.
Great job - for that bike at $24K+ and have that type of suspension...deal breaker - I can deal with the weight topside. I put TracTive suspension on my GSA but even the original suspension never bottomed out like that and I'm big guy....I have ridden one and it is nice minus those couple of items. Thanks again for the content!!!
@@BigRockMoto 1000%...is it expensive - yes..in my opinion is it worth it...yes...When it's fitted to your size...the weight of the gear you normally carry....you can tell as soon as you ride the pavement and especially when you hit the trails...to me worth every nickel...
Thanks for an in-depth review. I’ve been a fan of the Tigers since I first learned about them about seventeen years ago. Some version of the Tiger 1200 will probably be my next bike. I would never get those heavy hard panniers, and my body weight, at 140 lbs., would probably not max out the suspension. The wonky electronics are troublesome, but, maybe one could get used to it. Looking forward to viewing your reviews of the other Tiger 1200 models. Probably one of them is just right for me. Happy Trails
I keep hearing how great these big ADV bikes are at on-road touring, but compared to what? Is it as good as a K1600 GTL (not the B or GA)? If it is, that’s saying a lot and I would really like the off-road versatility. I’m 6’5”/240 and don’t have any problem with slinging the GTL around, but I would love to ride Moki Dugway and other great southern Utah dirt roads.
if you dont mind the minor vibration (which is not even there imo) then yes its better than the K on road. More economy, more suspension travel, more suspension adjustments + off road capability. Its a useful bike in so many aspects
I recently watched a long distance test review in Australia of 2 of these, 1 had the suspension problem one did not, makes me wonder if triumph may have some bad shocks in the inventory. I have noticed a definite issue across practically every industry of a rash of bad parts or parts assembly post lockdown, and it seems to just be starting to peak, anyone in a manufacturing oversight management position should be considering adding qc checks before use to the mitigate unhappy customers likely to ensue.
Agreed. And the vibration at speed would be a deal breaker for long trips, like across long desert roads where you want to pump your speed up to 100 occasionally. My old Ducati st4s was smooth as butter at those speeds.
Hey there Wish you could make detailed comparison between the new tiger 1200 rally explorer and the new BMW 1300 gsa. Would be great to hear it from a pro like you. Looking forward for the video
When you go into off-road mode the damping is set to the middle of 9 damping settings. It is not expecting you to have all that extra weight by way of luggage. You would of wanted to adjust the damping to maximum (sport) which would of helped somewhat.
@Joe Musmacker I have found that the bike needs to be weighted as ridden when the preload is being adjusted upon selecting the offroad mode. If it is not, the preload gets set to light and is insufficient. I've hit small jumps with the wife on back and only then do I really hit the bump stops that way (wife, boxes moderate pack)
So I am a 900 Rally Pro user. i think that part with electronics is not correct. I have the same configuration. 1.So the first idea: that you can confuse the indicators with the stick. I only happened to me once in an year, and it was at the beginning. If you own this bike you will NOT have this problem. 2.Second : the HOME button being on the right side. Is not a mistake, because accessing the bike's menu is only possible when standing still and it's a safety feature. 3.The third: the ride mode button. So pressing on the mode button multiple times will change the ride modes, and the bike asks you to confirm the mode by pressing once on the stick button. Not hard at all. 4.Forth problem: automatic switching from off-road to road mode. I don't like this either, but for Europe ABS is compulsory and that's why they did it. But there is a catch which you would have known if it was your bike. When starting the engine again the bike will ask you to go to off-road mode you just have to confirm it by pressing the stick button twice. Just one button twice. Not a bunch of buttons. So it might be easy the BMW menu, but this menu is not hard at all if you used it for some time. And the "problem" with the icons showing you the mode that you are in ... Again use this bike more and will be a very clear. I never had this problem. Never.
I love how the older 1200 explorer sounded dunno about the newer version. Also it used to come with all three piece luggage but the thing that would make me buy one if it wasn’t too tall for me is the fact that one Triumph’s site it prescribes exactly how long it’d take to add accessories and such so you guesstimate labor costs!!! Great stuff Ian as always. Happy New Year and give lotsa of kisses to that little one 😂😂 of yours
I’m not sure if I have said this before on hear but you can get a lower seat that lowers it by 20mm of the standard seat and doing that allows you to flat foot of a inseem of 31-32 in 🤷♂️ as that I felt I needed then it gives you that more confidence but yes it’s is still top heavy but the more you ride it the more you get use to it 🏍️🏴🏍️🏴🏍️🏴
Great review. I have sat on one at the local dealer and you are correct it is top heavy. I thought my Pan America was top heavy. I would hate to pick it up. Really thinking of going to a GS, I have an easier time getting it off the ground, due to the lean angle due to the engine. 😊
Tiger 900 Rally Pro owner here (with no small assistance from your reviews of that bike Ian, thanks!). Love that TFT. Why the hell didn't Triumph offer that superb display setting on the 900s? At least as one of the display options. Instead we get four ridiculous and distracting options that are all different versions of dumb. I'd gladly pay $100 to get a software option for it. The Tiger 900 is so good otherwise that the screen is the only thing that irritates me about it. I also own a 2017 GSA, and had this 1200 been an option then, I would have seriously considered it. Impressed.
Hey love the channel! I have the GT Pro and also a speech triple 1200. Got used to the indicator pretty quickly, but I find the seat to be too soft. I actually prefer the firmer seat on the speed triple. (I rode the speed 1900 miles in six days) but the cool thing is I can just stand up on the tiger when the bum gets numb
Great review Ian. I completely agree with your review with the exception of the buzzing in the handlebars. After 9 months of ownership, before I sold it, I still kept hitting the the infotainment controller when trying to use the indicators. Between the poor suspension, the dumpster fire of a UI, the buzziness, and the electronics fails, I hated this bike. The electronics caught me out so many times on ascents and descents. The Triumph factory team that makes the phone app couldn’t even get the phone integration working. The app just wouldn’t recognize the bike but the bike would recognize the phone. They gave up in the end. Finally, it is SO hard to pick up, whereas I can pick up the GSA all day. When I’m on my own, which is o9% of the time, and in the middle of nowhere, I need to be able to pick up and recover my bike if I accidentally go down or into a ditch.
I have the rally pro that I just picked up. I'm having the same issue with the rear dampening with off-road. It makes opening it up off road a little dicey. I find in off-road pro I can crank the dampening to 9/9 and it is manageable but it is annoying for a $25k bike out the door.
Thank you for a great review. I am Swedish, living in Mexico, here the motorcycle license was very easy to get, as well as in the US. I am about to move back to Sweden and I will be allowed to drive on my MX license for 1 year. However, the tests to get a MC license in Sweden is extremely tough, especially the slow speed manouvering. How is this bike for slow speed manouvering? One basically has to be able to drive into a garage and u-turn without putting a foot down and a cone cource. Cheers from Swede in Mexico. ps. watch a lot of your videos and always press like.
I love Tigers; I own two of them (2011 800 XC and 2020 900 Rally Pro, significantly different bikes). They’re fantastic bikes. But my biggest complaint with all of them is that Triumph always chooses too soft a spring rate for the rear suspension. Both of my Tigers have aftermarket shocks, and you’ve confirmed that if I bought a 1200, it would need one too. As for the ride modes - unfortunately most bikes switch back to road mode when the ignition is cycled. KTM and BMW are the only ones I’ve heard of that don’t. It’s a minor annoyance that you get used to quickly if you actually own the bike (just as you quickly learn what the ride mode icons mean).
@@kee7678 I didn’t just replace the spring. The Showa shock is budget crap, so I replaced the whole thing with a fully-adjustable Hyperpro shock with rising-rate progressive spring. Preload is set to get to the right spring rate. The new shock transformed the bike.
Awesome review as usual, Ian is really making me consider making the jump and buying my first bike. That being said, we want to hear more about the banana accident! 🤣
I'm wondering where the drop/lift test is in this video. Perhaps, the bike is just too top heavy ad/or the panniers are too delicate. Great video - other than this omission great.
Cue the BananaRama music, LOL. I love the sound of my Tiger 660 Sport, and that intake sound on the 1200 sounds deep, even thru the microphone. For me, the performance and comfort over about 75 or 80 is irrelevant, as long as I can give her the beans and pass a semi going 70ish without instability. It seems like the GS, Multistrada and 1290 have some new competition!
I own this bike, the off road (no ABS) modes will not return when restarting bike but all the other modes will keep in the same mode. They at least did make it easy to get back into off-road mode if you were in it by double clicking the mode icon after start. That being said switching to off road and needing to stop first is annoying. Another annoying thing is the flashing/alternating icons like maint wrench (viewed in your video) and the alternating snow icon/temp in cold weather. Its a 10" screen! Could they not find room for those small icons elsewhere? Amazing bike though. I owned the 2015 Tiger Explorer and its SO much more better than that bike. I don't really have the bottoming issues you were having either, I run Reckless 80's though so that may be a factor. I weigh 245lbs. Fuel economy is awesome unless you get above 4k rpm, then it drinks fuel like a big block chevy.
Really is horrible nasty User Interface. Wondering if it was originally designed for a smaller screen...wasted space. KTM is so much better on the 1290.
I owned A 2018 GSA and traded in for a 2022 KTM 1290 SAS last May. Traded the KTM for a new Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer 12 weeks ago due to the constant niggles of the KTM. Is the Tiger better than my two other Adventures? I reckon there is little between them if you take into consideration each of their characteristics. None of the bikes are perfect but looking at the Tiger here. 1). Top Heavy when fuelled and loaded is a real issue (and I am 6'-2" tall). 2) Stalling at slow speeds is a REAL problem, 2nd gear with the clutch out below 2k revs and the bike stalls, the back wheel locks and the bike is down. 3). It gets real dirty and is THE hardest bike to clean. 4). The electronics are real slow to start up. The positives are that it is THE most comfortable bike ever and all of the features make it my current favourite. (Might have gone for the GT Explorer but having dropped the Rally recently , the added crash bars were a god send). Great review BTW.
Hello there, great reviev like always keep going I love your video and you're way to explain thanks for everything. I have a question for you, we are travelling by motorbike and only by motorbike always overloaded( because we don't have a car) a question is: if I have to choose between TIGER 1200 rally explorer and GT explorer your advice will be???? I never use a bike to go in off road. Thanks a lot for your answer 👋👋👋👋👋
I came across your review on the rally Explorer and I'm glad I did I was going to purchase one until I seen your review sounds like there's suspension is bad very top heavy settings are hard to get to turn signals are hard to get to the screen is hard to navigate hard to figure out what riding mode you are in, so I guess I will go with my second choice H.D.
You need to use an inserted bags for the hard panniers. I use them and the soft panniers. I do prefer the soft ones . I believe that they will stand up better in a crash. Touch wood I haven't tested that way so far.
Great review. Triumph really must hate doing GUI for their displays. Flashing both your Time and the wrench maintence symbol back and forth is horrible and really distracting. Sure they want you to take it in and spend moneys to turn it off.
Can you tell me about the camera setup you clamped to the right side of the bike in this video? I recognize the 360 camera but not the clamp and pole. Thanks! If you have support links for those pieces let me know. Love your videos and happy to support your efforts.
Very interesting video. Excellent explained as always. How would you compare the Tiger 900 vs the Tiger 1200. Because I would think that the biggest difference is that the 1200 is heavier, but more powerfull. So would the Tiger 900 be a smarter choice seen the price difference, less weight and more usefull power delivery?
Got this bike. Never hit the scroll or menu button instead of the turn signals once. Not even the first time riding it yet every reviewer mentions its a problem. It's not all all.
Another great video, as always. I'm local so maybe we'll run into each someday. Did Triumph ever offer any modicum of explanation for what you experienced with the rear suspension while offroad?
31:40... I think is's an E.U. thing (I'm in the UK)... I had a similar problem with my little KTM 390 ADV... The dealer said that they have to reset to the standard settings each time the bike is started... Bloody annoying when you stall it!.
@@freeheelsak Oh really? Perhaps it's a problem with mine then? I mentioned it to the dealer and that's what he told me about it resetting (perhaps he meant when the ignition is turned off?)... I gave up trying to turn it off in the end! It just keeps turning the traction back on by it self, I presumed it was when I stall it.
🏍 GEAR IN THIS REVIEW:
⚡ Klim Krios Pro Helmet(RevZilla): imp.i104546.net/WD9gOM
⚡ Garmin inReach Communicator: bit.ly/3ybN1Bc
⚡ Klim Baja Jacket/Pants: imp.i104546.net/oeGVN9
⚡ Klim Baja Gloves: imp.i104546.net/0Jn2GV
⚡ Sidi Adventure 2 Gore Tex Boots: imp.i104546.net/b3q5kx
⚡ Klim Vented (Summer) Socks: bit.ly/3TsGegD
⚡ Mosko Moto Gnome Tank Bag: bit.ly/3GqhjpV
⚡ Mosko Moto Wildcat 8L Backpack: bit.ly/3OiE5Ss
⚠Tiger 1200 GT Pro Review: th-cam.com/video/o4iUUKama74/w-d-xo.html
⚠Tiger 1200 Rally Pro Pro Review: th-cam.com/video/u2XwDEtBSRI/w-d-xo.html
⚠Tiger 1200 GT Explorer Review: th-cam.com/video/dhaGr-R7_K0/w-d-xo.html
⚠Model Guide (free download):
bit.ly/3bcklR5
Ian
The riding mode menu is simple. While scrolling through the modes and getting to the one you want, you hit the enter button on the joystick. NOW you are in that riding mode. No "ENTER", no change. I have the first GT Explorer sold in the USA. I agree the riding mode display on the dash should have text but, I already know the Icons for all the modes. To bump up the suspension, you go into the "Rider Aids" menu and can adjust it for the extra weight you are carrying.
Nice video!
Ride SAFE and BE safe! 👍🤙👏👌🖖👋🙂
I did a 3 day 2100klm trip on my Tiger1200 Rally Explorer and let me tell you I would take this bike over the current GSA any day! I also didn't experience the rear shock issues Ian did when I went off the pavement. I also never had the bike reseting the riding mode on me so that's another interesting fact. I also think he's being super picky about the ride mode icon. I mean if it shows a road it must be on road mode 🤷. Anyway great review but I only agree partially based on my own experience. Ride safe!
thanks for sharing
I own the 900 Rally Pro. 1) After two years I STILL hit the wrong switch with my left hand. 2) I have/ride just one bike ~ no icon problems here.
@@ottomatic7823 I just got mine last week...was hoping I'd figure it out, guess not lol.
Complete opposite experience here. They are top heavy and un-compliant compared to the GS. Triumph should have done a lot better this time around.
@@chamade166 You mean the Tiger Rally Explorer....
Kudos to Ian for riding harder offroad than 95+% of owners ever will! Reviewers should find the limits of the bikes, which rarely seems to happen.
i try
@@BigRockMoto I, for one, am impressed not just with your riding, but with the knowledge you share. Thank you, and much respect!
um no.... the vast majority of ADV riders will never see the limits of their bikes..... they should explore the limits of their riding ability first and foremost…
95% of GSA owners….
Ian
I have the first GT Explorer sold in the Us. The menu is straight forward, you just scroll to the riding mode you want and push the enter button. No push, no mode change. Just because you can see the mode you want while scrolling, if you don't hit enter you won't get it. Easy Peesy! Read the manual first to understand how everything works. That's why you couldn't get the suspension set up the way you wanted it. Every bikes menu is different and I find the Tiger menu very simple when you know how it works.
Great video!
👍
Thanks for the review. I already bought mine a few months ago. Living in a remote area of Australia the fuel range and the power for long distance riding as well as the capability to take it out on dirt and gravel roads are what sold me. At first I was a little overwhelmed by the technology but it has grown on me and I am navigating the modes easily. Basically keep it in sport for the street and off road on dirt. I fitted a low height seat which has made it easier to peddle out of my shed and car parks. Thanks again I look forward to seeing your comparison to the BMW.
I'm over 300lbs and don't bottom out on my Rally Pro riding similar trails to what you were on. Complaining about the controls, menu, symbols etc is kinda unfair since you are constantly switching bikes. When you own it, read the manual, familiarize yourself with everything it all becomes second nature. I do agree on your desire for more traction control options or adjustability. I too also wish the main screen included more info like the odometer.
fair enough
I disagree on the menu functions. Yes you do get used to the menus and functions but for the first year you will probably be doing things wrong until it becomes fully second nature. This is frustrating to deal with. I’d much prefer a menu system that is more intuitive.
@redman2751 it only took me a couple rides. I have five motorcycles I swap between and it's never been an issue, maybe because I'm used to it. My biggest complaint is the odometer should always be on every screen
@@1993kramer You'd know better then me, I dont own a triumph. Im just stating in general I think most will prefer a menu system thats not complicated or hard to understand. Whether thats the case with the triumph or not I dont know.
Thanks for the video!! I just bought the 2023 version of this bike with only 764kms. I got rid of my super tenere. I think I’ll notice changes in every way haha. Stay safe and take care. Darin in Calgary
How does it compare to the super tenere? i have the ST and are thinking about changing.
I bought this bike because of your video. Thx, I’m very happy so far.
I love the camping trip. You and Dork need an episode together.
Ian,
Stay the course with your vids. They remain the most informative without the fluff.
Thanks Ian for the video!! I own the new 1200 Tiger Rally Explorer, and also a BMW GSA. Both bikes are awesome, each one has its strengths, a few things: upper bars are included (for Canada) in the Triumph 1200 Rally Explorer model, as far as I remember I haven't experienced the riding mode reset every time I turn off the bike, nor the rear suspension issue on off road riding. Regarding the joystick I agree interferes with the turning lights switch, takes time to get used to it. Regarding the Triumph electronics I agree it is a bit confusing, GSA's have been in the market for long time so we have get used to the BMW way and it's logic, this is a different approach to access the menus and show information that I confirm is frustrating and confusing at the beginning (you don't get entirely used to it to be honest). Tiger screen size is awesome, but when sun hit it is hard to read, doesn't happen in the GSA. Also with the size of the Tiger screen more information should be shown at once like BMW. GSA feels lighter and nimble on the road I agree, the Tiger 21 inch front tire doesn't help much on the tarmac, but it does in the off road. I have both in my garage and honestly I can't decide which one has to go in order to open space to the Aprilia Tuareg, looking forward to more videos on the Aprilia .... happy new year !
thanks for sharing
The 900 has that same intake roar, sounds awesome under load.
* Congratulations Ian * on getting this Triumph input into your channel. I'm sure that there will be some really comprehensive reviews.
Same for apples. I semi-puréed one in my GS top case on a bumpy ride.
Great review. This one is at top of my list for a new bike. Just cant seem to let go of my Africa Twin just yet.
I bought a 2021 AT after looking at triumph, bmw and Yamaha. I love my AT.
Thank you for the excellent reviews and your dedication Ian. I'm keen to buy a Tiger 1200 GT Pro and your previous review of that bike is a big factor in my choice. My riding is mostly road use with some gravel roads, but nothing serious, so I think it's the perfect new bike for me. Regarding the riding modes, this is from the owners manual:
The riding mode will default to ROAD
when the ignition is switched ON, if the
RIDER mode was active the last time the
ignition was switched OFF with TC set to
OFF in the required mode.
If the motorcycle was in OFF ROAD
or OFF ROAD PRO riding mode when
the ignition was switched off, then the
riding mode will default to ROAD mode
when the ignition is next switched ON.
A warning message is shown stating
that the riding mode has changed. It
also briefly allows the riding mode to
be changed back to the original riding
mode.
Otherwise, the last selected riding mode
will be remembered and activated when
the ignition is switched ON. If the mode
icons are not shown when the ignition
switch is in the ON position, make sure
that the engine stop switch is in the
RUN position.
OFF ROAD and OFF ROAD PRO riding
modes can not be selected whilst the
motorcycle is in motion. The motorcycle
must be stationery before selecting OFF
ROAD and OFF ROAD PRO riding modes.
So, it WILL remember Sport and Rain mode. Otherwise when you switch on, either reselect Off Road mode, or hit the mode button and select which mode you want, and then ride away. Not too hard really :)
Call it the smashed banana tour trip on the Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer. Always love your awesome videos and reviews Ian!
I’ve owned mine for 5 months and have ridden it over 6K miles. I absolutely love it! And, I rode every big adv bike for 2022/2023 before purchasing. It’s kind of funny, but the only people I’ve heard complain about it are GS owners. If you want to knit pick, there are plenty of negatives I could point out about the GS that lead me to not purchase it, and go with the Tiger Rally Explorer. Same goes for the Multi V4S Touring & Radar, a bike that I thought I was going to buy until I rode it. But that’s me. The Rally Explorer just fit my personality and needs better than the rest.
it's nit pick, not knit pic. Sorry, that was just meant to be a joke 🤣
Love my Rally Explorer. As far as menu control goes, once you ride for more than a couple of days, you understand the control functions and they become second nature.
Really good review. You did the exact kind of trips I do, i.e. to a camp site, avoiding motorways, full luggage, no pillion. I’d have to agree that a quick read of the manual for unfamiliar symbols on the display negates any negative feedback, and I think heavier springs & shock oil front & rear for serious off-roading may help bottoming out. Rougher ride though. Personally, I’d just slow down when not on paved roads and live with it. They’re throwing in free luggage in the UK at the minute. Not sure it includes the top box & rack, but at close to £1000 savings, I’m all in. Love the huge tank too. Others will follow no doubt!
You always keep it real and honest, thanks Ian.
I appreciate that
This is the bike I've been waiting for a review for a long time. Looking forward to watching this one!
Hope you enjoy it!
I bought a 2013 Triumph Tiger Explorer new off the floor. Sounded fantastic, handled great, and a great touring bike. Now the bad. Extremely top heavy, it took two people to pick it up, and to change the air filter, you had to remove the crash bars, fairings, and fuel tank. An all day job. I can see from a mile away, the Explorer hasn't changed. Except for the sound. WIMPY! The reason he is taking it easy, is because if it goes down, he can't lift it. After a year, I traded for a new GS. Best move I ever made.
good info, thanks for sharing
I think the suspension did not bottom up while you were ofroading. It was probably the center stand that made that noise while u were going over bumps 👍
A "disclaimer" at the beginning about bananas being harmed in the the making of the video could be a nice touch. Thank you for the thorough review.
I like the added versatility of the Rally Explorer but I'm curious just how much worse is it than the Rally GT Pro on the street corners?
This video was amazing. Those roads are awesome where was the video shot? I would love to go there.
I have been riding my rally explorer mostly off-road now for about 6 months. The bike is so close to being perfect really… HOWEVER a couple of things that makes it miss the mark.
1. Air filter being under the tank and no ability to fit pre-filters is a concern for anyone who rides in dusty conditions.
2. OEM crash bars are purely cosmetic and due to no aftermarket support you have no viable protection options. I have bent 2 sets with slow speed technical riding drops. The bars fail and bend into the bike causing more damage. Probably better off without them, bike would be lighter.
3. Shaft drive is great however the gearing is way to tall… the triples like to rev meaning 6th gear is pretty much redundant. On the explorer that will likely be getting knobbies you will not have tyres rated for the speed it can do. Make the current 5th gear 6th, make the current 1st gear second and add a gear under it. 20kph idle in 1st is nuts…
4. The windscreen jams once it gets dust in the mechanism. Being plastic it will break if you pull too hard. Mine stopped working correctly after 2 months.
5. The rear brake has a high and low setting. It’s needlessly complex and mine has failed, often vibrating 1/2 way (no grip facing up to boot) while riding making braking with the rear hard/impossible as your foot slips off.
So close but a massive miss.
I own a BMW 1250 GS 2022. I ride mostly on the pavement and also on very soft offroad terrain. This bike is perfect for my needs. I would use a much lighter bike for serious offroad …KTM 690 for instance.
Happy new year sir , thanks for your dedicated work! 🎉 Marc, province of Quebec 😉🏍
I really enjoyed the review. I learned a lot about the bike and saw some great roads. Excellent!!!
Really appreciate the detail in this review.
Another great review!!
I did enjoy the new 1200 but for me the 900 Rally Pro is a better machine and that is what I parted my money for. I know some will but when I do some soft off-roading (mainly gravel tracks) I find the smaller machine better to handle. My personal view is that it is a big comfortable mile muncher and great for long trips.
The 900 is a better overall package for most people
Good review, as most of your reviews. It's great when you convert the measurements to metrical for us Europeans. If you could also start converting the fuel consumption to liters/100km it would be 10/10.
Yeah, i can also do it myself, but for the watcher it saves a lot of time if its in the video👍🏻
Thought it was a decent review. I do agree on the suspension being too soft and with gloves the turn signal location is an issue. If you switch to off-road pro mode or off-road mode when you restart the bike it will ask you if you would like to continue in the previous mode and all you hit is mode then select. It becomes intuitive after about 3 days of riding it, you do it without thinking. I'll Triumph models use the same symbols for their modes I've never found them difficult but I'm around Triumph quite a bit. It's really only four symbols you have to remember that becomes really easy after a while. One comparison I've never seen side by side is a tiger 900 rally pro versus a tiger 1200 rally pro I'd really enjoy to see those two bikes off road at the same time with the same Rider switching between the two. Good luck ride safe I'm going to go watch some more of your reviews.
Would love to see that comparison as well. Have the 900 Rally pro and find that now most my riding is 2 up with my wife and the extent of offroading im doing at the moment is dirt roads. Was thinking of upgrading to the 1200 and whether it would be worth it.
Love your vids. It actually influenced my purchase of the triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro. I must say watching the vid. There has to be something wrong with your bike because even on the softest setting my bike never even comes close to bottoming out. And i'm 6'3" and 275lbs. even with gear.
thanks for the info
I go over speed bumps in like 60-70km/h and it's not bottoming. Must be the center stand opening and hitting back. There is a fix for that factory let space for a second spring
Great review as always Ian! I like how the triple cylinder has an improved exhaust/intake sound to it. I have a Tiger 800XC, 2012, the second year of production, and it is a great road bike. Very balanced overall, actually. Yes, I agree 100%, a loaded bike completely changes its geometry, makes the front too light compared to the rear. Which can be a problem even on a straight line if for some reason the suspension is not adjusted - I've heard of nasty tank slappers. That's when these bikes with adjustable suspension are really important. Now on dirt, reducing the speed before a curve helps move the weight to the front wheel. Just enough to countersteer, lean, and start the curve. Then managing the throttle would be a great recipe to settle the suspension and chassis for the rest of the curve. On dirt, if I slow enough as I approach the curve, I start applying throttle immediately after the bike leans, much before the apex. It makes for the the most pleasurable experience, the suspension/chassis settles and it goes really solid, even when without drama (just enough throttle steering). Of course, we are talking here about lower speeds than what someone could approach on a paved surface. I'm looking forward to your next video already.
The lights on the Tiger machines are extremely good as well. Very bright.
An excellent and detailed review, as usual. This is one of the best YT motorcycle channels. The Tiger 1200 though? 24 grand for plastic handguards and a Mickey Mouse skidplate on an almost 600lb bike? Triumph (and others too) are taking we bikers for a ride!
Great review ! Awesome bike ! she's a freeway cruiser for me just to heavy for off road use.
Agreed!
Yes, 261 kg wet weight is a showstopper for me. Ian points out how tall and top heavy it is. With loaded boxes it would be impossible to pick up
I agree that the screen interface needs work. It's like Triumph ran out of money for their software. However, with more seat time you will find it is much easier to interpret the screen and switch between modes and info. It's not something that should be considered a dealbreaker. Remembering that when you restart the bike it gives you plenty of time to continue in the previous mode before returning to the default road setting is important. It's not like the bike just switches modes on you on its own as you seemed to imply in your video. The price you pay for all these advanced electronics is that you have to pay more attention to what you are doing than on a more analog machine.
Great review as usual, Ian! I own the same bike, and initially I was 100% perplexed as to the operation of the electronics, but after a couple weeks my muscle memory kicked in and now I’m only 20% perplexed!
I may be wrong, but I believe there have been updates for the bike that have cured many of the issues you experienced. I haven’t ridden the bike in a couple months because our Colorado weather hasn’t been conducive and haven’t been to the dealer to see if the updates were available.
I owned a 2016 1200GS and like this bike better.. it’s faster, handles way better off-road, and is more comfortable for me..
Because it is a taller bike, and to keep any additional weight low as possible, I went with the Scout 30L bag for the rear, Nomax tank bag, and 25L panniers, all from Mosko Moto.
Thanks again for all you do!
awesome thanks for sharing
The Radiators look similar to the Super Tenere design. I met up with a buddy that had just bought one in Colorada. He loved the bike, but it seemed a little big and awkward offroad. He was pushing 70 years old though. I like the sound of the Tiger Triple. You mentioned that the RPMs were a little high for 85 MPH, that would be similar to the GSA. Great Review, Ian. I Love your channel. I'm not ready to give up the GSA yet, but a very cool bike.
3 cylinder engines are between 2 and 4 in their character, means they need more revs like a 4 but are torquey at the same time. The issue is, they are rough. Rough translates into vibes or noise or both. And that's where the problem is with this bike.
I have the same bike and did a long offroad ride recently. To me it handled much better than I expected. There is no bottoming out for me, but then I am a little slower. I have heard that for serious offroad, you should put the bike in the stiffest suspension possible.
In terms of the menus... I am used to them so they don't bother me at all, and I find them easy to use. I can quite easily see what mode I am in with the graphics
thank you
Love the video. On the road it looks like you had it in road mode. If you put it in sports mode it firms everything up and there’s less front end dive and the bike feels nice and tight.
To make the modes even more confusing, it will save up to Sport on my Scrambler 1200XE - but if I go into Off-Road, it will reset to road upon restart. Sport, it will start back up in Sport.
Yep, read the manual, I posted the relevant section in another comment. It's a safety feature...
Great view. Again. Damn your relentless consistency.
High and a happy new year. No one else told about the progressive cooling system. Your test report is the best again. Kindly Fiete
Happy new year!
Waiting for this for a long time and thank you Ian 👌🏻❤️
Excellent review, as always, Ian. Surprising to see the issue with the rear shock. Interested to see what the new GS will be like when that launches.
Spot on; I do this w/ my ATAS ES DCT when doing off-road where its weight is beyond my skill level. I have it full in winter and when riding long distance.
14:20 so its top heavy with 30l of fuel and luggage ... how top heavy is it with half empty tank (15l) and no luggage? is it Tenere 700-ish or worse?
Been running the Klymit Static V Lux pad and it's been great. Highly recommend for three season camping. 👌 I'm also a snob when it comes to comfort and this thing has been good.
Thanks for sharing!
Isn't being a snob if your body just can't take sleeping on rocks anymore, happens to everyone as they get older.
Great job as always Ian. Aerostich used to have a banana case, not sure if they still offer it, but no smashed fruit with a little hard shell. I can imagine the oh shit moment when you opened the case😂
I am sure it isn't easy to be completly familiar with the different bikes and their different menu structures and operation. I have a 2016 R1200GSA and am very happy with the fact that when i fill up by apron 8 gal tank that it is not too top heavy. I got rid of the hard cases and got Mosko moto panniers(35L) and love them. I am enjoying your video and wanted to stop to comment, thanks
I love the Rallys and I love your new Insta360 X3. I'ts awesome and I used to be sponsored by GoPro and I love them too but the X3 is prefect for moto stuff man!
I also love the Mosko Moto Woodland stuff too!
Hey you didn't do the pick up test! She is a bit heavy but not that bad, my old S10 was way heavier. Not sure how many miles the bike had but after about 6000km most of the buzzing was gone, still some over 6000 rpm like you said. The electronics you get used to, same with the thumb thing on the left but I do disagree with you about the words vs picture, I like the picture better. I did think that all of the ADV bikes always reset to road mode so no big deal.
Note to Triumph (and others) they need to make a banana holder! Lol, I actually had a similar thing happen with an apple but I think a banana would have been worse and totally agree with you on the aluminum side boxes, I prefer soft luggage. Good job Ian!
Yikes, the whining about ride modes is a bit ridiculous. It’s actually quite intuitive. Move the selector to the ride mode you want then press in the switch to select it, that’s why there is a check mark next to the ride mode.
The road graphic means road, the mountain is off road, the mountain with pro above is off road pro.
smashed bananas with all that stuffs 😂
very enjoyable review, thanks as always!
Glad you enjoyed it
My wife sat on the back of this bike and found the top box with pad pushed her too far forward. I note you thought it was set too far back. The bike is also too high for stop start city riding with a passenger. That's why I'm going with the GT version.
I could feel that suspension bottoming here in Sydney!
I love the triumph triple engines and this is a peach and with shaft drive and the great gearbox, brakes and suspension it sure will be comfortable mile muncher. Seeing as most riders would use it on the road, the 10% its used on the dirt would mean its great for most riders especially on long tours 2 up. The seat, range and economy is really good too. And i trust the electrics, reliability, service costs more than BMW 1250GS.
Great job - for that bike at $24K+ and have that type of suspension...deal breaker - I can deal with the weight topside. I put TracTive suspension on my GSA but even the original suspension never bottomed out like that and I'm big guy....I have ridden one and it is nice minus those couple of items. Thanks again for the content!!!
I'm thinking about tractive for my GS - are you happy with that?
@@BigRockMoto 1000%...is it expensive - yes..in my opinion is it worth it...yes...When it's fitted to your size...the weight of the gear you normally carry....you can tell as soon as you ride the pavement and especially when you hit the trails...to me worth every nickel...
Thanks for an in-depth review.
I’ve been a fan of the Tigers since I first learned about them about seventeen years ago.
Some version of the Tiger 1200 will probably be my next bike.
I would never get those heavy hard panniers, and my body weight, at 140 lbs., would probably not max out the suspension.
The wonky electronics are troublesome, but, maybe one could get used to it.
Looking forward to viewing your reviews of the other Tiger 1200 models.
Probably one of them is just right for me.
Happy Trails
I keep hearing how great these big ADV bikes are at on-road touring, but compared to what? Is it as good as a K1600 GTL (not the B or GA)? If it is, that’s saying a lot and I would really like the off-road versatility. I’m 6’5”/240 and don’t have any problem with slinging the GTL around, but I would love to ride Moki Dugway and other great southern Utah dirt roads.
if you dont mind the minor vibration (which is not even there imo) then yes its better than the K on road. More economy, more suspension travel, more suspension adjustments + off road capability. Its a useful bike in so many aspects
I recently watched a long distance test review in Australia of 2 of these, 1 had the suspension problem one did not, makes me wonder if triumph may have some bad shocks in the inventory.
I have noticed a definite issue across practically every industry of a rash of bad parts or parts assembly post lockdown, and it seems to just be starting to peak, anyone in a manufacturing oversight management position should be considering adding qc checks before use to the mitigate unhappy customers likely to ensue.
The suspension and electronics would give me buyers remorse. Another great review!
Agreed. And the vibration at speed would be a deal breaker for long trips, like across long desert roads where you want to pump your speed up to 100 occasionally. My old Ducati st4s was smooth as butter at those speeds.
Hey there
Wish you could make detailed comparison between the new tiger 1200 rally explorer and the new BMW 1300 gsa.
Would be great to hear it from a pro like you.
Looking forward for the video
When you go into off-road mode the damping is set to the middle of 9 damping settings. It is not expecting you to have all that extra weight by way of luggage. You would of wanted to adjust the damping to maximum (sport) which would of helped somewhat.
i tried that
And the bike is supposed to auto adjust for weight
@Joe Musmacker I have found that the bike needs to be weighted as ridden when the preload is being adjusted upon selecting the offroad mode. If it is not, the preload gets set to light and is insufficient. I've hit small jumps with the wife on back and only then do I really hit the bump stops that way (wife, boxes moderate pack)
So I am a 900 Rally Pro user. i think that part with electronics is not correct. I have the same configuration.
1.So the first idea: that you can confuse the indicators with the stick. I only happened to me once in an year, and it was at the beginning. If you own this bike you will NOT have this problem.
2.Second : the HOME button being on the right side. Is not a mistake, because accessing the bike's menu is only possible when standing still and it's a safety feature.
3.The third: the ride mode button. So pressing on the mode button multiple times will change the ride modes, and the bike asks you to confirm the mode by pressing once on the stick button. Not hard at all.
4.Forth problem: automatic switching from off-road to road mode. I don't like this either, but for Europe ABS is compulsory and that's why they did it. But there is a catch which you would have known if it was your bike. When starting the engine again the bike will ask you to go to off-road mode you just have to confirm it by pressing the stick button twice. Just one button twice. Not a bunch of buttons.
So it might be easy the BMW menu, but this menu is not hard at all if you used it for some time.
And the "problem" with the icons showing you the mode that you are in ... Again use this bike more and will be a very clear. I never had this problem. Never.
I love how the older 1200 explorer sounded dunno about the newer version. Also it used to come with all three piece luggage but the thing that would make me buy one if it wasn’t too tall for me is the fact that one Triumph’s site it prescribes exactly how long it’d take to add accessories and such so you guesstimate labor costs!!! Great stuff Ian as always. Happy New Year and give lotsa of kisses to that little one 😂😂 of yours
I’m not sure if I have said this before on hear but you can get a lower seat that lowers it by 20mm of the standard seat and doing that allows you to flat foot of a inseem of 31-32 in 🤷♂️ as that I felt I needed then it gives you that more confidence but yes it’s is still top heavy but the more you ride it the more you get use to it 🏍️🏴🏍️🏴🏍️🏴
So what's the final verdict on the off-road performance of the rear suspension?
it's undersprung like many other bikes
Great review. I have sat on one at the local dealer and you are correct it is top heavy. I thought my Pan America was top heavy. I would hate to pick it up. Really thinking of going to a GS, I have an easier time getting it off the ground, due to the lean angle due to the engine. 😊
Tiger 900 Rally Pro owner here (with no small assistance from your reviews of that bike Ian, thanks!). Love that TFT. Why the hell didn't Triumph offer that superb display setting on the 900s? At least as one of the display options. Instead we get four ridiculous and distracting options that are all different versions of dumb. I'd gladly pay $100 to get a software option for it. The Tiger 900 is so good otherwise that the screen is the only thing that irritates me about it. I also own a 2017 GSA, and had this 1200 been an option then, I would have seriously considered it. Impressed.
Is there really not a preload adjuster on the rear shock?
I always like your videos Ian because you'er honest and a good offroad rider too. Seems the Tiger is too soft offroad for serious terraine
Hey love the channel! I have the GT Pro and also a speech triple 1200. Got used to the indicator pretty quickly, but I find the seat to be too soft. I actually prefer the firmer seat on the speed triple. (I rode the speed 1900 miles in six days) but the cool thing is I can just stand up on the tiger when the bum gets numb
Great review Ian. I completely agree with your review with the exception of the buzzing in the handlebars. After 9 months of ownership, before I sold it, I still kept hitting the the infotainment controller when trying to use the indicators. Between the poor suspension, the dumpster fire of a UI, the buzziness, and the electronics fails, I hated this bike. The electronics caught me out so many times on ascents and descents. The Triumph factory team that makes the phone app couldn’t even get the phone integration working. The app just wouldn’t recognize the bike but the bike would recognize the phone. They gave up in the end. Finally, it is SO hard to pick up, whereas I can pick up the GSA all day. When I’m on my own, which is o9% of the time, and in the middle of nowhere, I need to be able to pick up and recover my bike if I accidentally go down or into a ditch.
Thanks for sharing, sorry for your bad experience
@@BigRockMoto Oh, I still had fun. I can have fun on any bike as long as it has 2 wheels!
Interesting story, but the bike hasn’t been out for nine months.. if you’re going to troll, get your facts straight first
@@vailmcc 900 RP with the same components/electronics and issues except the suspension, and the springs are too soft on both.
@@vailmccRyan has been all over the internet with his Triumph story. He forget to tell us how bad the heated grips are on this thread.
I have the rally pro that I just picked up. I'm having the same issue with the rear dampening with off-road. It makes opening it up off road a little dicey. I find in off-road pro I can crank the dampening to 9/9 and it is manageable but it is annoying for a $25k bike out the door.
Thank you for a great review.
I am Swedish, living in Mexico, here the motorcycle license was very easy to get, as well as in the US.
I am about to move back to Sweden and I will be allowed to drive on my MX license for 1 year. However, the tests to get a MC license in Sweden is extremely tough, especially the slow speed manouvering. How is this bike for slow speed manouvering? One basically has to be able to drive into a garage and u-turn without putting a foot down and a cone cource.
Cheers from Swede in Mexico.
ps. watch a lot of your videos and always press like.
I love Tigers; I own two of them (2011 800 XC and 2020 900 Rally Pro, significantly different bikes). They’re fantastic bikes. But my biggest complaint with all of them is that Triumph always chooses too soft a spring rate for the rear suspension. Both of my Tigers have aftermarket shocks, and you’ve confirmed that if I bought a 1200, it would need one too.
As for the ride modes - unfortunately most bikes switch back to road mode when the ignition is cycled. KTM and BMW are the only ones I’ve heard of that don’t. It’s a minor annoyance that you get used to quickly if you actually own the bike (just as you quickly learn what the ride mode icons mean).
Good info. Thanks. I wish all OEMs would remember ride modes. A huge pet peeve of mine. BMW, KTM and Aprilia do. Ducati too, with the desertX.
What spring did you get for the 900 ?
@@kee7678 I didn’t just replace the spring. The Showa shock is budget crap, so I replaced the whole thing with a fully-adjustable Hyperpro shock with rising-rate progressive spring. Preload is set to get to the right spring rate. The new shock transformed the bike.
@@markbock3027 Wow..nice. I'll see if i can find that stuff and check it out also.
@@markbock3027have you left the forks as factory? I have a 900 and feel the forks are worse than rear.
Awesome review as usual, Ian is really making me consider making the jump and buying my first bike. That being said, we want to hear more about the banana accident! 🤣
I'm wondering where the drop/lift test is in this video. Perhaps, the bike is just too top heavy ad/or the panniers are too delicate. Great video - other than this omission great.
too heavy!
The handlebar switches were THE reason why I didn´t buy a Tiger.....so I went for the GSA
Cue the BananaRama music, LOL.
I love the sound of my Tiger 660 Sport, and that intake sound on the 1200 sounds deep, even thru the microphone. For me, the performance and comfort over about 75 or 80 is irrelevant, as long as I can give her the beans and pass a semi going 70ish without instability.
It seems like the GS, Multistrada and 1290 have some new competition!
I own this bike, the off road (no ABS) modes will not return when restarting bike but all the other modes will keep in the same mode. They at least did make it easy to get back into off-road mode if you were in it by double clicking the mode icon after start. That being said switching to off road and needing to stop first is annoying. Another annoying thing is the flashing/alternating icons like maint wrench (viewed in your video) and the alternating snow icon/temp in cold weather. Its a 10" screen! Could they not find room for those small icons elsewhere? Amazing bike though. I owned the 2015 Tiger Explorer and its SO much more better than that bike. I don't really have the bottoming issues you were having either, I run Reckless 80's though so that may be a factor. I weigh 245lbs. Fuel economy is awesome unless you get above 4k rpm, then it drinks fuel like a big block chevy.
Really is horrible nasty User Interface. Wondering if it was originally designed for a smaller screen...wasted space. KTM is so much better on the 1290.
I owned A 2018 GSA and traded in for a 2022 KTM 1290 SAS last May. Traded the KTM for a new Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer 12 weeks ago due to the constant niggles of the KTM. Is the Tiger better than my two other Adventures? I reckon there is little between them if you take into consideration each of their characteristics. None of the bikes are perfect but looking at the Tiger here. 1). Top Heavy when fuelled and loaded is a real issue (and I am 6'-2" tall). 2) Stalling at slow speeds is a REAL problem, 2nd gear with the clutch out below 2k revs and the bike stalls, the back wheel locks and the bike is down. 3). It gets real dirty and is THE hardest bike to clean. 4). The electronics are real slow to start up. The positives are that it is THE most comfortable bike ever and all of the features make it my current favourite. (Might have gone for the GT Explorer but having dropped the Rally recently , the added crash bars were a god send). Great review BTW.
Hello there, great reviev like always keep going I love your video and you're way to explain thanks for everything. I have a question for you, we are travelling by motorbike and only by motorbike always overloaded( because we don't have a car) a question is: if I have to choose between TIGER 1200 rally explorer and GT explorer your advice will be????
I never use a bike to go in off road.
Thanks a lot for your answer
👋👋👋👋👋
I came across your review on the rally Explorer and I'm glad I did I was going to purchase one until I seen your review sounds like there's suspension is bad very top heavy settings are hard to get to turn signals are hard to get to the screen is hard to navigate hard to figure out what riding mode you are in, so I guess I will go with my second choice H.D.
wish you a pleasant Christmas and new year holiday
You need to use an inserted bags for the hard panniers. I use them and the soft panniers. I do prefer the soft ones . I believe that they will stand up better in a crash. Touch wood I haven't tested that way so far.
You can adjust the suspension in menue
Great review. Triumph really must hate doing GUI for their displays. Flashing both your Time and the wrench maintence symbol back and forth is horrible and really distracting. Sure they want you to take it in and spend moneys to turn it off.
Yeah. I think it’s pure money grabbing you can’t get rid of the wrench (apart from taping over it 😂)
Can you tell me about the camera setup you clamped to the right side of the bike in this video? I recognize the 360 camera but not the clamp and pole. Thanks! If you have support links for those pieces let me know. Love your videos and happy to support your efforts.
When are you going to review the Ktm 1290 Super Adventure R 2021 - 2023?
Very interesting video. Excellent explained as always. How would you compare the Tiger 900 vs the Tiger 1200. Because I would think that the biggest difference is that the 1200 is heavier, but more powerfull. So would the Tiger 900 be a smarter choice seen the price difference, less weight and more usefull power delivery?
900 is better for most people
Got this bike. Never hit the scroll or menu button instead of the turn signals once. Not even the first time riding it yet every reviewer mentions its a problem. It's not all all.
Smashed banana smell is ok for a few hours, but after a few days it ain't good! 😄
Another great video, as always. I'm local so maybe we'll run into each someday.
Did Triumph ever offer any modicum of explanation for what you experienced with the rear suspension while offroad?
31:40... I think is's an E.U. thing (I'm in the UK)... I had a similar problem with my little KTM 390 ADV... The dealer said that they have to reset to the standard settings each time the bike is started... Bloody annoying when you stall it!.
Mine doesn’t reset when it’s stalled. I’ve only a stalled it a few times in 5k because the clutch is so sweet😊
@@freeheelsak Oh really? Perhaps it's a problem with mine then? I mentioned it to the dealer and that's what he told me about it resetting (perhaps he meant when the ignition is turned off?)... I gave up trying to turn it off in the end! It just keeps turning the traction back on by it self, I presumed it was when I stall it.