This is my two-year 20,000 Km review of the Gen 3 Triumph Tiger 1200. It covers 2018, 2019 & 2020 models as they are all the same with no differences. This is as frank as you will get, warts and all. The bike has been the least reliable bike I have ever owned but somehow, I still want to keep the thing!
I mention some features I would like to see on a Gen 4 version of the bike but while editing the video I realise this bike has probably gone as far as it can go in its present format, there is nothing more it needs so my title screen mentions Gen 3.5 instead, just upgrades or feature fixes I would like to see.
Way Out West by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/ because the real Good, Bad and the Ugly soundtrack was too much to license! I’m a cheapskate….I make these vids for a bit of fun only but I hope you enjoy.
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I've got the 2017, and I do agree with all the bads. Im 180 cm's tall and pushing the bike around in parking lots is a huge hassle. Mine weighs 11 kg more than the 2018 as well. But damn its a nice bike to ride. The clutch isn't amazing though. Any advice to have a better feeling clutch would be appreciated
Thanks for the video! I have the version just before yours… “the last explorer”. Still have it, will never sell it! Absolutely love it. May I ask what is that you have on your finger? What does it do? Thank you and hope you are still enjoying your bike
Hi Terry, great video as always, I've got the Alpine SE, has all the bells and whistles apart from the heated seats and fog lights. Is the heated rider seat worth having? Some say it doesn't get very warm.
It Handle any condition , try rideing on
Pea Gravel , you be of on your bum with
Road Tyres , or 90 % 10 % Tyres , 50,50
Or Full off road tyres will only do , do you need a Adventure bike ?
I have the exact same bike i love it but i have had an issue with the gas tank lock it seems that when i insert the key it does not want to turn no matter how much i joggle it, but after taking it apart after i got the gas cap open, i cleaned the lock really god and no issues so far, and i must say I love my bike it is an incredible machine and much cheaper than a 1250GS, great video Brother and be safe riding!!
60 days off the road is bloody unrealiable to me! no mention of the rip off dealers and their criminal servicing costs? where you paid by triumph by any chance?
Hello Terry, loved the video! Would you know the model of the extensions of the plastic extension of the handguards and the SW bag on your back seat? Thank you very much in advance 😉
Nicely done!!!
since I am 18 I ride Motor Triumph and different BMW MOTOGuzzi Honda Yamaha but at least Triumph the First was a Bonneville 750 in 1978!!
My old Trident 900 is the most reliable bike I ever had now about 98999km on it much better then a BMW K1100 RS this is one of the worst Bike I ever had. And I see the 1200 Tiger will not my Bike
all the new Electonic makes not happy and at the End it costs and dont run if you need it. I ride all the year every Day to work and back. so older better?!
Traded mine for the 900 GT Pro. The 1200 was perfect, but too top heavy for me. If I were 6 feet tall and 200 pounds of muscle I’d still own it. (Oh, and it puts out too much heat in summer! That sucked).
Great review thanks, do they all come with the Arrow exhaust stock, all videos I see have it?
I had a Scrambler 1200XE and I just hate keyless ignition 9specially the Triumph one, its just bad, I think it interferes with air…). It's trying to fix a problem that wasn't one, but creating a new problem.
If you've ridden Super Tenere, I'd be curious to know which suspensions you find the most comfortable.
Looks ideal I'm slow to find this video but hey hum. Excellent video I like the honesty and the light handed advice.
Nice video I won't sell my T1200XCA soon and at this stage my ass won't be sitting on GSA seat soon. What is that plastic thing you put over the glove on your index finger for?
Grumpy cnt on a great bike!
I own one… I'm not flat footed, and its fkg hard work, but the fantastic out weighs the top heavy terror!
great review Terry Cox.
I should have watched this video before i bought, and some of your others!
i'm 5"2, and had just had my Super Tenere written off for me, I came across a beautiful 2016 XRT, i went to see it, and fell in love, i sat on it, but it was on a camber and i could only just reach the floor, not a huge issue, I'm used to that kind of reach, so i bought it, purely with my heart! Tiger was delivered a week later, took it out for a spin, and got stuck at a petrol station, i could not lift it off its stand while sat on it! I've since put lowering links on it, which makes it much more manageable, the bite on the clutch is an absolute b*tch, so new levers are required – time will tell as to whether i made a mistake with this bike!
So, I am terrible, but usually what I do, and what I am doing currently is, I decide what bike I want, and then I watch videos and celebrate all the good points and dismiss the bad points. I reckon I just don't use my head when I pick a bike I use my heart. Good vid, great info.
Owned a 800xc great bike but found that abit top heavy mainly due to the 21inch front wheel and did manage to drop it a few times during slow speed manoeuvring. Had an issue with gear selector shaft triumph customer service was terrible, but got sorted once I emailed Mr Bloor. Now own a 2nd gen VFR800X Crossrunner great bike owned it for 3 years now only real gripe is suspension really jiggly so hoping to upgrade it very soon as I've been told it'll totally transform it 🤞 Forgot to mention when you were talking about other shaft drive bikes, you forgot the the vfr1200x Crosstourer 🤪
Great advice. Very useful in my choice of bikes. It’s a really bad mistake that Triumph don’t have a SatNav as standard on all its touring bikes, which the Tigers are!
Thanks a bunch!
Hope he made a warranty claim for the left audio channel.
I HAVE 12500KM ON MY 2018 XRT. You pretty well said everything about the bike that i also noticed. Especially the seat and tyre(tire) sections. Thanks.
I have had warranty dealings with a few different brands over the years and they are all the bloody same.
I'm riding a 2018 XRT and i absolutely agree to your opinion and your experience with the big Tiger. Both the pros and the cons. One drawback i think you have forgotten: The really poor torque at lower revs for such a big engine. Although it has gotten better since the last service software update at 16000 km, the torque up to 4000 revs for 1200cc is still more than unsatisfactory .
Would the standard windshield be good wind protection for a 6 feet tall rider?
Can you use the clutch as normal on a motorcycle equipped with a quick shifter?
Why didn't you demand a replacement bike? When I managed to blow the engine up on my Sprint – I demanded a replacement – and got it – until mine was back on the road (took ages for Triumph to come up with a new motor) – by that time I'd put 15,000 miles on their demonstrator! Tough!
I wear earplugs when I ride my tiger 1200, and when I am on a quiet Country Road I can hear what sounds like something dragging, or to describe it better like a bearing that's no good. You mentioned that these stock tires are noisy, I wonder if that's what I'm hearing.
As far as the key fob interference from the LEDs, cheap LEDS can put out a lot of EMI. I put cheap LEDs in for the reverse lights of my VW Golf and they create a lot of interference with the radio. Even the strongest stations are blocked when they're lit. I'm not surprised they'd cause problems with the key fob.
I have an 18 Bonneville T120 and I've been noticing after about 150 miles, I'm feeling exhausted and cramped. I just rode 280 miles today and feel completely beat down. I'm 6 ft. about 32" inseam and I'm wondering if the bike may be too small after all. When I first got it, I did a 4 day Big Bend National Park ride (Texas) which was about 300-400 miles per day, now I can't do nearly that. I've installed Triumph comfort gel seat/ TEC front springs/Fox piggy back rear shocks / Dart windscreen. We get ALOT of wind in Texas and it really causes fatigue. Ive been looking at the Tiger 1200 Alpine and BMW 1200/1250 GS. 20K seems like a lot for a bike….until you start looking at HD street glides. I'm 46, but after today's ride, I feel like a grandpa that needs to ice down his butt bones.
Good Content but Background music is irritating 😖