Triumph Motorcycles has announced its 2024 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer and Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer models, which include further refinements to the engine, enhanced comfort and ergonomics, improved cornering clearance, reduced seat height with Active Preload Reduction as standard, and new colors. The GT Pro and Rally Pro models will not be available in the U.S. market for 2024.
At the unveiling of the new bikes, Triumph’s Global Product Marketing Manager James Wood said that, similar to the recent changes made to the Tiger 900 line, when it came to the 2024 Triumph Tiger 1200, the company is “constantly looking for ways to improve and refine our bikes and always looking to make them better for our riders.”
Related: 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 Review | First Ride
The Tiger 1200 line still features the liquid-cooled, transverse inline-Triple with DOHC and 4 valves per cylinder and a T-plane crankshaft with a 1-3-2 firing order. The irregular firing sequence gives the engine the feel and tractable response of a Twin down low and the sporty character of a Triple from the midrange to redline. In our 2023 Tiger 1200 GT Pro review, the Jett Tuning dyno showed 130.2 hp at 9,100 rpm and 81.8 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm to the rear wheel through the bike’s shaft final drive.
When asked at the unveiling if Triumph had considered changing the engine configuration, Wood said the T-plane was a “very conscientious decision … because of the extra character it gives you and because of the extra tractability it gives you at low rpm.”
“That is absolutely something that we love about this bike and something we know that customers love about this bike too,” he said. “So it was never an option to be changed to anything else. It’s a really nice engine, especially for adventure-style riding.”
For the 2024 model, Triumph has made further changes to the crankshaft, alternator rotor, and balancer to increase engine inertia, plus some associated engine calibration changes, all with the goal of a smoother and more precise low-rev torque delivery. Triumph says customers will be able to feel the increased smoothness while accelerating or decelerating, especially at low speeds, and that an updated clutch design will create smoother engagement when changing into first gear.
Both Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer models still feature Brembo Stylema braking components, with dual 4-piston monoblock radial front calipers clamping down on 320mm floating discs and a 1-piston rear caliper and 298mm disc. Cornering ABS is standard, as is cornering traction control. The Showa semi-active suspension system has On-Road and Off-Road damping modes, with nine settings ranging from Sport to Comfort within each mode, as well as automatic rear preload adjustment. Travel is 7.9 inches front and rear. The Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer rides on tubeless spoked wheels (21-inch front, 18-inch rear), and the GT Explorer features cast aluminum wheels (19-inch front, 18-inch rear).
The seat on both bikes has been redesigned with a flatter profile, providing more space for the rider, and the accessory low seat reduces the seat height by 0.8 inch from 33.5 inches to 32.7 inches on the GT Explorer and from 34.5 inches to 33.7 inches on the Rally Explorer. Seat height is reduced an additional 0.78 inch by the new Active Preload Reduction feature, which was revealed in August 2023 and offers the rider greater confidence by reducing the rear suspension preload as the Tiger 1200 slows to a stop simply by pressing the ‘Home’ button on the switch cube for one second.
Related: Triumph Announces Active Preload Reduction for Tiger 1200 Range
The cornering clearance of the Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer model has been increased by lifting the footpeg position and moving them closer to the bike, and a longer clutch lever has also been introduced, providing increased space for riders’ fingers, adding further comfort especially on longer journeys.
The Tiger 1200 Explorer technology package includes the Triumph Blind Spot Radar System, 7-inch TFT instrumentation with integrated My Triumph Connectivity System, Shift Assist, heated grips and seats, tire pressure monitoring, Hill Hold, and a keyless system that includes ignition, steering lock, and fuel cap.
Both variants of the Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer models will be available with new colors for 2024. The GT Explorer will be available in Carnival Red, as well as the previous options of Snowdonia White and Sapphire Black. Pricing starts at $23,795. The Rally Explorer will be available in the new Matte Sandstorm and Jet Black options, as well as the popular Matte Khaki. Pricing starts at $24,895.
For more information, visit the Triumph Motorcycles website.
Check out more new bikes in Rider’s 2024 Motorcycle Buyers Guide
It got updates after I bought a 23′. Uggh