Updates
for 2008:
• New 2008 colour: Blazing Orange
IS THERE NOTHING IT CAN’T
DO?
The Tiger has always been one of the most popular bikes
in Triumph’s range and since the original was
launched in 1994 it has won a legion of fans the world
over thanks to its
all-purpose usefulness, mile-munching ability and sheer
dependability. 2007 was a big year
for Tiger fans when the brand new Triumph Tiger 1050
was released - a major evolutionary
step in the model’s history. This new Tiger lives
in a genuinely different space to other bikes
in its class, excelling in three distinct areas: it
tours, it scratches and it commutes.
While its sharp lines and performance
spec make the Tiger’s sporting credentials clear
from
a glance, its stunning looks hide a practical streak.
Take a Tiger two-up touring way off into the wilds and
you’ve got a bike that comfortably devours miles
of tarmac. The relaxed riding position, spacious seat,
supple suspension and tractable torquey engine guarantee
you arrive fresh at the end of the longest day.
Next, ditch the bags, go it alone
and head for a bit of fun at strange angles. Tucked
into a brilliantly balanced chassis, the Tiger’s
potent engine delivers power and ear to ear grins.
Multi-adjustable front and rear suspension keeps things
planted and a squeeze on the Nissin four piston radial
caliper front brakes stop you on a euro.
Then it’s back to the city
where the Tiger slinks through snarled up traffic and
the sleek lines look sharp as a knife. Here the commanding
view really comes into its own, giving the rider the
jump on everyone, while the wide bars make tight manoeuvres
child’s play. Soft luggage holds the day’s
essentials.
Nothing sounds like a triple so
there’s simply no confusing a Tiger with the whine
of an anonymous four. You can almost feel the sound
on your skin. At the Tiger’s heart is the amazing
1,050cc, fuel-injected, three-cylinder engine. This
motor, known for its addictive character, has plenty
of torque and impressive amounts of horsepower, with
ample reserves of both for those two-up fully laden
tours. Peak power of 115PS (114bhp) is delivered at
9,400rpm, with 100Nm (74ft.lbf) torque at 6,250rpm.
As for the chassis, sit on a Tiger
and you know it’s a fit. Fast scratcher, packed
tourer or head up commuter, it always feels right. The
twin-spar aluminium frame housing the 1,050cc engine
is new, as is the braced aluminium swingarm. New too
are the cast aluminium wheels, both are now 17in allowing
a wider choice of tyres; the front tyre’s a 120/70
ZR17, the rear a 180/55 ZR17. The 43mm upside down fully
adjustable forks and remote spring preload and rebound
damping adjustable rear shock provide an almost magic
carpet-like ride over the most varied of surfaces, from
the roughest Tarmac to the smoothest blacktop asphalt.
Twin four-piston radial calipers
bite 320mm front discs, the rear 255mm disc uses a single
twin-piston caliper. The Tiger’s seat height is
a manageable 835mm (32.8in), matched to a dry weight
of 198kg (436lbs – ABS weighs 201Kg/443lbs). Fuel
capacity is 20 litres (4.4 gal), giving an excellent
touring range.
Comfort has always been a strength
for the Tiger and rider and pillion benefit from great
ergonomics, excellent wind protection and rubber mounted
handle bars and foot pegs.
Then there’s the look: the
Tiger in profile looks ready to pounce. The sharp, angular
lines of
the headlight cowl muscle up around the tank and then
flow beautifully to the upswept tail.
A bike capable of so many different things should look
like a compromise yet the Tiger looks
stunning. Available in four different colour options
– Caspian Blue, Fusion White, Jet Black
and new for 2008, Blazing Orange.
Factory hard luggage is available
for the Tiger, as is a tank bag, soft tail pack and
heated
grips, as well as a whole range of other accessory options.
Supremely comfortable, two-up tourer;
sporty solo funster or sleek, stylish city bike: There
are very few genuine all-round motorcycles in existence
– the Tiger is surely one of them.
Colour Options:
Caspian Blue
Blazing Orange
Fusion White
Jet Black
Specifications:
|
