Triumph Tiger 1050 Price: $10,699 ($11,499 W/Abs)
Hard Parts
Chassis
An all-new perimeter frame and swingarm, welded up from cast-aluminum sections, makes the new Tiger a feline of a different frequency. The head angle is pulled back to a conventional 23.2 degrees, and the fully adjustable 43mm Showa inverted fork and preload- and rebound-adjustable shock allow a reasonable amount of setup flexibility. The front wheel is now a street-conventional 17-incher, replacing the previous incarnation's slightly more dirt-capable 19-incher. Four-piston Nissin radial calipers deliver Superbike-spec velocity attenuation.
Engine
The new Tiger gets the 1050cc mill we've seen before in the Speed Triple and Sprint; its 6.4mm stroke increase cranks out more torque, but its peak horsepower production is restrained by a single exhaust can. Not to worry: The Tiger is plenty strong in its own right, 20 horses up on the Ducati, and there's an optional, high-power, high-noise can that'll give back about 10 of those ponies.
Luggage
Like the 'Strada, the Tiger can be fitted with optional hard-case bags. The single exhaust can intrudes into the right box, limiting its capacity. They're hard to figure out, but reasonably functional once you do.
Cockpit
Welcome to one of the most comfortable, user-friendly cockpits in the biz. The cushy seat is among the best ever sculpted, the wide bar puts the grips right in your grasp and the small fairing directs the air around your torso, giving you a smooth (if noisy) blast of air till the 5.3-gallon fuel tank runs dry. Speaking of which, the gauge cluster includes instant fuel consumption, average fuel use and projected range, giving you something to mess with as you inhale the miles.
Ergos
Like the Multistrada, the Tiger boasts a ton of cockpit room, including slightly more handlebar rise, a bit less set-to-bar reach and nearly 20 inches of seat-to-peg room, just .7 inch less than the Multistrada's 20.5 inches. Along with a superb seat, a butter-smooth engine and a highly effective fairing, the Tiger is a superb place to spend the day, especially with fit, finish and refinement scores rivaling those of BMW or Honda.
Tech Spec
Price: $10,699 ($11,499 w/ABS)
Engine type: l-c inline triple
Valve train: DOHC, 12v
Displacement: 1050cc
Bore x stroke: 71.0 x 71.4mm
Compression: 12.0:1
Fuel system: EFI
Clutch: Wet, multi-plate
Transmission: 6-speed
Frame: Twin-spar aluminum
Front suspension: 43mm inverted fork, adjustable for spring preload, rebound and compression damping
Rear suspension: Single shock, adjustable for spring preload, rebound damping
Front brake: Dual four-piston radial calipers, 320mm discs
Rear brake: Two-piston caliper, 255mm disc
Front tire: 120/70-ZR17 Michelin Pilot Power
Rear tire: 180/55-ZR17 Michelin Pilot Power
Rake/trail: 23.2o/3.5 in.
Seat height: 32.8 in.
Wheelbase: 59.4 in.
Fuel capacity: 5.2 gal.
Weight (tank full): 512 lbs.
Weight (tank empty): 481 lbs.
Measured horsepower: 102.1 bhp @ 9350 rpm
Measured torque: 63.0 lb.-ft. @ 4350 rpm
Corrected 1/4-mile: 11.75 sec. @ 115.37 mph
Top gear roll-on 60-80 mph: 3.15 sec.
Fuel mileage (high/low/avg.): 42/36/40 mpg
Colors: Yellow, Blue, White, Black
Available: Now
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited mi.
Contact: Triumph Motorcycles Limited
385 Walt Sanders Dr., St. 100, Newnan, GA 30265
678.854.2010
www.triumphmotorcycles.com
Horsepower: 102.1 bhp @ 9350 rpm
Torque: 63.0 lb.-ft. @ 4350 rpm
Dyno
You want linear power? The Tiger owns the term, with quite possibly the least-pockmarked power trace we've ever seen. The new triple makes grunt everywhere: nearly 60 bhp at 5000 rpm, 70 at 6000 and nearly 103 at the engine's 9350-rpm power peak. And with a nearly flat torque curve that shows 60-plus lb.-ft. from 3500 all the way to 9000 rpm (!), getting the most from this mill is as easy as wheelying a Speed Triple.