Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer
2026 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer: 150 PS adventure bike, 1,160 cc triple, 30 L tank, blind-spot radar, €22,995. Full specs, reviews and rivals.
At a glance
The Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer is the long-haul version of Triumph's big adventure bike: a 1,160 cc, 150 PS triple, shaft drive, 19- and 18-inch cast wheels and a 30-litre tank good for around 545 km of theoretical range. Priced at €22,995 in France, it adds a blind-spot radar, heated seats and tyre pressure monitoring to the GT Pro. Reviewers praise its smoother 2024 engine and its comfort, but it weighs 255 kg and a new Tiger 1200 was announced for 27 October 2026.
World press review
Meta-score
5 sources
Press ratings
2022 version: surprisingly compact-feeling and comfortable GT Explorer, convincing brakes and electronics; semi-active suspension not distinct enough, overly sparse display, vibrating mirrors.
Press synthesis
What the world’s press says
The 84/100 meta-score is the average of four ratings: MCN 4/5 and Bennetts BikeSocial 4/5 (tests of the 2024 range, GT Explorer included), Motorcycle.com 90/100 (2024 GT Explorer and Rally Explorer) and Moto.it 8.5/10 (2022 GT Pro, GT Explorer and Rally Explorer, previous version). RevZilla rode the 2022 version without giving a score. The 2026 GT Explorer is technically identical to the bikes tested in 2024.
What reviewers like: the 2024 engine, much smoother and no longer prone to stalling at low revs (“never has a bike changed so little on paper and so much in the way it feels to ride”, says BikeSocial); long-distance comfort; a 30-litre tank that barely affects the handling (RevZilla, MCN, Moto.it); strong, progressive brakes; and more standard equipment than a similarly priced BMW R 1300 GS (MCN).
What they criticise: heavy steering and an odd feel on the GT’s Metzeler Tourance tyres (MCN, Motorcycle.com); snatchy on/off throttle (Motorcycle.com); integration and refinement that trail the R 1300 GS (MCN, BikeSocial); and no front radar or adaptive cruise control, while the rear radar cannot be switched off (BikeSocial). In 2022, BikeSocial also complained about footpegs touching down early and RevZilla about vibrating mirrors; BikeSocial says the mirrors no longer blur on the 2024 bike, whose footpegs have been raised.
The nuances: MCN gives value only 3/5, pointing to a cheaper KTM 1290 Super Adventure with adaptive radar cruise, while acknowledging, like BikeSocial, that the Triumph undercuts an equivalently specced BMW R 1300 GS.
Key quotes
"The heavier GT Explorer, with a full 30-litre fuel load, steers and brakes with more weight transfer than the lighter, 20-litre Pro – but both bikes hide their weight well and don’t feel excessively large or cumbersome on the road."
"Never has a bike changed so little on paper and so much in the way it feels to ride."
"An issue that seems to persist despite the work on low rpm power delivery from the added inertia, is the on/off throttle snatchy-ness."
"The GT Explorer feels and acts 10 percent smaller than other eight-gallon ADVs even though it doesn’t give up power or range. Impressive."
"Fully fuelled, you feel the extra weight when manoeuvring, but on the move its balance is entirely comparable to the GT Pro."
Pros
- Strong 150 PS triple, much smoother since 2024
- Over 450 km of range from the 30-litre tank
- Very comprehensive standard kit (blind-spot radar, semi-active suspension, quickshifter, heated seats)
- Shaft drive and 16,000 km service intervals
- Powerful, progressive Brembo Stylema brakes
- Three-year unlimited-mileage warranty
- Cheaper than the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure
Cons
- 255 kg wet
- Slightly heavy steering on the stock tyres (MCN, Motorcycle.com)
- Snatchy on/off throttle (Motorcycle.com)
- No front radar or adaptive cruise control
- New Tiger 1200 announced for 27 October 2026
Our review
The Tiger 1200 GT Explorer is the road-going Tiger with the big tank: where the GT Pro makes do with 20 litres, it carries 30 and adds a blind-spot radar. This page covers the 2026 model year sold by Triumph France, technically identical to the generation updated in 2024.
Which Tiger 1200 should you choose?
Triumph splits the Tiger 1200 into two families. The GT models are road-focused: 19-inch front and 18-inch rear cast wheels, 200 mm of travel and an 850 or 870 mm seat. The Rally models target off-road riding: a 21-inch spoked front wheel, 220 mm of travel and an 875 or 895 mm seat. Each family comes in Pro form (20-litre tank) and Explorer form (30 litres, rear radar, heated seats, tyre pressure monitoring).
Triumph France lists the GT Pro, GT Explorer, Rally Explorer and two special editions launched for 2026: the Alpine Edition (a GT Pro with radar) and the Desert Edition (a Rally Pro with radar). The Rally Pro appears on the range page but has no price or configurator entry on the French site. The base GT was dropped in 2024.
How much does the GT Explorer cost?
Triumph France lists it at €22,995 in Snowdonia White, €23,295 in Sapphire Black and €23,445 in Carnival Red. That is €1,400 more than the GT Pro (€21,595) and €1,000 less than the Rally Explorer (€23,995). The Alpine Edition (€20,995) and Desert Edition (€21,995) bring the radar for less, but with the 20-litre tank. For any new Tiger 1200 ordered and delivered between 1 and 31 October 2026, Triumph France adds a two-pannier kit and €2,500 of customer benefits. In the United States, the GT Explorer starts at $23,795.
Should you wait for the new Tiger 1200?
On 6 October 2026, Triumph announced a new Tiger 1200, to be revealed on 27 October and then shown at EICMA and Motorcycle Live. Triumph promises an updated 1200 cc triple with more performance and refinement, advanced rider technology and “the most sophisticated suspension package ever fitted to a Triumph motorcycle”, with no figures yet. Visordown spotted a front-mounted radar in the images, which could mean adaptive cruise control. A 2026 GT Explorer is therefore the end of a generation – useful leverage when negotiating.
How good is the triple?
The 1,160 cc triple (90 x 60.7 mm, 13.2:1 compression) makes 150 PS (147 hp, 110.4 kW) at 9,000 rpm and 130 Nm at 7,000 rpm, sent to the rear wheel by a shaft. Its T-plane crank (offset crankpins for an uneven 1-3-2 firing order) gives twin-like character low down and triple top-end.
The 2022 version vibrated a lot and stalled easily at very low revs, sometimes dropping the bike mid-U-turn (BikeSocial, MCN). For 2024 Triumph added mass to the crank and alternator rotor and redistributed the balancer weight, claiming 89% less vibration in roll. MCN calls the result “a fabulous balance” and BikeSocial calls the change transformational. MCN notes it lacks the instant low-down punch of the BMW R 1300 GS or KTM 1290 Super Adventure, and the top end of the Ducati Multistrada V4 S. Motorcycle.com still finds the on/off throttle snatchy and blames the driveline.
How does it handle with 30 litres on board?
The tubular steel frame, bolt-on aluminium subframe and aluminium Tri-Link swingarm carry a 49 mm Showa fork and a Showa shock, both semi-active: damping adapts on the move and preload sets itself according to the load. The aluminium tank keeps the extra fuel low: BikeSocial feels no top-heaviness, and RevZilla says it behaves like a bike 10% smaller than other big-tank adventure machines. MCN notes more weight transfer with a full tank than on the GT Pro and slightly heavy steering; Motorcycle.com suspects the profile of the stock Metzeler Tourance tyres.
Braking combines radial Brembo Stylema calipers, 320 mm discs and a Magura radial master cylinder, with cornering ABS; MCN finds it powerful and full of feel. Since 2024 the footpegs sit higher and closer to the bike for more cornering clearance, a weakness BikeSocial flagged on the 2022 version.
What comes as standard?
Almost everything: five riding modes (Rain, Road, Sport, Off-Road and a customisable Rider mode), cornering traction control and ABS via an IMU, a two-way quickshifter, cruise control, hill hold, keyless ignition, a 7-inch TFT with My Triumph connectivity (phone, music, turn-by-turn navigation), LED lighting with adaptive cornering lights and auxiliary lights, heated grips and seats, tyre pressure monitoring, a centre stand, engine protection bars and a sump guard.
The GT Explorer’s signature feature is its rear radar, developed with Continental: a light near the mirror comes on when a vehicle sits in your blind spot, and the warning gets more prominent if you indicate. There is no front radar, so no adaptive cruise control. Another 2024 addition is Active Preload Reduction: a long press on the Home button drops the rear by up to 20 mm, making it easier to reach the ground at a stop.
What range and running costs?
Triumph claims 5.5 L/100 km, or about 545 km of theoretical range. Foreign press tests recorded 5.1 to 6.6 L/100 km, and BikeSocial saw about 480 km per tank on its 2024 test. The owner’s handbook calls for an oil change every 16,000 km or every year, and valve clearances, spark plugs and air filter every 32,000 km. Triumph France quotes a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
Are there any recalls?
A recall published on RappelConso in August 2026 (Safety Gate SR/00022/25) covers Tiger 1200 GT, GT Pro and GT Explorer models built between 17 August 2021 and 12 October 2024 – the 2022 to 2024 model years and possibly the first 2025 bikes: the tyre can wear unevenly until its reinforcement breaks, risking partial tread separation or sudden air loss. In the United States, Pirelli recalled Metzeler Tourance Next 150/70 R18 tyres fitted as original equipment to certain Triumphs in October 2024 (NHTSA 24T011000). A new 2026 GT Explorer is not affected; on a used bike, check the recall has been done.
What are its rivals?
Its natural rival is the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure (€23,900, 145 hp). More powerful options are the KTM 1390 Super Adventure S (€21,149, 173 hp) and the Ducati Multistrada V4 S (€25,690, 170 hp; see our Ducati Multistrada V4 page); a cheaper one is the Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports (€18,599, 102 hp). The Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special (€20,800, 150 hp) offers a V-twin alternative. Against the BMW R 1300 GS, BikeSocial reckons the Triumph trails on roadholding but wins on backlit switches, easier screen adjustment and price.
Who is it for?
Riders who mostly stay on tarmac, cover big distances, often two-up, and want shaft drive, a huge range and a full spec sheet without an options list. If you genuinely ride off-road, the Rally Explorer makes more sense; if you don’t need 30 litres, the GT Pro is €1,400 cheaper. For something lighter and cheaper, look at the Tiger 900 GT Pro.
Specifications
| Displacement | 1160 cc |
|---|---|
| Power | 150 PS (147 hp, 110.4 kW) @ 9,000 rpm |
| Torque | 130 Nm @ 7,000 rpm |
| Weight | 255 kg wet (Triumph France; 256 kg with 90% fuel according to Triumph UK) |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 1.70 |
| Seat height | 850 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 30 L |
| Fuel consumption | 5.5 L/100 km (Triumph figure, Euro 5+) |
| Maintenance interval | Oil change every 16,000 km or 12 months — Valve clearances, spark plugs and air filter: 32,000 km (Triumph owner's handbook) |
| Engine type | Inline three-cylinder with T-plane crank (1-3-2 firing order), 4-stroke, DOHC, 12 valves, liquid-cooled |
| Cooling | liquide |
| Transmission | 6-speed, shaft drive, assist and slipper clutch |
| License | A |
| MSRP | €22,995 |
Engine detail
| Bore x stroke | 90 x 60,7 mm |
|---|---|
| Compression ratio | 13,2:1 |
| Fuel system | Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection, ride-by-wire throttle |
| Valve train | DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
| Max power RPM | 9000 units.rpm |
| Max torque RPM | 7000 units.rpm |
| Starter | Electric, keyless ignition |
| Euro standard | Euro 5+ |
Chassis & running gear
| Frame type | Tubular steel with forged aluminium outriggers, bolt-on aluminium rear subframe |
|---|---|
| Rake angle | 24 ° |
| Trail | 120 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1560 mm |
| Front suspension | 49 mm Showa upside-down fork, semi-active damping, 200 mm travel |
| Rear suspension | Showa semi-active monoshock, automatic electronic preload and Active Preload Reduction, 200 mm travel |
| Front brake | Twin 320 mm floating discs, Brembo M4.30 Stylema radial monobloc calipers, Magura HC1 radial master cylinder |
| Rear brake | Single 282 mm disc, Brembo single-piston caliper |
| Front tire | 120/70 R19 (Metzeler Tourance) |
| Rear tire | 150/70 R18 (Metzeler Tourance) |
| ABS system | Optimised cornering ABS (IMU) |
Electronics & rider aids
| Riding modes | Rain, Road, Sport, Off-Road, Rider |
|---|---|
| Traction control | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Two-way, standard (Triumph Shift Assist) |
| Cruise control | Yes (Conventional electronic cruise control, no front radar) |
| Dashboard | 7-inch colour TFT |
| Connectivity | My Triumph Bluetooth (phone, music, turn-by-turn navigation) |
| Other features | Continental rear radar: Blind Spot Assist and Lane Change Assist, Showa semi-active suspension, Active Preload Reduction (up to 20 mm lower at a stop), IMU (cornering ABS and traction control), Hill hold, Keyless ignition, steering lock and fuel cap, Tyre pressure monitoring, Heated grips and heated rider and pillion seats, Adaptive cornering lights and LED auxiliary lights, Centre stand, engine protection bars and sump guard |
Ergonomics & rider fit
| Riding position | Upright adventure-tourer: wide (849 mm) damped handlebar |
|---|---|
| Wind protection | One-hand adjustable screen, hand guards |
| Payload | 222 kg |
The GT Explorer offers an upright adventure-tourer position with an 849 mm-wide bar on damped mounts; according to the 2022 press kit it sits 16 mm higher than on the GT Pro. The seat adjusts between 850 and 870 mm, an accessory low seat takes off another 20 mm, and Active Preload Reduction can drop the rear by 20 mm at a standstill – most noticeably for a light solo rider (BikeSocial). Since 2024 the seat is flatter and the clutch lever 15 mm longer.
Despite its 30 litres, the tank doesn’t splay your legs, says MCN, because the extra volume was found in the middle. The screen adjusts with one hand (height without mirrors 1,436 to 1,497 mm) and hand guards are standard, although an owner interviewed by BikeSocial in 2023 complained of noise and buffeting. Grips and rider and pillion seats are heated, with separate settings. Maximum payload is 222 kg (rider, passenger, luggage and accessories), according to the handbook.
Ownership & maintenance
5.1 to 6.6 L/100 km (foreign press readings: MCN, BikeSocial, Moto.it)
L/100km
Real-world consumption
~~545 km (calculated: 30 L tank / Triumph's 5.5 L/100 km); about 480 km recorded by BikeSocial
km
Estimated range
| Oil change | every 16,000 km or every 12 months |
|---|---|
| Valve check | every 32,000 km |
| Spark plugs | every 32,000 km |
| Chain | Not applicable (shaft drive); final drive oil replaced at every 16,000 km service |
Average service cost
Not published in France; MCN quotes £300-400 for an annual UK service and over £1,000 for the 32,000 km service
Warranty
3 years / Unlimited mileage
Triumph’s owner’s handbook calls for a first service at 1,000 km or 6 months, then a service every year or every 16,000 km, with oil and filter and, at each mileage service, fresh final drive oil for the shaft. Valve clearances, camshaft timing, spark plugs and air filter are checked or replaced every 32,000 km, and fork oil at 64,000 km. Coolant is changed every four years, brake and clutch fluid every two. Shaft drive spares you chain maintenance.
MCN puts an annual service at £300-400 in the UK and the 32,000 km service at over £1,000; Triumph France publishes no prices. On reliability, MCN reports no widespread faults with this engine, launched in 2022, but mentions a hydraulic clutch that can need regular bleeding and isolated quickshifter, keyfob and dash faults. MCN also recalls that shaft drive was a weak point of older generations and was redesigned in 2022. Triumph France quotes a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
Direct competitors
Compare →| Model | MSRP | Power | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer | €22,995 | 150 PS (147 hp, 110.4 kW) @ 9,000 rpm | 255 kg wet (Triumph France; 256 kg with 90% fuel according to Triumph UK) |
| BMW R 1300 GS Adventure2026 | €23,900 | 145 hp | 269 kg (BMW unladen weight, ready to ride) |
| KTM 1390 Super Adventure S2026 | €21,149 | 173 hp | 227 kg (without fuel) |
| Ducati Multistrada V4 S2027 | €25,690 | 170 hp | 218 kg (dry) |
| Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports2026 | €18,599 | 102 hp | 243 kg (wet, manual gearbox) |
| Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special2026 | €20,800 | 150 hp | 263 kg (wet) |
Generations
- Tiger Explorer2012 – 2015
1,215 cc · 137 hp · 121 Nm · 259 kg (road-ready)
Launch of Triumph's big adventure bike: 1,215 cc triple, shaft drive, 20-litre tank, cruise control, ABS and traction control as standard; spoked-wheel XC version added in 2013.
- Tiger Explorer XR / XC2016 – 2017
1,215 cc · 139 hp · 123 Nm · —
Six XR (road) and XC (off-road) versions, livelier Euro 4 engine, semi-active suspension, cornering ABS and traction control depending on version.
- Tiger 1200 XR / XC2018 – 2021
1,215 cc · 141 hp · 122 Nm · 243 kg (dry)
Renamed Tiger 1200: up to 10 kg lighter, lighter flywheel, TFT dash and adaptive cornering lights on the top versions (weight: XRt).
- Tiger 1200 GT Explorer (1re version)2022 – 2023
1,160 cc · 150 hp · 130 Nm · 255 kg (road-ready)
All-new generation more than 25 kg lighter: 1,160 cc T-plane triple, new frame, Tri-Link swingarm, Brembo Stylema brakes and, on the Explorer, a 30-litre tank and blind-spot radar.
- Tiger 1200 GT Explorer (2024)2024 – today
1,160 cc · 150 hp · 130 Nm · 255 kg (road-ready)
Rebalanced engine and heavier crank (fewer vibes, less stalling), raised footpegs, flatter seat and Active Preload Reduction of up to 20 mm.
| Generation | Displacement | Power | Torque | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Explorer2012 – 2015 Launch of Triumph's big adventure bike: 1,215 cc triple, shaft drive, 20-litre tank, cruise control, ABS and traction control as standard; spoked-wheel XC version added in 2013. | 1,215 cc | 137 hp | 121 Nm | 259 kg road-ready |
| Tiger Explorer XR / XC2016 – 2017 Six XR (road) and XC (off-road) versions, livelier Euro 4 engine, semi-active suspension, cornering ABS and traction control depending on version. | 1,215 cc | 139 hp | 123 Nm | — |
| Tiger 1200 XR / XC2018 – 2021 Renamed Tiger 1200: up to 10 kg lighter, lighter flywheel, TFT dash and adaptive cornering lights on the top versions (weight: XRt). | 1,215 cc | 141 hp | 122 Nm | 243 kg dry |
| Tiger 1200 GT Explorer (1re version)2022 – 2023 All-new generation more than 25 kg lighter: 1,160 cc T-plane triple, new frame, Tri-Link swingarm, Brembo Stylema brakes and, on the Explorer, a 30-litre tank and blind-spot radar. | 1,160 cc | 150 hp | 130 Nm | 255 kg road-ready |
| Tiger 1200 GT Explorer (2024)2024 – today Rebalanced engine and heavier crank (fewer vibes, less stalling), raised footpegs, flatter seat and Active Preload Reduction of up to 20 mm. | 1,160 cc | 150 hp | 130 Nm | 255 kg road-ready |
Manufacturer figures (otherwise specialist press). Weighing conditions differ between generations: compare weights with care.
Available colors
Manufacturer recalls
The tyre can wear unevenly until its reinforcement breaks, risking partial tread separation or sudden air loss. Covers Tiger 1200 GT, GT Pro and GT Explorer models built from 17/08/2021 to 12/10/2024 (2022 to 2024 model years, possibly early 2025s), not the 2026; contact a dealer.
Voir le rappel →Pirelli tyre recall in the United States: the Metzeler Tourance Next 150/70 R18 fitted as original equipment to certain Triumphs (and replacement Tourance Next, Tourance Next II and Scorpion Trail II tyres) can wear unevenly and shed pieces of tread; tyres replaced free of charge.
Voir le rappel →