The Triumph Tiger is a motorcycle steeped in adventure biking heritage that remains as relevant today as it was back in 1973 when Ted Simon set off around the world on one, a journey that would later be immortalised in his iconic travelogue, Jupiter’s Travels.
Since then, the Tiger in its many forms has provided the perfect platform for generations of bikers to strike out and explore the world on two wheels. And now, for 2024, Triumph has released three updated versions of its mid-size Tiger 900 model to help you fulfil your adventure biking dreams.
To see if the new bikes live up to the prestigious Tiger name, we travelled to Spain to put them through their paces. You’ll be able to read a full review of that test in the March/April 2024 issue of Adventure Bike Rider magazine.
But in the meantime, we asked ABR’s bike tester Julian to tell us his main takeaways from riding the new bikes on the myriad of twisting roads and rugged trails located in the hills outside Malaga.
And he was mightily impressed with the latest generation of Tigers. Here’s what Julian had to say…
7. Streamlined offer
Back in 2020, when Triumph first released the Tiger 900, the bike came in five variants, each boasting different levels of specs and on or off-road prowess. While this undoubtedly provided prospective customers with plenty of choice, it was arguably more than was needed and was ultimately a little confusing.
So, for 2024, Triumph has streamlined the range, now offering three models: the entry point Tiger 900 GT, the higher spec 900 GT Pro, and the rufty-tufty 900 Rally Pro. The bikes with GT in the name are the road-focused models, while the Rally Pro comes fully equipped for the most rugged of trail riding adventures.
6. Sharper looks
Triumph has also treated the 2024 Tiger to sharper and sleeker bodywork and a new flatter saddle, the contours sweeping from a tank pad back to the stepped pillion seat.
The changes are not massive, but combined with the familiar beak and naturally aggressive stance, the new Tiger looks fresh and cool. In fact, it’s a fantastic-looking adventure bike, especially combined with those long golden Showa forks sparkling away at the front on the Rally Pro model.
5. More power
Straight away, the bike feels substantially smoother yet more punchy than the outgoing Tiger 900 model. The liquid-cooled, 888cc inline triple has received a performance upgrade that has made the bike so much more usable and enjoyable.
All this work adds up to an impressive 13% hike in the Tiger’s power, taking it from 92bhp up to 106bhp, with 90Nm of torque. And boy, does it feel it.
At the lower rev ranges, the bike feels much smoother yet more urgent than the previous model. At the top end, it’s even more pronounced, with the changes also managing to remove the slightly vibey feel of the previous triple engine, which still features Triumph’s T-plane crank design that makes the three-cylinder engine feel and perform more like a twin.
4. Better fuel efficiency
If you thought the increase in power would mean less economy and more pollution, then you’d be wrong. At the same time as hiking the power by 13%, the fuel efficiency has gone up by 9% and the bike’s emissions down by 9%, giving the new Tiger 900 a theoretical 265-mile range from the 20l tank. That’s more than enough for touring.
3. Fully equipped for road tours
All three new versions of the Tiger 900 would make for an excellent long-distance road tourer, but if you’re sticking to the tarmac, the GT models, with their slightly better road handling, will make the best choice.
The new rider seat and dampened handlebars provide more comfort in the saddle over long distances, and Triumph offers a low seat option that takes it down to 800mm, making the Tiger more accessible than ever for shorter riders.
But the Rally Pro is no slouch on the road either, and if you’re a taller rider, it’s 860/880mm seat height would better suit you, so make sure you test ride all the variants.
2. Great value for money
Triumph has equipped and priced the 2024 Tigers to offer good value for money, with the GT coming it at £12,195, the GT Pro at £13,895, and the Tiger 900 Rally costing £14,495. In fact, the new GT models haven’t increased in price from last year, and the Rally Pro has only gone up £300.
And boy, you get a lot of equipment for your money. The new 7” TFT is a feast for the eyes, and the USB-C charging port on the dash allows you to keep your phone charged as it connects to the bike via Bluetooth.
Depending on what model you opt for, you also get heated grips and seats, a quickshifter, cornering ABS and traction control, backlit controls, tyre pressure monitoring, and more.
1. A joy on the trails
Off road, the Tiger 900 proves to be every bit as enjoyable as the previous model. Stood on the pegs and sweeping through the trails, the Rally Pro has an easy and neutral balance, making it easy to go as fast as you dare on the dirt.
Triumph has not touched the chassis and suspension, and this is a good thing as the bike has always felt far more lively and flickable than a 900cc bike should be. The more responsive and smoother motor simply enhances this further.
The 2024 Triumph Tiger 900
After riding the 2024 Tiger 900 models in Spain, we can safely say all three richly deserve to bear the iconic Tiger name on their fairings.
Triumph has taken what were already very capable adventure bikes and enhanced their performance and comfort to create exceptional motorcycles. The only question you need to ask yourself is where will you travel first on your Tiger 900?
To find out more about the 2024 Tiger 900 range, head over to Triumph’s website HERE, or head down to your local Triumph dealership for a test ride.
In the meantime, here’s a video of the new bikes in action to whet your appetite.