Triumph India will launch the new Tiger 900 range in April 2020. The all-new Triumph Tiger 900 will replace the Tiger 800, an immensely successful adventure-tourer that sold in large numbers in our country. It goes without saying then that the new Tiger 900 definitely has its work cut out. The new Tiger is available in the road-biased, GT version and the off-road-focused Rally version. The top variant in both the GT and the Rally trims get the ‘Pro’ suffix and this is the version that Triumph India will introduce. The company may also introduce the mid-spec versions of the Tiger 900 GT and Rally to ensure the bike starts at a competitive price point. We expect new Tiger 900 prices to start at about Rs 60,000-1 lakh higher than the outgoing Tiger 800.
The Triumph Tiger 900 is a completely new motorcycle, featuring a new design, chassis, suspension and motor. The engine, in fact, is one of the biggest highlights of the new Tiger 900, as we discovered during our first ride experience in Morocco. The 888cc, inline-triple features a new 1-3-2 firing order and off-set crank that produces a distinct sound, along with a twin-cylinder-like character in the lower-end of the rev range. This is without sacrificing the top -end power. The engine is 2.5kg lighter than the Tiger 800’s engine and produces 93.9hp at 8,750rpm and 87Nm at 7,250rpm. The engine has notably better mid-range grunt too, lending it good tractability.
The GT Pro and Rally Pro get IMU-assisted electronics, cornering ABS, traction control and riding modes. These include Rain, Road, Sport, Off-road and Rider (which is customisable). The Rally Pro has an additional Rally Pro mode that turns off ABS and traction control, enabling the rider to slide the bike.
The new Tiger looks fresh and purposeful thanks to the new face, narrow fuel tank and exposed subframe. The latter, is a bolt-on unit that is not only lighter, but also easier to replace in the event of a severe crash. Due to the new frame, the engine sits forward and slightly lower, at 42mm. This, however, hasn’t taken a toll on the ground clearance as Triumph has managed to develop a smaller oil sump. The cooling system has also been optimised and the new split radiator is said to be designed to do a better job of deflecting engine heat away from the rider’s leg. The Tiger 900 GT Pro and Rally Pro also get a new 7.0-inch TFT instrument panel with Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. In addition, heated seats (rider + pillion) and heated grips are also available as standard.
The GT Pro uses adjustable Marzocchi suspension at both ends, with the rear monoshock featuring electronic damping and preload adjustment. The Rally Pro, on the other hand, features fully-adjustable suspension (by Showa) with longer travel at either end. It also gets tubeless wire-spoke rims that were missing on the Tiger 800 XC line. The brakes too have been upgraded to larger, 320mm discs and new Brembo Stylema calipers.
The new Triumph Tiger 900 goes up against the Honda Africa Twin, BMW 750/ 850 GS and Ducati Multistrada 950.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
