The idea behind the adventure motorcycle is to go on an adventure. We can do it locally, but when it is possible, the definition of the thing is to see and breathe “elsewhere”. The further away, the more exotic, the better. By choosing Morocco (just before the pandemic!) To launch its new Tiger 900, Triumph has therefore placed its products in a perfectly appropriate environment. From the chaotic traffic of Marrakech to the dusty little villages of the countryside passing by the beaches of the Atlantic, at least a thousand carts pulled by donkeys were encountered and double the friendly smiles, immediately returned. The only thing left to do was to collaborate on the experiment.
Two variations
To date, no manufacturer has come up with a single adventurer that satisfies all types of buyers. The problem is, these vary from dreamers who mostly ride on the road to maniacs who live to cover themselves in mud. The solution that many manufacturers choose is to offer a pair of variants sharing the same base. This is the case at Triumph, where the new Tiger 900 GT favors the road while the Rally is designed for off-road riding. The GT is offered in three versions (base, GT and GT Pro) and the Rally in two (Rally and Rally Pro).
The GT
Do you need an adventurer if you rarely get off paved roads? As with an SUV, the real answer includes a long talk about the high practicality of these vehicles in everyday use and concludes that adventurers are ultimately better on the road than on the road. Thus, although it is not designed to ride aggressively on the trail (it can still do so at moderate pace), the GT displays very good qualities on the road. High enough to allow the pilot to see above all the cars except, ironically, the large SUVs, it is pleasantly easy to handle.
An advantageous nature
With suspensions flexible enough to ensure good comfort, regardless of the road conditions, the GT is built around a narrow and solid chassis allowing it to knit the urban environment with confidence as well as to attack a road. winding with vigor. Its medium size and 900 cc three-cylinder strike an enviable balance between performance and reasonable weight. As the saddle is not extraordinarily high, a motorcyclist of medium height and ability quickly feels comfortable in it and ultimately only sins with a seat that is a little too thin and by a mechanism that vibrates too high. diet.
The Rally
The formula which leads to an adventurer with good road handling is now well established. The case of adventurers who are exceptional in off-road driving is quite different, however, since only a handful of models really do. The trap in which even the best manufacturers often fall comes down to the heavy weight brought by the large displacement which many motorcyclists find still and always more desirable than a small cubic capacity. Triumph succumbed to the temptation by increasing its Tiger from 800 to 900 cc, but the manufacturer even lowered the weight slightly.
Exceptional mud version
The main reason why the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally can be described as exceptional in terms of mud / sand / rocks version is however the excellent performance of its suspensions with very long travel. They show a rare ability to swallow just about anything thrown at them when riding off-road, even if the speed is quite high. We can therefore drive it rather aggressively on the trail without always worrying about the next hole or stone. The other side of the coin is a very high saddle, but road handling is however pleasantly unaffected.
Conclusion
Triumph gave birth to two very good motorcycles with this pair of Tiger 900s. However, in a market where adventurers are multiplying, standing out becomes difficult. This reality affects the GT variant which ultimately struggles to justify the some $ 19,000 for its Pro livery, the most desirable. Nice manners or not, that’s a lot. At $ 20,000, the Rally Pro is definitely not cheap either, far from it. But it does at least have the advantage of standing out by offering some of the more refined off-road handling in these weird full-size motorcycles intended for mud eaters.
Technical sheet
Brand: Triumph
Models: Tiger 900 / GT / GT Pro / Rally / Rally Pro
Price: 14 100/16 400/18 900/17 300/19 800 $
Warranty: 2 years / unlimited mileage
Engine: Liquid-cooled 888cc inline three-cylinder
Transmission: 6-speed, final chain drive
Weight: dry 192/194/198/196/201 kg
Front brake: 2 discs with 4 piston calipers and ABS
Rear brake: 1 disc with 1 piston caliper and ABS
Front tire: 100 / 90-19 (GT) / 90 / 90-21 (Rally)
Rear tire: 150/70 R17
Bertrand Gahel is the author of Guide de la moto .
Transportation and accommodation costs were paid by Triumph.
