Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro Review: The Ultimate Adventure Touring Motorcycle with Street Precision
The last time I rode a Triumph Tiger 1200, I found myself in a standoff with a moose — a surreal reminder of just how wild and unpredictable true adventure riding can be. A decade later, I’m once again behind the bars of the 2023 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro, this time exploring a refined machine packed with cutting-edge technology and upgraded performance features.
Adventure Touring Meets Modern Technology
For 2023, the Triumph Tiger 1200 lineup includes four distinct models:
- Tiger 1200 GT Pro – Designed for premium on-road touring with a 20L fuel tank.
- Tiger 1200 GT Explorer – Built for long-distance urban adventure, offering a larger 30L fuel tank.
- Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer – Rugged and off-road ready with a 30L tank and advanced protection.
- Tiger 1200 Rally Pro – Off-road capable with a 20L tank and aggressive terrain features.
The GT Pro stands out with a lean, road-focused design, while the Rally variants feature a more aggressive stance, larger front wheels, spoked rims, skid plates, and additional protection — ideal for off-pavement exploration.
Comfort and Connectivity
The Tiger 1200 GT Pro features a redesigned, adjustable seat (with 10mm of vertical travel), narrowing toward the tank to improve rider confidence and foot reach. From the moment you straddle the bike, comfort and control are apparent.
Keyless ignition enhances convenience, while the 7-inch full-color TFT display adds a premium feel. With My Triumph Connectivity, riders can easily access phone calls, music, turn-by-turn navigation, and even GoPro controls, all via handlebar-mounted buttons.
Five customizable ride modes — Sport, Road, Rain, Off-Road, and Rider — allow complete control over throttle response, traction control, cornering ABS, and suspension settings. The Showa semi-active suspension with 200mm travel adjusts on-the-fly to suit solo or two-up riding and varying terrain.
Rider Aids and Touring Comforts
The Triumph Shift Assist (quick-shifter) enables clutchless up and down gear changes, reducing rider fatigue on long journeys. Add in cruise control, heated grips, and hill-hold braking, and you have a motorcycle built for serious touring comfort — especially when navigating traffic, hills, or colder climates.
Engine and Performance
The 2023 model year brings a major performance boost with a new 1,160cc T-plane inline-Triple engine, producing an impressive 148 horsepower and 96 lb-ft of torque. The updated engine delivers smooth low-end torque with powerful mid-to-high RPM performance — ideal for both highway cruising and technical riding.
Despite being a large-capacity adventure bike, the Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro is notably agile, thanks to a 55-pound weight reduction and refined chassis design. In city riding, you may not shift past second gear due to its strong low-end pull, and it handles highway acceleration with effortless speed.
Tires and Wheels
The 2023 Tiger 1200 GT Pro rolls off the line with Metzeler Tourance tires—120/70‑19 upfront and 150/70‑18 out back—tailored for road‑focused adventure touring. These are preferred by buyers for their dependable grip, confident cornering, and reassuring stability in varied conditions. Considering this is a capable off-road motorcycle, my initial thought was the tires should be a bit beefier as they appear to be street focused as opposed to dual sport. Many owners opt for the Metzeler Tourance (80/20) alternatives, which offer enhanced off‑road confidence and reduced vibration—making them a popular upgrade for those venturing beyond purely paved surfaces
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love this bike. As I ride solo most of the time, I am not certain I would need all the power the 1200 offers and would probably be just happy on a 900. Stay tuned for that ride.
The Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro blends long-distance touring capability with everyday usability and cutting-edge technology. If you plan to ride two-up, with full luggage, navigating city streets, taking on logging roads, or preparing for cross-country exploration, this adventure touring motorcycle offers unmatched comfort, power, and control.
