TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 (2006 - 2012) Review

Version: kbelgum@gmail.com

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £1,200

My 2012 1050 SE is now 12 years old but I still love it. Very comfortable. Lovely engine. More power than I ever need. Nice planted road presence. I will never sell it. I think it is gorgeous (red), and prefer it to the more chunky, fussier, transformer-ish look of later models. Things to think about: (i) It is a bit heavy and can feel top heavy in the parking lot (but not on the road), (ii) Windscreen is set low. I added a winglet atop mine which helps a lot, Still, it is not the fabled "bubble of calm." (iii) the 2012 SE was given slightly lower handlebars which gave it a slightly canted forward position, which was done to make it feel sportier. I added an I inch handlebar riser to make mine more comfortable for longer trips. A good change. (iv) It came with lovely matching hard cases.. They are a tad small, but fine. (iv) Compared to modern bikes it is very low on tech. I even had to add heated grips. No tech at all, really, aside from ABS. Cable throttle, no "riding modes." Suspension adjusts manually with a screwdriver. Honestly, to me all that is plus. It feels like an honest, old school bike. But that is a matter of taste and others are free to disagree. (v) Probably a few percent less comfortable ergonomics for a long trip compared to a BMW GS. But a lot more fun to ride. Since I do more two sweeping lane asphalt miles than interstate highway (intentionally) it is definitely the better choice for me. But I have also taken it on some very long trips on it and it has been very good. If you are looking for a used fun touring bike and can find one in good shape, consider it!

Buying experience: Privately, one year old with 3,000 miles on it.

Version: 1050SE ABS

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £150

This bike does it very well, the best I've owned after 40 years of riding. I tour Europe with my wife with full OEM luggage. Go out for a blast with mates and even use it for training as I'm an instructor. I ride it all year. Powerful and handles good. You cannot beat the triple engine, best engine configuration for a motorcycle engine. In short its awesome. Its got 25k on the clock and looks like new.

Buying experience: I bought it from a dealer 250 miles away. They sent me a video of it with commentary. It was a minter with 4k on the clock. Sell price was 7k I i paid 6.7k in January. This is a SE so is fully spec'd up with OEM luggage in pearl white. I had no issues with bike or dealer.

Version: Non ABS

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £140

Good all rounder.

Buying experience: Dealer. £4,995, paid £4,750, including p/x

Year: 2009

Annual servicing cost: £100

Nothing about the bike, she was just amazing ... I’d like to sing the praises of the TrakKing (Scorpion) tracker that was fitted. Local buggers had Kylie (the tiger) away at 0336 from outside my house, at 0338 I was being awakened by the TrakKing call centre calling to alert me of “ unusual activity with no ignition on”. By the time I got off the phone to police with a crime number and the call centre began to liaise with the police Kylie was a mere four miles away. The police were able to be directed straight to her and actually chased the thieves. I was back on her at 0455. She was in a right state, ragged and crashed...fair amount of damage but that’s another chapter. This is all about the Scorpion tracker that ultimately had the bike back within an hour n a half. Cannot praise it enough.

Version: Abs

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £80

It just does everything well , no fuss , just oil and filter every year . It's the most underrated bike ever

Version: 1050 Caspian blue

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £80

Engine is glorious handles well very comfortable great 2 up rear brakes could be better

Buying experience: Very pleased with purchase from dealer £3495

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £400

excellent ride position handling good . Poor build quality . Yes I would recommend to a friend

Buying experience: Bought from a dealer paid £6000.00

Version: 2018 TIGER SPORT

Year: 2006

ENGINE LOW DOWN TORQUE,HANDLING,BUILD QUALITY ARE THE GOOD BITS,WORST BIT ON THIS MODEL WHICH I ALSO EXPERIENCED ON THE OLDER TIGER SE IS THE SCREEN IN A WORD RUBBISH!,MRA X SCREEN FIXED THE PROBLEM.

Buying experience: PAID 11,200 FROM MAIN DEALER WITH HEATED GRIPS AND CENTRE STAND ADDED.

Year: 2010

Very good for covering serious miles with a powerful but relaxed engine happy to cruise along at low revs but willing to dramatically pick up the pace with a twist of the throttle. Seating position is high and upright so again very good for long spells in the saddle. Handling is subject to soft rear suspension and a top heavy feel which makes it feel less nimble than it maybe should.

Buying experience: Bought new from a Triumph dealer and at the time it was a very straight forward process. They have since however introduced a 15GBP charge if you want to test ride a new bike - yes thats correct. Consequently I've just replaced the Tiger but went elsewhere.

Year: 2007

Excellent bike, comfortable, as with any bike, once you sort out your sag and set up suspension it is all good, takes a while to get used to the riding position. iv'e done the air box mod, K&N Filter, Delkevic 450mm exhaust and 20545 Map. goes like hell from the off! I own k4 gixxer 1000/ Tuono R/Fazer thou modded to 140bhp and believe me this tiger will keep up with any of them to around 80mph now, brilliant handling once correct tire pressures are set 36f 42r (big lad) wind buffeting is zero with Puig touring screen and i am 6 foot 3, brakes could be better but will bleed and change pads to EBC soon, Factory heated grips are a nice touch and the extra chunky grips work for me as i have large hands. i have had 100mph in third no problem and stock gearing, (Private runway) maintenance is a pleasure on this bike when you take the patience to remove various panels to get to the plugs/air box, all in all great package and with tweaks mentioned above is a real keeper, don't go out buying the best suspension going, get someone to set it up with original and try first before wasting ££££££

Buying experience: Total pleasure, was not looking for this bike at all but saw it in a garage, Black and gold colour, loved the look, sat on it then realised it was a Tiger! Gobsmacked, I took for ride and bought straight away... it's not an old mans bike' at all, i'm only 45yrs and I race bikes (amateur) have 8 bikes in garage and this one takes pride of place between Fazer1000/Gixxer1000 and my Tuono R, will wheelie in third gear now ;-)))

Version: SE

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £150

Spend time getting to know its character. It's not something to just jump on .

Buying experience: Dealer ex demo.

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £100

Best bike I've owned, the engine is smooth and pulls from 25 mph in top gear, the gearbox can be clunky but there's so much torque you don't need to use the gearbox a lot, the riding position is comfortable all day long, I get 53mpg and a 220+ mile tank range, the headlight is poor but can be swapped for the better Tiger Sport headlight which is much better, Triumph panniers are ugly, heavy and small so you need to pack light if you plan touring, done 3 European tours and managed though. I'd love a button on the dash to control the dash, it's a bit of a stretch to the dash so you can't scroll through the dash info on the move, and the std heated bar switch is in the most stupid place! apart from those little niggles I love the bike.

Year: 2010

Great engine, whatever the gear just open the throttle to go, drop down a gear and it takes off with the front end just lightening a tad in the lower gears. Two up is a doddle and the handling sure and predictable - so much better than my earlier Tiger 855! One small issue is the screen - at 6ft tall my helmet was in the dirty air and at speed the wind made my helmet lift and wobble. A MRA Vario screen solved these problems. Riding position is ideal, 250 miles in a day no problem - comfortable and no sore wrists.

Buying experience: Pidcock Triumph in Nottingham were excellent - sorted a few niggles after the test ride and kept in touch to ensure I was happy with the (2nd hand) purchase.

Version: Se

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £150

On my second one what more can I say !!!!

Buying experience: Bought from Stratstone Triumph in Wolverhampton had good ps with my 2007 Tiger cost me 2 grand to change very happy.

Version: 2007

Year: 2007

As an everday vehicle to get from A to B it's great. Very reliable with decent if unexciting power. I think for a non-motorcycle enthusiast it's just peachy. If you love to ride and have tasted the fruits of a fire breathing Italian or other bike with lots of personality, you're going to be bored to death.

Version: SE

Year: 2012

Best feature is the equipment level, the SE Spec is a great all round package.

Buying experience: Bought the bike from a local dealer, 3yrs old and 8k on the clock, it was in mint condition. Got what I wanted for my old bike and the deal was done. Very pleased.

Version: SE

Year: 2009

Annual servicing cost: £150

Very comfortable, engine is torquey, sweet and smooth. Great riding position, handling good for a bike of this size. Best on an open road

Buying experience: Purchased from Triumph dealer when bike was 4 years old. £4000 less than price of a new one so paid £6250 in Aug 2013 because it had sat in the showroom for 3 years before that. Only had 700 miles on clock so looked new still

Version: SE

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £140

Absolutely love it. It has some character and is stunning!

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £100

This bike has been the best bike Ive owned, comfortable all day on tour, no stress on the triple at 70mph, mpg avg 50-55, dependable in all catagories.

I've had two Tiger 1050s. Bought the first after going to test ride a Sprint ST, dealer suggested I try the Tiger as well, loved it! The triple engine has plenty of poke for road use, loads of torque, very smooth and easy to use. With the air box opened up, a performance air filter, aftermarket exhaust and remap (very cheap and easy to do as the ECU can be remapped without using a powercommander or similar) there is noticeably more power and even smoother delivery. The suspension is OK but not brilliant, I've replaced it with Ohlins and it now handles brilliantly. The projector headlights are very weak so HID upgrades or additional spots are a must. Very comfortable for long distances, nimble enough to chuck around in the twisties or take on track, enough power to keep up with almost anything on real-life roads, what's not to like!

Bought the tiger after my old Sprint was written off. AWESOME bike, engine sounds wonderful and pulls easily. Handles brilliantly and is easily thrown into bends. Feels very planted even in the rain. Looking forward to taking it to the Stelvio. This bike is brilliant.Best of british....!

Only been an owner for a week and 600 miles but so far so good. Had a niggly issue with the steering stem top nut being loose and also another fairing bolt was starting to depart but I guess this is new bike stuff that gets sorted at the first service and as things bed in. It's a real riders bike in my opinion, the wide bars make it a joy to push down into corners, like a bit supermoto ... the characterful (but not harsh) triple engine eggs you on. The ride quality is fine and has to be a compromise on our potholed roads - in my opinion it is just right, soft enough for the potholes and firm enough for the smooth stuff. There is a lot of fork travel which takes getting used to when heavy braking. Best to sort out any braking before the corner and then it will track a very nice line - otherwise the geometry changes significantly mid corner and things get more interesting. I think it could be the ultimate fast, twisty B-road toy (which is saying something as I run a Bandit 1250 Streetfighter as well) with also very good long distance ability (with an after market screen as the standard job is poor - lots of wind noise - I fitted an MRA Vario which is better). Fuel economy is adequate but a shame it isn't 50MPG rather than the 42-43MPG I am getting at the moment. Fully run-in it may make it better. Only other gripes are the too short chain guard (chain oil flicks up onto the sub frame fairing) and the quite APPALLING headlight(s). Dipped at night is just plain dangerous, full does not change a thing. Try harder Triumph! My Bandit with standard single 7" headlight is far superior. But, I still love it for the riding experience so will forgive it! (ooh, the dipstick for the oil rather than a sight glass is fiddly - having a sight glass it just so simple and useful). Cheers.

Had my Tiger since May 2010. Its a 2009 with 8000 miles on the clock. What a bike ! Last year, 2 up luggaged up to the hilt, tour of northern France ! Superb, never missed a beat ! This year, right through France, Pyrenees in to Spain ! Superb, never missed a beat ! It really is a silky smooth ride, comfortable seat, £20 for a full tank and easily does 60+ to the gallon, not 40 as described in MCN review. Panniers are poor, useless if the truth is known. Its by far the best bike I have had, it looks great, pulls like a train, just a great all rounder in any weather. I have called him 'Alfie the mile muncher' cos thats exactly what he does ! Apart from the panniers, its a superb bike !! Go out and get one, you won't be disappointed with this british beauty ! Ride safe and live the dream !

The Tiger 1050 is an excellent all-rounder. The performance, ride and handling are all very satisfactory for leisure, touring and commuting. My only gripe is that the panniers are pathetically small. They do not even fit my helmet. Triumph should at least offer an optional "touring luguage" option.

Had my Tiger for about a week now, and what can i say!! its awesome, absolutly brilliant, if you are reading this now and trying to convince yourself to trade in that sportsbike then do not be afraid!!! unless you really do need that ego trip the superbike gives you?? Ive just got rid of a 2008 R1, set up all round, good bike but just too focused really, ive had sportsbikes for ten years, sick of them now, defo gonna have more fun on my tiger!! i can feel it in my bones...and at the end of the day, ive still got a 600 track bike if i wanna be a hero!! So go do it!! buy one!!

Well ive had my tiger now for nearly two years. Faults to report none!!.Ive covered now well over 10k,hammered the tiger over many alps passes,done stelvio,col de bonette,riding with other guys on various sports bikes.Keep yor blades,zx10 etc etc i know who had the biggest smile of all when he got to the top,or the bottom for that matter.It handles albeit when set up right,bangon.Brakes are tremendous.As well as the triples motor goes,it has to be the best combination of any bike ive had,and ive had a few!!.The delivery say a through a slow to medium pace bend is spot on,do that on a sportsbike and all you will see is the a=== end of the tiger,it blasts out bends,and keeps on going.Ok beyond a ton the sportsbike has got you beat,but hey real world riding and all that.The tiger has em beat for sure.For a tall adventure bike for now the tiger is the ultimate all rounder by far,love it ooh and you can keep your new multistrada thanks had one,and hardly ever started,ducatis you can kep em,ktm smt great bike but that saddle!!!,bmw gs!! err yeh right.get one it will not dissapoint.

just great at anything

45 days and 3100 miles! - 500 miles in the first week then the last week was over 1500 miles fo rthe Ulster Grand Prix (wet everyday) The bike has performed on my own and two up brilliantly. Not a foot wrong - I did stiffen the front and rear and it seems to do the trick though it still dives a bit too much for me. Scrapped both footpegs with ease (I don't go daft) the bike just inspires confidence. It is a comfortable mile munching, touring machine which gives pleasure everytime I ride it. Just need to get a few more horses form the airbox and after market can. BUY ONE and enjoy every minute - it handles like a sports bike with the comfort of a trail bike.

Had the bike for 2 weeks and racked up 1000 miles already. Comfy, quick enough for what it is and handles well. A real giggle on the twisty stuff at sensible speeds and great on long journeys !

This is my 4th triumph and things just get better and better. Bought the tiger to take things a bit easier as I am getting to old to go scratching with the young uns,but once it was run in I was suprised how good it was.The only niggle I have is with that damn fuel guage not reading correct after it goes below the 50mile mark,so come on Triumph get it sorted. If you push hard enough you can find it starts to get a bit bouncy but I guess its the nature of having more than 2 inches of travel, riden normally you find it economical comfortable and great fun.Seat hight wise I'm a bit dumpy at 5,6" so its a bit tall but due to being so well ballanced its not to much trouble just beware of cambers.

We all hope to own a bike that makes a great impression......I've owned a few but none of them made such a huge and positive......and lasting one. Other than getting used to the seat height this machine is a dream...........handles well, comfortable all day, perfect engine and gearbox.....I could just go on and on. I've owned sportier bikes with higher top speeds and decided that's not what it is for me..........but doing the quiet roads is more enjojable on this than on more focussed bikes. I feel more assured, particularly mid corner and the engine has more than enough to get out the other side. And with the height and riding position you're not hell bent on doing warp speeds every time you turn out and can even see a bit more around you than just a thin ribbon of tarmac. I love it and that won't change!!!