Triumph teases 2018 Tiger range

Triumph loves a ‘teaser’ video, and it’s up to it again by leaking bits and pieces about its new 2018 Tiger range, which is set to be announced at the 2017 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan on November 7.

Words and phrases like “transformed”, “new engine” and “new technology” are included in the teaser video, with the updated range set to include both the 800 and 1200cc configurations of the adventure bikes.

We’re also hearing the ‘Explorer’ part of the 1200cc naming convention will be ditched, while the comprehensive mix of on- and off-road biased models will continue to be offered to customers, included low ride height options.

We’re unsure of how comprehensive the “new engine” part of the Tiger equation will be. We know the triples will be Euro 4 compliant, but whether they will produce more torque and horsepower remains to be seen.

The bikes are expected to receive the new TFT dash found on the Street Triple R and RS – joystick-controlled, too – and we’re also hearing whispers about bigger screens, adaptive cornering headlights, updated suspension and revised electronics.

Bikesales first rode the 1200 Explorer in 2012 at the local media launch – an epic ride from Adelaide to Uluru. There’s been a minor update since, but the Achilles heel has always been its hefty weight, as we found out recently on our big-bore adventure bike comparo. Superb performance has never been an issue for the machine, though…

To that end, there’s no doubt Triumph will have worked hard at lopping the kilograms, while an update for the 800cc range comes at just the right time with KTM looking to enter the middleweight adventure space at any time – alongside the existing presence from BMW.

We’ll know the full Tiger details in one week.