Triumph Tiger 1050 SE 2011 Review

The Tiger 1050 SE has evolved into a far different creature from the dual-purpose workhorse it started out as.

There's a couple of very good reasons for that — the road/trial 800cc Tiger which is a joy in either guise and the soon-to-be-launched 1200cc competitor to BMW's ground-breaking GS models.

That left the 1050cc model in the middle of a segment sandwich. The solution was to stiffen the suspension, add a few trick bits and transform the bike into a quick and comfortable sports tourer.

VALUE

The SE will sell for $16,490 and differs from the outgoing model with its hand guards (given the lack of bush focus, they're mainly for looks but do insulate the fingers on long rides), a gel seat, ABS brakes and a centrestand as standard kit. It also comes with color-coded hard panniers with a 43kg luggage capacity.

Competition includes the 1250cc Suzuki Bandit, Honda's 800cc CrossTourer and the Yamaha TDM900, none of which come standard with panniers.

TECHNOLOGY

The big-bore triple cylinder is in its fifth generation in Tiger guise and is a deceptively quick unit. Acceleration doesn't feel as quick as the speedo shows it to be, which is down to the refined nature of the engine. The suspension has come in for some attention, with revised internals making it a much more competent bike when pushed on the tarmac.

STYLING

The Tiger runs a half fairing with a windscreen that looks good and works. It is a more aggressive looking bike than its obvious rivals, unless you count Ducati's MultiStrada, but the ride position is comfortable enough to cruise for hours. The lowered handlebar position that limits its off-road usefulness makes it ideal for long rides.

The panniers look integrated with the rest of the bike and are easy to attach and remove and — once you're used to it — easy to swing a leg over when climbing on and off the bike.

SAFETY

The Tiger is the latest bike to pick up ABS sensor rings inside the brake discs. It is a logical move on a machine like this, which is capable of very quick speeds over rutted and potholed roads. The fact they didn't activate despite a reasonably rapid ride along a rain-soaked Great Ocean Road shows that the threshold is high enough most riders will only feel it when they need it.

RIDING

This is a Tiger that's at home on the back roads. Highways and freeways are fine, they're just not as much fun when you're riding a bike that soaks up bigger hits than the local drunk but without affecting its balance.

Any corner signposted from 30-70km/h is the natural hunting ground of this machine and the more broken the surface, the better it will cope against the opposition.

The engine starts to sing after 4000 rpm and the Tiger lopes along at legal highway speed. Pillion riding can make it feel a little top heavy, especially for small riders who will struggle to plant both feet from the 835mm seat.

VERDICT

The Tiger makes much more sense as a sports tourer than as a dual purpose machine and the suspension tuning gives it a civility on the road few bikes will better. Toss in ABS brakes and great build quality and it's a lot of bike for the price.

AT A GLANCE

Triumph Tiger 1050 SE

Engine: 1050cc in-line three-cylinder 85kW/98Nm
Transmission: Six-speed, chain-drive
Seat height: 835mm
Fuel tank: 20 litres
Brakes: Dual 320mm front discs with Nissin four-piston calipers, 255mm rear disc with Nissin twin-piston caliper
Suspension: Showa 43mm inverted forks with preload, rebound and compression damping, rear Showa monoshock with preload and rebound adjustment
Weight: 245kg
Warranty: Two years, unlimited km