Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro: First Ride Review

The Visuals

The Tiger 900 Rally Pro looks imposing with a menacing front section sporting a sharp beak and muscular body panels. The exposed chassis tubes make it look industrial and add to its purposeful stance while the big bash plate and upswept exhaust further speak of its ADV intentions. While the road-biased GT Pro is too compact for its class, the Rally Pro appears properly sizeable with its long-travel suspension and 21-inch front wheel.

Typical of Triumph, the build quality is top notch and the fit and finish evoke admiration. It’s only the windscreen which, while riding the bike on rough roads or off-road, keeps shaking and rattling thereby taking away from the premium feel to some extent.

The Package

The Tiger 900’s updated 888cc, inline triple engine with T-plane crank gets a host of internal changes. This results in higher compression, marginally higher torque output of 90Nm and considerably higher power output at 106.5bhp. To reduce vibrations, Triumph has also dampened the handlebar and added more cushion to the seat.

The thicker seat cushioning also contributes to enhanced comfort, as do its flatter design and repositioned handlebar. The seat height of the Rally Pro can be adjusted to 860mm or 880mm through an under-seat adjuster.

The Rally Pro rides on a 21-17-inch cross spoke wheels with Bridgestone Battlax Adventure tyres. Showa’s 45mm USD forks and a monoshock handle suspension duties with the front being fully adjustable and the rear being preload and rebound adjustable. Stopping power comes from a pair of floating discs with Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers up front and a single rotor with sliding caliper at the rear.

Feature-wise, it is quite loaded as you get a bi-directional quick shifter, multiple riding modes, multi-level traction control, ABS modes, cruise control, TPMS, heated seats, and heated grips. All the information is displayed on a large seven-inch TFT screen which is profoundly laggy in nature. From booting up to responding to your inputs, everything happens at a very slow pace which might get annoying. What’s thoughtful is an easy adjustment (manual) provision for windscreen and a slot to store your smartphone under the pillion seat while charging it.

The Ride

The Tiger 900 Rally Pro is tall and getting aboard could be a hassle for shorter riders. But on the bike, getting your feet on the ground is not challenging and the overall riding position is upright and commanding. The handlebar is wide and the seat can accommodate even the largest of individuals. Plus, the cushioning is good enough to keep you pampered from dawn to dusk.

The engine of the Tiger is truly a treat to operate. There’s a clean pull right from 2,000rpm which keeps on getting stronger as the revs climb. Get past 5,000rpm and the Tiger turns wild and blasts ahead with a lot of urgency. The strong pull continues almost till the rev ceiling. Stay anywhere above 5,000rpm and it is ready to charge ahead like a hungry predator. All of this unfolds with the engine sounding bonkers, howling angrily in the higher revs and letting out a deep rumble in the low-end.

Dealing with city traffic is no hassle, thanks to the engine being tractable enough to chug along at 60kmph in sixth gear. While the throttle response is sharp in Sport mode, the acceleration is more progressive in Road and Rain modes. Even the clutch is decently light by big bike standards. The gearbox is super slick and the quickshifter works like a charm which means going up and down the cogs is engaging. Although you start feeling some heat being directed to your legs within 10 minutes of riding in traffic, it never really gets unbearable. Although you do feel some buzz on the handlebar in the higher revs, the vibrations never get obnoxious and the touring experience should be seamless.

The Tiger continues to impress in the handling department, especially at slow speeds. Maneuver the bike in traffic and it hides its 228kg kerb weight beautifully. Although you constantly feel its long wheelbase, flicking it from side to side feels effortless and natural. Around corners, the bike demands you put some effort to initiate the turn. But once it is leaned over, the Tiger feels rock solid and holds its line accurately. It might feel big and lazy around tight harpins at slow speeds, but long sweeping corners is where the bike truly shines.

Adding further confidence around corners are the brakes. The front offers tremendous bite but it comes in a nice and progressive manner. The Showa suspension setup does a commendable job of absorbing undulations on the road. In factory setting, it feels a little firm but settled. You keep feeling all the surface imperfections but the bike doesn’t keep tossing you around, neither does it send harsh jolts.

Off road, the 21-inch front wheel and long-travel suspension handle roughest of terrain with ease. The suspension doesn’t bottom out easily and landing big jumps doesn’t upset the bike. Getting out of tricky situation is easy due to the punchy low-end torque. Further, the Tiger is ergonomically sorted and standing up and riding feels natural. It is also well-balanced and feels a little top-heavy and long only while maneuvering it through tight and technical trails.

Should you buy it?

The Tiger 900 Rally Pro is a very competent motorcycle in its class for a price tag of Rs. 16.25 lakh, ex-showroom. The versatility of the bike and its ability to take on any kind of terrain with equal efficiency makes it an easy recommend. The three things which truly stood out for me are the comfort, engine performance, and handling. It’s pampering enough to be a mile muncher, the engine is power-packed while being tractable, and the handling is equally good at low and high speeds. Not to forget, it’s mighty capable off-road with the ability to go on even the harshest of terrain.

What could be improved though is the TFT’s slow response time and the noisy windscreen assembly. Even the traction control, in Sport and Road modes, could do with more finesse. And if Triumph can further mitigate the vibrations that this engine exudes, it will be a cherry on top.

To conclude, if you’re out in the market for a big, premium adventure motorcycle, something that is equally good on and off the road, the Tiger 900 Rally Pro definitely deserves a higher place in your preference list.

Photography by Kapil Angane