Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport Overview
Triumph’s Tiger Sport is a smoother, more powerful version of the previous Sport model. It is better in many ways, not least the fact that it is far more comfortable for rider and and pillion. Many would consider this bike a funky sports tourer. The bike has a lower, narrower seat and it’s fast and fun. What’s also great about this bike is that, unlike other similar bikes, ABS comes as standard.
Taller riders may struggle on this bike due to limited legroom, but this should only be after a long ride. Short distances through town shouldn’t be a problem. It also has a longer swing arm, so it handles more predictably especially around corners and it’s more stable in fast sweeps. Weighing 235kg, this model of Triumph is quite heavy, which makes it feel a little older than more modern competitive bikes.
The engine is great on this bike. The Tiger Sport’s three-cylinder 1050cc motor offers great power and a nice exhaust noise. The throttle response is also good, but can be snatchy at low speed at times. Power is around 123bhp@9400rpm on this bike and torque is about 77ftlb@4300rpm.
Overall, this bike is good value for money. It gives riders a lot. Other, competitive models in its class, like the KTM 990 SMT can be found more expensive, although this bike can be considered more fun and better at handling than the Triumph.
You have to pay extra for any accessories such as panniers, a tank bag, a taller screen, hand guards, etc.
Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport Spec
| Seat height |
830mm |
| Weight |
235kg |
| Engine |
Liquid cooled, four stroke, DOHC |
| Capacity |
1050cc |
| Average fuel consumption |
41mpg |
| Top speed |
135mph |
| Insurance group |
– |
Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport Gallery
Owner Reviews |
| Submitted by: | Paul | Review Date: November 2016 |
Comfort | | Very tall but comfy | | Ride Quality | | Top heavy difficult to push |
| Build Quality & Reliability | | No problem never broken down |
| Engine Rating | | Very good fast enough |
| Brake Rating | | Slowing down difficult on hill |
| Running Cost | | Weight and height |
| Overall | | |
| Pros Comments | All rounder does everything |
| Cons Comments | Weight and height |
| Submitted by: | Paul | Review Date: November 2016 |
Comfort | | Comfy | | Ride Quality | | Ok for a tall biker |
| Build Quality & Reliability | | Great build |
| Engine Rating | | |
| Brake Rating | | A bit heavy |
| Running Cost | | Height. Too high. |
| Overall | | |
| Pros Comments | All rounder |
| Cons Comments | Height. Too high. |
| Submitted by: | Huntmaster | Review Date: March 2017 |
Comfort | | The seat is a plank | | Ride Quality | | Brilliant on the road |
| Build Quality & Reliability | | No problems, far better build quality than my previous ST1050 |
| Engine Rating | | Massive grunt at low rpms |
| Brake Rating | | Best brakes to date for me |
| Running Cost | | The seat leaves a lot to be desired. In fact it is very poor regards comfort 50 miles and numb bum. |
| Overall | | |
| Pros Comments | Fantastic all round bike once we sort the little niggles, luggage is very poor but there is good aftermarket available in Trax or Givi. |
| Cons Comments | The seat leaves a lot to be desired. In fact it is very poor regards comfort 50 miles and numb bum. |
| Submitted by: | Phil Spencer | Review Date: March 2017 |
Comfort | | After thirty years of owning sports bikes I needed to look for a more comfortable upright riding position after undergoing a stomach operation two years ago. The Tiger sport has been ideal. Very comfortable with plenty of room to move around. Practical with lots of luggage options. I have toured Europe on it twice covering long distances with no problems at all. | | Ride Quality | | It's a big bike and no lightweight to push around ,but on the move it's smooth. stable and handles very well. It's great at touring speeds but I've also done some 'sports' riding on Alpine passes and it was brilliant. |
| Build Quality & Reliability | | I've had no issues at all with reliability. I've done 12,000 miles in 18 months. The build quality is excellent. |
| Engine Rating | | The brilliant Triumph triple! Bags of low down grunt and as fast as you need. |
| Brake Rating | | ABS system works well and all round the brakes are very confidence inspiring. I'm using Pirelli Angel sports touring tyres and they compliment the bike giving excellent grip in wet or dry conditions |
| Running Cost | | The only thing I find a bit fiddly is getting the seat back on. Its a big seat and the anchor point at the front is not very easy to locate. |
| Overall | | |
| Pros Comments | I've lost count of the number of bikes I've owned over the years. Some brilliant, some not so good. All good at some things and no good at others. The Triumph is brilliant, a real all round package which suits all my biking needs. Each time I've got a new bike I've gone for something different to the previous one. I think the next time I change it may have to be for another Tiger sport. |
| Cons Comments | The only thing I find a bit fiddly is getting the seat back on. Its a big seat and the anchor point at the front is not very easy to locate. |
| Submitted by: | Jason Cassar | Review Date: May 2017 |
Comfort | | When I first bought the bike it had a very firm feel to the seat, over distance it at first felt a little numb on the old bottom, but 8000 miles into the bike a little give has made the seating more comfortable, my pillon is alot smaller at 5 ft and I am 6 ft, she feels comfortable over longer distances, the suspension keep thing quite steady. | | Ride Quality | | For a very tall bike of an adventure style It is very nimble and quite flippable, it corners without drama and is as happy as it's litter sister the Street in the Twisties, it's over all length is quite a bit longer than a street, but booted up with pr4's it handles akin to its crazy sibling. |
| Build Quality & Reliability | | In all my ownerships of Triumph I have never had mechanical failure, my only gripe is the management light, both my Tiger Sport and TT have had the light on and neither extinguished after this magical 3 cold cycles, I wonder if is a myth really. |
| Engine Rating | | The 1050 cc triple is like the Orient express, very refined, graceful and huge power, it can be as gentle as a chauffeur, or as crazy as some of the streets triples, it has stonking torque in every gear. |
| Brake Rating | | Twin pot Nissin's front, and centrally located rear could probably out stop a Ferrari. |
| Running Cost | | The rear disc is a nightmare to put on a disclock and chain, as I like to keep any potential theft busy by weaving a chain through the brake discs and lock the chain padlock onto the alloy wheel spoke, just to be extra awkward, with a nice screeching disclock to give them another headache, as you do. |
| Overall | | |
| Pros Comments | I love the tall upright seating, it's flippable, and powerful, without the panniers is a nimble very capable all rounder a hoot to ride quickly, a joy to Sunday cruise. A Great all rounder come rain or shine, to the shops or on a world tour, this is the kiddie. |
| Cons Comments | The rear disc is a nightmare to put on a disclock and chain, as I like to keep any potential theft busy by weaving a chain through the brake discs and lock the chain padlock onto the alloy wheel spoke, just to be extra awkward, with a nice screeching disclock to give them another headache, as you do. |
| Submitted by: | Vincent G | Review Date: November 2017 |
Comfort | | I have used my bike for long rides in excess of 2500 miles in Spain and France and have found it usually very comfortable. The seat only lets numbness appear only after 3 hours. At 5'10" the legroom is good, being more on the sports -tourer side than tourer/adventure. I suffered no back nor arms pains, even on long/day rides. Suspensions provide a good comfort level once set up properly (a remote preload would be welcome on the rear shock). The handle bars do not send many vibrations into the wrist and the overall position is really good and easy to change depending on your riding style, from sedate to 'more spirited'. My only gripe is wind protection. Even with the factory touring screen fitted, there is a fair amount of buffeting and noise. This is not a problem on short rides or touring on A and B roads, but tiring on long motorways stretch. My bike has heated grips, which work well, although a bit basic, and their switch is not user friendly, hard to reach (on dashboard) especially with both handguards and a tank bag fitted. Mirrors are not best in class (i see too much of my arms). | | Ride Quality | | The ride is mostly predictable yet engaging. Teh suspensions have to be adjusted to firmer settings to enjoy more spirited riding (both forks and rear shock are fullu adjustable but the rear could be more user friendly). The fork is not the most complinat on firmer settings but overall it does not affect your trajectory in both fast flowing and tight bends. For a relatively large bike, the Tiger Sport is very flickable; it made my trips to the Pyrenees and Southern Alps really enjoyable. A true sport tourer. The absence of electronic ride assistance (besides ABS) was never an issue, the odd slips easily controllable. Adding Michelin Road Pilot 4 enhanced the ride, especially in the wet. Touring with panniers does not affect the ride. However they make the bike particularly wide and their capacity is not proportional to their size. Slow speed manoeuvrability is not the TIger Sport forte. It can be intimidating, as it has a relatively high centre of gravity and the clutch lever is not the lightest. |
| Build Quality & Reliability | | It is very reliable and i take it for long rides in Europe with confidence: it never missed a bit or let me down. Overall finish is very good and i often get comments on how good it looks for a 3-4 year old bike. This January 2014 model, garaged and well maintained. There is no rust, nor flaking paint (apart from on the mirror stems). The pipes are still looking good and plastics's colour has not faded. The rear shock adjuster has to be greased regularly (well, i do) to avoid seizing). The only issue I had was with the ginition wihch had to be changed (under warranty). It failed and while the bike could start, rear and break lights, as well as the horn, no longer worked. This meant changing all keys and locked, including on panniers. |
| Engine Rating | | The Tiger 1050 Sport's big heart. – Powerful – Cosseting when touring – All claws and roar when the needle goes north of 5-7k rpm – Flexible – Sixth gear feels a bit short-geared for long – boring – motorway miles, but it is extremely usable. A gear indicator would be welcome (although available on +2016 models) – Perfect sport-tourer's heart – Addictive |
| Brake Rating | | Overall strong steady performance. Unobtrusive ABS Confidence inspiring, especially with upgraded tyres (Michelin RP4). |
| Running Cost | | 6000 miles/1 year interval ok but not class leading Expensive 12000 miles service Parts on the expensive side. Good fuel consumption – anything around 40 to 49 mpg depending on riding style. |
| Overall | | |
| Pros Comments | – Great sport-tourer – Superb engine – Comfort – Great look – Reliability – Finish and finishing details. My best bike to date (and I loved my VFR), which takes me for a quick ride to Cat & Fiddle, near home and well beyond those shores. All parts are really good that engine is really something else: a burly yet nimble bike with a huge heart. |
| Cons Comments | – Wind protection (for motorway driving) – Rear shock adjustability – Some ergonomics need improving (heated grip) – Absence of gear indicator – Panniers make the bike really wide but inside volume not proportional |
| Submitted by: | Dan | Review Date: November 2017 |
Comfort | | Perfectly set bars for reach, adjustable suspension front and back, super comfy seat | | Ride Quality | | Bit heavy slow speed but rides like a 600 super sport on the twisties |
| Build Quality & Reliability | | Can’t fault Hinckley, it’s solid |
| Engine Rating | | Strong punchy and powerful, lacks the top end speed but is a super fun engine |
| Brake Rating | | Abs isn’t invasive, they bite well and get you stopped but could be a bit stronger |
| Running Cost | | Tax is good, so is the insurance. |
| Overall | | |
| Pros Comments | Build quality and ride comfort |
| Cons Comments | Brakes could be more powerful |
| Submitted by: | Adam | Review Date: June 2019 |
Comfort | | Excellent comfort, and wife says pillion seat is spacious. I'm 6ft 2 and this is the most comfy bike I've owned to date. | | Ride Quality | | Front can feel a little harsh on London roads, but great when out on A roads etc. |
| Build Quality & Reliability | | Showing a few sign of corrosion on some bolts, and finish on heel plate is worn through in just 4k miles! |
| Engine Rating | | I love the 1050 engine. A kit 130 BHP, more than enough for the road. Easily hang with most bikes. |
| Brake Rating | | Excellent. |
| Running Cost | | Gets 140 to a tank, better than my previous Z1000sx. No complaints. |
| Overall | | |
| Pros Comments | Versatile, do anything bike with real world performance. |
| Cons Comments | The Screen. Although adjustable, the wind noise/blast is terrible. Went for an aftermarket touring screen in the end. |
| Submitted by: | danboyd | Review Date: July 2019 |
Comfort | | Its very comfortable, and great for long journeys, its also very quick with alot of power. | | Ride Quality | | Its very tall and heavy. Its very smooth. |
| Build Quality & Reliability | | its built very well, never had a problem with it. heated grips still work. |
| Engine Rating | | plenty of power for me. |
| Brake Rating | | brakes are fantastic. braided hoses and limited edition reservoirs. |
| Running Cost | | im getting 200miles to a tank. compared to my carb bandits its doubled the mpg with similar power and speed feel. |
| Overall | | |
| Pros Comments | its reliable, comfortable, fast and powerful. |
| Cons Comments | the new Tiger 1050 is already improved on all the negatives, which would be height and weight. |
