2013–2015 · Sport Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Triple Character, All Roads
The Tiger Sport 1050 takes the inline-three that gives the Speed Triple its voice and aims it at long roads. Peak output is 123 hp at 9,400 rpm, but the substance is the 77 lb-ft arriving at 6,250 rpm, enough to carry you between towns without reaching for a downshift. Triumph wrapped it in a proper sport-touring chassis: 17-inch wheels front and rear, an upside-down fork, adjustable suspension at both ends, twin front discs and ABS, a fairing, upright bars and a 5.3-gallon tank. In its class it sits at the sporty end of touring, not the soft end.
It rides like a big, planted sport bike with the handlebars moved to the right place. At 518 lb wet it never pretends to be light, but the weight carries low enough that it steers cleanly and holds a chosen line at highway pace all day. The 32.7-inch seat asks for a reasonable inseam. This is a machine for riders who want a full day of pavement with some corners in it, a passenger or luggage along for the ride. The honest caveat: equipment stops at ABS, and heated grips and hard cases are extras you pay for.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 123 hp (92 kW) @ 9,400 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (104 Nm) @ 6,250 rpm |
| Displacement | 1050 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 60.6 in (1540 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.7 in (830 mm) |
| Wet weight | 518 lb (235 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 gal (20 L) |
| Top speed | 137 mph (220 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 36 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
This section is not my test ride. It is what I have heard over years of paddock talk, club nights, owner chats at fuel stops, and the messages riders send me directly. On the Tiger Sport 1050 the chatter is unusually consistent: praise for how much ground one bike covers, and gripes that cluster in a few predictable places.
Riders rarely put this one in a single box. The same owners describe weekday commuting, a weekend blast, and a loaded two-up trip on the same machine, and they credit the triple's spread of pull for making all three work. Those who moved over from the Tiger 1050 it replaced mention the firmer suspension settings, and the steering gets called sharp without being nervous once the bends open up.
The complaints cluster just as tightly. The gearbox leads them: owners call it clunky, happiest with deliberate unhurried shifts and prone to notching if you rush it under hard acceleration. Slow-speed work draws a similar tone, with tight maneuvering described as old-school next to lighter rivals. Taller riders mention a cramped knee angle after an hour. The analogue spec sheet splits opinion, welcome to purists, thin to anyone who wants gadgets.
Intermittent starting problems
A number of owners report difficult or failed starts, possibly linked to the ignition switch or a weak battery. The issue appears sporadically and often resolves with a new battery or cleaning of contacts.
Where this Triumph Tiger Sport 1050 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Tiger Sport 1050 is actually built for.
This is your bike. Big days on Highway 1 or the Blue Ridge, corners whenever you want them, and a fairing that makes the miles cheap. Budget for the luggage, because it does not come with any.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Heavier than you would pick for the Dragon, but the lean clearance and steady front end let you work on lines lap after lap. Tight hairpins ask for muscle from you.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Loaded and two-up it holds highway speed without complaint, and the 5.3-gallon tank stretches the gaps between stops. The missing cruise control is what you will feel on Wyoming straights.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2007–2012
The Triple With Street Soul
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Successor · 2016–2020
The Triple That Earns Miles
Competitor · 2012–2014
Miles Come Easy Here
Competitor · 2011–2014
V4 Scream in Upright Clothes
Same Platform · 2005–2010
Triple Punch, No Drama