By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally (PV01-Pro) vs KTM 1290 Super Adventure R (MY2021)
Fresh off the other bike, the Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally's throttle wakes an off-beat triple that's pulling strong wherever the needle sits. The KTM 1290 Super Adventure R's throttle works as a pair with a snappy clutch once you're crawling through slow, tight dirt. It meters drive out a crumb at a time.
So which one do you buy?
The Tiger 1200 Rally has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
By a nose: Tiger 1200 Rally
The Tiger 1200 Rally makes slightly more sense as a commuter. Don't read much into a gap this small.
Comfortable long-distance riding
Edges it: Tiger 1200 Rally
Deep into a long ride, the Tiger 1200 Rally asks slightly less of your back and shoulders. It's down to better wind protection. A small margin, and seat fit can overrule it.
What makes each one tick
Tiger 1200 Rally
Broken, patched pavement is where the Tiger 1200 Rally's semi-active Showa suspension shows its hand: it goes soft over the ruts without you touching a setting. Its claimed weight loss pays off at corner entry, where the bar tips the bike in without a shove. Direction changes don't need muscle. Ridden hard, the same shock clamps down on its stroke.
1290 Super Adventure R
Slow-speed U-turns and tight parking maneuvers ask more of you here than they do on some adventure-class rivals. Roll through the countryside at highway pace in sixth and there's enough roughness down in the rev range that you end up dropping a gear just to calm things down. In technical terrain, the seat stays firm enough to keep you locked in position. There's no fidgeting hours later. The brake lever bites hard and hauls it down.
Nils rode the 1290 Super Adventure R in the Pyrenees in 2021, and in the Pyrenees in 2022 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tiger 1200 Rally has the lower seat: 34.4 in (875 mm) vs 35.0 in (890 mm).
- The 1290 Super Adventure R makes more peak power: 160 hp (118 kW) vs 148 hp (110 kW).
- The 1290 Super Adventure R makes more peak torque: 102 lb-ft (138 Nm) vs 95 lb-ft (129 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Call it even on the dirt, twisty roads, and running costs. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Tiger 1200 Rally
What owners say
Strengths
- Excellent semi-active suspension
- Powerful, characterful T-plane triple engine
1290 Super Adventure R
Strengths
- Soaks Up Rough Trail
- Seat That Holds Up
- A Week Off-Road, No Drama
- High-quality fully adjustable suspension provides exceptional control
- Monster V-twin engine delivers immense power and torque
Trade-offs
- Sets A Real Height Bar
- Weather Coverage Falls Short
- Heated Grips Locked Off
- Two Steps To Wet Mode
Known problems to check before you buy
Tiger 1200 Rally
- Random engine stalling on early 2022 models Some owners experienced the engine cutting out unpredictably at idle or low speeds.
- Hydraulic clutch air ingress causing spongy lever and clutch drag Owners report air ingress into the hydraulic clutch actuation circuit, leading to a spongy lever feel, an inconsistent bite point, and incomplete clutch disengagement that makes gear shifting and selecting neutral difficult.
1290 Super Adventure R
- Engine misfire under certain conditions Some owners experienced a persistent misfire that required multiple service visits to resolve. The cause is not fully specified, but it affected rideability.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 90/90-21
- Rear tire
- 150/70-18
- Front travel
- 8.7 in (220 mm)
- Rear travel
- 8.7 in (220 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| Tiger 1200 Rally | 1290 Super Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 34.4 in (875 mm) | 35.0 in (890 mm) |
| Tiger 1200 Rally | 1290 Super Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1160 cc | 1301 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | 75° V-twin |
| Power | 148 hp (110 kW) | 160 hp (118 kW) |
| Torque | 95 lb-ft (129 Nm) | 102 lb-ft (138 Nm) |
| Tiger 1200 Rally | 1290 Super Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 US gal (20 L) | 6.1 US gal (23 L) |
| Tiger 1200 Rally | 1290 Super Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Final drive | Shaft | Chain |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in (220 mm) | 9.5 in (242 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Tiger 1200 Rally | 1290 Super Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Standard | Option |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Option |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Not offered |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Option | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Standard | Option |
| Adjustable Windscreen | Standard | Not offered |
| Adjustable Seat Height | Standard | Not offered |
| Luggage System | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
