By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure vs Scrambler
Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally (PV01-Pro) vs Scrambler 1200 XE (DS01)
Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally vs Scrambler 1200 XE: where they split, and which one to buy.
Turn the Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally into a bend and its suspension's already firming up beneath you. The Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE tips in and shrinks around you.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the Scrambler 1200 XE if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Clearly ahead: Scrambler 1200 XE
The Scrambler 1200 XE earns its keep in weekday traffic better than the other one. For a daily commuter, it's the clear choice.
The Tiger 1200 Rally has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
By a nose: Tiger 1200 Rally
Through a string of corners, the Tiger 1200 Rally feels a little more eager. The reason: more feel through the bars and better suspension. The gap is small, so ride both.
What makes each one tick
Tiger 1200 Rally
An off-beat stagger runs through the Tiger 1200 Rally's T-plane triple, and it's a pulse you'll keep tuning in to. On Kane Creek, there's a plush stroke in the semi-active Showa suspension as it adjusts itself over rough stretches. There's torque behind every throttle roll.
Scrambler 1200 XE
From the freeway straight onto a rutted dirt road, the Scrambler 1200 XE doesn't think twice. The suspension and electronics can do a lot, but they can't make the mass disappear on technical downhills. Open the throttle and the wind loads directly onto your chest. Descents keep the brake lever busy, and the front end won't settle unless you work it deliberately. The weight's there the second your attention slips. Every part on it shows someone cared.
Nils rode the Scrambler 1200 XE in Styria in 2019 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tiger 1200 Rally makes more peak power: 148 hp (110 kW) vs 89 hp (66 kW).
- The Tiger 1200 Rally makes more peak torque: 95 lb-ft (129 Nm) vs 81 lb-ft (110 Nm).
- The Tiger 1200 Rally has the larger fuel tank: 5.3 US gal (20 L) vs 4.2 US gal (16 L).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both miss here
For a brand-new rider, both are the wrong place to start. Learn the basics on a smaller bike first.
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not its job: Scrambler 1200 XE
The Scrambler 1200 XE gets left out of the long-distance question. It's built for a different kind of day.
There's no real gap on running costs. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
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
Scrambler 1200 XE
Strengths
- Composed at highway speed
- Öhlins shrug off the rough
- Superbike-grade brake hardware
- Real freeway and dirt range
- Premium in every detail
Trade-offs
- Right calf cooks in traffic
- Unwieldy at walking pace
- Not for rusty or new riders
- Full wind blast at speed
- Heavy for genuine technical off-road use
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.
Scrambler 1200 XE
- Rear shock preload adjuster access difficult The Öhlins piggyback shocks are fully adjustable but preload adjustment requires C-spanner and removal of side panels for proper access, complicating quick load changes.
- Spoke tension on tubeless wheels requires monitoring The tubeless spoked wheels, while excellent for off-road use, can develop loose spokes after sustained rough riding; periodic spoke tension checks are recommended in the owner's manual.
- Clutch slave cylinder seal leak Some owners report hydraulic fluid weeping from the clutch slave cylinder, sometimes causing soft lever or clutch slip; usually addressed under warranty with seal or unit replacement.
- Headlight bracket / mounting vibration on rough surfaces On heavy off-road or washboard surfaces, headlight assembly and surrounding brackets can develop loosened fasteners; routine torque checks recommended.
- TFT display readability in direct sunlight The full-colour TFT instrument can wash out in bright direct sunlight, particularly with the lighter display theme.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 90/90-21
Where the spec sheets split
| Tiger 1200 Rally | Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 34.4 in (875 mm) | 34.3 in (870 mm) |
| Tiger 1200 Rally | Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1160 cc | 1200 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | Parallel twin |
| Power | 148 hp (110 kW) | 89 hp (66 kW) |
| Torque | 95 lb-ft (129 Nm) | 81 lb-ft (110 Nm) |
| Tiger 1200 Rally | Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 US gal (20 L) | 4.2 US gal (16 L) |
| Tiger 1200 Rally | Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Final drive | Shaft | Chain |
| Rear tire | 150/70-18 | 150/70-17 |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in (220 mm) | 9.8 in (250 mm) |
| Front travel | 8.7 in (220 mm) | 9.8 in (250 mm) |
| Rear travel | 8.7 in (220 mm) | 9.8 in (250 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Tiger 1200 Rally | Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Standard | Not offered |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Option |
| Navigation | Standard | Option |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Option | Not offered |
| Adjustable Windscreen | Standard | Not offered |
| Adjustable Seat Height | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
