Triumph Motorcycles has unveiled new Alpine and Desert Special Editions for its Triumph Tiger 900 and Tiger 1200 adventure bikes. Designed for riders who love both long road trips and rugged off-road adventures, these special editions promise upgraded features, new tech and striking designs. The global launch is set for January 2026.
Triumph Tiger 900 and 1200 now come in special Alpine and Desert Editions, based on the GT Pro and Rally Pro variants respectively, designed to boost adventure readiness with fresh paint schemes, premium upgrades, and added features.
Purpose & Positioning
-
Triumph has introduced special editions called Alpine and Desert for both the Triumph Tiger 900 and Tiger 1200.
-
These editions are more about styling + accessory upgrades rather than major mechanical overhauls.
-
The Alpine variants are based on the GT Pro, targeting touring / road-focused riders.
-
The Desert variants are based on the Rally Pro, meant for more off-road or rugged terrain use.
Key Technical & Feature Details
Triumph Tiger 900 Alpine & Desert
-
Engine: Same 888 cc liquid-cooled inline-3 as current Tigers. Produces ~106.5 bhp at 9,500 rpm and ~90 Nm torque at 6,850 rpm.
-
Transmission: 6-speed.
-
Frame: Tubular steel trellis + bolt-on aluminum subframe + cast aluminum swingarm.
Suspension & Wheels:
-
Alpine Edition:
-
45 mm Marzocchi upside-down forks, 180 mm travel.
-
Electronically adjustable rear shock (170 mm travel).
-
Cast-aluminum wheels: 19″ front / 17″ rear.
-
Tyres: Metzeler Tourance Next.
-
-
Desert Edition:
-
Showa 45 mm USD forks, but much more travel: ~240 mm front / 230 mm rear.
-
Spoked tubeless wheels: 21″ front / 17″ rear.
-
Tyres: Bridgestone Battlax Adventure.
-
Brakes:
-
Both editions use Brembo Stylema radial calipers with twin 320 mm front discs.
-
Rear: 255 mm disc with ABS.
Protection & Accessories:
-
Alpine gets engine protection bars.
-
Desert gets fuel-tank protection bars to handle rough terrain.
-
For the first time on a Tiger adventure bike, both special editions come with a premium Akrapovič silencer as standard.
Electronics / Rider Aids:
-
7-inch TFT instrument display with My Triumph connectivity.
-
Riding modes:
-
Alpine: 5 modes.
-
Desert: 6 modes, including “Off-Road Pro.”
-
-
Cornering ABS, traction control, and Triumph Shift Assist (quick-shifter) are standard.
Weight & Dimensions (900):
-
Alpine: ~224 kg (wet)
-
Desert: ~231 kg (wet)
-
Seat height: Alpine ~820–840 mm; Desert ~860–880 mm.
Tiger 1200 Alpine & Desert
-
Engine: 1,160 cc T-plane triple. ~148 bhp at 9,000 rpm and ~130 Nm torque at 7,000 rpm.
-
Final Drive: Shaft drive.
-
Suspension: Semi-active Showa units.
-
Alpine: ~200 mm travel front & rear.
-
Desert: ~220 mm travel front & rear.
-
-
Wheels / Tyres:
-
Alpine: 19″ front / 18″ rear cast aluminum; Bridgestone A41 tyres.
-
Desert: 21″ front / 18″ rear spoked tubeless; Metzeler Karoo Street tyres.
-
-
Brakes: Twin 320 mm Brembo Stylema discs up front, 282 mm rear disc.
Tech & Comfort Additions:
-
Heated rider and pillion seats standard on 1200 editions.
-
Blind Spot Assist and Lane Change Assist introduced as standard features — first time on Triumph’s 20-litre Tigers.
-
Active Preload Reduction for lowering the bike when stopped.
-
7-inch TFT display, same My Triumph connectivity, ride-by-wire, cornering ABS, multiple riding modes (5 for Alpine, 6 for Desert with Off-Road).
Design / Livery:
-
Tiger 900 Alpine: Snowdonia White + Sapphire Black with Aegean Blue accents.
-
Tiger 900 Desert: Urban Grey + Sapphire Black with Baja Orange.
-
Tiger 1200 Alpine: Two color options:
-
Satin Crystal White + Matte Metallic Grey + Caspian Blue.
-
Ash Grey + Intense Orange with Sapphire Black elements.
-
-
Tiger 1200 Desert:
-
Satin Granite + Triumph Performance Yellow.
-
Crystal White + Red.
-
-
Special “Alpine” / “Desert” edition graphics + logos (battery box, panels).
Warranty / Maintenance:
-
Over 50 accessory options from Triumph: luggage, protection, touring gear, etc.
-
Maintenance interval for 1200: 10,000 km or 12 months.
-
Warranty: reported 4-year no-mileage-limit for 900, 3-year unlimited mileage for 1200.
Potential Considerations / Drawbacks
-
Despite the “special edition” tag, the engines are unchanged, so performance isn’t different — this is more about style + specs.
-
The Desert variants are heavier (e.g., Tiger 900 Desert is ~231 kg) and have taller seat height — could be less accessible for shorter riders or those not very confident off-road.
-
Pricing will likely be higher than “base” models due to added kit — so cost vs benefit depends on how much you value the extras.
Conclusion
The 2026 Triumph Tiger 900 Alpine and Desert Editions deliver enhanced off-road-ready suspension setups, exclusive Akrapovič exhausts, safety tech including radar blind-spot detection, upgraded comfort features, rugged protection parts, and bold new color schemes for both the Triumph Tiger 900 and 1200 models, targeting riders seeking premium capability and style on and off the road.
