Triumph Tiger 1200 (2018+, including XCx/a and XRx/t) Maintenance Schedule
This is the maintenance schedule with associated service intervals for the Triumph Tiger 1200 motorcycles.
The Triumph Tiger 1200 range was launched in 2018 and remains unchanged through 2020.
All motorcycles in the Triumph Tiger 1200 range share a liquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC in-line 3-cylinder engine. It’s 1,215 cc and has a sporty 11.0:1 compression ratio. The engine puts out 104 kW (139 hp) at 9,350 rpm, and 122 Nm of torque at 7,600 rpm.
As a point of differentiation with the Multistrada of the same generation, the Tiger 1200 motorcycles have a shaft drive.
The Triumph Tiger 1200 came in the following variants (bear with me, they all sound a bit similar)
- Triumph Tiger XCa — High spec adventure riding. An extra riding mode, heated grips and seats, quick shifter, adaptive cornering lighting, and a titanium Arrow silencer.
- Triumph Tiger XCx — Off-road focused, mid spec. Five riding modes. 21-inch front wheel, with front and rear wheels spoked. Some premium features, like an electrically adjustable screen, centre stand, higher spec suspension than the XRx/XRt, and a centre stand.
- Triumph Tiger XRt — Fully loaded road-focused model, has all XRx features plus quick shifter, cornering lighting, fog lights, electric touring screen, an extra riding mode, heated seats, and a titanium Arrow silencer.
- Triumph Tiger XRx (and LRH or Low Ride Height version) — A mid-range road-focused model. Four riding modes. Mag wheels — 19-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear.
The Tiger 1200 Desert edition falls between the XCx and XCa, and the Tiger 1200 Alpine Edition falls between the XRx and the XRt.
Nonetheless, the maintenance schedule is effectively identical between all the models. The small differences (e.g. spoked wheels) are accounted for in the schedule below — if you have them, maintain them.
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What you need to service the Triumph Tiger 1200
If you’re servicing the Triumph Tiger 1200, you’ll need the basics of a servicing toolkit. Nothing fancy, but you at least need motorcycle maintenance tools — things like an oil catch pan, a paddock stand, and so on.
Here are the specific consumables you need to order for the Triumph Tiger 1200.
| Oil | Triumph recommends 10W/40 or 10W/50 semi or fully synthetic motorcycle engine oil that meets specification API SH (or higher) and JASO MA, such as Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 (fully synthetic) engine oil, sold as Castrol Power RS Racing 4T 10W-40 (fully synthetic) in some countries. Tighten the oil drain plug to 25 Nm using a torque wrench. |
| Oil filter | Replace the oil filter every time you change the oil. Use Triumph part number T1218001 (you’ll find this part on a LOT of Triumphs!), for which you’ll need a special triumph tool to open it (part T3880313). You can also use K&N’s KN-204-1 for which you just need a wrench. |
| Brake fluid | Triumph motorcycles need DOT 4 brake fluid and clutch fluid (the 1200 series has a hydraulic clutch). |
| Coolant | Triumph uses Hybrid Organic Acid Technology coolant with a 50% ethylene glycol mix. Zerex G05 is a HOAT coolant that meets this spec, or you can get Triumph’s HD4X. |
| Final drive oil | Triumph requires 75W/90 fully synthetic hypoid oil that meets specification API Service Level GL5, such as Castrol SAF-XO hypoid oil. Tighten the filler plug to 25 Nm. |
| Front brake pads | Standard brake pads code is T2022475. The equivalent part number for EBC brakes is FA630HH. |
| Rear brake pads | Use original part number T2025045. The equivalent part number for EBC brakes is FA228HH. |
| Spark plugs | NGK code CR8EK. Note they’re sold individually. Make sure they’re gapped to 0.7mm (+/- 0.05-0.1mm) with an appropriate spark plug gap tool. |
| Air filter | The part number for the air filter is T2209555. You can also use K&N part TB-1212. |
Luckily, as it’s shaft-driven, you don’t need to worry about maintaining a chain! (but you do need the final drive oil).
Maintenance Schedule for Triumph Tiger
The following is the list of maintenance operations and to be done on this motorcycle with a distance or time interval — whichever comes earlier.
Part of the below table includes checks you should do every day.
| Operation Description | Every | 500 (800) one month | Year | 10,000 and 30,000 (16,000 and 48,000) | 20,000 (32,000) | 40,000 (64,000) |
| Lubrication | ||||||
| Engine – check for leaks | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Engine oil – renew (Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-40) | – | • | • | • | • | • |
| Engine oil filter – renew (part T1218001) | – | • | • | • | • | • |
| Fuel System and Engine Management | ||||||
| Autoscan – carry out a full Autoscan using the Triumph diagnostic tool (if you have one lying around) | – | • | • | • | • | • |
| Fuel system – check for leaks, chafing etc. | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Air cleaner – renew (K&N part TB-1212) | – | • | • | • | ||
| Throttle body plate (butterfly) – check/clean | – | • | • | • | ||
| Throttle bodies – balance | – | • | • | • | ||
| Secondary air injection system – check | – | • | • | |||
| Fuel hoses – renew | Every four years, regardless of mileage | |||||
| Evaporative loss hoses – renew | Every four years, regardless of mileage | |||||
| Ignition System | ||||||
| Spark plugs – check | – | • | ||||
| Spark plugs – renew (NGK CR8EK) | – | • | • | |||
| Cooling System | ||||||
| Cooling system – check for leaks | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Coolant level – check/adjust | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Cooling system – check coolant hoses for chafing, cracks or damage. Replace if necessary | – | • | • | • | ||
| Coolant – renew (HOAT-compliant, e.g. Zerex G05) | Every 3 years, regardless of mileage | |||||
| Engine | ||||||
| Clutch – check operation | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Clutch master cylinder – check for leaks | – | • | • | • | • | • |
| Clutch fluid levels – check | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Clutch fluid – renew (DOT 4 spec) | Every 2 years, regardless of mileage | |||||
| Valve clearances – check/adjust | – | • | • | |||
| Camshaft timing – check/adjust | – | • | • | |||
| Wheels and Tyres | ||||||
| Wheels – inspect for damage | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Wheel bearings – check for wear/smooth operation | – | • | • | • | • | • |
| Wheels – check wheels for broken or damaged spokes and check spoke tightness (models with spoked wheels only) | – | • | • | • | • | • |
| Tyre wear/tyre damage – check | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Tyre pressures – check/adjust | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Steering and Suspension | ||||||
| Steering – check for free operation | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Front and rear suspension – check for damage/leaks/
smooth operation | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Fork oil – renew | – | • | ||||
| Headstock bearings – check/adjust | – | • | • | • | • | |
| Headstock bearings – lubricate | – | • | • | |||
| Rear suspension linkage – check/lubricate | – | • | • | |||
| Brakes | ||||||
| Brake pads – check wear levels | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Brake master cylinders – check for fluid leaks | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Brake calipers – check for fluid leaks and seized pistons | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Brake fluid levels – check | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Brake fluid – renew | Every 2 years, regardless of mileage | |||||
| Final Drive | ||||||
| Final drive – check for oil leaks | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Final drive oil level – check | – | • | • | • | • | |
| Final drive oil – renew – only first service | – | • | ||||
| Electrical | ||||||
| Lights, instruments and electrical systems – check | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| General | ||||||
| Instruments, chassis ECM and engine ECM – check for latest calibration download using your trusty Triumph diagnostic tool | – | • | • | • | • | • |
| Bank angle indicators – check for wear | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Fasteners – inspect visually for security | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Accessory rack sliding carriage – check for correct operation‡ | – | • | • | • | • | |
| Side stand – check for wear/smooth operation | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Side stand pivot pin – clean/grease | – | • | • | • | ||
| Centre stand – check for wear/smooth operation | Day | • | • | • | • | • |
| Centre stand flanged sleeves – check/clean/grease | – | • | • | • | • | |
| Gear change pedal – clean bushes | – | • | • | • | • |
‡ Only if fitted.
General information about the Triumph Tiger 1200
The Triumph Tiger 1200 is a wildly popular adventure motorcycle, competing with the BMW R1250GS and Ducati Multistrada 1260.
The Tiger 1200 has a howling three-cylinder engine that reviewers like to say has all the smoothness of a four and all the character of a twin. But a triple has its own character — and the high-RPM howl is enough to win over converts.
All motorcycles in the Triumph Tiger 1200 range share a liquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC in-line 3-cylinder engine. It’s 1,215 cc and has a sporty 11.0:1 compression ratio. The engine puts out 104 kW (139 hp) at 9,350 rpm, and 122 Nm of torque at 7,600 rpm.
The exact trim of the Tiger 1200 changes what you get with it, but you can spend less or more to get things like better suspension, luggage, lights, and some electronic accessories.
Manual for the Triumph Tiger 1200
The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the Triumph Tiger 1200 XCx, which is available on the Triumph web site.
We compared the manuals for the whole 2018+ Triumph Tiger 1200 series and found them the same.
