Triumph Tiger 900 (base, GT, Rally, Pro) Complete Maintenance Schedule
This is the maintenance schedule with associated service intervals for the Triumph Tiger 900 motorcycles, released in 2020 as an update to the Triumph Tiger 800 range.
The maintenance is the same across the models (base, GT, Rally, and Pro variants). In some cases there’s a couple of external accessories that you need to check — like a center stand — but they’re all mentioned below in case you have one.
All of the Triumph Tiger 900 models (the base model, the GT, GT Pro, Rally, and Rally Pro) are based on an an 888cc liquid-cooled 12-valve DOHC 3-cylinder (triple) engine. With a compression ratio of 12.27:1, it makes 70 kW (95.2 PS/93.9 bhp) at 8750 rpm, and peak torque of 87 Nm (64 ft-lb) at 7250 rpm.
See below for a further description of the different models.
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Triumph Tiger 900 Service Intervals
Basic service intervals for the Triumph Tiger 900 motorcycles are every 6000 miles (10000 km) OR every year, at which you the oil and filter. When any of these periods passes, check to see what’s due in the full schedule.
Every second service, change the spark plugs, air cleaner, and other items, and do a valve service.
As the Tiger 900 has a liquid-cooled engine, you need to periodically refresh the coolant using an HD4X coolant or equivalent.
Finally, the Triumph Tiger 900 has a chain final drive, so make sure you keep it clean, lubricated, and tensioned.
What you need to service the Triumph Tiger 900 range
Aside from general motorcycle maintenance tools, he following is a list of tools and consumables that are recommended for the Triumph Tiger 900.
| Part | Triumph Tiger 900 spec |
|---|---|
| Engine Oil | The manual specifies “semi or fully synthetic 10W/40 or 10W/50 motorcycle engine oil which meets specification API SH (or higher) and JASO MA, such as Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 (fully synthetic) engine oil.” The recommended oil is not too expensive and many consider it worth it. |
| Oil filter | Available from your local Triumph dealer (part T1218001), or you can use the Hiflofiltro HF204RC (use a generic oil filter wrench to remove the Triumph one — and with a replacement you can use a normal wrench). |
| Coolant | Triumph recommends HD4X Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (OAT) coolant, which it says is “a 50% solution of ethylene glycol based antifreeze”. You can use Motorex M3.0. See here for some other Triumph HD4X alternatives. |
| Chain lubricant | The chain needs to be lubricated every 800 km/500 miles (or more, if it gets wet/dirty), with variations recommended between manufacturers. Motul chain paste is well-regarded and portable. |
| Tyres | See below for the table of tire sizes and pressures. |
| Cable lubricant | Remember to lubricate your clutch cable (and brake cables if you have them) with a cable lubricant. Protect All Cable Life is a good general-purpose lubricant. |
| Brake fluid | Manual specifies DOT 4 brake and clutch fluid, as with many motorcycles. You can use Castrol DOT 4. |
| Grease | Make sure you have lithium soap-based grease for lubricating major components like your side stand, centre stand, and major bearings. This Valvoline grease is cheap and versatile. |
Maintenance Schedule for Triumph Tiger 900 range (base, GT, Rally, Pro models)
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Triumph Tiger 900 motorcycles, including the base model 900, the GT and GT Pro, and the Rally and Rally Pro. This is taken from the manual, but adapted to be a bit easier to read.
The Tiger 900 variants all share a common maintenance schedule. The only thing that changes is whether you have to adjust the spokes on the rims (on the Rally models).
The maintenance schedule is here shown in three separate sections for convenience: Daily checks, the annual service checklist, and the periodic service schedule.
Daily checks
| Triumph Tiger 900 — Daily Maintenance Items |
|---|
| Engine and oil cooler – check for leaks |
| Fuel system – check for leaks, chafing etc. |
| Cooling system – check for leaks |
| Coolant level – check/adjust |
| Clutch cable – check/adjust |
| Wheels – inspect for damage |
| Wheels – check wheels for broken or damaged spokes and check spoke tightness (Rally models) |
| Tire wear/tire damage – check |
| Tire pressures – check/adjust |
| Lights, instruments and electrical systems – check |
| Steering – check for free operation |
| Forks – check for leaks/smooth operation |
| Brake pads – check wear levels |
| Brake master cylinders – check for fluid leaks |
| Brake calipers – check for fluid leaks and seized pistons |
| Brake fluid levels – check |
| Drive chain condition, cleanliness, slack, and lubrication condition – check/adjust See below guidance on checking chain condition |
| Drive chain rubbing strip – check. Replace as needed |
| Fasteners – inspect visually for security |
| Bank angle indicators – inspect visually for wear |
| Side stand – check operation |
| Center stand – check operation |
Annual service items
Items marked [T] need dealer-specific resources and tools.
| Triumph Tiger 900 Annual Service Items |
|---|
| [T] Autoscan – Carry out a full Autoscan using the Triumph Diagnostic Tool |
| [T] ABS modulator – check for stored DTCs |
| Wheel bearings – check for wear/smooth operation |
| Headstock bearings – check/adjust |
| Accessory rack sliding carriage – check for correct operation (if fitted) |
| Side / center stand pivot – clean/grease |
| Accessory pannier link mechanism – check for correct operation and adjustment (if fitted) |
| [T] Carry out all outstanding service bulletin and warranty work |
| Carry out road test |
| [T] Complete the service record book and reset the service indicator |
Triumph Tiger 900 Service Schedule
Notes
- Observe the earlier of a time- or distance-based interval.
- Keep following this schedule in the pattern shown, every 6000 miles or 10000 km.
| mi x 1000 | 0.6 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 1 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | Every |
| Conduct all daily maintenance items | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Conduct all annual maintenance items (see above list) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Engine oil – renew (Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-40) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Engine oil filter – renew (Triumph part T1218001) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Throttle bodies – balance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Air cleaner – replace | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Spark plugs – replace (NGK CR9EK) | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Valve clearances – check/adjust | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Throttle body plate (butterfly) – check/clean | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Secondary air injection system–check/clean | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Headstock bearings – lubricate | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Rear suspension linkage – check/lubricate | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Fork oil – renew | ✓ | |||||
| Brake fluid – renew (Castrol DOT 4) | 2 years | |||||
| Coolant – replace (ethylene glycol pre-mix) | 3 years |
Triumph Tiger 900 Chain Maintenance
Triumph recommends you lubricate your chain and check the wear periodically according to the following schedule.
| Item | Every |
|---|---|
| Drive chain – lubricate (Motul chain care kit) | 200 miles (300 km) |
| Drive chain – wear check | 500 miles (800 km) |
You also need to regularly check the slack of the chain per the schedule.
How to check chain slack on a Triumph Tiger 900
For Triumph, slack is the free vertical movement of the center part of the bottom chain segment.
Here are the specs for chain slack for the Tiger 900.
| Triumph Tiger 900 model | Slack (Free movement of chain) |
|---|---|
| Base model, GT, GT Pro | 25-35mm (1 – 1.4 in) |
| Rally, Rally Pro | 30-40mm (1.2-1.6 in) |
| GT LRH | 20-30mm (0.8-1.2 in) |
To measure chain slack, follow this procedure:
- You need a ruler (or tape measure) and nitrile gloves or a rag (to avoid getting grease on your hands)
- Put the motorcycle in neutral, on a level service, and elevate the rear wheel with a stand or center stand if you have one fitted.
- Rotate the wheel and find the tightest part of the chain, in the middle.
- Use a finger to lightly push the chain up and down. Measure the deflection, which is the chain slack.
How to adjust chain slack on the Triumph Tiger 900.
The procedure on the Tiger 900 is similar to on many motorcycles, but of course specifics vary between brands.
You need wrenches and torque wrenches to re-tighten the rear wheel. You need a large torque wrench for the rear axle.
- Keep the motorcycle’s rear wheel elevated.
- Loosen the rear axle nut.
- Loosen the lock nuts on the left-hand and right-hand sides.
- Turn the adjuster bolts, usually counter-clockwise, extending the bolt “outward” to lengthen the chain and make it tighter. (Sometimes you’ll want to make it looser — in those cases, turn it clockwise / inward)
- Make sure to adjust the bolts the same amount on each side — check the markings.
- Tighten both adjuster lock nuts to 15 lb-ft / 20 Nm, and the rear axle nut to 81 lb-ft / 110 Nm (“very tight”).
Tyre pressure for the Triumph Tiger 900
The Triumph Tiger 900 models all ship with different tire sizes and recommended pressures.
Tiger 900 & 900 GT/Pro
The Triumph Tiger 900 and GT/Pro are generally fit with street or sport touring tyres.
| Wheel | Tyre (Tire) size | Tyre (Tire) pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 100/90-19 MC 57V | 36 psi / 2.5 bar |
| Rear | 150/70 R17 M/C 69V | 42 psi / 2.9 bar |
Tiger 900 Rally / Pro
The Triumph Tiger 900 Rally and Rally Pro are generally fit with dual sport or adventure sport tyres.
| Wheel | Tyre (Tire) size | Tyre (Tire) pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 90/90-21 M/C 54V | 34 psi / 2.3 bar |
| Rear | 150/70 R17 M/C 69V | 42 psi / 2.9 bar |
About the Triumph Tiger 900 range
The Triumph Tiger 900 model range replaces the most recent incarnation of the Triumph Tiger 800 range, taking the help as Triumph’s new middleweight adventure tourers.
The whole range is powered by the same engine in the same tune. It’s an 888cc triple (an inline three-cylinder engine) that has dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. It makes more power and has more torque than the outgoing motor — but that’s not all.
The new engine also has a unique 1-3-2 firing order that gives it even more character than the outgoing triple.
The Triumph Tiger 900’s 888cc engine makes a peak of 95.2 PS (93.9 bhp / 70 kW) at 8750 rpm, and peak of 87 Nm (64 ft-lb) at 7250 rpm. It’s midrange-focused, but sporty and interesting to ride.
All models also share the same base brakes — twin 320mm floating discs with Brembo Stylema 4-piston monoblock calipers.
Though they share the same engine and brakes, the motorcycles vary in suspension, tech, and accessories. Here’s how they vary:
| Part | Tiger 900 (to 2020 only) | Tiger 900 GT | Tiger 900 GT Pro | Tiger 900 Rally | Tiger 900 Rally Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front suspension | Marzocchi 45mm USD, non-adjustable | Marzocchi 45mm USD, fully adjustable (manual) | Marzocchi 45mm USD, fully adjustable (manual) | Showa 45mm USD, fully adjustable, 240mm travel | Showa 45mm USD, fully adjustable, 240mm travel |
| Rear shock (RSU) | Marzocchi, manual preload adjustable | Marzocchi, fully adjustable, manual | Marzocchi, fully adjustable, electronic | Showa, fully adjustable, manual | Showa, fully adjustable, manual |
| Front/rear suspension travel | 180/170 mm | 180/170 mm (LRH: 140/151 mm) | 180/170 mm (LRH: 140/151 mm) | 240/230 mm | 240/230 mm |
| Front wheel | 19×2.5 in, cast alloy | 19×2.5 in, cast alloy | 19×2.5 in, cast alloy | 21 x 2.15 in, spoked tubeless | 21 x 2.15 in, spoked tubeless |
| Rear wheel | 17×4.25 in, cast alloy | 17×4.25 in, cast alloy | 17×4.25 in, cast alloy | 17 x 4.25 in, spoked tubeless | 17 x 4.25 in, spoked tubeless |
| Optimised Cornering ABS/TC | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ride modes | Rain, Road | Rain, Road, Sport, Off-road | Rain, Road, Sport, Offroad, Custom | Rain, Road, Sport, Off-road | Rain, Road, Sport, Off-road, Custom, and Off-road Pro |
| Display | 5 inch TFT | 7 inch TFT | 7 inch TFT | 7 inch TFT | 7 inch TFT |
| Quiskshifter | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| LED lights and DRLs | No | Yes | Yes + fog lights | Yes | Yes + fog lights |
| My Triumph app connectivity | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Phone storage & charging | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Colors | White | White, Black, Red | White, Black, Red | White, Black, Khaki + white frame | White, Black, Khaki + white frame |
In a nutshell, the Tiger 900 base model gets you in the club, but you miss out on a lot. The GT models get you a spec which is much more suited for road touring, and the Rally models get you spec which is more suited for off-road.
But you’d be wrong to think there’s an absolute best between the Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro and Rally Pro. For example, the GT Pro is heavier, and doesn’t have the off-road wheel size of the Rally Pro, and the Rally Pro lacks the electronic suspension adjustment of the GT Pro. Decisions!
From 2021, the slightly lower-power Triumph Tiger 850 Sport replaces the base model Triumph Tiger 900.
Reference — Manual for the Triumph Tiger 900 motorcycles
The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the Triumph Tiger 900, which is available on the Triumph web site.
All model variants share a manual and a common maintenance schedule.
The parts lists come from various parts fiches online.
