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Triumph Tiger 800 ABS

Base ABS2012
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Triumph Tiger 800 ABS Base ABS — 2012
Image: Autoevolution — Triumph Motorcycles Press Kit

Vitals

Wet weight
210 kg
Seat height
813 mm
Fuel capacity
19 L
Real world range
325 km
Front tyre
100/90-19 M/C 57V
Rear tyre
150/70 R17 M/C 69V
Tyre pressures
2.5 / 2.9 bar solo
TerrainTarmacGravel — easy

Field repair

Fuse box
Beneath the rider's seat (front and rear fuse boxes)
Fuses
12

Gear shift return spring pin repair (broken selector pin)

  1. 01Remove the clutch housing cover on the right-hand side of the engine.
  2. 02Remove the clutch assembly to access the gear selector mechanism.
  3. 03Undo the gear linkage on the opposite side of the engine.
  4. 04Slide out the selector rod and return spring mechanism.
  5. 05Drill out the original broken/sheared retaining pin where it was swaged/riveted to the mechanism.
  6. 06Thread the drilled hole for an M5 bolt.
  7. 07Reassemble using an M5 bolt with threadlocking compound (e.g. Loctite) in place of the original riveted pin.
  8. 08Reinstall the clutch, clutch housing cover, and gear linkage, then verify the shift lever returns correctly under spring pressure.

Sprag clutch (starter clutch) replacement

  1. 01Drain the engine oil and remove the crash bar/lower fairing as needed for access.
  2. 02Remove the alternator/stator cover bolts (loosen evenly with an impact driver) to expose the flywheel.
  3. 03Use a flywheel holding tool (strap-type U-holder) to prevent rotation, then use a flywheel puller to remove the flywheel.
  4. 04Inspect and clean the area; replace the sprag clutch assembly, ensuring all roller/finger bearings face the correct direction and the retaining spring is not overstretched during installation.
  5. 05Reinstall the flywheel and torque the central retaining nut/bolt to specification (approx. 60 Nm / 49 ft-lb per community-documented procedure).
  6. 06Torque the sprag clutch retaining bolts/nuts to approximately 10-12 Nm per community-documented procedure.
  7. 07Reinstall the alternator cover, refill with fresh engine oil, and verify quiet starter engagement with no rattle.

Data sheet

Dimensions & weights

Wet weight
210 kg
Seat height
813 mm
Wheelbase
1530 mm
Suspension travel
220 / 220 mm

Engine & drivetrain

Engine
800 cc · Inline triple
Cooling
Liquid cooled
Output
95 hp · 79 Nm
Transmission
6-speed
Final drive
Chain
Fuelling
Electronic fuel injection

Fuel & range

Fuel capacity
19 L
Real world range
325 km

Electronics & rider aids

Ride modes
None
Cruise control
No
Traction control
No
ABS
Yes · fully defeatable
Heated grips
No
Heated seat
No

Service intervals

Service interval
10,000 km
Valve check
20,000 km

Protection

Bash plate
None
Radiator guard
No
Oil cooler guard
No
Hand guards
No

Consumables & service specs

Every value carries its source.

Tyres

Front
100/90-19 M/C 57VBase Tiger 800 (non-XC) uses a 19-inch cast wheel front tyre, unlike the XC's 21-inch spoked frontTriumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official
Rear
150/70 R17 M/C 69VTriumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official

Tyre pressures

Front — solo
2.5 barOn-road, cold tyre. Handbook states 36 lb/in² (2.5 bar)Triumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official
Rear — solo
2.9 barOn-road, cold tyre. Handbook states 42 lb/in² (2.9 bar)Triumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official

Engine oil

Viscosity
Semi or fully synthetic SAE 10W/40 or 10W/50Must meet API SH (or higher) and JASO MATriumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official
Capacity
3.6 lOil and filter change quantity; dry fill is 4.1 L, oil-change-only (no filter) is 3.4 LTriumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official

Coolant

Type
Triumph HD4X Hybrid OAT coolantPremixed, year-round, green, 50% ethylene glycol solutionTriumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official
Capacity
2.4 lTriumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official

Brakes

Fluid type
DOT 4Triumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official

Forks

Oil viscosity
Showa SS 8Recommended fork oil grade per Triumph service manualTriumph Service Manual Tiger 800/800XC 2010-2013 · official
Oil capacity
553 mlDry fill per fork leg, base Tiger 800 (non-XC); fork oil level 103mm from top, fork fully compressed with spring removedTriumph Service Manual Tiger 800/800XC 2010-2013 · official

Final drive

Chain
DID O-ring, 122 linksFinal drive chain, base Tiger 800 (non-XC), most markets; Brazil-market spec also 122 links per handbook. Chain slack spec 15-25mm per service manual.Triumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official

Spark plugs

Type
NGK CR9EKTriumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official
Gap
0.7 mmGap tolerance +0.05/-0.1 mm (+0.001/-0.002 in)Triumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official
Quantity
3In-line 3-cylinder, 12-valve DOHC engine, one plug per cylinderTriumph Service Manual Tiger 800/800XC 2010-2013 · official

Battery

Type
YTX-16BS, 12V/14AhTriumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official

Fuel

Minimum octane
87 AKI / (R+M)/2 (CLC octane rating)Unleaded gasoline, 87 octane or higherTriumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official
Ethanol tolerance
Up to E10 (10% ethanol / 90% gasoline); up to 15% MTBE permittedTriumph OM Tiger 800/800XC 2012 · official

What breaks first and where.

01

Engine stall on deceleration — ECU software defect (NHTSA/Triumph recall 431)

SeriousOccasional

Certain model year 2011-2012 Tiger 800 and Tiger 800XC motorcycles (VIN range 466334-514871) required installation of revised engine management software to prevent an unexpected engine stall when decelerating. Triumph's own recall notice states the original software could allow the engine to stall unexpectedly during deceleration, increasing crash risk.

Symptoms

  • Unexpected engine stall when decelerating
  • Low idle rpm behavior reported by owners

Field repairableNo — Requires dealer to download revised ECU tune; not a rider-serviceable field repair.

NHTSA Recall 11V-434 · official
02

Turn signal (indicator) stem fracture — recall 13V-104

ModerateOccasional

Due to a manufacturing/material error, the turn signal stems on the front and rear of certain 2012-2013 Tiger 800, Tiger 800 ABS, Tiger 800XC and Tiger 800XC ABS motorcycles (VIN range 520000-574427) could fracture during use, potentially making turn signals invisible to other road users and increasing crash risk.

Symptoms

  • Turn signal stem cracks or snaps off
  • Turn signal no longer visible/functional

Field repairableYes — Dealer performs free replacement under recall, but owners have also successfully self-replaced the indicator stem (Triumph part T2701039 Indicator Stem Kit) as a simple ~10 minute DIY job when outside the recall VIN range.

NHTSA Recall 13V-104 · official
03

Sprag clutch (one-way starter clutch) failure

SeriousCommon

The sprag clutch on the Tiger 800/XC triple engine can fail due to breakage of the finger retaining spring inside the sprag assembly, most often linked to low-battery starts, starting without choke/in gear, or using too-low-viscosity oil. A secondary failure mode involves brass rivets separating from the clutch judder-plate and migrating through the engine, causing intermittent clutch failure, inability to shift, or loud clacking noises. Widely discussed in the Triumph owner community as a known engine-internal wear item on this platform.

Symptoms

  • Engine fails to start (spring breaks at start-up)
  • Loud rattling/clacking noise from engine on starter engagement
  • Intermittent clutch failure
  • Inability to shift gears

Field repairableYes — Requires removing the alternator cover/flywheel to access and replace the sprag clutch; documented as a DIY-feasible job by experienced owners, though it requires a flywheel puller and holding tool and careful torque of retaining bolts (per community-documented procedure).

TriumphRat — Sprag Clutch Failure Part I
04

Gear shift return spring / selector pin failure

ModerateCommon

On early Tiger 800/800XC models, a weak gear lever return spring could break after a certain amount of use, addressed by a factory recall/service bulletin replacing the spring. However, on bikes that received the revised (stronger) spring, or that fall outside the original recall VIN range, the metal pin retaining the spring can subsequently shear off instead, leaving the gearshift lever stuck in a lower position and not returning under spring pressure. This is described by the Triumph owner community as a well-known issue on this platform not covered by any further recall.

Symptoms

  • Gearshift lever remains in the down position and does not spring back to neutral position
  • Gear position sensor may fail to recognize neutral, particularly when cold
  • Difficulty selecting particular gears if pivot plate/detent wheel wear accompanies the fault

Field repairableYes — Requires removing the clutch housing cover and clutch, undoing the gear linkage, and sliding out the selector rod/mechanism; the broken pin can be drilled out, tapped for an M5 bolt, and reassembled with Loctite as a documented owner fix. Triumph has reportedly performed this repair under warranty/goodwill even outside the original recall VIN range in some cases.

Tiger800.co.uk — Broken Gear Shift Return
05

Overheating / radiator cooling fan not engaging

ModerateOccasional

Multiple Tiger 800/800XC/XCA owners report the coolant temperature gauge climbing close to maximum (well past the normal ~60% operating range) without the radiator fan engaging, particularly in slow-moving traffic or after ferry disembarkation. The fan is designed to switch on around 103°C via a fan switch/relay circuit; owners have traced failures to the fan fuse, fan wiring connectors, temperature sensor connector, fan relay, a faulty thermostat, or trapped air/low coolant in the system — root cause varies by case and is not a single universally-confirmed failure point.

Symptoms

  • Temperature gauge rises to near-maximum, especially in slow traffic
  • Radiator fan does not audibly engage
  • Engine management/check engine light may illuminate
  • Engine heat noticeably radiating onto rider's legs

Field repairableYes — Owners recommend checking the fan fuse, fan wiring connectors and temperature sensor connector first; the fan relay and thermostat can be bench-tested; a diagnostic tool (e.g. TuneECU) can be used to force-trigger the fan to isolate whether the fan motor itself, the relay, or the sensor circuit is at fault.

Tiger800.co.uk — Overheating Thread