Power gain
+23bhp
85bhp T400 → 108bhp Tiger 900. The triple has stayed central across all four bikes; capacity changed from 885cc to 888cc through several intermediate sizes.
Torque gain
+12Nm
78Nm → 90Nm. Modest gain. The T-plane firing on the 900 makes the torque feel bigger than the numbers suggest — uneven crankshaft intervals give a twin-like character.
Weight change
+7kg
215kg dry → 222kg wet. Like-for-like roughly equal. Triumph have kept the middleweight Tiger remarkably consistent in mass.
Real cost change
−$0.1k
$9,720 in 1996 ≈ $19,440 today. The 2026 Tiger 900 GT Pro is $19,298. Effectively the same price in real terms, with semi-active suspension, IMU electronics and TFT dash added.
Rider aids count
0 → 8
1996: nothing. 2026: cornering ABS, traction control, ride modes, cruise, hill hold, lift control, slide control, semi-active suspension.
Engine character
Even-firing → T-plane
The 2020 redesign brought T-plane firing — uneven crankshaft intervals at 90°/270°/180°. Gives the triple twin-like low-end character. Whether you like it depends on whether you wanted a triple to start with.
Cheapest way in
$3.4k
A clean 1996 Tiger T400 today. Hinckley-era Triumph triple with trail tyres for less than a kitchen. Surprisingly capable, distinctly British.
