THE definitive review by the best reviewer going at the moment. Chris never fails to deliver a rounded, trust worthy opinion in his usual humble, classy and funny way. Another solid review.
Man your reviews... are so good! The other thing is I wish I can afford to drop my bike (afford repairs) to learn to drive like you. But my wallet can only afford petrol and oil so I must ride very carefully.
They are so damned good. He always breaks everything down and looks at it from as many perspectives as possible. Moreover, unlike many other reviewers, he doesn't seem to show up and have his mind made up ahead of time, about how to classify or think about a bike. Chris seems to always have an open mind, and give a bike its due diligence.
I have several bikes, one of which is a Tiger800 (street) with 705 Shinkos. I shudder to think about flicking that thing about like my KDX in the dirt like some of these guys.
Been looking forward to this! Such a shame Triumph always make the road focussed bikes less good looking (in paint scheme terms) than the off road Rally ones!
As a german speaker, I really appreciate your reporting on that bikes, honest, professional, genuine and very comprehensive. Thanks for not using complicated words for that review 👏🏽! Sofort abonniert…
Wow! Loved your review, very thorough! I own a GS and wouldn’t have even looked at the old Triumph Explorer when it comes to a new bike, but I would now. Great job Triumph!
so its very competitive against the GS, but what about the KTM 1290 super adventure? does it hold a candle to the insane hooligan nature of the austrian machine or is it not as hardcore?
Interesting question. Very interested in answers to these questions... Since i drive this insane hooligan KTM , would love to see/hear opinions on this comparison
Bit more refined than the KTM, especially in how smooth the suspension is. As you say not as hardcore, came close to toppling the KTM off my favourite Adventure bike list, but not quite 😁
@@erwindenengelsen8144 I think all the bikes in this class across the different manufacturers come with different strong points and different compromises. The KTM's strong point is outright power, and torque. But at the expense of a bit of refinement/comfort/fuel economy/heat dissipation. The GS is the opposite end of the scale. Lower BHP. But it's top trump is mega mileage comfort + shaft drive for zero maintenance. The new Tiger seems to pitch somewhere in the middle for me. Decent BHP, quickshifter, decent comfort, bit lighter than the old one, and a bit more character to the engine. But it's not the soft riding wind protected smooth sofa feel of the GS, and It's not going to rival the KTM on hooligan'ism and pure off road/adventure ability.
Really good review. But I have to wonder, how many people are going to buy the Triumph 1200 Rally for a machine to rip off road? What is the market for this bike? I can more easily see the appeal of the 1200 GT Explorer. I’m not bagging the Rally, just wondering what sort of rider this bike really suits.
It’s always an interesting question that - some people do use them off road for sure but I think the perception is that they need to have that off-road credibility so you know that whatever level of riding you choose to do, the bike will be capable of taking it.
Very nice review 👍 I'm very curious to test ride this bike myself, mainly to get a feel of the weight. IMO, the tiger 850/900 is as heavy as an adventure style bike should ever be. Super well balanced, the 216 kg wet weight is almost unnoticeable. So the big question is....Has the 1200 tipped the scales to far in the wrong direction? Can't wait to try one out for myself to determine with tiger is the true king! 💪💪🇬🇧🇵🇹
Another great review Chris, you are certainly the ‘go to guy’ for an honest unbiased test. The Tiger seems to have all the bases covered, but getting folk to swap out their GS for one will be a challenge. However it seems this time Triumph has the bike to do it, let’s see.
Love the side profile of this bike. Triumph is advancing the adventure bike charge like nobody's business. Maybe this will finally prompt BMW to provide an optional 21 on the next GS? Or force Yamaha to produce a new S10?
I’ve owned the Tiger 800XC, which I loved, but always enjoyed the Explorer. Rented it a few times when abroad. Always found the Explorer a great, beautiful but heavy beast. Some incredible innovation by Triumph loosing the 25kgs. Well done Triumph! I am seriously considering it. Thanks for this great review!
You said once in a while you ride a bike that's so good you don't want to give it back - KTM 1290 Super Adventure R - is the Triumph one of those, how do they compare?
Honestly the Triumph has come close but my favourite is still the KTM just for its outright crazy feel and the ability to cope with bigger hits better. On the road the Triumph is definitely the better bike chassis wise.
Assuming it has none of the shadowy shaft drive spline issues of the GS, the new 1200 looks like a winner on price, power and on/off road handling. Being so big, I'd guess huge load carrying capacity and serene long distance comfort both come as standard. Given that only very few potential buyers are ever likely to seriously test the most extreme off road abilities of the bike, it's hard to see a downside to this genuinely unique platform. I think the 1200 is now on an equal but *different* footing to the 1250 AND to the 1290.
I wonder what it is like fully loaded with luggage and pillion over a days riding? If it is a good as a GS in this respect and Triumph up the quality of their dealer back-up then I might just consider one.
I loved this balanced review. Undecided about trading up from the 900 Rally Pro to the 1200 Rally Pro. I already have enough trouble lifting the weight of the 900 out of a mud puddle.
@@jesseonamotorcycle Yes i got it! Its by far the best bike i ever had. I have never had a seat and suspension like this. I can easily spend 3 hours on the the bike with my bad back. After a short rest i can ride for 3 more hours. On other bikes my butt and back hurts after 20 minutes. The engine is great and the clutch is like butter. It´s a big bike so it takes a while to get used to it but it handles phenomenal for being so big. I like the GS but after testriding them both the choice was easy. The Rally Explorer is more comfortable, got more power and is so much more fun to ride 🙂
I think it's a mistake to market the Tiger as a GS beater. I agree with you that riders buy the GS because its a GS. This new 1200 seems to be a great bike in its own right, market it as such, and have faith that the great handling, easy to ride characteristics will tempt people into buying. Colours could be better on GT though, or is everyone grey these days? Prefer my Black/orange Superduke GT.
great bike. but the aux light are in such a position, when the bike fall and it will fall on off road for sure. those aux light will be damage. old tiger 800 has the same problem with indicator placed at similar location which they changed in new version.
I currently ride a 2012 Super Tenere, which I bought in 2018 with very low mileage. I have since put 21,000 miles on it and I love it, but the engine sounds like a lawn tractor. I love triples and thought this might be the ticket, though the old 1200 Explorer was quite a tank. Not sure that I will ever buy one brand new, because they are so pricey. (I paid $6k for my S10, so it's hard to look at $25k and say, "Yeah, sign me up for that!"
What I really appreciate about the new Tiger 1200 series is even if you pick up the GT, it wouldn’t be a dog off-road like say, an S1000XR or Versys 1000 would be. I hardly ever go off road but if I’m on tour I’d like to at least have the confidence I can do some light trail riding to reach a campsite or explore new roads without feeling the bike wanting to wash out all over.
Sorry if I skipped to the off-road mate but OMG, how good it's to watch those brake and turn and throttle slides... Certainly one of my goals as a rider. Excellent approach on the Tiger vs GS thing. I think they'll always look and be different to each other and that's a good thing honestly. Thanks Chris great video. When we'll see one of the 900? Cheers
Excellent review. Spot on. The Triumph looks like a very nice bike and good alternative to the chunky BMW GS. The price is good, it is not cheap, for a quality bike I'd say it is just right. It comes in at about $5,000 cheaper than the GSA, lighter, slimmer, drive shaft, panniers, if the suspension is as good......who cares about all those electronics.
Owned a 2015 tiger 800 and a 2018 1200. The engine was the main reason I like these bikes. Took a 900 for a long test ride, fully expecting to buy it, and was hugely disappointed. It was as if they took everything that made the triple great and tossed it. Why make a triple that feels like a twin? I want a triple because I like the way triples feel. Big mistake for Triumph after all this build up. T-plane crank. Nonsense on the road version. Maybe excusable on the "off-road" version I guess. The wife had already given the go ahead. Looks like I'll be saving my cash for another ride.
Awesome review and opinion!! Trust your opinion basically more than everyone else's. Also, you seem to be unbelievably skilled - This sets the videos and your thoughts on bikes a fair amount apart from other well known reviewers
14:35: please please PLEASE............. will somebody explain to me what the deal is with the 'tiny fraction of a mudguard' at the rear end ?? shit is just gonna fly up in to the bodywork, as well as in the general direction of the rear shock innit ?? btw: not JUST triumph do this................ YOYOY ??
Thanks Chris. Another great review. Sounds like the Rally Pro will be just as good as the GT Pro on road, but with the added bonus of off-road capabilities. Just got myself a Tiger 900 RP for that reason. I think weight wise, this will be around 25kg more than a 900 Rally Pro? Fine on road, but without your off road skills, more of a challenge off-road.
I was saying this in passing to my bike mates the other day, Triumph have really been smashing it in the last couple of years. I'm really excited to see what they come out with in the Enduro category, even more so now seeing how offroad focused these big bikes are! Great video Chris & co.
Great review as usual. I couldn't stop looking at the running lights: maybe it's a bit of an optical illusion depending on the camera angle but they seem really exposed and are predestined for breaking off during the very first tip over. At least on the GT, Triumph could have saved another kilo as the "skid plate" is as high quality as the standard KTM 890 Adventure item (sic) with even less coverage. Otherwise, looks like a job well done.
We have talked about the suspension, engine, chassis....but not once did you mention how comfortable it was (or wasn't). Which is why we buy big adventure bikes in the first place!
Valid point and one it’s tricky to answer until we get one in the UK for a long steady slog. Generally I’ve found that when you’re charging about in corners and fun roads most bikes manage to be comfortable- it needs a long slog back home at the end of the ride to really test that. The wind protection was pretty good, very stable and without much buffering for me at 5’8”. Vibes through the bars were my only real complaint.
Great job Chris, very good analysis, very professional video, and the Tiger in all that? well I just adopted a big Gt pro, and it's my first big trail, after 40 years of motorcycling, it's never too late, and this motorcycle is really successful, I take a little more pleasure each day. thanks again Chris
Triamph are like chinese factories. Wait for established brands to do the hard work of design, test and build and they they copy. VFR, GS... No respect for the brand and certainly not paying gs money for a copy
Nice review, I usually skip the kind of review that talks sweet and all positive about a particular bike but yours stands out. Wish you make another video talking about negative sides of the tiger models. I’m thinking to switch from T120 to tiger GT Pro and I’d like to know more.
Great review, thanks Chris. I had a 2018 3rd Gen Tiger 1200 and it's one of the best bikes I've ever owned. When the better half got her motorcycle licence I traded it in for a 1290 SDR and have always slightly regretted it. It had its flaws don't get me wrong, but it's the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. As much as I love the SDR, all I mostly do now is commute so seriously thinking about trading it in for a new GT PRO. I'll be heading to my local dealer to give it a test ride as soon as they are in!
Triumph says the GT is also extremely capable off road- but only one review took it off road and that was on a light trial that any sports bike could handle. No one is brave enough to put Triumph’s words about the GT’s off road excellence to the test. Is it because no one wants to embarrass GS lovers? Hmmm
Looks pretty substantial on the off road one and we didn’t break any but neither did we really hit much with them. Ivan Cervantes (5x World Enduro Champion) did a demo and was clattering over rocks and truck tyres with one so guessing it’s reasonably tough 👍
Can anyone explain to me why manufacturers STILL insist on putting those *stupid* rubber foot pegs on bikes? They're lethal when they get wet and dirty.
It’s a triumph so quite likely, the 900 rally I find better on the road than GT so I would imagine the 1200 may be similar in that respect. Only one way to find out
@@chrisnorthover7582 Chris you can RIDE THE S--T out of a bike off road. I have ordered a 1200 Rally pro explorer, I like the off road look and I wont to have it I need it. I'm 82 age I hope the vibration is not to bad. I always owned BMW GS Adventure bikes in the past. Your review sold me. I have rode from age 6 to now. Thanks for you input.
Looks great…you should have ridden the rally version with big tank and spoke wheels on the road…that’s where 99% of GSA and this bike will live. With lots of luggage and long tours to the Alps etc. That’s the market if Triumph want to take GS and GSA sales…not ripping it off road 😉👍
We did ride that one on the road and it was a belter. Seemed less vibey than the GT Pro but chassis still absolutely brilliant fun, even with a full 30-litres of fuel on board. Would be nice to ride one as you say full of luggage on a long trip - if it retains its composure fully loaded then it will be a good bet.
is it just me , but all i learnt here (and in all this guys videos) is that a excellent rider can ride a bike excellently, and show off. back in the real world we have the press pack and little more.
There are plenty of people on the launch who’ll read you the spec sheet, our vids are more about the riding experience. We want to inspire you to go and have a ride for yourself. Thanks for the feedback though.
@@BikeWorldTVshow thanks for the reply, if you were to ask me what i am interested in, then I would say real world life with the bike, fit and finish, how does the bike feel when ridden at legal speeds, is the clutch action heavy, does the screen work, how is it for slow speed, how do the brakes feel/work, what is the steering lock like, does it feel top heavy, easy to wheel around, be good to know about the rider aids and the luggage. Not really interested in the specs tbh. I just get a feeling that most bike reviewers (exc. TMF) live in a different biking world to me, maybe i am the exception and everyone rides the TT and Dakar 😄
@@ru54623 Get where you're coming from, Chris does cover some of that stuff off in this vid. But, it's difficult to go into that much detail on a launch, one of the reason you won't see TMF on launches. You need to live with a bike for a while. Also, we're a TV show and our content is slightly more lifestyle based. Sorry we can't offer you more.
Rally pro comes on Metzeler Karoo Street - surprisingly capable off Road as long as it’s dry - we rode off road on the approved tyre option which is the Michelin Anakee Wild.
KTM for going fast and hitting big stuff, Triumph for front end feel and for not getting deflected by medium bumps and rocks. But I think we better do a back to back just to be sure 😁😇
Why no bike with 19/17 spoked wheels, a hybrid combination. Spoked wheels are stronger than a cast wheel and tire choice and performance better than 21/18 on the street. This is where the GS holds an advantage.
Exactly what I said. Spoke wheels are stronger and not just for dirt bikes. I run, depending on my plans over the duration of the tires, Michellin Wilds or Adventures, on the 19/17 spoked wheels on my BMW GSA and KTM 1290SA wheels
Honestly the 21/18 combination works so well on the road on this bike that it almost makes the 19/18 setup redundant, especially if you’re looking for a bike to do both.
Have a RP 900 and love it. Besides some teething problems (bought one of the first models). In a couple of years will upgrade it to the the 1200 I think. Will be a though choice as I always wanted to own a GS....
Well done, excellent review. Reliable advice, because you can actually ride the bikes hard, therefore descovering the bikes good and bad points. Best Tiger review I have watched so far!
There can’t be many journos, actually - strike that - there can’t be many PEOPLE who can extract as much from a bike both ON and OFF ROAD as Chris. Great, balanced, intelligent review. I own a 2019 Tiger 1200 XRT and have pondered whether to even test one as the price has gone up a lot since I bought mine. If nothing else, Chris’s review encourages me to at least TRY the new bike.
Chris, your videos made me subscribe to this channel. You're an unreal rider... I'm about to pull the trigger on either the 2023 Tiger 1200 Rally or the 2022 R1250GS. The Pan America and Honda Africa Twin AS are close options. I've been riding sportbikes on the track and on the road for 20 years, but this would be my first adventure bike. I'm loving the horsepower rating of the Tiger, but I feel the BMW may be a better adventure bike for an "off road" novice? Plus, I want a bike that can still pull a wheelie when I feel the need like my sportbikes, which I read the GS loves doing it lol. What would you recommend ?
1290 SAS has more power and torque. I don't think even Triumph knows what they're doing, they make a dozen barely different twin cylinder nakeds, yet can't make a proper twin cylinder adv.
If someone wants to beat BMW at their own game, why doesn't someone else make a boxer type engine. Nothing is going to handle like a GS. A big tall 3 cylinder. I don't care what crankshaft you put in it. Cool and unique in its own right.. and that is all it will be. It will also be hard to get and the dealers are overcharged for them. Like everything else right now. This is not the economic climate to be making top-of-the-line 25 $30,000 bikes. But hey there's an ass for every seat
Let's me say this, Chris is the best bike reviewer that've come across and I've seen a lot of different reviewer. All around, everything I need to know about the bike. Amazing.
They’ve done a lot to manage the flow of air and heat and it wasn’t a problem on the launch, although ambient temperatures were pretty mild around the 15 degC mark.
Not that these types of bikes appeal to me, but why oh why have they used the graphics on the dash from the new Speed Triple? Surely they could have made different graphics for this type of bike? Screams of laziness.
THE definitive review by the best reviewer going at the moment. Chris never fails to deliver a rounded, trust worthy opinion in his usual humble, classy and funny way. Another solid review.
great to see he can ride the dame thing !!!!!!
Man your reviews... are so good! The other thing is I wish I can afford to drop my bike (afford repairs) to learn to drive like you. But my wallet can only afford petrol and oil so I must ride very carefully.
They are so damned good. He always breaks everything down and looks at it from as many perspectives as possible. Moreover, unlike many other reviewers, he doesn't seem to show up and have his mind made up ahead of time, about how to classify or think about a bike. Chris seems to always have an open mind, and give a bike its due diligence.
I have several bikes, one of which is a Tiger800 (street) with 705 Shinkos. I shudder to think about flicking that thing about like my KDX in the dirt like some of these guys.
To learn do it on an OLD cheap dual sport, not your pride and joy proper bike
you are becoming my favorite moto reviewer...excellent balance of technical details blended with your subjective observations and humor! well done....
Exactly. That's what I was about to write.
Been looking forward to this! Such a shame Triumph always make the road focussed bikes less good looking (in paint scheme terms) than the off road Rally ones!
you're right, the Rally does look cool.
I totally agree with you! After sitting on the bike a few times now, and hope to test it myself soon - probably less fiercely than Chris!
Erm, marketing maybe.
Agreed!
I hear the matt khaki green for the 900 is being dropped this year as well. Am interested to know what the new scheme will be.
Spot on TMF
The best bike tester without a shadow of a doubt. I know he won't sugar coat failings and by god can he ride.
I can say with complete certainty that you’re reviews are the best on any bike. Well done sir!!!
Thanks Mark, we work hard on these vids. 👍🏻
Looks and sounds the business! Your reviews always seem on point, thanks for the video!
As a german speaker, I really appreciate your reporting on that bikes, honest, professional, genuine and very comprehensive. Thanks for not using complicated words for that review 👏🏽! Sofort abonniert…
I didn't know what riding a bike really meant until I met Chris. Awesome stuff like always, thank you for your work!! 🚀
To me it seems more competition for KTM than the GS. Great review and great riding/filming.
Wow! Loved your review, very thorough! I own a GS and wouldn’t have even looked at the old Triumph Explorer when it comes to a new bike, but I would now. Great job Triumph!
THE most skill full bike journalist in the business (imho 😎). Nice bike, great review cheers Chris 👍🏻
definitely knows what he is doing with these machines, that's for sure.
so its very competitive against the GS, but what about the KTM 1290 super adventure? does it hold a candle to the insane hooligan nature of the austrian machine or is it not as hardcore?
Interesting question. Very interested in answers to these questions... Since i drive this insane hooligan KTM , would love to see/hear opinions on this comparison
Bit more refined than the KTM, especially in how smooth the suspension is. As you say not as hardcore, came close to toppling the KTM off my favourite Adventure bike list, but not quite 😁
@@erwindenengelsen8144 I think all the bikes in this class across the different manufacturers come with different strong points and different compromises. The KTM's strong point is outright power, and torque. But at the expense of a bit of refinement/comfort/fuel economy/heat dissipation. The GS is the opposite end of the scale. Lower BHP. But it's top trump is mega mileage comfort + shaft drive for zero maintenance. The new Tiger seems to pitch somewhere in the middle for me. Decent BHP, quickshifter, decent comfort, bit lighter than the old one, and a bit more character to the engine. But it's not the soft riding wind protected smooth sofa feel of the GS, and It's not going to rival the KTM on hooligan'ism and pure off road/adventure ability.
@@davesimm então a TIGER oferece o melhor dos dois mundo de forma bem equilibrada, um pouco de cada!
Best bike reviewer imo, thanks for your hard work
Really good review. But I have to wonder, how many people are going to buy the Triumph 1200 Rally for a machine to rip off road? What is the market for this bike? I can more easily see the appeal of the 1200 GT Explorer.
I’m not bagging the Rally, just wondering what sort of rider this bike really suits.
It’s always an interesting question that - some people do use them off road for sure but I think the perception is that they need to have that off-road credibility so you know that whatever level of riding you choose to do, the bike will be capable of taking it.
Skipped the first half🤪, enjoyed the second half
Very nice review 👍
I'm very curious to test ride this bike myself, mainly to get a feel of the weight.
IMO, the tiger 850/900 is as heavy as an adventure style bike should ever be. Super well balanced, the 216 kg wet weight is almost unnoticeable.
So the big question is....Has the 1200 tipped the scales to far in the wrong direction?
Can't wait to try one out for myself to determine with tiger is the true king! 💪💪🇬🇧🇵🇹
Another great review Chris, you are certainly the ‘go to guy’ for an honest unbiased test. The Tiger seems to have all the bases covered, but getting folk to swap out their GS for one will be a challenge. However it seems this time Triumph has the bike to do it, let’s see.
Love the side profile of this bike. Triumph is advancing the adventure bike charge like nobody's business. Maybe this will finally prompt BMW to provide an optional 21 on the next GS? Or force Yamaha to produce a new S10?
I’ve owned the Tiger 800XC, which I loved, but always enjoyed the Explorer. Rented it a few times when abroad. Always found the Explorer a great, beautiful but heavy beast. Some incredible innovation by Triumph loosing the 25kgs. Well done Triumph! I am seriously considering it.
Thanks for this great review!
You said once in a while you ride a bike that's so good you don't want to give it back - KTM 1290 Super Adventure R - is the Triumph one of those, how do they compare?
Honestly the Triumph has come close but my favourite is still the KTM just for its outright crazy feel and the ability to cope with bigger hits better. On the road the Triumph is definitely the better bike chassis wise.
Assuming it has none of the shadowy shaft drive spline issues of the GS, the new 1200 looks like a winner on price, power and on/off road handling. Being so big, I'd guess huge load carrying capacity and serene long distance comfort both come as standard. Given that only very few potential buyers are ever likely to seriously test the most extreme off road abilities of the bike, it's hard to see a downside to this genuinely unique platform. I think the 1200 is now on an equal but *different* footing to the 1250 AND to the 1290.
The 900 GT PRO also buzzes at highway speeds. Got tired of it and sold it. Fake character is not needed for a triple.
Thanks Chris. Great review. I watched your review of the KTM 1290 super adventure, how does this compare with that?
Closer to the Super Adventure S than the R, not quite as mad but with a better chassis setup on the road for sure.
I wonder what it is like fully loaded with luggage and pillion over a days riding? If it is a good as a GS in this respect and Triumph up the quality of their dealer back-up then I might just consider one.
Still finding hard to believe that is better off-roading than the 900 RP!
What about this vs the Multi v4 you rode a few days back ??? If you had to choose one ??
Need some more road time on the Multi but definitely prefer the Tiger off road.
I loved this balanced review. Undecided about trading up from the 900 Rally Pro to the 1200 Rally Pro. I already have enough trouble lifting the weight of the 900 out of a mud puddle.
I´m waiting for my Rally Explorer! When i took this bike out for a ride i was sold. This is going to be a great summer :-)
Jonas did you get the Rally Explorer? How are you liking it ?
@@jesseonamotorcycle Yes i got it! Its by far the best bike i ever had. I have never had a seat and suspension like this. I can easily spend 3 hours on the the bike with my bad back. After a short rest i can ride for 3 more hours. On other bikes my butt and back hurts after 20 minutes. The engine is great and the clutch is like butter. It´s a big bike so it takes a while to get used to it but it handles phenomenal for being so big. I like the GS but after testriding them both the choice was easy. The Rally Explorer is more comfortable, got more power and is so much more fun to ride 🙂
I think it's a mistake to market the Tiger as a GS beater. I agree with you that riders buy the GS because its a GS. This new 1200 seems to be a great bike in its own right, market it as such, and have faith that the great handling, easy to ride characteristics will tempt people into buying. Colours could be better on GT though, or is everyone grey these days?
Prefer my Black/orange Superduke GT.
That is a sharp looking motorcycle👍 absolutely love the way it looks. That windscreen is done so right!
great bike. but the aux light are in such a position, when the bike fall and it will fall on off road for sure. those aux light will be damage. old tiger 800 has the same problem with indicator placed at similar location which they changed in new version.
Do you have any plans for testing the 2.gen S1000XR soon? I would love your take on it.
Great video and review. Great riding skills. I really enjoyed this.
Cheers!
The whole reason I want a Tiger Explorer is the whirring, sonorous triple. Now they've CHANGED it?? UGHHHH!!
It sounds really good up in the Revs, you thinking of getting one Christopher G?
I currently ride a 2012 Super Tenere, which I bought in 2018 with very low mileage. I have since put 21,000 miles on it and I love it, but the engine sounds like a lawn tractor. I love triples and thought this might be the ticket, though the old 1200 Explorer was quite a tank. Not sure that I will ever buy one brand new, because they are so pricey. (I paid $6k for my S10, so it's hard to look at $25k and say, "Yeah, sign me up for that!"
What I really appreciate about the new Tiger 1200 series is even if you pick up the GT, it wouldn’t be a dog off-road like say, an S1000XR or Versys 1000 would be. I hardly ever go off road but if I’m on tour I’d like to at least have the confidence I can do some light trail riding to reach a campsite or explore new roads without feeling the bike wanting to wash out all over.
You just spoke for at least 80% of Adventure bike owners.
Sorry if I skipped to the off-road mate but OMG, how good it's to watch those brake and turn and throttle slides... Certainly one of my goals as a rider. Excellent approach on the Tiger vs GS thing. I think they'll always look and be different to each other and that's a good thing honestly.
Thanks Chris great video.
When we'll see one of the 900?
Cheers
Hoping to get out on one this year with the guys at the Triumph Adventure Academy.
Excellent review. Spot on. The Triumph looks like a very nice bike and good alternative to the chunky BMW GS. The price is good, it is not cheap, for a quality bike I'd say it is just right. It comes in at about $5,000 cheaper than the GSA, lighter, slimmer, drive shaft, panniers, if the suspension is as good......who cares about all those electronics.
Owned a 2015 tiger 800 and a 2018 1200. The engine was the main reason I like these bikes. Took a 900 for a long test ride, fully expecting to buy it, and was hugely disappointed. It was as if they took everything that made the triple great and tossed it. Why make a triple that feels like a twin? I want a triple because I like the way triples feel. Big mistake for Triumph after all this build up. T-plane crank. Nonsense on the road version. Maybe excusable on the "off-road" version I guess. The wife had already given the go ahead. Looks like I'll be saving my cash for another ride.
I have to agree mate. I have a triumph speed triple RS .. can’t imagine that with the new configuration! Don’t make sense at all.
Gave the go ahead? You have to ask for permission?
Awesome review and opinion!!
Trust your opinion basically more than everyone else's.
Also, you seem to be unbelievably skilled - This sets the videos and your thoughts on bikes a fair amount apart from other well known reviewers
Awesome vid again!
The only problem watching you is it highlights how shit I am on my bike! 😂😂😂😂
14:35: please please PLEASE............. will somebody explain to me what the deal is with the 'tiny fraction of a mudguard' at the rear end ?? shit is just gonna fly up in to the bodywork, as well as in the general direction of the rear shock innit ?? btw: not JUST triumph do this................ YOYOY ??
Thanks Chris. Another great review. Sounds like the Rally Pro will be just as good as the GT Pro on road, but with the added bonus of off-road capabilities. Just got myself a Tiger 900 RP for that reason. I think weight wise, this will be around 25kg more than a 900 Rally Pro? Fine on road, but without your off road skills, more of a challenge off-road.
How do you compare it with the multistrada v4 S ?
Ricardo have you seen Ducati’s new multi rally. Awesome bike. Expensive though but it’s a Ducati lol
I was saying this in passing to my bike mates the other day, Triumph have really been smashing it in the last couple of years.
I'm really excited to see what they come out with in the Enduro category, even more so now seeing how offroad focused these big bikes are! Great video Chris & co.
No disrespect to any other reviewer; this is the first time I understand the variant explanations.
One of the best road testers out there
I really enjoyed your video. 🤩 ⭐️
Thanks for Sharing! 👍🏼💕
Great review as usual. I couldn't stop looking at the running lights: maybe it's a bit of an optical illusion depending on the camera angle but they seem really exposed and are predestined for breaking off during the very first tip over. At least on the GT, Triumph could have saved another kilo as the "skid plate" is as high quality as the standard KTM 890 Adventure item (sic) with even less coverage. Otherwise, looks like a job well done.
We have talked about the suspension, engine, chassis....but not once did you mention how comfortable it was (or wasn't). Which is why we buy big adventure bikes in the first place!
Valid point and one it’s tricky to answer until we get one in the UK for a long steady slog. Generally I’ve found that when you’re charging about in corners and fun roads most bikes manage to be comfortable- it needs a long slog back home at the end of the ride to really test that. The wind protection was pretty good, very stable and without much buffering for me at 5’8”. Vibes through the bars were my only real complaint.
@@chrisnorthover7582 Sounds like a plan Chris!! Can't wait for you guys to do a further review after putting some serious miles in the saddle!
Excellent in depth review. What a bike, one for every need and pocket.
I have a 2022 Street Triple RS and love it. The new Tiger 1200 is going to be my next bike!!!
EJ awesome bike, when do you plan on getting a Tiger ?
Thank you for great review with a real passion. It looks more natural to compare it to KTM 1290 SAS/SAR, than to GS, imho
Great job Chris, very good analysis, very professional video, and the Tiger in all that? well I just adopted a big Gt pro, and it's my first big trail, after 40 years of motorcycling, it's never too late, and this motorcycle is really successful, I take a little more pleasure each day. thanks again Chris
Triamph are like chinese factories. Wait for established brands to do the hard work of design, test and build and they they copy. VFR, GS... No respect for the brand and certainly not paying gs money for a copy
Nice review, I usually skip the kind of review that talks sweet and all positive about a particular bike but yours stands out. Wish you make another video talking about negative sides of the tiger models. I’m thinking to switch from T120 to tiger GT Pro and I’d like to know more.
Great review, thanks Chris. I had a 2018 3rd Gen Tiger 1200 and it's one of the best bikes I've ever owned. When the better half got her motorcycle licence I traded it in for a 1290 SDR and have always slightly regretted it. It had its flaws don't get me wrong, but it's the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. As much as I love the SDR, all I mostly do now is commute so seriously thinking about trading it in for a new GT PRO. I'll be heading to my local dealer to give it a test ride as soon as they are in!
Triumph says the GT is also extremely capable off road- but only one review took it off road and that was on a light trial that any sports bike could handle.
No one is brave enough to put Triumph’s words about the GT’s off road excellence to the test. Is it because no one wants to embarrass GS lovers? Hmmm
Sorry mates, but for aprox. 20k Euro...I find it unacepable to drive with 2 Urine Probes on the handlebar.
Awesome vid and review , is the bash plate any good ...
Looks pretty substantial on the off road one and we didn’t break any but neither did we really hit much with them. Ivan Cervantes (5x World Enduro Champion) did a demo and was clattering over rocks and truck tyres with one so guessing it’s reasonably tough 👍
Really nice review and ride skills, how does it compare to the multistrada V4S you've reviewed off road ?
Little better in terms of chassis, although I preferred the throttle feel and low speed balance of the Ducati.
Can anyone explain to me why manufacturers STILL insist on putting those *stupid* rubber foot pegs on bikes? They're lethal when they get wet and dirty.
Excellent review once more!! My compliments and… greetings from Greece!!
This bloke knows how to review bikes. Good job.
Thanks @BikeWorld! So would we be happy with the 21” inch front also on tarmac and road tyres or does the 19” version make a big difference?
This! I like off road AND the twisties
It’s a triumph so quite likely, the 900 rally I find better on the road than GT so I would imagine the 1200 may be similar in that respect. Only one way to find out
21” felt just as good as the 19” on the roads we rode, plus the extra ground clearance meant more lean angle to play with before the pegs touched.
@@chrisnorthover7582 Chris you can RIDE THE S--T out of a bike off road. I have ordered a 1200 Rally pro explorer, I like the off road look and I wont to have it I need it.
I'm 82 age I hope the vibration is not to bad. I always owned BMW GS Adventure bikes in the past. Your review sold me. I have rode from age 6 to now. Thanks for you input.
👍💪🏍💪👍 Very nice Maestro ✅👌🏍
Looks great…you should have ridden the rally version with big tank and spoke wheels on the road…that’s where 99% of GSA and this bike will live. With lots of luggage and long tours to the Alps etc. That’s the market if Triumph want to take GS and GSA sales…not ripping it off road 😉👍
We did ride that one on the road and it was a belter. Seemed less vibey than the GT Pro but chassis still absolutely brilliant fun, even with a full 30-litres of fuel on board. Would be nice to ride one as you say full of luggage on a long trip - if it retains its composure fully loaded then it will be a good bet.
Glad to see that drive shaft as BMW and Moto Guzzi
Thanks.Can you set a course, any course and compete against the BMW??
20 minutes for another... It's not a GS, so buy a GS vid. Sigh.
Great review!
Perfect commentary which seems to me a very honest and unbiased review !!
First class review mate, thank you,
Offroad, do you ride with TC off to get the weel off the ground? Or is it ok in one of the riding modes?
If it vibrated like the 900 at 100km/h, it's not for me!
Compare it with Harley pan am.
Great video, what will it be like on my Welsh Roads
is it just me , but all i learnt here (and in all this guys videos) is that a excellent rider can ride a bike excellently, and show off. back in the real world we have the press pack and little more.
There are plenty of people on the launch who’ll read you the spec sheet, our vids are more about the riding experience. We want to inspire you to go and have a ride for yourself. Thanks for the feedback though.
@@BikeWorldTVshow thanks for the reply, if you were to ask me what i am interested in, then I would say real world life with the bike, fit and finish, how does the bike feel when ridden at legal speeds, is the clutch action heavy, does the screen work, how is it for slow speed, how do the brakes feel/work, what is the steering lock like, does it feel top heavy, easy to wheel around, be good to know about the rider aids and the luggage. Not really interested in the specs tbh. I just get a feeling that most bike reviewers (exc. TMF) live in a different biking world to me, maybe i am the exception and everyone rides the TT and Dakar 😄
@@ru54623 Get where you're coming from, Chris does cover some of that stuff off in this vid. But, it's difficult to go into that much detail on a launch, one of the reason you won't see TMF on launches. You need to live with a bike for a while. Also, we're a TV show and our content is slightly more lifestyle based. Sorry we can't offer you more.
@@BikeWorldTVshow fair comment, i do enjoy the content, just less relevant to me 👍
I really like how enthousiastic Chris is. Another proper video! Keep it up team.
looks a great bit of kit,what tyres are they putting on the rally pro? and what were you using off road during the test?
Rally pro comes on Metzeler Karoo Street - surprisingly capable off Road as long as it’s dry - we rode off road on the approved tyre option which is the Michelin Anakee Wild.
Which bike is better off road? KTM 1290r or Tiger 1200 Rally pro
KTM for going fast and hitting big stuff, Triumph for front end feel and for not getting deflected by medium bumps and rocks. But I think we better do a back to back just to be sure 😁😇
Great review and enjoyable presentation style - keep it up mate 👍
The only true BMW GS beater is the next BMW GS
best bike reviews on youtube!
Great review, thanks for the info
Excelent!! Thanks! :-)
man, this was really a great review! Thanks, subbed immediately at the 1st wheelie
Why no bike with 19/17 spoked wheels, a hybrid combination. Spoked wheels are stronger than a cast wheel and tire choice and performance better than 21/18 on the street. This is where the GS holds an advantage.
Spooks are for off-roading. The aluminum can crack easily. That's why no dirt bike comes with mags.
Exactly what I said. Spoke wheels are stronger and not just for dirt bikes. I run, depending on my plans over the duration of the tires, Michellin Wilds or Adventures, on the 19/17 spoked wheels on my BMW GSA and KTM 1290SA wheels
Honestly the 21/18 combination works so well on the road on this bike that it almost makes the 19/18 setup redundant, especially if you’re looking for a bike to do both.
I really wish some reviewers would just tell it like it is. There's positive and negative to everything.
💯
Have a RP 900 and love it. Besides some teething problems (bought one of the first models). In a couple of years will upgrade it to the the 1200 I think. Will be a though choice as I always wanted to own a GS....
Well done, excellent review. Reliable advice, because you can actually ride the bikes hard, therefore descovering the bikes good and bad points. Best Tiger review I have watched so far!
Pity a new gs + gsa is around the corner 😉
Hello Chris, I would love to see your take on the Africa Twin 1100! You are the best reviewer!
There can’t be many journos, actually - strike that - there can’t be many PEOPLE who can extract as much from a bike both ON and OFF ROAD as Chris. Great, balanced, intelligent review. I own a 2019 Tiger 1200 XRT and have pondered whether to even test one as the price has gone up a lot since I bought mine. If nothing else, Chris’s review encourages me to at least TRY the new bike.
Chris, your videos made me subscribe to this channel. You're an unreal rider...
I'm about to pull the trigger on either the 2023 Tiger 1200 Rally or the 2022 R1250GS. The Pan America and Honda Africa Twin AS are close options. I've been riding sportbikes on the track and on the road for 20 years, but this would be my first adventure bike. I'm loving the horsepower rating of the Tiger, but I feel the BMW may be a better adventure bike for an "off road" novice? Plus, I want a bike that can still pull a wheelie when I feel the need like my sportbikes, which I read the GS loves doing it lol. What would you recommend ?
1290 SAS has more power and torque. I don't think even Triumph knows what they're doing, they make a dozen barely different twin cylinder nakeds, yet can't make a proper twin cylinder adv.
If someone wants to beat BMW at their own game, why doesn't someone else make a boxer type engine. Nothing is going to handle like a GS. A big tall 3 cylinder. I don't care what crankshaft you put in it. Cool and unique in its own right.. and that is all it will be. It will also be hard to get and the dealers are overcharged for them. Like everything else right now. This is not the economic climate to be making top-of-the-line 25 $30,000 bikes. But hey there's an ass for every seat
Let's me say this, Chris is the best bike reviewer that've come across and I've seen a lot of different reviewer. All around, everything I need to know about the bike. Amazing.
Nice review, engine heat used to be an issue, did they adress that?
They’ve done a lot to manage the flow of air and heat and it wasn’t a problem on the launch, although ambient temperatures were pretty mild around the 15 degC mark.
Not that these types of bikes appeal to me, but why oh why have they used the graphics on the dash from the new Speed Triple? Surely they could have made different graphics for this type of bike? Screams of laziness.