Tiger 1200 vs GS1250 Review - At last!
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- Опубліковано 6 чер 2022
- At last I've been able to get my hands on the new Triumph Tiger 1200 to carry out a detailed review and compare it to the BMW R1250GS. Is the new Tiger a GS beater as Triumph claim? Stay tuned to find out my opinion on the subject...
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I pick up this same bike today for testing. I like that Triumph has the option for the 21 inch front wheel for serious off roading, but have the GT version for folks who want to primarily ride on the highway. I filmed the GT Pro already, huge fan of this new Tiger.
Thank you for the ride review. The new Tiger is very exciting. All of the comparisons to the GS are very helpful. I definitely want to try the tele-lever front suspension on the Beemer. All of my conventionally suspended motorcycles have had some brake dive - so I'm used to it. However, the tele-lever sounds nice for all-day touring on the highway.
Nice to see the Rally version being tested even though it might not be your preferred model! I hope that brake dive can be reduced by playing with the suspension (wonder if it has a "braking support" option in the settings)... as someone who likes a sporty ride now and then that dive would do my head in. Can't wait to see what the new generation of GS/boxer brings to the table!
Hi Andy,Another straight and honest review which I really enjoy about your videos.
I would like to hear a review of the 1200 GT Pro and how it compares with its smaller brother,the 900 Gt Pro.
Happy riding 😊
Been waiting on this vid!
Glad you cut to the chase with the rider experience, Andy, and delivered with your usual panache as well.
Cheers for taking the time.
The cameo by Chops was hilarious!
🍻🍻🍻
Glad you watched all the way through and spotted that! Cheers for the kind comments....
I'm so pleased you've also noticed the weed smell more these days, I was just saying this the other day!
Yeah not good is it - I have no issue with it in private but not driving under the influence…
@@TheMissendenFlyer I couldn't agree more
Be nice to learn your thoughts when you get a chance to ride the GT Pro. My dealer lent me one when my bike was in for a service. I was able to take it on my normal route to test. It gave me a chance to play with the settings. I found the sport mode a little to abrupt and snatchy but liked the firmer suspension set-up. So I just dialled up the suspension settings in road mode. This reduced the brake dive and I had the the benefit of a less sensitive throttle. In practice, I’d probably leave the bike in this set up for 90% of my riding, or set this up in the rider-configurable mode. The bike I had did have the vibes but I generally pass through them on the A and B type roads that I typically ride, so not a deal breaker. I didn’t gel with the T-Plane motor initially and think the previous generation configuration would suit my road riding needs better. However, after a few hours I started to befriend the T-Plane mill and enjoy it’s character; it really does have 2 personalities and is fun transitioning through them. I’m only 5’7” and the 850mm seat height was manageable but on my limits, I’d probably opt for the low seat (830mm) which also adds heating. Resale value is something I look at so a low mileage second hand one might be the wise choice. My Triumph dealer is very close and is good. The closest BMW dealer is 4 hours away. This last point could be the deciding factor and pull me towards a new Tiger. We’ll see. Thanks for the review Andy.
Thank you for your thoughts!
Found your channel by chance. Really enjoyed the small print! Great reviews, in the market for a bigger bike and your opinions and thoughts help. Great content!!
Welcome aboard!
As always, an excellent review and very value added. I need to catch up on my monthly bike news vids so you can educate me on the new GS. Hopefully headed back to the US next year after 10 year stint in Japan so a new GS is on the top of my list (#2 is finally buying a house by the way!)
Well done Andy, I’ve been waiting months for this and it didn’t disappoint. Shame they didn’t give you a GT.
Yes it was, I did ask!
@@TheMissendenFlyer no it’s a rally pro not a gt.
Indeed, I asked for the GT but was told one wasn't available and got the Rally pro as shown here.....
@@TheMissendenFlyer oh I do apologise Andy. Interpreted your comment as you saying that it was a gt but of course you meant that it was a shame. Again apologies
Really good review of how the bike feels to ride 👍 Wouldn't want the more off road TE though, a hard packed track is as offroad as I'd go, or 99 % of would be owners I dare say !
Totally agree Nick - thanks for watching!
Hi Nick, you just reminded me of when a friend of mine and I rode up to the Scottish Borders and into Kielder , great place and scenery. We both owned Tiger 800's back then and my pal had bought the spoked wheel version, I forget the model, mine was the road version. Anyway, we noticed lots of gravel tracks and I said, shall we give one or two of them a go and he said, oh I don't fancy going off road !! It was hardly off road, we did go on a few of these gravelly tracks and the bikes performed impeccably. There was always in the back of my mind, what if I drop this, it's probably going to hurt and it could be expensive !! I certainly wouldn't want to take a £17k bike off road. Cheers.
I find myself living vicariously through your reviews. Even if I could decide which bike to buy I can't afford one until next year.
Great review, I was at the factory visitor centre in Hinckley this morning and these tigers look lovely up close.
Current GS owner and past explorer owner, test road GT Pro, exceptional engine, fork dive was intolerable, better in many ways to the GS, but as a package the GS can’t be beaten
Fork dive depends on your suspension settings.
Just bought a 1200 GT Pro
I traded my Rocket 3 for it and I’m completely in love with my Tiger
I don’t know how I ever got along without a quick shifter, it’s buttery smooth
I’m 5’ 7” so I have the seat at the lowest setting. I can touch the balls of my feet on the ground, but I do mount the bike with the kickstand down lol
The Rocket had allotta front end dive under hard breaking so, I don’t notice any on the GT Pro.
I’ve already forgotten about the Rocket
I LOVE my Tiger 1200 GT Pro
P.S. I’ve always had a thing for Triumph LOL
Me too....
I’ve been looking forward to this review and enjoyed it as much as I hoped I would. As some others have said a slight pity that it wasn’t the GT version as I think that would be a better overall comparison. Been a big fan and subscriber of the channel since I came across ‘The Missenden Flyer’ 3 years ago whilst searching for reviews of the Tiger 800 XRX (which I went on to buy and still own). Really looking forward to your latest tour videos. Keep up the good work 🏍👍
Thank you Mike - appreciate that! I did ask for the GT but was told one wasn't available.....
Great Review as always. Loved the LCR clip at the end! Great fun. Also, turns out I am very skilled at video pausing. I had no idea! I totally agree btw.
Well done! A new skill mastered!
GS for me... on my second one now, totally brilliant go anywhere bike (and no fork dive - which I think you have to live with one for a while to fully appreciate that.... Its one of the undesirable things I always immediately notice on any other bike now ) Plus I value the 3 yrs warranty which is a must for me on these increasingly tech bikes. You are right, the margins between all these adv tourers are getting finer but for me the BMW is "just right". Hope the new one has mirror integrated indicators which I think all bikes should have.... ? I like the Tiger though and no doubt it will be a success, the big triple motors pull like a freight train ! Pipes out of fork tops looks a bit ropey ...
I’m definitely with you on this one. The big thing with the GS is the “living with it” factor. This for me is the big deal with GS’s and always has been. The more you ride it the better it gets. The more things you use it for, the better it gets. Commute, running errands, doing the food shopping touring, whatever and that’s where it really wins out for me. Arguably the Triumph should be better at everything, it’s come out 4 years later. So bench mark the opposition, make your new bike 5% better on everything and you have a winner. It’s good to have choice, though I hope that BMW don’t get sucked in to the power and weight battle. Power near max rpm means nothing to me, big torque at 5000rpm does. I’ll take the few kg penalty for telelever front suspension, it’s something that keeps the GS different. In fact I personally wish they still had the old style indicator switches, miles better 😂
Yep, 3yrs warranty. Just enough to cover the rental crowd, and let the used market owners pick up the (expensive) pieces.
Triumph bikes now also have a 3 year warranty
@@hollowaysteve So let’s say the “rental crowd” as you call it get rid of their bikes after a 3 year PCP. Chances are that they will be sold back to the dealer for another PCP perhaps. If that’s the case then in BMW dealers at least, that bike will be sold with a 2 year approved used warranty so that bike will have been covered for a total of 5 years in this use profile. There will likely be an option to purchase another year though arguable whether that’s worth it as some items are not covered. I assume it will be a similar story with Triumph. So while there will be some cases for sure that do not fit this profile the 3 year PCP bikes will often fit it
@@timwhite3250 Exactly. So as I say. The rental crowd are covered
Great video.
I had a test ride of one of these a few weeks ago and thought it was great.
For me, it was a tie between the Tiger 900 and 1200. I decided to go for the 900 primarily because of the cost.
I did a test ride on the GS as well, however, I didn't like it that much. Pretty much everything was great with it but the one thing I found that put me off was the Boxer engine. Not that the engine wasn't great as an engine, it's just I kept hitting it with my size 14 feet.
Because it's right there in front of you and sticks out quite far there was nowhere to stretch out your legs. So after just a 40-minute ride, I felt my legs cramping and had no easy way to give them a little stretch.
I've very excited to get my new bike, the end of July feels like forever away.
Hi ...would just say...the tank range and mpg is not so good on the ducati v4s....quite a consideration when travelling....the bmw gs is noisy engine wise when pulling up at junctions etc. I know I've owned 5 of them....the triumph for me 6'2" is nicer all round ...getting mine delivered today...:-) Good channel by the way.......
I have size 15s -You can just about stretch out your legs under the cylinder if you are careful n ot to touch the road!!
Helpful comment. BMW reliability issues, the loud engine noise I've heard about and the vulnerability of those cylinders make me tempted to not even bother test-riding a GS.
@@craigfinnegan8534 If you're worried about mechanical noise I would recommend an Energica or Zero.
Size 15, 6ft6in. Never had a problem with cylinder heads on a GS as the footpegs are quite far back. The R18 is another matter.
Great review Missenden Flyer! 👍🏻
As an ATAS MT owner, I'd say the new Africa Twin feels lighter/more nimble than the 1250GS (with a 24.8L tank). It has a more feature-laden TFT display with CarPlay, which makes using Google Maps a joy. The touch-screen is an interesting feature, which admittedly felt like a bit of a gimmick at first, but over time was convenient to use with the gloves on. The slow speed fueling/throttle mapping is incredible, and although it makes only a 100-odd HP, the power delivery makes for a brisk pace when necessary. It runs on 91 RON E10 (recommended by Honda) which is a must for a country like India where the availability of premium fuel is scarce. For someone looking for a liter class adventure bike to use off-road OCCASIONALLY (this use-case feels like a sin even as I type it :D), the ATAS MT/DCT makes more sense than this Tiger 1200 Rally Pro. Find the Tiger 1200 GT line to be the more interesting proposition, with it's 19/18 setup. Looking forward to test-ride both variants!
Great review. Nice to see you open it up a bit and ticking along at a higher speed than usual. The cyclops headlight looks a bit odd, as opposed to the previous model with the twin lenses reminding you of the Street Triple.
Spot on! The fact is that GS remains the bike against which all adventure tourers are compared. There are certainly reasonable decisions made by buyers to choose another bike over the GS but it is the best vehicle on the market, certainly for your typical rider. While excelling as an adventure tourer it also still qualifies as perhaps the best large displacement all-around motorcycle in the world.
I did note that Kinga of "On Her Bike" is starting a tour of Australia on a Husqvarna Norden, which she sounds quite excited about. It's a bike that we don't hear of much and it will be very interesting to see how it works out. It's important to note that it is a variant of the KTM 890. Good on Triumph for challenging BMW but the big Beemer is still the bike that all of the others are trying to best.
Yes agreed - thanks for watching!
Maybe the KTM 1290 is the nearest contender
Great review.I've ridden the 1200 GT Pro and rode a GSA a few years back. Now completely confused on which one to get. BMW deal is very attractive and the Triumphh dealer has matched it .... the Triumph seems to be winning. I'm jumping off a ZZR1400 and had a VFR1200 Crosstourer before. Decisions, decisions! Just not sure which one.....help!!
Which one did you buy mate …are you happy with your descion 🙌🙌
Nice review as usual. Can't stretch to one of these but looks to be a incredible bike!
Rode the last version in 2018 an was pleasantly surprised. As you say, there are no really bad bikes today but the bits that would make me think again are the keyless ignition (hate it) & the fork dive (although I would go for the GT version). Will be interesting to see how BMW 'reply' when the rumored new one shows up!
Yes looking forward to trying the new GS.....
Good balanced review which is much appreciated. The Tiger and GS are the two I am seriously looking to trade up to.
Great review, you really can’t go wrong with either the GS or the new Tiger 1200.
I've been a Triumph Tiger owner for ten years now, Gen 1-3 love them because of the engine as well as being great bikes. I waited three years for the new 1200 to come out but cannot get on with the new engine. Didn't like it on the 900 so bought a Gen 3 800 XCA new for a great price hoping to trade it in for the new 1200 but no way. I do notice the vibes at around 75-80 mph, really notice them after riding the old triple for so many years. I've ridden the new bike for nearly a day now trying to ignore them but I can't. Why oh why change it when most people will be just touring on it baffles me. On the 900 maybe as people will go off road much more on the smaller bike but not the 1200. Just bought a GSA instead. How daft is that! Not me buying a GSA, but Triumph putting me on one...
I totally agree with you, I tested the new triumph 1200 Gt pro and the vibrations on that thing are too much, the BMW r1250gsa is much smoother :-)
@@josephmt0927 Totally agree, After 17 years on Triumphs, I truly hate the T plane engines & it's intrusive vibrations, it's an evolutionary route I will not take, what's worse is the Speedie 1200RS motor is a peach by comparison ! Most Tigers will be used in Tarmac, so why spoil it for those 5% that go off-road ? After all if we wanted a GS we'd simply buy a GS !
Thanks for the review! Even when the bikes aren't of personal interest to me, your videos are still great viewing! Then again, I quite like all bikes anyway haha
Never been an adventure bike fan. I've got a few mates who have a R1250 GS. But good golly that Triumph is such a gorgeous looking bike. This might've changed my mind on ADV bikes. Awesome Review as always
Is a very difficult task to overcome the current GS 1250. But it is a sign that other brands are getting closer👍🏻👍🏻
And ore expensive than the GS too
I dont think the triumph is close enough to the GS really in terms of riding experience, build quality or design, it is a good effort but given a choice anyone with any sense would have the GS
@@chrischristofis8501You’re maybe right. And in the next year, with the iteration of the GS , Its expectable big development on the bike in general and tech improvements from BMW 👍
Im sure the reliability servicing and spares and even the design and performance id have the tiger. They seem better finished than some hondas like the africa twin especially somewhere like scotland where fasteners etc rust. I really like those big triumph triple engines.
Nice review TMF. Seems like a great bike & a big improvement on its predecessor but the GS is evidently a tough nut to crack. With regard to the suspension & dive, can this not be firmed up & tuned out fairly easily with the semi-active settings, or dare I say a manual adjuster somewhere?
Maybe somewhat but not to the extent that the BMWs telelever prevents it - for me, that's quite a big deal because of course these big ADV bikes have so much suspension travel.....
@@TheMissendenFlyer Interesting, thanks. Could be worth checking out the other version(s) of this new Tiger at some point in the future then maybe.
Its a shame you cant choose the firing order for when your on road, i love the triple too and have the 2014 Tiger800, the smoothness (turbine like whistle) of the engine is a big deal for me.
Great review Andy the first one I've seen where it's actually compared to the GS . I test ride the 900 rally pro and the dive on the front really put me off I tested 1200 gt pro and found the front dive not to bad , but the vibes on the bars gave me numb finger tips and it had a really snatchy throttle.
Ps I'm a triumph fanboy but having tested the GS last weekend I think the bm just takes the win because of the triumph vibes. I just wish triumph had put the 1200 speed triple engine into the gt models and T-plane into the rally models
Great review Andy. Got a friend who is volunteering for the Blood Bikes in his retirement. As a requirement he has had to do the Advanced Institute of Motorist's test. The one thing that has shocked him is how little his instructor uses the front brake. Firstly the back brake doesn't unsettle the bike and secondly back brakes have got so good that for everyday use they are more than adequate except in emergencies. Apparently many police bikes get corroded front discs through lack of use. Trying it on my Tiger 800 and the fork dive disappears!
Yes very true!
Still got my XRT800 but this looks very tempting Andy. Ride safe mate another great review. T
I just traded my 1250GS for a GT Explorer. After the first 1k miles, no regrets, and no issues with fork dive... perhaps your example was adjusted to have v. soft front suspension or perhaps it's just the Rally versions that suffer more. Agree with you about the TFT, GPS integration and the joystick. Here, I think BMW was better. Other than that though, I think the GT Explorer wins. I guess the next GS will have built-in GPS display like the RT. A backward step IMO.
Nose dive is easily avoided for sure, just a case of setting the suspension correctly and using the right braking technique.
Tell me how you can brake without transferring weight forward and maintaining suspension movement on conventional front forks?
@@nikoscosmos Balance it with some rear braking and check you've got the suspension set up correctly in the first place
@@DanTube2010 with conventional front forks it will always be a compromise of increased compression dampingas and reduced suspension travel as the weight transfer will always go down the forks from the headstock. With anti dive geometry the weight transfer will go directly to the front wheel and suspension travel won't be used up. In practice a well set up bike is fine for its intended use but I prefer my BMW anti dive system. 😉
@@nikoscosmos Of course the front will dive if braking hard for say an emergency stop. Even your GS will dive an inch or so in that situation.
What I should say is that nose dive is easily avoided in controlled situations when you know that you're going to stop well in advance.
I considered the 1200 but I was more impressed with the 900 Rally Pro. I preferred the weight and look of the 900 and I liked the TFT so I parted my money for the 900.
Absolutely agree Andrew and I went in exactly the same direction. Love my 900 Rally Pro!
@@martinlegrice1414 same same. love my 900 RP. even more than my outgoing 1250GS. smoother, lighter, smaller. triumph hit it out of the park with it imo.
Great video. I truly enjoyed it. I was able to pair my iPhone with ease. Thanks for taking your time to make these videos.
Glad I could help!
Missed this review for some reason !!! Great review TMF and good to see chopsy popping up in it 😁😁😁 love the triples myself .👍
Glad you enjoyed it....better late than never!
My mate has the previous model and tbh I prefer its looks over this one, swingarm looks awful and I dont know if it was just the microphone but it sounded like a bag of nails, I would miss the triple howl of the old one, I'll just keep my own gs1200. Glad you done this great video to show that newer isn't always better 😎🏴
Thanks for watching Brian!
I have heard the same comments from some friends who own the previous Tiger. A nice engine messed up.
The perfect touring engine messed up 😔
I thought the new (and lighter swingarm) looked like a masterpiece!
6:00 MSF
*For me, I wish they had kept it as a smooth triple*
Yep !
You hear that from all Triumph enthusiasts!
The “old” triples (especially the 800 Tiger triples) were creamy smooth and an utter pleasure to use.
What the heck were Triumph thinking ? They destroyed the bikes best feature!!😱
Agreed!
Well, that if you don't go Off Road where this engine is way better. If you only consider On Roading then that's a different story
Much waited for review, which didn't disappoint. Having just got back fron a 2,200mile trip to Spain and Portugal on my 800 XRx, to be honest, the only time I'd wished for the bigger bike was the mile munching from Edinburgh to Plymouth and back.
Great review as always, I’ve just brought a tiger 900 GT. Amazing bike.
Hi Andy - great review. I bought a 1250GS, and one of the the deciding factors was the 3 year guarantee on the GS. If I am on tour in Southern Italy and I break down... I call BMW, they come and get me and try to repair the bike. If it takes a day or so, they put me in a hotel, if it takes longer, they fly me and the missus home to the UK and then fly the bike back and deliver it to me. That is a serious amount of support and service..... how does the Tiger match up ?
The Triumph also has a three year warranty
Yes good point on the BMW breakdown service - not sure if the Triumph one is quite as comprehensive but may well be (I'm sure someone can tell us)....
Wouldn't you rather have a bike that doesn't break down in the first place?
@@TheMissendenFlyer my Trophy Broke down 1 month old I had to pay the tow to the dealership and they sent me a check in the mail. But that was a Canada, someone forgot to tighten the stater cable must have been a Monday or Friday 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️ great review TMF just loving my new T120 gold line it’s just awesome. Only taken the Trophy SE out a couple of times. Needed to take the burden of the Trophy and share the work load 😁😁 ride Safe Andy have a great weekend👍👍thanks for all the videos and work effort on them.
Great review. Considering the average height of males for a large part of the world's male population is 5ft 9.5in (176cm) or under, I can't work out why manufacturers have ridiculous seat heights like 875mm. I'm average height and there's no way I would take a bike that tall off-road or even feel comfortable around town.
I'm 100% with you on that.
Why I swapped my GSA for a V2 Multistrada, 820mm seat height and narrow, great for those of us with a 29” inside leg😆
I'm 178 and roughly 75kg. I couldn't imagine wrestling one of these walrusus off road. At the weekend I looked at an Africa Twin. I could just about get tip toes on the floor. To make matters worse, a lot of the weight seemed high up.
In the distant past I had a kick start DR650 with barely legal knobblies. Compared to previous Elsinore and RM 250s, I soon learned the value of light weight off road. Previous trails that I hadn't even thought about left me absolutely knackered on the DR.
For me, I'd be looking at some form of sport tourer and a small bore dual purpose or dirt bike. Horses for courses.
Buy what ‘ Fits ‘ you & be done with it…
I'm the opposite, I'm 6ft 3 so 875mm becomes about the minimum comfortable seat height. This is a win for me with the Triumph.
If every bike had a seat height ideal for the 'average' person, I would never find a bike I'm comfortable on. We need these variations in the market. It limits my choice as it does yours, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Great review Andy! Not sure who that hansom chap was towards the end though 😁
Great and precise review as always. Covers all the big asks.
Having come from north of the border for a tour around your "Green" and pleasant land the wafts from cars have got worse over the years and now I also shudder at the death wish moped riders. Standards are dropping across the UK. All the best.
I love all the flagship adv bikes. They all look equally good too. But since the T7 exists…I feel like I could make it work for every situation.. Plus it would beat all of them off-road easily. I think my fancy phase has worn off. I love electronics but do I need them? Ehhhh I’m not too sure. Great review Andy!
I looked at the T7, really light half the price and I would have got one but then I found it uses tubed tyres, not something easy to fix at the roadside
@@prep4evac you can switch them to tubeless 😀
I think I'd prefer the 900 rally pro. The extra 30+kgs is a deal-breaker for me. The GT Pro 1200 may be a different story.
Yes I think I prefer the 900 over this - their lightness is a real plus point...not to mention the height.
I've had two T900RP's. One of the best bikes I've ever owned.
Your reviews are absolutely the best! Thank you good Sir.
You are very kind!
Too many choices!! Thanks for another great review.
These bikes have become seriously expensive. It's an impressive machine for sure, but it runs too hot for the Indian climate, GS has a massive advantage there.
The old 1200 defiantly didn't. It would over heat left right n centre. I had one. Awful
@@DaveDayve new ones are water cooled 👍
@@christianolsen9781 part oil, part water
It's an English rust bucket what do you expect.
No, no. Triumphs around here have been gaining a robust reputation for quality. Better than Honda.
May feel faster when you wind it up but gs still has more bottom end and midrange. Honestly was underwhelmed by the tiger after all the hype. If I wanted a hooligan adventure ktm would win.
I appreciate your reviews immensely! Being a former R1200GS Rallye owner with a Nav VI and being a current owner of a MultiStrada 1260 Grand Tour with a Garmin XT, I can certainly agree that BMW’s interface is top notch! Having said that…on a recent 2300 mile trip…my iPhone google maps app was far more accurate directing me around construction zones. No different than so many things in this modern world…electronics matter (unfortunately)…or more specifically their simplicity and how we interface with them!
Good to hear your thoughts Andy , Maybe see if you can borrow a 1250 gs again soon to make another comparison review. I’m sure you’re on the case 😊
Nice review/comparison TMF! Wonder which one you are going to finally pick up😊 out of the trio.
My local dealer has these babies for a test ride. Will take a test ride this weekend. I am more inclined to try out the GT Pro since I am not and have never been interested in off road shenanigans.
Cheers
Yes the GT Pro is the one I'd go for too....
Your review (along with one other) is the one I've been most looking farward to. I can cast aside how tall you find it as I'm over 6ft tall and fork dive due to you being so familiar with a GS and it being the rally with its longer travel suspension, but I'd be interested to know what setting it was in, it may have been on the soft side ( but would I'm sure still dive somewhat under braking, like all bikes with a conventional setup do). I'll take what you say as a Gs rider as glowing praise for the new Tiger, and part of me, as a Tiger owner, prays the new tiger never overtakes the Gs in the sales chart, I kinda like that when I park up its one of one not one of ten in any carpark. You'll never out Gs a Gs but will take same same but different.
Hello Andy, enjoyed the comparison review, you really did try to be unbiased, one thing that might surprise you the 1250 GS roll on averages in each gear is actually quicker than the triumph with it's extra torque. It's not till you get up into the higher rev range that the triumph is faster. No doubt though the Tiger is a lovely bike, I'm with you on the engine I prefer the smooth triple. Thank you
Beautiful bike for sure! I have always loved Triumph motorcycles. My problem is the nearest dealer is almost 2 hours away. I’m not sure why Triumph went with that crank , the sound could be much better. And those brake reservoir’s. Ugh! I do love the brakes, Stylema’s are amazing. They should be on the GS. Seat height is the major concern for me. I don’t tippy toe. Way too dangerous. Awesome video ! Best!
Good to see Chops… pointing out the obvious with Mavis’s help. 👍
Just done a test ride on a 1200GT Pro, didn’t notice any vibes to write home about. Mirrors were clear and steady at all the speeds I tried. Quick shifter was excellent, as was the comfort. Sat nav,? Triumph scored an own goal here in my book by not fitting a bigger screen with a proper sat nav display. When touring I like to see the layout of the road ahead, which turn by turn does not display. Met a bloke at the dealers who thought the same, he had a Tom Tom fitted to his 1200 gt pro. Another option would be to enable control of a stand alone sat nav from from the joystick controller, but in most cases once you set the destination that should be it. But that’s nit pickin. It’s a nice bike.
Nice light honest review. I'm in the market for a replacement for my aging MTS, the points you have raised, the price and mechano looks, mean I can rule this one out, thx TMF
Glad it was helpful!
Regarding fork dive i noticed this bike has electronic fork adjust which you did not go into . Perhaps it might have different rider modes that may stiffen it up as my car has .
Yippee! At last your giving us your inside leg measurement which gives us a real way of judging seat height. Thank you
I can assure you it's not the first time - and not sure it's my inside length, but my trouser leg length.....
I have a 2021 R1250 GSA so I’m not currently in the market to replace it but when I saw the new models from Triumph I took notice. I also spotted one in the wild and got a closeup view. Looks to check all the boxes. I’ll be curious to see which one you choose.
I've been waiting for your review on this bike...Nice one..having been an owner of 1250gs for 2 1/2 years swopped it for a tiger 900 gtpro and I'm still loving it. Purchased it last Nov and nearly 3000 miles on the clock. Its great. Connectivity is of no importance to me. Few vibes at 70 ish but as you say not obtrusive. Wouldn't have that sort of heavy bike again. 900 around 40 kilos lighter and plenty of power. Take care.
Yes I love the 900 - I would seriously consider that (or the 850 Sport) if/when I come to buy another adventure bike....
@@TheMissendenFlyer I think if i was buying again would probably just have the gt with optional centre stand saving around £1900. 👍
Been waiting for this one, especially as I swapped my gen 3 Tiger 1200 for a new GS earlier this year. Agree it looks good and I wonder about the new t plane vs the old silky smooth triple 🤔The old bike was top heavy and a handful manoeuvring in slow traffic, you wouldn’t dream of taking it off road either but was a comfy tourer for sure so glad to hear this is much lighter. I hear though that the big tank version is somewhat top heavy. It’s great that we live in a world where there are so many good Adventure style bikes for those of us that way inclined - this, the Multistrada V4S, the KTM 1290 SA and of course the still mighty GS. Great intro review Andy, I wonder if you’ll get a long termed, maybe on the GT at some point.
Yes - in September….
It is indeed amazing that you had to point out all that you did in “The Small Print”.
Few people have completely lost their chill!
Great videos as always and quite meaningful for me who is deciding an upgrade to a big adventure motorcycle.
Yes the small print just gets it of my chest - makes me feel better!! Good luck on your upgrade, lots of great choices out there...which way are you tending?
No doubt a great bike and it will eventually pan out to whether you prefer a Triumph or a BMW.
@@TheMissendenFlyer In order of my preference.
1. GSA
2. Tiger 1200
3. V4S
I'd swap 2 and 3 currently....close though, very close.....
Great review Andy, These are going to sell well!
I think so too!
Hi Andy, another solid review 😉👍
the bike looks amazing. And the shaft is always a plus on ADVs, given that they targed the bike for all sorts of terrains.
Great comparison, at last a real wake up for BMW! Your conclusions are my armchair thoughts exactly. The BM's telelever really comes into its own should you brake hard in a bend, so for that incredible safety feature alone, the GS wins for me. But hey, its getting close. If the Triumph Dealer were closer, staff keen and they had service enthusiasm, this could well convince me to change. But I would miss the superb integrated BMW satnav and sensible switches on my first Tour with the Triumph.
Great review Andy. Thank you. May I ask, did you ever try the bike in its firmest suspension setting? Wondering if that may have reduced the front dive? I'm the same dimensions as you. I wonder if the road version can be had with spoked wheels. I'd also prefer a lower seat even if I lose suspension travel.
Isuspect a different ridin ode may have stiffenned it uo but it will still be there to some extent - one of the things I would miss coming rom the GS.....
@@TheMissendenFlyer "Earth to Missenden Flyer, you're breaking up, you're breaking up...Over."
Thanks for a good review Andy, I have had three GS and the previous 1200. Currently have the 900 Rally Pro. After 2 weeks of the Rally Pro I was missing my GS , particularly the low center of gravity, and smooth (non-tingle) ride and could have quite happily taken it back. After 6 months of ownership I have become acclimatised and prefer its narrower dimensions and off-road bias. Interestingly the fork dive is an easy cure by manually adjusting the forks to more road bias and when you go off-road reversing, to give you the spring back. Connectivity works fine to my phone, just make sure your phone connects to the bike and not your helmet direct, once done get the bike to connect to your helmet, and your off. I look forward to testing the 1200 , but is it worth the extra horses and electric fandangos ?, probably not.
I think I possibly prefer the 900 for the reasons you state there’s a lot to be said for a smaller lighter bike.
Time for a proper R90 G/S , smaller is more beautiful? Loved my R80G/S , next a GS1400 , where will it all end....
Another great review!
Thank you
As always, love your videos! The electronics would've have enabled you to adjust the suspension put of comfort and into sport and that dive goes away
Great review TMF with bonus guest appearance from uncle chops! Winner
Good review, I was keen to hear your comments on the weight as my son had the previous model and it was a right lardy to move around. I have a Tiger 850 Sport and that's like a ballerina lol.
Yes this new bike is like a Tiger 900 on speed…
Thanks Mr Flyer. Great review as usual! I like your helmet by the way, can you share some details about it?
Its my Scorpion EXO R1 Air - it'll be featuring in one of my "fashion segments" soon with moere details.....
I traded and am waiting for my Tiger 1200 GT Explorer to come in hopefully this month. I will definitely have the first one in New England! Great video Sir!!! I think comparing the GT version to the GS would be a better comparison.
🙌👏👏👏👏👏🖖👌✌🤙👍👋🙂
I agree but I can only work with what I can get!
Great review Andy, thank you.
No problem 👍
Another great review Andy. That fork dive is not good though. The GT Pro won't be as bad with less travel but I wonder if there was an issue with that bike as the front suspension is meant to stiffen up on the fly to reduce dive like that?
In January I would have had my KTM for 4 years so will be changing it. Never had a beemer but I'm dead excited about the 1300GS now I'm falling into the 'age category' 🤣. I can see you waiting before pulling the trigger on your GS replacement!
Other reviews state the top heaviness of new Tiger is still there and you can see that Triumph have rotated the new engine forward a bit more to lower CoG but not enough in my view. If you look at how far BMW rotated their K1600 engine forward to keep CoG low you can see its doable. Liked the Chopsy edit, nice when you guys rib each other 😁👍
Glad you spotted Mr Chops!
Great review Andy, and I actually liked that you had the “off-road” version. So many of the reviews you see are from press days where they ride the road bike on the road and the off-road bike offroad. For these bikes you want to know how well the on-road does on unsealed roads and how well the off-road does in the twisties really.
Looks like a cracking update to the lacklustre old 1200.
Though I realise something. Triumph needs some more fun bikes. I know most people buying brand new triumphs are north of 45, but their range is starting to seem a bit… comfortable. It’s good they do all those high end electronics, but they need some bikes that don’t have cruise control and electronic suspension and stuff too. Nowadays it feels like even the stripple is being designed more and more for people who have a bit of a bad back.
As a long time triumph fan there’s a lot of pretty bikes in the range, but not a lot that makes me want to spend money.
I think they need a lower tier Daytona/stripple/trident platform that’s just about fun and not about features, just my tuppence.
Yes i think you may be right Bobby - I hadn't looked at it that way...
@@TheMissendenFlyer isnt that a description of the 660 tiger sport??
Nice review as always….the one thing this bike doesn’t do well against the GS…is low and slow…when off-road. It stalls out compared to the GS when doing slow maneuvers….but outside that does a wonderful job…Triumph did a great job….it will be interesting when the New GS comes out and what improvements they make. BMW definitely has its work cut in their next upgrade to stay ahead of all this competition…..
Totally agree
Great review as always. I'm waiting till the new R1300 GS comes to town !you are too TMF!!!we know😉
Hi TMF. I like your review of the new Tiger 1200. I am a sort of in the marked for a new bike myself and have considered the Tiger. But coming from a 2020 BMW F850GSA Rally. I do think the forkdive is the biggest problem on this bike. Mine is doing that (as you said in your early review of my bike) and if I were going to buy a new bike it’s got to be a new GS. Thinking of the new one that’s coming next year or so! Love following you around on UA-cam. Best regards GreyBeardOnTwoWheels. 👍
Thanks for watching - glad we concur!
Another very thorough review, which I've been looking forward to. I've read a few reviews now, and most of them have fallen just on the side of the GS, but for me I think it would just be the Triumph (in GT Pro guise). They're both great bikes but the looks of the Triumph just edges it for me.. and it's a Triumph, so I wouldn't be passing identical bikes going in the other direction every five minutes.
Yes I get tha Gareth - I'm a Triumph fan boy too!
Thank you for the compliment on the Pause skills!!
Well done!
Cheers!!😜
Looks good. Much prefer the TFT dial compared to the tiger 900. Don’t like you can’t have a dial for the revs on the 900 or couldn’t on the early ones. Don’t like gradual blocks for revs a circular dial is more pleasing.
Another great vid 👌
Thanks again!
The old saying, “ Imitation is the ultimate form of flattery “
Having owned a gsa 1250 now for the past year, I understand why so many are sold. It’s an amazing machine. The boxer twin reminds me of my old 911’s I used to drive.it has character. The handling is in stark contrast to its appearance.The build quality impeccable and yes they hold their value.
Nothing against Triumph.They make beautiful bikes too.Now own a 2004 rocket 3 too and it has that Same quality feel I mentioned... suggesting it will last a lifetime.Their in-line 3’s have character too. I just think that they could have made the tiger 1200 more distinctive in appearance... just as Harley have done with their pan America ❤
Keep up the good work Andy,
Thank you for your video’s
Thank you for watching and stopping by Tivor!
Imitation?
On my Tiger 900 Rally Pro Evotech Performance have a solution that puts the Sat Nav exactly where the movable bar is.
It perfectly positioned so you do not need to take your eyes off the road.
I am sure they will develop something similar for the 1200.
The only problem so far I have with Triumph is delivery times. I ordered my Tiger 900 GT Pro last October and I have not seen it Yet ??, I have been given numerous delivery dates and the latest one is next week !! keeping my fingers crossed it arrives and so looking forward to getting on it. Great Video Andy but I think you will always be a GS fan 😜👍
I probably will yes - hope you get your bike soon!
Great video Mr Flyer, I was down with the Triumphs. Until you mention the seat height, then I was with the GS1250. I don’t want to take a step ladder with me just to get on and off the motorbike. However very informative video as always. By the way I failed my CTB. Maybe in 100 years time I pass it. Lol
Oh dear - sorry to hear that!
I only had my Tiger 1200 eight days before it was totaled, but I found the nose dive was much better when I put the suspension in sport mode.
Hi TMF - I have been waiting for your test on this bike. As always a well thought-out review. Will you be testing the GT version? Like yourself that would be the one I would go for. Cheers
So far haven't been able to get hold of one - I have asked!
Another good review. Mr Flyer, you are fortunate! I'm 5'9' with 30" inside leg. A number of recently intruduced bikes have 32/33" seat heights, so it's difficult to touch the floor. What are manufacturers thinking of? Or maybe not thinking!
I feel your pain. I am the same height and leg length, and all of the big bore adventure bikes are way too tall for me, with one exception- the Harley Pan America. It has the optional suspension that automatically lowers the bike by a couple of inches as you come to a stop and then raises it again as you take off. I don't have any personal experience with the bike or that feature, but it looks brilliant in theory and it seems to have worked well in the reviews I've seen.
@@loumencken9644 I ride a Honda Pan European; no problem putting both feet down on this😊
You and me both Andy regarding phone connectivity. Was frustrating with KTM and Triumph so opted for separate Garmin XT sat nav. Good to see Chequers road open at last.
Yes about time!
Trick for when you get a long travel suspended bike with a bit of front end dive...skim your rear brake a little, as you slow down slow down with the fronts. It'll help control the chassis a bit and limit the dive.
I have a 2020 XCa Desert Edition (off-road focused) that I do an occasional green lane or gravel road with. I bought it not for ADV but for the posture and power and comfort. I needed speed, agility, road presence, real 2-up, and strapped on bags, all in a "standard" posture. The 2020 and 2021s were lighter than the previous gens, and the 2022/23 is even lighter. My only complaint is the faffy fiddly joystick. Mine has the arrow exhaust (came with) and the non-t-plane sound under load (a long pull in 3rd gear) is absolutely glorious. The lesser weight is a plus, although being 6'3"/190 I don't struggle with the 2020's weight. I'll take a 2023 for test ride, though.
LOVE the "small print". Right on point!!
Well spotted!
After 14 years with a GS and a test drive with the GTpro decided to make the switch. I doubted that for a long time because I know that the GS is a top motorcycle. I am now eagerly awaiting delivery of the Tiger GT Explorer.
As for your comment about the GPS, I ordered a holder from Evotech that allows me to place the Zumo above the display.
Time will tell whether or not I will regret my move to Triumph.
It's there a setting in the menu for the electronic suspension to minimize the fork dive?
Sport setting likely stiffens it up a tad - should have thought of trying that!