Tiger 1200 vs GS - which would you choose? If neither of these, what would be your choice among the large adv bikes? 🏍 SUPPORT BIG ROCK MOTO BY USING THESE LINKS! ⚠Rocky Mountain Store: bit.ly/33kgRIz ⚠Revzilla Store: imp.i104546.net/6bxxXN ⚠Mosko Moto: moskomoto.com/bigrockmoto ⚠Amazon Store: amzn.to/3viGZ0A ⚠Merchandise : big-rock-moto.myspreadshop.com/ ⚠Patreon: www.patreon.com/bigrockmedia
Once again… a fair percentage of your viewers cannot afford or justify a @$30k ADV bike….more affordable/realistic options are available considering the vast majority of these bike will be used for highway/on road use…
You never know how long you will live. Get the motorcycle you want. Do not try to justify just do it. Cancer got me, fast and hard. Don't waist time you might not have. I would like the GS. Good review.
I bought the Tiger for a couple of reasons, I could not get my feet comfortable with the engine sticking out. I felt a lot of heat coming out of the BMW vs nothing on the Tiger. While I am not a big fan of the Triumph display options I hated the BMW wheel. The shaft drive failures on the BMW had me concerned as well as well as the attitude of the BMW dealers. I am very happy with my purchase.
@Jonathan Young the one guy at one dealership was really nice but they closed that dealer. When I went to the other one, the guy said every other ADV is not as good as the BMW, made comments like, if you can't afford the GSA you can get the base GS. Can you afford that? He offered 5% off a BMW jacket because I would want to get one of those. Telling me it is a pretty big and powerful bike. At a different dealer they asked me which one I wanted to buy when I said I was just looking the sales people just scattered. At the Triumph dealer the guy just wanted to talk about bikes, the owner introduced himself as I was looking at the bikes and just made me feel comfortable, no pressure at all, when I was ready to buy they offered a very fair price on my trade and actually apologized they could not offer more. I have since been back and bought accessories and referred 2 friends there, one of whom is dealing with them now.
@Mike Mills thank you for responding, my only experience buying a bike was a from a licensed used dealer, i saw the bike i wanted and i got it so it was interesting seeing how different dealerships treat people.
I tested the bmw and triumph and chose for another gs, No real reason other than familiarity. Imo the cylinders sticking out don’t make an ounce of difference I’ve done 50k+ miles on bmw gs and never once felt like the engine compromises the feet space. As for the tech I think the bmw is better but the triumph engine felt equally as nice. shaft issues i’ve never had one nor heard of one unless I google “bmw faults” . All bikes and cars have issues none that would really bother me.
I bought Tiger for a rather small and personal reason. I just like how it looks more, with the color palette and being slimmer, sounding different, and the fact that when I go to long tours, 10/12 people are using GSA:s (the rest are KTMS and African Twins) so GSA kinda has no personality over here at least, while Tiger stands out being different and not under everyone who does trips.
@@leonisbacher1772 Nah, all motorcycles are for personal pleasure, and to get what you feel that you want. And spending 30k usd for motorcycle( what these cost here for both with crashbars etc), is never like a good purchase anyway. But to be satisfied with the purchase, you gotta buy what YOU want, however shallow the reasons sound. Its not like one choise is bad either. With between 2 great things its completely fine to make a purchase by your own emotions and feeling and you will be happy with it. Resale value I wont be taking to my grave, and after 10 000+ miles I have been very happy with it.
Both are good bikes, you can't really lose whichever one you choose. FYI, you can put the Tiger back into whatever mode you had set before you turned it off at the flick of an option.
@@friendlysnoworb6091 I have covered nearly 200,000 miles combined on three GS’s that I’ve owned, never had a service any where near the price of the Triumph service, so it’s not an assumption, it’s based purely on experience!
The Tiger valve service interval is 20K miles not 12K. Triumph have also dropped the spark plug check at 10,000 miles and the air filter is good for 20K miles so no need for any plastics to come off until 20k mile mark. Many owners will keep the bike three years and not do that mileage and just trade the bike in doing no more than the basics on any service. The dealer ends up doing the valve service at cost to resell the bike. We also know most owners don't ride in extremely dusty environments and the air-filter issue is a non issue for 99% of riders. What most vloggers have missed is the fact that Triumph have dropped the low chassis model which is a big seller for the GS range. The new Tiger ended up a little too tall for me so I have ordered a low chassis GS which I can buy with an official BMW offering of 5 years, 50,000 km all-in servicing for €1200. That includes everything, valve clearances etc. Obvious omissions are wear items, e.g. tyres, break pads. I paid €1483 for my 20K mile valve service from Triumph, never again. Disagree with the usability of the dash though, coming from a Gen 3 Triumph Tiger 1200 I found them instantly intuitive and understandable. The Triumph suspension confuses many BMW riders too as it is fundamentally different in user configurability. Every rider mode on a Tiger 1200 has a suggested damping level, there are nine to choose from. When you change rider modes the damping is changed to Triumph's suggested level along with the other parameters, e.g. throttle map and other things. But the big difference from BMW here is that you do not have to accept the suggested damping level and can increase or decrease it accordingly to any of the nine levels. When you change it in the menu you are doing it directly in that specific rider mode you are in. Change the rider mode to another one, e.g. rain and your new damping level in the last rider mode is ignored and Triumph's preset in rain mode is used. Any new damping level you set in a rider mode is retained on power off. Off-Road preload also works differently on the Tigers and have done for a while. When you select off-road on the Tiger rear preload is dropped off to rake the bike out. Because this is a fundamental geometry change Triumph do not let you retain an off-road mode on power off, it is a safety feature. But if you power off in any non off road rider mode the bike should stay in that. Lastly, and by far one of the most useful suspension features of the Tiger, is that you can disassociate damping from rider modes and just manually choose whatever damping you want from nine levels regardless of rider mode. The damping menu can be left on the information screen on the right of the dash and adjusted on the fly at any time. Brilliant on tour when road conditions are constantly changing. Loved my last 5 years on a Tiger 1200 but the service cost was a punch in the gut when I can get a BMW GS service for five years for less.
I’d opt for the Yamaha Super Tenere 1200.Low initial cost,lower operating costs,and legendary reliability.I also think it looks better than the Tiger or the GS imo.Thank you for comparing and contrasting these two bikes Ian.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
@@TheGr3atMilenko They’re all great bikes for sure, but I wanted shaft drive.There we’re no new S10’s to be had, so I got a Guzzi V85TT adventure.Couldn’t be happier.
@@johnm8622 It’s still marketed here in the states, but no Yamaha dealers have one, and have no idea if they can get one.They won’t even take a deposit.🤷🏻♂️
As a Tiger owner who has tried both versions (GT and Rally), I'd say that it sits between the Multistrada and the GS. It has a sporty engine and suspension setup like the Multi, but is shaft driven and capable off-road like the GS. It is not a GS killer, just a different flavor to add to the full size ADV market. Ultimately, it comes down to your preferences and price where you live.
And dealer location as well as dealer support. In my region BMW dealers are in major metropolitan areas which I avoid. I can get to two Triumph dealers with only some traffic within a couple miles.
Good points, but it should be noted that this latest generation of the Tiger 1200 improved the service intervals. Oil changes every 10,000 miles, and valve checks every 20,000 miles (not every 12k miles, as the video stated). This is nearly double the distance from the R1250GS's intervals. This difference should certainly play into the minds of potential buyers.
@@ukaszusielski3606 No, the marketing bs was changing your oil every 3000-5000 miles. Synthetic’s are far better for your engine.. no thermal breakdown, viscosity remains constant, etc.. 10,000 miles is now the norm
@@ukaszusielski3606 I mean if a buyer were to be worried about that they could change more frequently. That’s easy service even for the novice home mechanic. The 20k valve service interval is the key here given that that’s what the video specifically called out. That’s the service most people go to the dealer to address.
Great comparison. Love your work. I recently purchased a 2022 1250GS Rallye (my 5th GS over the years). Prior to this bike, I owned a KTM 1290S & prior to that, a Triumph Explorer 1200. Loving the current GS but firmly believe that there is no such thing as the ultimate bike. But it's a lot of fun trying to find it! Cheers from 🇦🇺
How much does intuitiveness actually matter if you are a person who will be owning the bike and keeping it for an extended period (as most will be or are)? My opinion is that it does not matter. My '22 Africa Twin Adventure Sport ES was confusing for the first 500 miles but, now, it is 2nd nature; I know exactly how to operate everything. Had I used the lack of intuitiveness as a deciding factor, prior to buying, I wouldn't have purchased it and would have missed out on a fine, very enjoyable machine. When deciding on a bike to buy, remember that you will almost certainly be owning it long enough to figure things out. Pay more attention to far more important things...such as an inferior suspension, engine or transmission....or wheel size (which truly does matter, depending on the riding you do). Don't rule a bike out simply because you don't immediately understand how to use everything on it...in time, understanding will come.
The guy never asked anyone to rule any bike out. He was just giving us a fair comparison of the two bikes and clearly stated some things to consider when it comes to pros and cons of each.
I really enjoy your videos, I’m faithful subscriber. I own a 23 tiger explorer and owned previous generations, I have two observations from the video. The valve adjustments interval on the tiger is every 20 thousand miles and around where I leave a $1000 job. The riding modes are pretty simple, if you want to stay on the off road mode when you restart the bike it’s only a matter of pressing the M button and the check mark. 🙏
Ian I have the first GT Explorer sold in the Us. The menu is straight forward, you just scroll to the riding mode you want and push the enter button. No push, no mode change. Just because you can see the mode you want while scrolling, if you don't hit enter you won't get it. Easy Peesy! Read the manual first to understand how everything works. That's why you couldn't get the suspension set up the way you wanted it. Every bikes menu is different and I find the Tiger menu very simple when you know how it works. You are used to the GS menu and because you haven't learned the Tiger menu you say it's confusing. I am a Tiger guy through many iterations and I find the BWM menus confusing. You have to learn each bike through ownership and not just test rides.
I have a 2020 Tiger 900 GT Pro and was salivating at getting the new 1200 Rally Explorer. I love my 900 and the T-Plane has a got an amazing exhaust note however when it came down to it, the nearest Triumph dealer to me is in Sacramento and I didn't care for the dealer when I bought my 900 and the 2nd closest was in Reno. Both are about 3.5 hours from me. There is a BMW dealer an hour from me and had heard a ton of good things about the dealer. Long story short I went with a 2022 GSA. Had Triumph had a dealer closer to me I would've gone with the Rally Explorer but shout out to Ozzie's BMW in Chico, CA for a ridiculously simple buying experience and excellent service shop! I love both my Tiger 900 and GSA, I have had the 900 for a 1 year and 9 months 20.3k miles and only 1 problem and that was the rear brake switch failed at 1300 miles which I replaced myself for under $40, it would have cost more in fuel to get to a dealer for a warranty repair than what the part cost lol and I have had my GSA for 7 months, 10.5K miles and have had zero problems with it. Both bikes have been excellent as far as reliability goes!
I bought one of the first tiger 1200s in the USA with the optional full accessory kit. That bike was a freaking blast. My first off-road ADV enduro experience was in central Pennsylvania near Penn State University, nothing but lose shale rocks, narrow trails, and steep hills, and lots of twisties. Didnt drop it all weekend until the final day when I purposely went into a mud puddle to show off and slipped into a mud bath; otherwise I wish I still had it. I can't get past the wide boxer motor on the BMW, yuck I really enjoy your channel Ian, keep up the good work. You tapped into the adventure segment where people like you are really needed.
I had a tiger 800xc, it was a great bike. It was still going strong when the new owner took it over with just under 110,400 miles on the clock. A uni prefilter really extends the air filter life on the tiger.
Excellent comparison between the 2 bikes. I'm glad you mentioned the service aspect, difference in shaft drive riding performance, and ease of use for the electronics. The things I would have added are adaptability to different size riders, does Triumph offer a lower seat or lowered suspension options etc. Also it would have been good to just touch on price and warranty, though people can look that stuff up. Both of them are crazy expensive so you REALLY need to know the details before signing on the bottom line. I still can't believe we're in the $20k price range for bikes, just nutz.
A couple of points: Shaft drive; The BMW needs to have its final drive removed from the driveshaft and serviced the Tiger only needs the final drive fluid changed. Tech: The Triumph has blind spot radar, which I found highly useful and a quick shifter is better on the Tiger. Lighting: Tiger has all LED lighting with adaptive lean adjustment; The Tiger also has back-lit buttons.
Great video! I bought a GS about 9 months ago and I have enjoyed riding it very much. The primary reason I chose this bike is, as you said, the engine has been around for a long time, being improved. Also the dealer is :15 minutes away. The Triumph dealer is over an hour. Given the hot summers we have, there is no engine heat. Ergonomically speaking , its pretty much perfect. The electronics are intuitive as well. Perfect bike for me. I would to see a review of the Sidi boots you wear. Also I would like to see ideas on how to beat the heat of Summer. I have been looking at cooling vests & jackets that you submerse in water or they have ice packets. You wear these under a mesh jacket. If you have a video on this , please direct me to find it. Great job! Best!
India Perspective:- 1. Engine Heat, the GS is way better in our weather and traffic. 2. BMW service is consistent, Triumph has a lower reputation. 3. For 80+% of typical Indian off-road situations, that front telelever does a better job than conventional twin shock absorbers. 5. A single sided swingarm makes it easier to remove the rear wheel if needed.
The entire recent Big Rock Moto review series of the Triumph Tiger 1200 line of models has been comprehensive and honest, surpassing any other reviews on the www. This particular (resulting) comparison review of that Triumph 1200 series to the benchmark BMW 1250 GSA machine has been a very good cap on the video series. Even though I'm drawn to the incredible Tiger engine with a brilliant final drive design, my predominant pavement style of ADV riding points me to the more proven, refined BMW. Thank you, Ian, for an exceptionally informative vlog set!
Ian, your reviews are brilliant, you are y go to guy. I was considering 1200 Tiger rally pro, but am going with a r1250gsa after this review. I never go off road, but like the comfort of an adventure bike for 12hrs. My 74yo body needs to be able to stretch. Thanks again!
Good that you highlight some other things and can speak from personal experience with both bikes. This video will help people that as always are on the fence with choosing the big adv bike. I suppose a big reason you have the GS is because you have another bike for off-roading? So the GS can be a dedicated road tourer mostly.
I prefer my Tiger Rally Pro but I do like both bikes. Valve adjustments are 20k on Tiger. I have a wonderful Triumph dealer and that's a huge reason I went that way. But I also think two of the most over-rated things in motorcycling is the boxer motor and telelever. I've tried them quite a few times and I've never gotten off thinking omg that was awesome. In fact... I've always gotten off and thought wow that was underwhelming
Both bikes are great. I’ve had my 2020 Tiger Desert for a few years now and the new Tigers address my main complaint and that is the weight and engine heat of my 2020. Like others I’m waiting to see the 1300GS before I upgrade again. It wil have to be substantially better or I’ll be getting the Rally Explorer. Great vid!
I went with the Tiger Rally Pro over the GS for a few different reasons. I totally agree with you on the Tiger's electronics and TFT. It is very poorly thought out. Very unintuitive and very frustrating. Feels like an afterthought on what is otherwise a brilliant bike. I also agree that the Tiger is an absolute bear to pick up. Especially if it falls over on an off camber surface off road - it can get partly upside down and you have zero leverage to lift. I'm a 6'2, 200 lb guy who strength trains, and I've had to use a z-drag to get the bike upright after a drop before. As far as the maintenance stuff... yeah. I also own a Desert X, so I'm clearly a glutton for punishment.
I totally agree with you.. I think I prefer the tiger. Here in the UK the GS is a meme cos everyone has one and none of them have been off road.. retired men drive them to cafes in wales on Sundays.. the tiger just seems more fun 😊 the GS is probably the better bike but damn they have an image problem.
Good points. For street riding it is just personal choice, but for real off-road riding two things stand out: how easy is it to pick up (which you did a great job of highlighting), and how much abuse can the bike handle. I just finished up a 2 day off-road riding course at the BMW Riding Academy. The bikes are 2 years old, and the abuse they take is amazing. I saw bikes smack into trees, gravel, rocks, and into each other. My bike hit the ground at least ten times. Total damage: one broken off shifter tip, and a bent rear brake lever. No plastics broken or damaged. Those cylinders provide an amazing amount of crash protection. Not sure how the Triumph would stand up to that abuse.
Maybe, but this was not a test of dual sport bikes, this was a test of large capacity adventure bikes. Also some of the exercises might have been easier on a dual sport, and some were easier on the GS. I say this as the owner of both a GS and a CRF 300L Rally.
Great quick & dirty report. Personally, I think the Triumph looks and sounds better but bought the GS due to the design refinement, handling, and most important, local dealer support.
I recently picked up a 2023 Triumph 1200 Rally Explorer. Amazing bike. Can’t wait to do some adventure touring this spring. I’ve had a bunch of BMW’s mostly RT’s and RS and great bikes. No dealers near me so bailed on them a while ago. Triumph makes good stuff.
I flip between these bikes so often as they tick all the right boxes for me. It’s a silly reason really, but one of the main selling points for the Tiger is being out on tour and NOT seeing a handful of other 1200s around you. I like feeling that bit more unique in my purchase. The concern for the Tiger however, is that Triumph had put all their resources and time into developing a bike to compete with a bike on its way out, and given how important the GS is to BMW’s sales and reputation, you KNOW the new 1300 won’t be a minor refresh. Since I’m in now rush to get a touring bike now I’ll happily wait and see what comes. Thanks for putting together this great comparo Ian!
@@shegocrazy yikes! I would expect maybe early 2024 following the announcement this Fall. As I mentioned in my original post, thankfully I’m in no hurry to pick up a new bike 😅
2017 Triumph Explorer/Tiger 1200 with 53K miles. I agree with the PITA of lifting tank to get to air filter and spark plugs. Valves weren't as big an issue as I was told by dealer that valve intervals were too often and bring it back at 20K miles. I was tardy and returned at over 30K miles and valves were still way within spec. I believe the drive shaft on the GS requires more maintenance than Triumph (at least the older model). After 500 mile check, no need to touch Triumph shaft again, unlike BMW. Have loved the Triumph.... it's a screamer on road, but a handful on more technical offroad. However, at age 58, I've purchased a used 2019 BMW GSA with only 4K miles and look forward to it's lower COG and characteristics offroad. Wife likes it so much after taking mine on a 1000 mile trip, she has gotten her own 2022 BMW GSA for her mostly road riding as an upgrade from her 2017 BMW F700 GS. If I was a younger more off-road aggressive rider, I'd definitely choose the 2023 Triumph Rally. Like you, the spirit of the engine speaks to me. However, at my age, I want the 400-500 mile comfort that the GSA offers to get me to the tame dirt/gravel forest roads I want for clearing my head. Enjoy your channel! Keep up the hard work!
Once again, another brilliant video. You make an effort and go the extra mile with facts and real world test experience. Personally, both bikes a phenomenal in their own way. I currently own a 1200 Rally Pro having sold my 1250 Gs HP. Having owned 3 GS's prior, the bike is outstanding and does everything it says and does it well. But that in my personal opinion is also its achilles heel. Its so good, its actually kinda dull, typical German engineering. The Triumphs and especially the 1200 Rally Pro does everything almost equally well but it has its quirks and character that puts a smile on my face everytime i ride it. I dont get that with the GS. I ride with the missus and funnily enough she actually prefers the Triumph after loving the comfort of the GS. Everyone is different but you really cant go wrong with both bikes. Will i go back to another GS? Who knows, perhaps i will if the new edition piques my interest. For now, i will enjoy the Triumph. Cheers.
Very much in the market for either one of these bikes. Been researching for at least 9-months. This is exactly what I've been looking for! Great job as always Ian. (Still leaning GS BTW)
Who doesn’t love a nice Triple? The power and that sound like a saxophone or something ha. But there’s a reason you see so many new and old GS’s. The low-speed balance with that boxer handing out like a balance bar. My 2005 air/oil cooled new version GS runs likes a Swiss automatic watch. It will not stall unless I actually try to stall it. So I’m down on power but it’s quite a bit lighter. It was upgraded to Öhlins suspension more controlled but supple. I also have a ‘62 R69S maybe I’m biased toward the Boxer and Shaftdrive. 🏁
I test rode the Tiger and for me there were 5 things that swayed me to the GS. 1) Foot peg position was right where my calves were in the feet down comfortable position, 2) I couldn't hear the engine of the Tiger and found it difficult to know when the shift unless riding hard, 3) The throttle felt snatchy - as I explained to the Triumph rep, if 0 was off and 10 was full it felt like it went from 0 to 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. He said they were all like that, as in it was not a problem with the bike. My friend said exactly the same thing. 4) Riding mode kept changing back to default, and 5) the Triumph staff were far less attentive to customers that the BMW staff. Otherwise, the Tiger 1200 is a nice bike ... I just preferred the all-round experience with the GS.
I ride the Tiger, love it & agree with the electronics comments, could be easier. Ok once your used to it but for example when you select 'Off-road ' mode you consistently have the ABS & Traction lights flashing which distracts you from your riding. But in beast mode this thing just rips.
Both great bikes. The reasons I went with the GSA are: -I found it easier to read the instruments. -I hate red backlit switch gear, so I rather don't have it. -Ease of access for valve clearance check. -It's Bavarian, like me.
I love the engines in both of these bikes. They are some of the best ever made. I know they are popular right now but these things have become like enormous 3 row luxury SUVs. They are the polar opposite of why I'm into bikes. But hey, whatever, it's on two wheels so it's cool.
I like that you provide extra info like drop and lift test etc which I have not seen done by any other channel I have watched. The airfilter is under the tank on SO many bikes, including my bike, and it makes no sense whatsoever. Air filter and battery access should be on the side of the bike as it used to be on old bikes. Personally I would like you to ad a segment to all of your review videos especially for bikes that you owned and that is the cost of ownership. When are services due and how much are they each time (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc) any breakdowns and what it cost to fix etc. The former gives us an idea of running cost and the latter regarding reliability and parts cost. Great job rsm8
Where I'm at now year end Tiger 1200s are on a discount. A Rally Explorer can be had for 19K + fees, whereas BMW is still at 25k... I've been doing all service myself, and for $80 bucks for the dealertool, you can reset all errors and service lights. I'll wait until I get tired of my '20 Tiger 900 to get the upgrade. I just hate going to the dealer and "making a deal"
Oil changes are every 10k on the Tiger and valves at 20k - whereas a new BMW GS is on its way to its fifth service by then! Service and parts costs are generally cheaper on the Triumph too. For reference, I've owned 4 GS's and 3 Tiger's including GS 1250's and the current Tiger 1200
Hi, here in the UK I had the previous gen Triumph and the servicing costs for valves etc were outrageous, that coupled with gearbox faults and a bike which was generally much more unstable at slow speeds meant my relationship with that bike was brief! Whereas any GS I can ride at below walking pace if necessary and it’s always a doddle! Loving your review style, have subscribed! 👏👍😀
Relative to the GS - Cons: The tiger is HEAVY. I think triumph is lying about the weight. Pros: Great suspension. The GS regrettably packed on an additional 5kg with the bump up to 1250. Improvements to the stock clunker suspension and an optional 21” would have made the original 1200 a better bike. The GS has better ergos. The optional tall rally seat and handlebars can be a game changer. I don’t like feeling locked in off-road. The shaft drive on the triumph is much much better. In addition to what you mentioned the GS shaft drive has reliability issues, inherent engineering issues. The previous gen triumph’s shaft drive was flawless.
I sold my BMW RT and replaced it with a new Tiger 900 GT Pro. I rode a 3600 mile loop through the West in June and the moto performed flawlessly. Triumphs are outstanding. BTW I find the electronics on the Tiger are much more adjustable and user friendly, contrary to the review. While I think the RT is nothing short of excellent, and I love BMW motos, I found my new Triumph to be even better for my touring style.
The 900’s electronics are much easier to use, and I personally think they look better, too! I’m unsure why Triumph didn’t take the user interface from the 900, massage it a bit, and use it on the 1200!? I do miss the WonderWheel from my GS, but something I don’t miss is the vague feeling of the telelever front end on the GS. The Rally Explorer is way better than the GS off road, except at very low speeds.
I was going with the Tiger, but your observation about maintenance stands out. I already have a Tiger 800 and have had to take that tank off more times than I would like for different reasons. If only a 21" front wheel wasn't such a pricey accessory for the GS
Good comparison! Well done. I bought the BMW, after contemplating the KTM 1290 Super Adventure R. The big determinants for me were DEALER and shaft vs chain. Shaft just makes more sense to me for touring without chain lube and maintenance. And I think too many riders discount the importance of having a good dealer nearby. This may not be such a big issue in a large metropolitan area where every dealer is present. But even then, some dealers SUCK. There is no Triumph dealership in my area. Relatively few in the country for that matter. I was also interested in the Ducati Multistrada and the Husqvarna Norden…but again, no dealership for either brand. After buying the BMW, I am loving it. Can’t say I love the way it sounds, unless I am flailing it. But other than that, high marks. It is a great balanced package overall.
Great review, I have a 23’ Gs which is my second one. I came from years of gsxr 1000 zx10 laterally s1000rr. A mate of mine is a triumph fanatic who opted for the past 10 years of tigers and he loves them, Myself owning bmws for 8-9 years I chose the gs due to reputation and the fact the local dealership was excellent with me. After now 30k miles on my gs and several long weekends/holidays I can safely say I am a bmw fan far better electronics imo than any other (btw I really wanted the 1290sa before this new gs but the switches are like an 80s toy) to summarise the best bike for me personally is not even the gs. I have just placed my name down for the new m1000xr this is the best bet for power touring and smiles. Something an adventure bike just cannot do. For now I will still thoroughly enjoy my gs but it will be traded next year.
I own the Rally Explorer and can tell you valve adjustment intervals are 20K vs GS’s 12K. Service intervals are 10K vs 6K on the GS. The quick shift is less clunky. Heated grips, rider seat + pillion heat, fog lights are all standard. 21” front wheel is a bonus for off-road. And the Tiger has better ground clearance. I test rode a 40th Anniversary Edition GSA before purchasing, and was underwhelmed compared to the Tiger or the Multistrada V4S. Very happy with my decision.
I bought a used 2017 explorer xrx and it was setting next to a ktm .I really wanted the ktm but I don’t see many if any triumph tigers so I bought the triumph and I really enjoy it.
Agree about the Tiger electronics. Clumsy. Setting ride modes should be physical switch in my opinion. Simple and quick. Tiger overall though is great fun ride.
@@eddiewhittingham5210 It is a joystick which you then use to navigate menus on screen to choose ride mode etc. Cannot be done without taking eyes off the road.
@@jonathanbilling2131 you can toggle to change modes but it will also change if you keep pressing the mode switch (you can on mine anyway😀) agree you do have to look down but I believe that applies to all bikes ?
@@eddiewhittingham5210 Thanks Eddie. I missed completely and was only using toggle. The M switch is way easier. Glad to have learned before to many miles.
I bought the Triumph GTPro. Almost exclusively as a road bike and grocery getter. Bought it for the following reasons: how well triumphs handle and the expense of BMW maintenance. It is a third bike for me behind a Husky 300 and a track only GSXR 750
Thanks for a great comparison review, Ian. I love both these bikes, and had been leaning hard toward the Triumph. The maintenance issues are probably what will sway me to the BMW. I’m used to the 21” front wheel from my current bikes, so that will be something different to consider. I have my little ‘21 Honda CRF 300 Rally for playing in the dirt, and the big bike would be mostly for touring. Rock On
This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I really like the looks of the GS. Even though you see them literally everywhere, there's just something cool about them. No other big adv bike can match it imo except for maybe the multistrada v4.
I ride a Tiger Rally Explorer 2022. After riding both bikes a lot it was easy to choose. The Tiger is so much more fun to ride and the seat is the best seat i ever had on a bike. The engine and seat are the most important things for me and the Tiger wins that easy!
Great video thanks. I have the Tiger, and totally agree that the electronics around mode changing off/on road are ridiculous. We have lots of roads where you go from seal to gravel and back regularly, and so I need to change to a mode that turns off TC, or if I want to turn off TC, I have to stop. Other bikes riding with me don't have to stop, and so this is dangerous as they risk colliding with me. If I leave TC on, and the gravel is a bit slippery or juddery, the TC is so powerful, it stops the bike from going forward, and again other bikes behind me have to divert to go around me. It is a terrible situation, and could so easily be fixed.
I like the balanced review. I own the tiger 1200RE and have done a fair amount on and off road. Torque is fine down below but could be better. More clutch work, but hey it is off-road in a heavy ADV bike. Love the engine on it, growls. Very nice balance when riding, especially 10mph-20mph off-road. 20k miles, not 12 for valve service. I'm sure posted below but don't want to read. Remembers ride mode if you kill the engine but leave electronics on. Only full off resets. But it flashes and asks so not really that big a deal. Love the bike. Seat is too soft for long trips...
Both bikes are equally equipped n good.. but I feel triumph tiger might have a upper hand purely due to the engine placement.. BMWs design though looks awesome might be of an issue if it falls on the road/ off-road as it will have substantial damage to the engine heads as they stick out..whereas the tigers engine is tucked in..
Good wrap up. The GS is smoother for long rides and that matters. The Tiger's 21" front wheel is better for off road riding, but picking it up - not so much. And the Tigers are rarer and more unique which has its appeal to many of us. Ultimately, what matters most to me is toughness and dependability when you are off pavement many miles from any help - I give the edge here to the GS. Which offers a closer service department matters too.
I went with the‘23 Tiger Rally Explorer. A very different bike than the ‘18 Africa Twin DCT that I was on. Love the bike, and can’t wait to smash around in the dirt!
@@surlyfan It's a great bike. The power is dramatically different than the AT. I do however miss the DCT, but really like the quick shifter. The weight of the Tiger is noticeably more than the AT. Additionally, the seat hight on the Tiger is higher, even with the low seat. My suspension on the AT settled a bit after awhile, and eventually I was able to flat foot fine. Not sure yet if that'll happen on the Tiger as I only have ~1,200 miles on it.
@@michaelskinner896 The '18 AT DCT will forever have a special place in my heart. I beat it around like a giant dirt bike and when the pandemic hit, I decided to dedicate the AT to 90% dirt and 10% pavement (just to get to where I was going). I was running TKC80s, B&B Offroad Dakar bash plate, Outback Motortek mid-bars, and Barkbusters. Prior to this setup, I was running Heed crashbars which ultimately ended up bending the tab on the frame that holds all the bodywork straight. None the less, a brilliant bike in the dirt if you can get comfortable with how it handles. The Tiger feels like I went from the dirty and rugged to being a more refined and powerful. This is without me even taking it in the dirt yet. The on-road mannerisms of the Tiger are more refined than the AT. Really, it's just an all around different kind of bike. I experienced less fatigue on 8 hour riding days with the Tiger... oh, you can do some gnarly wheelies, whereas the AT DCT would only allow me to yank a power wheelie in 1st.
Good comparison of two good bikes. I do prefer the power characteristic’s of the BMW over the Triumph. With the majority of my riding on pavement, the BMW suspension is a good compromise. So easy choice for me. Now if the Triumph had the engine characteristics of the BMW, it would be the best compromise of a bike for me.
Excellent video, very objective and balanced, and well presented. I know Triumph is playing catch-up with BMW but I believe they are gaining ground and the competition should be good for the consumer. Two thoughts: reliability and cost to maintain / repair will emerge over time but will be a factor in purchasing decisions; and the fact that many car makers are now using triple engines means the R&D effort should yield some interesting innovation over the next few years in triple engine design over the boxer style.
I’ve owned a Tiger (1050) and now own an R1250GSA. As someone who rides alone most of the time the ease of picking up the GSA is a BIG deal to me. The Tiger (granted it was an older model) was a bear to pick up. The GSA is a piece of cake and I’m not a huge guy.
Sorry Ian, The boxer engine is just not eye appealing to me. Prefer the looks of the Triump 1200 rally pro. The menu is not hard to navigate after you owned it for a little bit. Only complaint is you have to stop to go from road mode to any form of dirt mode and back that I will say is a pain in the butt. Talked to a bunch of BMW riders while I was still riding my Indian challenger, and they told me the heat is pretty damn hot on those BMW’s, they had plastic shields over the boxers heads to keep the heat off of there legs. I can tell you, the Triumph 1200 rally pro with the design of the split radiators, and the wind deflectors keeps the heat off of you quite well. Each his own, ride safe. David
Have you considered doing a review of the Yamaha Super Tenere? If you have done it already, I’ve been unable to find it. The reason I ask is that I see a lot of them on my travels. In this video you mentioned the ease of use in the electronics between the two bikes and the differences in the bike’s shaft drives. The Super Tenere has electronic suspension and shaft drive as well. For the most part if you want a long distance touring Adv bike with electronic suspension, cruise control, and shaft drive, the GS/GSA, Tiger 1200 GT/Rally - Pro/Explorer, and Super Tenere are a buyer’s choices (in the USA). I’m curious if there is some significant shortfall with the Super Tenere. It is much less expensive and has the appeal (perception) of being very reliable compared to the European bikes. For reference, my Adv riding is mostly pavement (98%) and good quality, unpaved roads (2%). I ride a smaller dual sport if I want to ride on anything more difficult.
I have a tiger 800. The valve check was done on the last service. No adjustment necessary. I do wonder how many Tiger owners pay for the valve check service and nothing needs to be done. But Triumph stipulate it for service revenue reasons??? My Triumph mechanic is an independent Triumph specialist. I totally trust his work. Do these machines really require 12k valve checks. When was the last time you had you car valve clearances checked???
Great review. My take away when it comes to these two bikes, is that the BMW is the favorit for road bias riding, and Triumph the favorit for off road riding. So it comes down to your type of riding
had a Tiger 1200 rally adventure and it was a great bike, awesome sound, handled superbly off road with modern suspension. Disliked the electronic interface, wasn't intuitive/ going thru menus on the side of the road got tedious quick. It did have reliability issues with ignition and battery life for a brand new bike...and some less than optimal dealer maintenance interaction...enough so that with an opportunity to trade it in for a brand new GSA I pulled the trigger with no hesitation. You can't go wrong with either bike with the right maintenance readily available
The GS is not perfect. But all reviewers have one, or several. Very few have the alternative. Also, the 1250GS is the best selling motorcycle in Europe, for quite some time now. But good info from Ian as usual. Thumbs up
I really enjoy all of your reviews. Understandably, you indicated that this wasn't a full comparison review, but I'd like to know which bike has better lighting. For example, short/medium distance, and side illumination particularly when cornering. I ride a fair amount in the dark and lighting is important to me for seeing and being seen. Very few if any reviews anywhere cover this topic. Thanks!
I am fortunate to own a 2020 Tiger 900 GT Pro and a 2022 GSA. I know the lighting is a bit different on the new 1200 but I will give you my impression between the two since I ride home at night 4 nights a week for my commute. I will say I don't know the difference with just the headlights since I use the factory auxiliary/foglights at night on both bikes all the time in conjunction. The Tiger has the better low beam however the GSA has the better high beam. The other nice thing about the GSA is that when you turn the high beams on the auxiliary lights stay on whereas for the Tiger, when you switch the high beam on it shuts off the auxiliary lights. The Tiger factory auxiliary lights are better as well as they push more light out to the sides of the road. I put about 6k to 8k miles a year at night and I as well found the lack of reviews about lighting annoying as well! Hope this helped.
@@ridethetiger1895 Wow, thanks for this response, and it's very much appreciated! There's always pro's and con's to different systems as well, but that's par for the course. You mentioned different lighting on the 1200 vs. the 900. Any ideas or thoughts between those two? Even though my 2018 Africa Twin has an LED headlight, I think it's really lacking on low beam. High beam is better, but I can't ride around with that on all of the time, haha.
I own an older Tiger and have plenty of miles on gs rentals in the EU. Observations are pretty spot on, the Tiger triple is a gem, but for riding if there’s any chance of dirt I’d take the GS. Lower cog on the Beemer makes a huge difference to confidence on soft surfaces, so that makes me prefer the gs to other heavyweight adv bikes. For the road, I’m not a hige fan of the telelever (numb feeling) so might be inclined to take the Tiger for sporty riding, but the gs would be my go to for casual touring.
I have no desire to wrench anything. I don't want to work on a bike; I just want to ride it (at my age - near four-score yrs). I live in Tornado Alley and ride OK, TXS, NM, and KS - which has dust storms. Hence, the ease of changing the BMW air filter (compared to the Triumph air filter) sells me on the BMW.
I don’t know if BMW has caught up yet but last fall you couldn’t get one with the LED headlight, heated seats or ESA- Between riding them, agressive off-road definitely favors the tiger - and the motor sings in the dirt. It’s a blast to go ripping down a fire road etc. I’m a huge fan of the tiger though, I think the motor ended up being more my fancy.
Tiger 1200 vs GS - which would you choose? If neither of these, what would be your choice among the large adv bikes?
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For the difference in off-road capabilities and the ease in using the electronics you mentioned.
@Big Rock Moto You forgot to mention the resale value
Once again… a fair percentage of your viewers cannot afford or justify a @$30k ADV bike….more affordable/realistic options are available considering the vast majority of these bike will be used for highway/on road use…
@@leonisbacher1772 It’s a motorcycle.. your point is moot
@@leonisbacher1772 they both hold their value very well in the uk
You never know how long you will live. Get the motorcycle you want. Do not try to justify just do it.
Cancer got me, fast and hard. Don't waist time you might not have.
I would like the GS.
Good review.
Took the Tiger over the GS. The triple engine is really intoxicating. And the engine is the heart of a motorcycle.
I bought the Tiger for a couple of reasons, I could not get my feet comfortable with the engine sticking out. I felt a lot of heat coming out of the BMW vs nothing on the Tiger. While I am not a big fan of the Triumph display options I hated the BMW wheel. The shaft drive failures on the BMW had me concerned as well as well as the attitude of the BMW dealers. I am very happy with my purchase.
Could you describe the attitude of the dealership staff?
@Jonathan Young the one guy at one dealership was really nice but they closed that dealer. When I went to the other one, the guy said every other ADV is not as good as the BMW, made comments like, if you can't afford the GSA you can get the base GS. Can you afford that? He offered 5% off a BMW jacket because I would want to get one of those. Telling me it is a pretty big and powerful bike. At a different dealer they asked me which one I wanted to buy when I said I was just looking the sales people just scattered.
At the Triumph dealer the guy just wanted to talk about bikes, the owner introduced himself as I was looking at the bikes and just made me feel comfortable, no pressure at all, when I was ready to buy they offered a very fair price on my trade and actually apologized they could not offer more. I have since been back and bought accessories and referred 2 friends there, one of whom is dealing with them now.
@Mike Mills thank you for responding, my only experience buying a bike was a from a licensed used dealer, i saw the bike i wanted and i got it so it was interesting seeing how different dealerships treat people.
I tested the bmw and triumph and chose for another gs, No real reason other than familiarity.
Imo the cylinders sticking out don’t make an ounce of difference I’ve done 50k+ miles on bmw gs and never once felt like the engine compromises the feet space.
As for the tech I think the bmw is better but the triumph engine felt equally as nice.
shaft issues i’ve never had one nor heard of one unless I google “bmw faults” . All bikes and cars have issues none that would really bother me.
2023 triumph tiger rally pro 1200... couldn't be happier
I bought Tiger for a rather small and personal reason. I just like how it looks more, with the color palette and being slimmer, sounding different, and the fact that when I go to long tours, 10/12 people are using GSA:s (the rest are KTMS and African Twins) so GSA kinda has no personality over here at least, while Tiger stands out being different and not under everyone who does trips.
Only shallow reasons, now live to regret your purchase.
The ultimate punishment will be the resale value.
@@leonisbacher1772 Nah, all motorcycles are for personal pleasure, and to get what you feel that you want. And spending 30k usd for motorcycle( what these cost here for both with crashbars etc), is never like a good purchase anyway. But to be satisfied with the purchase, you gotta buy what YOU want, however shallow the reasons sound. Its not like one choise is bad either. With between 2 great things its completely fine to make a purchase by your own emotions and feeling and you will be happy with it. Resale value I wont be taking to my grave, and after 10 000+ miles I have been very happy with it.
@@leonisbacher1772 Not everyone buys vehicles for resale
Looks is no small reason, you've got to love it! Hope you enjoy it for many miles
Both are good bikes, you can't really lose whichever one you choose. FYI, you can put the Tiger back into whatever mode you had set before you turned it off at the flick of an option.
Only if you are quick, and if it changes TC eg on road to off road, then you can't be moving
You can lose financially if you have to pay for servicing, I was quoted £900 for a main service on the Triumph!
@@antonoat bold of you to assume the BMW wouldn't be comparably expensive
@@friendlysnoworb6091 I have covered nearly 200,000 miles combined on three GS’s that I’ve owned, never had a service any where near the price of the Triumph service, so it’s not an assumption, it’s based purely on experience!
The Tiger valve service interval is 20K miles not 12K. Triumph have also dropped the spark plug check at 10,000 miles and the air filter is good for 20K miles so no need for any plastics to come off until 20k mile mark. Many owners will keep the bike three years and not do that mileage and just trade the bike in doing no more than the basics on any service. The dealer ends up doing the valve service at cost to resell the bike. We also know most owners don't ride in extremely dusty environments and the air-filter issue is a non issue for 99% of riders. What most vloggers have missed is the fact that Triumph have dropped the low chassis model which is a big seller for the GS range. The new Tiger ended up a little too tall for me so I have ordered a low chassis GS which I can buy with an official BMW offering of 5 years, 50,000 km all-in servicing for €1200. That includes everything, valve clearances etc. Obvious omissions are wear items, e.g. tyres, break pads. I paid €1483 for my 20K mile valve service from Triumph, never again. Disagree with the usability of the dash though, coming from a Gen 3 Triumph Tiger 1200 I found them instantly intuitive and understandable. The Triumph suspension confuses many BMW riders too as it is fundamentally different in user configurability. Every rider mode on a Tiger 1200 has a suggested damping level, there are nine to choose from. When you change rider modes the damping is changed to Triumph's suggested level along with the other parameters, e.g. throttle map and other things. But the big difference from BMW here is that you do not have to accept the suggested damping level and can increase or decrease it accordingly to any of the nine levels. When you change it in the menu you are doing it directly in that specific rider mode you are in. Change the rider mode to another one, e.g. rain and your new damping level in the last rider mode is ignored and Triumph's preset in rain mode is used. Any new damping level you set in a rider mode is retained on power off. Off-Road preload also works differently on the Tigers and have done for a while. When you select off-road on the Tiger rear preload is dropped off to rake the bike out. Because this is a fundamental geometry change Triumph do not let you retain an off-road mode on power off, it is a safety feature. But if you power off in any non off road rider mode the bike should stay in that. Lastly, and by far one of the most useful suspension features of the Tiger, is that you can disassociate damping from rider modes and just manually choose whatever damping you want from nine levels regardless of rider mode. The damping menu can be left on the information screen on the right of the dash and adjusted on the fly at any time. Brilliant on tour when road conditions are constantly changing. Loved my last 5 years on a Tiger 1200 but the service cost was a punch in the gut when I can get a BMW GS service for five years for less.
Amazing info, thank you for sharing
Nice recap. As far as I know, in USA none of the brands offer all-included servicing up to 30k miles (50k km) for any price.
Triumph's standard warranty is actually 3 years and unlimited mileage. For about $1,500 more, you can get coverage for 5 years.
I’d opt for the Yamaha Super Tenere 1200.Low initial cost,lower operating costs,and legendary reliability.I also think it looks better than the Tiger or the GS imo.Thank you for comparing and contrasting these two bikes Ian.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
Hell, maybe even give consideration to the Versys 1000, Africa Twin, and V-Strom 1050 if I'm going that route.
@@TheGr3atMilenko
They’re all great bikes for sure, but I wanted shaft drive.There we’re no new S10’s to be had, so I got a Guzzi V85TT adventure.Couldn’t be happier.
@@TheGr3atMilenko Chain drive? It's like having a chain around my *neck.*
@@travelinben1966 depends on your market. We still have Super Tenere in Canada for 2023.
@@johnm8622
It’s still marketed here in the states, but no Yamaha dealers have one, and have no idea if they can get one.They won’t even take a deposit.🤷🏻♂️
As a Tiger owner who has tried both versions (GT and Rally), I'd say that it sits between the Multistrada and the GS.
It has a sporty engine and suspension setup like the Multi, but is shaft driven and capable off-road like the GS.
It is not a GS killer, just a different flavor to add to the full size ADV market.
Ultimately, it comes down to your preferences and price where you live.
Well said, totally agree
And dealer location as well as dealer support. In my region BMW dealers are in major metropolitan areas which I avoid. I can get to two Triumph dealers with only some traffic within a couple miles.
That's a very good analysis, I'd agree for sure.
Good points, but it should be noted that this latest generation of the Tiger 1200 improved the service intervals. Oil changes every 10,000 miles, and valve checks every 20,000 miles (not every 12k miles, as the video stated). This is nearly double the distance from the R1250GS's intervals. This difference should certainly play into the minds of potential buyers.
good luck with engine changing oil every 10.000 miles. It's marketing bullsh.t
Or every 12 months, as is always forgotten!
@@ukaszusielski3606 with modern synthetic oil, this does not surprise me.
@@ukaszusielski3606 No, the marketing bs was changing your oil every 3000-5000 miles. Synthetic’s are far better for your engine.. no thermal breakdown, viscosity remains constant, etc.. 10,000 miles is now the norm
@@ukaszusielski3606 I mean if a buyer were to be worried about that they could change more frequently. That’s easy service even for the novice home mechanic. The 20k valve service interval is the key here given that that’s what the video specifically called out. That’s the service most people go to the dealer to address.
Great comparison. Love your work. I recently purchased a 2022 1250GS Rallye (my 5th GS over the years). Prior to this bike, I owned a KTM 1290S & prior to that, a Triumph Explorer 1200. Loving the current GS but firmly believe that there is no such thing as the ultimate bike. But it's a lot of fun trying to find it! Cheers from 🇦🇺
Thanks for sharing!
How much does intuitiveness actually matter if you are a person who will be owning the bike and keeping it for an extended period (as most will be or are)? My opinion is that it does not matter. My '22 Africa Twin Adventure Sport ES was confusing for the first 500 miles but, now, it is 2nd nature; I know exactly how to operate everything. Had I used the lack of intuitiveness as a deciding factor, prior to buying, I wouldn't have purchased it and would have missed out on a fine, very enjoyable machine. When deciding on a bike to buy, remember that you will almost certainly be owning it long enough to figure things out. Pay more attention to far more important things...such as an inferior suspension, engine or transmission....or wheel size (which truly does matter, depending on the riding you do). Don't rule a bike out simply because you don't immediately understand how to use everything on it...in time, understanding will come.
100% yes
The guy never asked anyone to rule any bike out. He was just giving us a fair comparison of the two bikes and clearly stated some things to consider when it comes to pros and cons of each.
I really enjoy your videos, I’m faithful subscriber. I own a 23 tiger explorer and owned previous generations, I have two observations from the video. The valve adjustments interval on the tiger is every 20 thousand miles and around where I leave a $1000 job. The riding modes are pretty simple, if you want to stay on the off road mode when you restart the bike it’s only a matter of pressing the M button and the check mark. 🙏
Good info
Ian
I have the first GT Explorer sold in the Us. The menu is straight forward, you just scroll to the riding mode you want and push the enter button. No push, no mode change. Just because you can see the mode you want while scrolling, if you don't hit enter you won't get it. Easy Peesy! Read the manual first to understand how everything works. That's why you couldn't get the suspension set up the way you wanted it. Every bikes menu is different and I find the Tiger menu very simple when you know how it works. You are used to the GS menu and because you haven't learned the Tiger menu you say it's confusing. I am a Tiger guy through many iterations and I find the BWM menus confusing. You have to learn each bike through ownership and not just test rides.
Thanks for adding maintenance intervals and general maintenance operation probably the most overlooked topic when I watch reviews.
Glad it was helpful!
They were wrong for the triumph so not really helpful 😂
I have a 2020 Tiger 900 GT Pro and was salivating at getting the new 1200 Rally Explorer. I love my 900 and the T-Plane has a got an amazing exhaust note however when it came down to it, the nearest Triumph dealer to me is in Sacramento and I didn't care for the dealer when I bought my 900 and the 2nd closest was in Reno. Both are about 3.5 hours from me. There is a BMW dealer an hour from me and had heard a ton of good things about the dealer. Long story short I went with a 2022 GSA. Had Triumph had a dealer closer to me I would've gone with the Rally Explorer but shout out to Ozzie's BMW in Chico, CA for a ridiculously simple buying experience and excellent service shop! I love both my Tiger 900 and GSA, I have had the 900 for a 1 year and 9 months 20.3k miles and only 1 problem and that was the rear brake switch failed at 1300 miles which I replaced myself for under $40, it would have cost more in fuel to get to a dealer for a warranty repair than what the part cost lol and I have had my GSA for 7 months, 10.5K miles and have had zero problems with it. Both bikes have been excellent as far as reliability goes!
I bought one of the first tiger 1200s in the USA with the optional full accessory kit. That bike was a freaking blast. My first off-road ADV enduro experience was in central Pennsylvania near Penn State University, nothing but lose shale rocks, narrow trails, and steep hills, and lots of twisties. Didnt drop it all weekend until the final day when I purposely went into a mud puddle to show off and slipped into a mud bath; otherwise I wish I still had it. I can't get past the wide boxer motor on the BMW, yuck
I really enjoy your channel Ian, keep up the good work. You tapped into the adventure segment where people like you are really needed.
I had a tiger 800xc, it was a great bike. It was still going strong when the new owner took it over with just under 110,400 miles on the clock. A uni prefilter really extends the air filter life on the tiger.
Excellent comparison between the 2 bikes. I'm glad you mentioned the service aspect, difference in shaft drive riding performance, and ease of use for the electronics. The things I would have added are adaptability to different size riders, does Triumph offer a lower seat or lowered suspension options etc. Also it would have been good to just touch on price and warranty, though people can look that stuff up. Both of them are crazy expensive so you REALLY need to know the details before signing on the bottom line. I still can't believe we're in the $20k price range for bikes, just nutz.
A couple of points: Shaft drive; The BMW needs to have its final drive removed from the driveshaft and serviced the Tiger only needs the final drive fluid changed. Tech: The Triumph has blind spot radar, which I found highly useful and a quick shifter is better on the Tiger. Lighting: Tiger has all LED lighting with adaptive lean adjustment; The Tiger also has back-lit buttons.
i love backlit buttons, dunno if the new 1300gs has that
Great video! I bought a GS about 9 months ago and I have enjoyed riding it very much. The primary reason I chose this bike is, as you said, the engine has been around for a long time, being improved. Also the dealer is :15 minutes away. The Triumph dealer is over an hour. Given the hot summers we have, there is no engine heat. Ergonomically speaking , its pretty much perfect. The electronics are intuitive as well. Perfect bike for me. I would to see a review of the Sidi boots you wear. Also I would like to see ideas on how to beat the heat of Summer. I have been looking at cooling vests & jackets that you submerse in water or they have ice packets. You wear these under a mesh jacket. If you have a video on this , please direct me to find it. Great job! Best!
India Perspective:-
1. Engine Heat, the GS is way better in our weather and traffic.
2. BMW service is consistent, Triumph has a lower reputation.
3. For 80+% of typical Indian off-road situations, that front telelever does a better job than conventional twin shock absorbers.
5. A single sided swingarm makes it easier to remove the rear wheel if needed.
Great points
Surely the gs boxer is like an oven next to your legs?
@@shegocrazy Quite the opposite actually. The exposed cylinders make sure that the heat isn’t “between “ my legs but beyond them.
Strongly disagree. There is ZERO heat from the Tiger, in fact it is the only motorcycle that makes you freeze on your legs in the winter.
The entire recent Big Rock Moto review series of the Triumph Tiger 1200 line of models has been comprehensive and honest, surpassing any other reviews on the www. This particular (resulting) comparison review of that Triumph 1200 series to the benchmark BMW 1250 GSA machine has been a very good cap on the video series. Even though I'm drawn to the incredible Tiger engine with a brilliant final drive design, my predominant pavement style of ADV riding points me to the more proven, refined BMW. Thank you, Ian, for an exceptionally informative vlog set!
Ian, your reviews are brilliant, you are y go to guy. I was considering 1200 Tiger rally pro, but am going with a r1250gsa after this review. I never go off road, but like the comfort of an adventure bike for 12hrs. My 74yo body needs to be able to stretch. Thanks again!
Good that you highlight some other things and can speak from personal experience with both bikes. This video will help people that as always are on the fence with choosing the big adv bike.
I suppose a big reason you have the GS is because you have another bike for off-roading? So the GS can be a dedicated road tourer mostly.
I love the format. 12 minutes or less is perfect.
I prefer my Tiger Rally Pro but I do like both bikes. Valve adjustments are 20k on Tiger. I have a wonderful Triumph dealer and that's a huge reason I went that way. But I also think two of the most over-rated things in motorcycling is the boxer motor and telelever. I've tried them quite a few times and I've never gotten off thinking omg that was awesome. In fact... I've always gotten off and thought wow that was underwhelming
Both bikes are great. I’ve had my 2020 Tiger Desert for a few years now and the new Tigers address my main complaint and that is the weight and engine heat of my 2020. Like others I’m waiting to see the 1300GS before I upgrade again. It wil have to be substantially better or I’ll be getting the Rally Explorer. Great vid!
I went with the Tiger Rally Pro over the GS for a few different reasons. I totally agree with you on the Tiger's electronics and TFT. It is very poorly thought out. Very unintuitive and very frustrating. Feels like an afterthought on what is otherwise a brilliant bike.
I also agree that the Tiger is an absolute bear to pick up. Especially if it falls over on an off camber surface off road - it can get partly upside down and you have zero leverage to lift. I'm a 6'2, 200 lb guy who strength trains, and I've had to use a z-drag to get the bike upright after a drop before.
As far as the maintenance stuff... yeah. I also own a Desert X, so I'm clearly a glutton for punishment.
thanks for sharing
I totally agree with you.. I think I prefer the tiger. Here in the UK the GS is a meme cos everyone has one and none of them have been off road.. retired men drive them to cafes in wales on Sundays.. the tiger just seems more fun 😊 the GS is probably the better bike but damn they have an image problem.
Good points. For street riding it is just personal choice, but for real off-road riding two things stand out: how easy is it to pick up (which you did a great job of highlighting), and how much abuse can the bike handle. I just finished up a 2 day off-road riding course at the BMW Riding Academy. The bikes are 2 years old, and the abuse they take is amazing. I saw bikes smack into trees, gravel, rocks, and into each other. My bike hit the ground at least ten times. Total damage: one broken off shifter tip, and a bent rear brake lever. No plastics broken or damaged. Those cylinders provide an amazing amount of crash protection. Not sure how the Triumph would stand up to that abuse.
Methinks if they were 200 lbm lighter they'd be dropped fewer times and survive drops even better.
Maybe, but this was not a test of dual sport bikes, this was a test of large capacity adventure bikes. Also some of the exercises might have been easier on a dual sport, and some were easier on the GS. I say this as the owner of both a GS and a CRF 300L Rally.
Great quick & dirty report. Personally, I think the Triumph looks and sounds better but bought the GS due to the design refinement, handling, and most important, local dealer support.
My thoughts exactly.
I recently picked up a 2023 Triumph 1200 Rally Explorer. Amazing bike. Can’t wait to do some adventure touring this spring. I’ve had a bunch of BMW’s mostly RT’s and RS and great bikes. No dealers near me so bailed on them a while ago. Triumph makes good stuff.
Very good and thoughtful review. The ease of maintenance was one of the first things I noticed when I got my first BMW.
I flip between these bikes so often as they tick all the right boxes for me. It’s a silly reason really, but one of the main selling points for the Tiger is being out on tour and NOT seeing a handful of other 1200s around you. I like feeling that bit more unique in my purchase. The concern for the Tiger however, is that Triumph had put all their resources and time into developing a bike to compete with a bike on its way out, and given how important the GS is to BMW’s sales and reputation, you KNOW the new 1300 won’t be a minor refresh. Since I’m in now rush to get a touring bike now I’ll happily wait and see what comes. Thanks for putting together this great comparo Ian!
Dealer told me that new gs won't hit the show rooms till 2025.
@@shegocrazy yikes! I would expect maybe early 2024 following the announcement this Fall. As I mentioned in my original post, thankfully I’m in no hurry to pick up a new bike 😅
Can't agree more. I bought a Tiger for similar reasons, but the fact that I see the GS everywhere is what makes it not the bike for me.
@@benwells2338 Well maybe he was just trying to sell me the current model rather than wait but......
@@AskYourPsychNurse I went to a bike show a couple days ago and there would have been a dozen GSs there but I didn't see a single Tiger 1200..
I wanna go with the 1200 and a 21 wheel in front. The Engine is smooth and the Boxer is so easy to handle in lower speed 🥰
@text-3190 You got mail
2017 Triumph Explorer/Tiger 1200 with 53K miles. I agree with the PITA of lifting tank to get to air filter and spark plugs. Valves weren't as big an issue as I was told by dealer that valve intervals were too often and bring it back at 20K miles. I was tardy and returned at over 30K miles and valves were still way within spec. I believe the drive shaft on the GS requires more maintenance than Triumph (at least the older model). After 500 mile check, no need to touch Triumph shaft again, unlike BMW. Have loved the Triumph.... it's a screamer on road, but a handful on more technical offroad.
However, at age 58, I've purchased a used 2019 BMW GSA with only 4K miles and look forward to it's lower COG and characteristics offroad. Wife likes it so much after taking mine on a 1000 mile trip, she has gotten her own 2022 BMW GSA for her mostly road riding as an upgrade from her 2017 BMW F700 GS.
If I was a younger more off-road aggressive rider, I'd definitely choose the 2023 Triumph Rally. Like you, the spirit of the engine speaks to me. However, at my age, I want the 400-500 mile comfort that the GSA offers to get me to the tame dirt/gravel forest roads I want for clearing my head.
Enjoy your channel! Keep up the hard work!
Once again, another brilliant video. You make an effort and go the extra mile with facts and real world test experience. Personally, both bikes a phenomenal in their own way. I currently own a 1200 Rally Pro having sold my 1250 Gs HP. Having owned 3 GS's prior, the bike is outstanding and does everything it says and does it well. But that in my personal opinion is also its achilles heel. Its so good, its actually kinda dull, typical German engineering. The Triumphs and especially the 1200 Rally Pro does everything almost equally well but it has its quirks and character that puts a smile on my face everytime i ride it. I dont get that with the GS. I ride with the missus and funnily enough she actually prefers the Triumph after loving the comfort of the GS. Everyone is different but you really cant go wrong with both bikes. Will i go back to another GS? Who knows, perhaps i will if the new edition piques my interest. For now, i will enjoy the Triumph. Cheers.
Very much in the market for either one of these bikes. Been researching for at least 9-months. This is exactly what I've been looking for! Great job as always Ian. (Still leaning GS BTW)
good choise.
Who doesn’t love a nice Triple? The power and that sound like a saxophone or something ha. But there’s a reason you see so many new and old GS’s. The low-speed balance with that boxer handing out like a balance bar. My 2005 air/oil cooled new version GS runs likes a Swiss automatic watch. It will not stall unless I actually try to stall it. So I’m down on power but it’s quite a bit lighter. It was upgraded to Öhlins suspension more controlled but supple. I also have a ‘62 R69S maybe I’m biased toward the Boxer and Shaftdrive. 🏁
Thank for covering the maintenance issues. I agree that they are overlooked in reviews but for me very important
I test rode the Tiger and for me there were 5 things that swayed me to the GS. 1) Foot peg position was right where my calves were in the feet down comfortable position, 2) I couldn't hear the engine of the Tiger and found it difficult to know when the shift unless riding hard, 3) The throttle felt snatchy - as I explained to the Triumph rep, if 0 was off and 10 was full it felt like it went from 0 to 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. He said they were all like that, as in it was not a problem with the bike. My friend said exactly the same thing. 4) Riding mode kept changing back to default, and 5) the Triumph staff were far less attentive to customers that the BMW staff. Otherwise, the Tiger 1200 is a nice bike ... I just preferred the all-round experience with the GS.
Once again, awesome review. Bigger bikes than I want, but very informative and helpful to me as I decide on my next bike. Thank you.
I ride the Tiger, love it & agree with the electronics comments, could be easier. Ok once your used to it but for example when you select 'Off-road ' mode you consistently have the ABS & Traction lights flashing which distracts you from your riding. But in beast mode this thing just rips.
Both great bikes. The reasons I went with the GSA are:
-I found it easier to read the instruments.
-I hate red backlit switch gear, so I rather don't have it.
-Ease of access for valve clearance check.
-It's Bavarian, like me.
Great video - appreciated learning the differences (I was always curious what the main differences were between these two heavyweights).
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love the engines in both of these bikes. They are some of the best ever made. I know they are popular right now but these things have become like enormous 3 row luxury SUVs. They are the polar opposite of why I'm into bikes. But hey, whatever, it's on two wheels so it's cool.
I like that you provide extra info like drop and lift test etc which I have not seen done by any other channel I have watched.
The airfilter is under the tank on SO many bikes, including my bike, and it makes no sense whatsoever. Air filter and battery access should be on the side of the bike as it used to be on old bikes.
Personally I would like you to ad a segment to all of your review videos especially for bikes that you owned and that is the cost of ownership. When are services due and how much are they each time (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc) any breakdowns and what it cost to fix etc. The former gives us an idea of running cost and the latter regarding reliability and parts cost.
Great job
rsm8
Where I'm at now year end Tiger 1200s are on a discount. A Rally Explorer can be had for 19K + fees, whereas BMW is still at 25k... I've been doing all service myself, and for $80 bucks for the dealertool, you can reset all errors and service lights. I'll wait until I get tired of my '20 Tiger 900 to get the upgrade. I just hate going to the dealer and "making a deal"
Oil changes are every 10k on the Tiger and valves at 20k - whereas a new BMW GS is on its way to its fifth service by then! Service and parts costs are generally cheaper on the Triumph too. For reference, I've owned 4 GS's and 3 Tiger's including GS 1250's and the current Tiger 1200
Hi, here in the UK I had the previous gen Triumph and the servicing costs for valves etc were outrageous, that coupled with gearbox faults and a bike which was generally much more unstable at slow speeds meant my relationship with that bike was brief! Whereas any GS I can ride at below walking pace if necessary and it’s always a doddle! Loving your review style, have subscribed! 👏👍😀
Relative to the GS -
Cons: The tiger is HEAVY. I think triumph is lying about the weight.
Pros: Great suspension.
The GS regrettably packed on an additional 5kg with the bump up to 1250. Improvements to the stock clunker suspension and an optional 21” would have made the original 1200 a better bike.
The GS has better ergos. The optional tall rally seat and handlebars can be a game changer. I don’t like feeling locked in off-road.
The shaft drive on the triumph is much much better. In addition to what you mentioned the GS shaft drive has reliability issues, inherent engineering issues. The previous gen triumph’s shaft drive was flawless.
They're not lying about the weight. I've weighed mine and it's true to their claim. It may feel heavier as COG is higher.
I sold my BMW RT and replaced it with a new Tiger 900 GT Pro. I rode a 3600 mile loop through the West in June and the moto performed flawlessly. Triumphs are outstanding. BTW I find the electronics on the Tiger are much more adjustable and user friendly, contrary to the review. While I think the RT is nothing short of excellent, and I love BMW motos, I found my new Triumph to be even better for my touring style.
Thanks for sharing
The 900’s electronics are much easier to use, and I personally think they look better, too!
I’m unsure why Triumph didn’t take the user interface from the 900, massage it a bit, and use it on the 1200!? I do miss the WonderWheel from my GS, but something I don’t miss is the vague feeling of the telelever front end on the GS. The Rally Explorer is way better than the GS off road, except at very low speeds.
I was going with the Tiger, but your observation about maintenance stands out. I already have a Tiger 800 and have had to take that tank off more times than I would like for different reasons. If only a 21" front wheel wasn't such a pricey accessory for the GS
Good comparison! Well done. I bought the BMW, after contemplating the KTM 1290 Super Adventure R. The big determinants for me were DEALER and shaft vs chain. Shaft just makes more sense to me for touring without chain lube and maintenance. And I think too many riders discount the importance of having a good dealer nearby. This may not be such a big issue in a large metropolitan area where every dealer is present. But even then, some dealers SUCK. There is no Triumph dealership in my area. Relatively few in the country for that matter. I was also interested in the Ducati Multistrada and the Husqvarna Norden…but again, no dealership for either brand. After buying the BMW, I am loving it. Can’t say I love the way it sounds, unless I am flailing it. But other than that, high marks. It is a great balanced package overall.
Thanks a lot.
I’ve been thinking and finally my choice will be GS.
Thanks a lot.
Great video! Your efficiency and cutting to the point is appreciated!
Sweet! My brother has a 21 1250GSA and almost got the Tiger and said he liked it a lot.
🙏🏽
🏍💨
Great review, I have a 23’ Gs which is my second one. I came from years of gsxr 1000 zx10 laterally s1000rr. A mate of mine is a triumph fanatic who opted for the past 10 years of tigers and he loves them, Myself owning bmws for 8-9 years I chose the gs due to reputation and the fact the local dealership was excellent with me. After now 30k miles on my gs and several long weekends/holidays I can safely say I am a bmw fan far better electronics imo than any other (btw I really wanted the 1290sa before this new gs but the switches are like an 80s toy) to summarise the best bike for me personally is not even the gs. I have just placed my name down for the new m1000xr this is the best bet for power touring and smiles. Something an adventure bike just cannot do. For now I will still thoroughly enjoy my gs but it will be traded next year.
Ian, the short videos are ok. Just hitting the highlights is all that’s needed in between the more in depth videos.
Thanks for another great review Ian, is just shows how difficult it is the beat the GS, it's an older design but can still compete with a new Tiger
I traded the BMW GSA for the Triumph and for me I’m happy I did so. Both are grew bikes but I am far more comfortable on the Tiger
Good video as always, but still no review of a recent Ktm 1290 SAR….
I own the Rally Explorer and can tell you valve adjustment intervals are 20K vs GS’s 12K. Service intervals are 10K vs 6K on the GS. The quick shift is less clunky. Heated grips, rider seat + pillion heat, fog lights are all standard. 21” front wheel is a bonus for off-road. And the Tiger has better ground clearance. I test rode a 40th Anniversary Edition GSA before purchasing, and was underwhelmed compared to the Tiger or the Multistrada V4S. Very happy with my decision.
I bought a used 2017 explorer xrx and it was setting next to a ktm .I really wanted the ktm but I don’t see many if any triumph tigers so I bought the triumph and I really enjoy it.
Agree about the Tiger electronics. Clumsy. Setting ride modes should be physical switch in my opinion. Simple and quick.
Tiger overall though is great fun ride.
It is,you press the mode switch ?
@@eddiewhittingham5210 It is a joystick which you then use to navigate menus on screen to choose ride mode etc. Cannot be done without taking eyes off the road.
@@jonathanbilling2131 you can toggle to change modes but it will also change if you keep pressing the mode switch (you can on mine anyway😀) agree you do have to look down but I believe that applies to all bikes ?
@@eddiewhittingham5210 Thanks Eddie. I missed completely and was only using toggle. The M switch is way easier. Glad to have learned before to many miles.
@@jonathanbilling2131 took me a while to work it out 😂
But over all I think Id go with the GS as well. That's a pretty bike Ian!!!
Good review with important information…it’s also why I bought a 800GS for ADV riding…best of both worlds…
Tiger wins for me. Bough a GT Explorer - outstanding bit of kit.
I bought the Triumph GTPro. Almost exclusively as a road bike and grocery getter. Bought it for the following reasons: how well triumphs handle and the expense of BMW maintenance. It is a third bike for me behind a Husky 300 and a track only GSXR 750
Thanks for a great comparison review, Ian.
I love both these bikes, and had been leaning hard toward the Triumph.
The maintenance issues are probably what will sway me to the BMW.
I’m used to the 21” front wheel from my current bikes, so that will be something different to consider.
I have my little ‘21 Honda CRF 300 Rally for playing in the dirt, and the big bike would be mostly for touring.
Rock On
Best reviewer on the planet! Keep up the good work!,
I trust Ian over most other reviewers when it comes to ADV's
This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I really like the looks of the GS. Even though you see them literally everywhere, there's just something cool about them. No other big adv bike can match it imo except for maybe the multistrada v4.
Agree
Ditto.
I ride a Tiger Rally Explorer 2022. After riding both bikes a lot it was easy to choose. The Tiger is so much more fun to ride and the seat is the best seat i ever had on a bike. The engine and seat are the most important things for me and the Tiger wins that easy!
Great video thanks. I have the Tiger, and totally agree that the electronics around mode changing off/on road are ridiculous. We have lots of roads where you go from seal to gravel and back regularly, and so I need to change to a mode that turns off TC, or if I want to turn off TC, I have to stop. Other bikes riding with me don't have to stop, and so this is dangerous as they risk colliding with me. If I leave TC on, and the gravel is a bit slippery or juddery, the TC is so powerful, it stops the bike from going forward, and again other bikes behind me have to divert to go around me. It is a terrible situation, and could so easily be fixed.
I like the balanced review. I own the tiger 1200RE and have done a fair amount on and off road. Torque is fine down below but could be better. More clutch work, but hey it is off-road in a heavy ADV bike. Love the engine on it, growls. Very nice balance when riding, especially 10mph-20mph off-road. 20k miles, not 12 for valve service. I'm sure posted below but don't want to read. Remembers ride mode if you kill the engine but leave electronics on. Only full off resets. But it flashes and asks so not really that big a deal. Love the bike. Seat is too soft for long trips...
tks and you're right, when possible short videos are a must...
Both bikes are equally equipped n good.. but I feel triumph tiger might have a upper hand purely due to the engine placement.. BMWs design though looks awesome might be of an issue if it falls on the road/ off-road as it will have substantial damage to the engine heads as they stick out..whereas the tigers engine is tucked in..
Good wrap up. The GS is smoother for long rides and that matters. The Tiger's 21" front wheel is better for off road riding, but picking it up - not so much. And the Tigers are rarer and more unique which has its appeal to many of us. Ultimately, what matters most to me is toughness and dependability when you are off pavement many miles from any help - I give the edge here to the GS. Which offers a closer service department matters too.
Only the Rally models have the 21" front wheel.
I went with the‘23 Tiger Rally Explorer. A very different bike than the ‘18 Africa Twin DCT that I was on. Love the bike, and can’t wait to smash around in the dirt!
Interested to hear your thoughts on the new Tiger. I have a 17 AT DCT myself, love the bike and the DCT.
I currently have a 2018 Africa Twin DCT, but am looking around. I'd be interested in your thoughts as well about the Tiger vs. your previous AT.
@@surlyfan It's a great bike. The power is dramatically different than the AT. I do however miss the DCT, but really like the quick shifter. The weight of the Tiger is noticeably more than the AT. Additionally, the seat hight on the Tiger is higher, even with the low seat. My suspension on the AT settled a bit after awhile, and eventually I was able to flat foot fine. Not sure yet if that'll happen on the Tiger as I only have ~1,200 miles on it.
@@michaelskinner896 The '18 AT DCT will forever have a special place in my heart. I beat it around like a giant dirt bike and when the pandemic hit, I decided to dedicate the AT to 90% dirt and 10% pavement (just to get to where I was going). I was running TKC80s, B&B Offroad Dakar bash plate, Outback Motortek mid-bars, and Barkbusters. Prior to this setup, I was running Heed crashbars which ultimately ended up bending the tab on the frame that holds all the bodywork straight.
None the less, a brilliant bike in the dirt if you can get comfortable with how it handles. The Tiger feels like I went from the dirty and rugged to being a more refined and powerful. This is without me even taking it in the dirt yet. The on-road mannerisms of the Tiger are more refined than the AT. Really, it's just an all around different kind of bike. I experienced less fatigue on 8 hour riding days with the Tiger... oh, you can do some gnarly wheelies, whereas the AT DCT would only allow me to yank a power wheelie in 1st.
@@farkled Thanks, I appreciate the insight!
Good comparison of two good bikes. I do prefer the power characteristic’s of the BMW over the Triumph. With the majority of my riding on pavement, the BMW suspension is a good compromise. So easy choice for me. Now if the Triumph had the engine characteristics of the BMW, it would be the best compromise of a bike for me.
Excellent video, very objective and balanced, and well presented. I know Triumph is playing catch-up with BMW but I believe they are gaining ground and the competition should be good for the consumer. Two thoughts: reliability and cost to maintain / repair will emerge over time but will be a factor in purchasing decisions; and the fact that many car makers are now using triple engines means the R&D effort should yield some interesting innovation over the next few years in triple engine design over the boxer style.
You are the best! I went for the Tiger 900 RP; fits my needs best.
I’ve owned a Tiger (1050) and now own an R1250GSA. As someone who rides alone most of the time the ease of picking up the GSA is a BIG deal to me. The Tiger (granted it was an older model) was a bear to pick up. The GSA is a piece of cake and I’m not a huge guy.
Sorry Ian,
The boxer engine is just not eye appealing to me.
Prefer the looks of the Triump 1200 rally pro.
The menu is not hard to navigate after you owned it for a little bit.
Only complaint is you have to stop to go from road mode to any form of dirt mode and back that I will say is a pain in the butt.
Talked to a bunch of BMW riders while I was still riding my Indian challenger, and they told me the heat is pretty damn hot on those BMW’s, they had plastic shields over the boxers heads to keep the heat off of there legs.
I can tell you, the Triumph 1200 rally pro with the design of the split radiators, and the wind deflectors keeps the heat off of you quite well.
Each his own, ride safe.
David
Have you considered doing a review of the Yamaha Super Tenere? If you have done it already, I’ve been unable to find it. The reason I ask is that I see a lot of them on my travels.
In this video you mentioned the ease of use in the electronics between the two bikes and the differences in the bike’s shaft drives. The Super Tenere has electronic suspension and shaft drive as well. For the most part if you want a long distance touring Adv bike with electronic suspension, cruise control, and shaft drive, the GS/GSA, Tiger 1200 GT/Rally - Pro/Explorer, and Super Tenere are a buyer’s choices (in the USA).
I’m curious if there is some significant shortfall with the Super Tenere. It is much less expensive and has the appeal (perception) of being very reliable compared to the European bikes.
For reference, my Adv riding is mostly pavement (98%) and good quality, unpaved roads (2%). I ride a smaller dual sport if I want to ride on anything more difficult.
Appreciate. your analyses and the benefit of your experience with these bikes. I think the level of detail is about right. Thanks.
I have a tiger 800. The valve check was done on the last service. No adjustment necessary. I do wonder how many Tiger owners pay for the valve check service and nothing needs to be done. But Triumph stipulate it for service revenue reasons??? My Triumph mechanic is an independent Triumph specialist. I totally trust his work.
Do these machines really require 12k valve checks. When was the last time you had you car valve clearances checked???
I'd be happy as a clam with a Tiger. Looks great, sounds amazing. Almost bought a smaller one. Love my big GS though.
Thanks, great review. I am eagerly waiting for the new 1300 gs that is coming out soon.
I’m sure I”d have been happy with either bike. But having ridden both I found the Tiger more engaging and Its Triumph that got my money. ❤
Great review. My take away when it comes to these two bikes, is that the BMW is the favorit for road bias riding, and Triumph the favorit for off road riding. So it comes down to your type of riding
had a Tiger 1200 rally adventure and it was a great bike, awesome sound, handled superbly off road with modern suspension. Disliked the electronic interface, wasn't intuitive/ going thru menus on the side of the road got tedious quick. It did have reliability issues with ignition and battery life for a brand new bike...and some less than optimal dealer maintenance interaction...enough so that with an opportunity to trade it in for a brand new GSA I pulled the trigger with no hesitation. You can't go wrong with either bike with the right maintenance readily available
The GS is not perfect. But all reviewers have one, or several. Very few have the alternative. Also, the 1250GS is the best selling motorcycle in Europe, for quite some time now. But good info from Ian as usual. Thumbs up
I really enjoy all of your reviews. Understandably, you indicated that this wasn't a full comparison review, but I'd like to know which bike has better lighting. For example, short/medium distance, and side illumination particularly when cornering. I ride a fair amount in the dark and lighting is important to me for seeing and being seen. Very few if any reviews anywhere cover this topic. Thanks!
I am fortunate to own a 2020 Tiger 900 GT Pro and a 2022 GSA. I know the lighting is a bit different on the new 1200 but I will give you my impression between the two since I ride home at night 4 nights a week for my commute. I will say I don't know the difference with just the headlights since I use the factory auxiliary/foglights at night on both bikes all the time in conjunction. The Tiger has the better low beam however the GSA has the better high beam. The other nice thing about the GSA is that when you turn the high beams on the auxiliary lights stay on whereas for the Tiger, when you switch the high beam on it shuts off the auxiliary lights. The Tiger factory auxiliary lights are better as well as they push more light out to the sides of the road. I put about 6k to 8k miles a year at night and I as well found the lack of reviews about lighting annoying as well! Hope this helped.
@@ridethetiger1895 Wow, thanks for this response, and it's very much appreciated! There's always pro's and con's to different systems as well, but that's par for the course. You mentioned different lighting on the 1200 vs. the 900. Any ideas or thoughts between those two? Even though my 2018 Africa Twin has an LED headlight, I think it's really lacking on low beam. High beam is better, but I can't ride around with that on all of the time, haha.
I own an older Tiger and have plenty of miles on gs rentals in the EU. Observations are pretty spot on, the Tiger triple is a gem, but for riding if there’s any chance of dirt I’d take the GS. Lower cog on the Beemer makes a huge difference to confidence on soft surfaces, so that makes me prefer the gs to other heavyweight adv bikes. For the road, I’m not a hige fan of the telelever (numb feeling) so might be inclined to take the Tiger for sporty riding, but the gs would be my go to for casual touring.
Great review and answered most of my questions.
I have no desire to wrench anything. I don't want to work on a bike; I just want to ride it (at my age - near four-score yrs). I live in Tornado Alley and ride OK, TXS, NM, and KS - which has dust storms. Hence, the ease of changing the BMW air filter (compared to the Triumph air filter) sells me on the BMW.
I don’t know if BMW has caught up yet but last fall you couldn’t get one with the LED headlight, heated seats or ESA- Between riding them, agressive off-road definitely favors the tiger - and the motor sings in the dirt. It’s a blast to go ripping down a fire road etc.
I’m a huge fan of the tiger though, I think the motor ended up being more my fancy.