A huge thanks to Superbike Factory for their support! You can find all their stock here, including some great deals on almost new bikes like the GS featured in this video: tinyurl.com/2m7ydhaj
@@SimonBrisbane not a bmw eighter 😊. When l worked at a dealership for bmw triumph suzuki yamaha harley Davidson , guess what was most present on the lift?!.. Yess.. Bmw.
I’m definitely on the Tiger team. In respect to price, shouldn’t you have compared the Tiger Explorer model to the GSA? 30 litre tank and wire wheels for example. The GT Pro was probably a better comparison for the GS in the video. Just my opinion however I’m heavily biased to the Tiger 😁
Hi Bob. I got something to say.. This video is brilliant! Perfect light , perfect angels on the cameras, perfect lenght and you speak loud and clear and not so fast so us foreners can understand what you are saying. You are in my top 3 spot! Keep it up, im already excited for your next video 👍🏻
I think both are fantastic bikes, but the Tiger takes it for me. Regarding comfort, I've only taken both for a 1 hour test ride, but I found Tiger much more comfortable. I have quite large feet and kept kicking the boxer engine. I found my legs were much more bent on the GS, which caused a bit of cramping. Then trying to stretch out was difficult due to the engine being in the way.
If Triumph had given me a better test ride/dealer impression, I probably would have bought one. They didn't though, and BMW were reasurringly professional and patient, so they got by business. With so little to choose between the bikes, the "living with" component and knowing that I'm going to get looked after if and when things go wrong, is worth the cost for me.
I have to agree with you about dealer experiences. Here in Reno, NV (USA) there is a night & day difference between the BMW dealer and the Triumph dealer, in favor of BMW. So, BMW got my business. In order for me to deal with that other dealer, they would have to have THE bike that I absolutely could not resist. Even then, I would dread the relationship with the service department to follow.
yes it truly is sickening, I have been patiently waiting for 3 years now to test ride any tiger and it cant be had here in toronto/ canada I dont care for the looks and whats on the paper when it comes to my bikes I care about how they make me feel, I am super heartbroken over Triumph not allowing test rides I have a test ride of BMW coming up in a month and seems this is the route I am going to take if I do like how it feels.
Same experience here. Asked a triumoh dealer to test ride the floor model and they looked at ne like i was crazy! Went to bmw same day and encouraged me to take their floor model out for a cruuse. Even told me a good place to stop and eat. Brought a gsa home at the end of the day.
Triumph is an iconic brand and one that I am proud to ride. That does not mean that there is anything wrong with BMW, they also build fantastic machines. I test rode both and felt that the Tiger had more grin factor and character.
I own the 2023 Triumph GT Explorer and it is amazing! I've ridden the BMW and it is bland in handling and character. I traded my previous Tiger XCX for the new one. Vibration? Not an issue. Feature for feature, it is the best ADV bike out there.
Test drove both. I ended up with the GS. Three main reasons: - The Tiumph build quality wasn't what I expected - The vibration, reminded me my S1000XR. - The BMW keeps its price better. It was a hard call, as both are great bikes, yes, while adding running costs, insurances and depreciation the GS is a much better option (for me). Ride safe
@@raysen623when buying new you can do a service plan upto 50k Miles and 5 years at £1000 which works out at £200 a year. That's cheaper then my Tracer GT
Had a Tiger 900 RP. Best bike I've ever owned. Switched to a T1200 RP. Although the Showa system is much more sophisticated than the ESA, the T1200 RP seems to be unbalanced when it comes to stable driving. The bike has a tendency to shimmy (dealer tried everything to solve the issue but just couldn't find the problem), it's very difficult to get onto the center stand, difficult to get off the center stand when on a smooth service and the vibrations and lack of proper wind protection are really annoying on long tours. So I switched to a T1200 GT Explorer. Better road handling and cornering, no shimmy effect, getting it on and off center stand was much easier but the vibrations and lack of wind protection are the same (of course). For my type of riding (long tours) the vibrations, buffeting and the seats (too soft on both T1200's) were ultimately the reasons I switched to the 1250GSA. Doing 650 kilometers on a day with the 1250 is easy. You come home after 9 hours of riding only to want to go for just a few hours more. Where as the T1200 just doesn't offer the same comfort. I love the 1250GSA but I hate the BMW brand and the way BMW treats it's customers. If only Triumph would have given the Tiger a smoother engine and a bit more long touring capabilities I would have never switched to BMW.......
Interesting, I've watched your videos on these bikes. I'm considering both, but the Tiger gives me pause because my nearest dealer is 3 hours away. BMW dealer is 1 hour away. I will do all of my own service though so only concern is warranty issues.
@@chasingtrail my dealer who sells both says triumph will honor warranty for home repairs with proof while BMW must be done at dealer…FWIW I live in USA
@@freeheelsak Interesting. I had an R1250R previously and my dealer said it was fine to do home repairs, just save my receipts. They can't force you to do service at the dealer because of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Harley is being sued for this now. To deny a warranty claim the burden of proof is on the manufacturer to prove that something you did caused the failure, otherwise they must honor the warranty. This is my understanding of it all, anyway.
I’ve owned 2 Beemer GSs and 1 Triumph Tiger Trail so I think I’d go for the BMW based on experience, reliability. Still wish I’d kept my R80GS Paris Dakar with its 32 litre tank. The R100GS off road was a classic case of bigger is not necessarily better.
I don't have either but have had my eye on the Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer since it was launched. There's just something about the Tiger I can't explain but draws me in. Maybe because it's not so popular but I'd love to own one.
Great review! Objective and professional. And I say this despite the fact that the Triumph won by a hair, while I'm actually a 1250 GS HP rider (my 7th GS, since "96). I stuck to BMW because of the better dealer support in the Pacific NW. Not many dealers, but they stand behind their product. No questions asked, never giving me a hard time, just going out of their way to keep me loyal to the brand for 26 years now.
Disagree on the T Plane Vibration, did 2300 mile trip to Switzerland and back on the triumph and can say i never had any tingling through the bars or pegs whilst touring. The bike i took was a Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer.
One other point: ease of picking up in the event of a drop? GS. I say this as an owner of a 2016 XCA Explorer, though to be fair the weight difference in this iteration is immediately evident in practice, not just in theory. That radar, though...it's a good thing to have.
The Tiger for me. I've ridden 10,000 on a T plane crank Tiger 900 with speeds 80 to 85 mph without any thought about vibration being an issue. Trips of 1000, 1800 and 2500 miles. If the consideration for touring was dead smooth then the Goldwing is the best. Does the Tiger vibrate more than the GS? Absolutely but not in a bad or intrusive way. The GS vibrates more than a Goldwing but it doesn't disqualify it from being a touring bike. GS owners will never admit to any bike being better or even as good, it isn't in their DNA or the BMW mind set of being a cut above the rest of the world.
I've never owned or ridden either one and based on your review, I'd have a tuff time deciding between the two..looks like you couldn't go wrong either way!
I have never ridden a bike like this. I have to say, coming from the dirt bike world, the thought of riding and jumping! a 550 lb bike like these off road is hard to even imagine.
I've ridden road bikes for over 30 years with only 15 minutes on a dirt bike before I even had a bike license. I wouldn't dream of taking either of these behemoths off road. Too tall and too heavy for my liking. Since I'd not go off road on them their height especially would be a big turnoff. The more sport touring version of the BMW would be more suitable if I was interested in doing huge amounts of km's. Which here in Australia is the norm if you do any sort of touring.
I think the re-sale value of the GS will give the Tiger a good hiding. I am amazed at how the GS's hold their value, and how fast the Triumphs drop in value. At least in markets outside the UK...
I'd go with the beamer evry time, not because it's better but because I've had so many shite experiences with Triumph , their build quality and customer service that the last time was the last time I will ever buy a Triumph.
Perhaps it’s an individual dealer thing as the Isle of Man triumph dealer is fantastic whereas our bmw dealer doesn’t offer any servicing (sales only) and recommends other firms for any servicing or repairs😢
Just bought a 2023 Tiger Gt Explorer 1200. It's a lot of fun. The throttle mapping at low speeds is kind of tricky, but I have no regrets. The dealer also sells and services BMWs. The service manager recommends Triumph over BMW for mechanical reliability.
I'm in the process of deciding now, and after a test ride of the Tiger, the throttle mapping at low speeds has me worried. Low speed cornering in traffic is something that I would have to get used to. Also, maintaining a constant speed without being on and off the throttle - maybe it's just me. I'll go for a test on the GS soon and see if it suits my style better for these things.
This is a quality review. It would be awesome to see you add lifetime cost to account for maintenance and reliability (e.g., maintenance intervals, etc.) as a criterion versus just the purchase price as well as extensibility (i.e., how much aftermarket support exists for each brand) as a criterion. I think there are tradeoffs for the latter--how much you have to spend customizing your bike to get it the way you want it (maybe feeling "nickle and dimed") versus how much you're able to customize your bike with aftermarket products.
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As a GS fanboy the Tiger is the one bike that puts doubt in my fanboy heart.
After three GSs, one a 1250 GSA I ‘downsized’ to a chain driven Multistrada V2S, I’ve had a Triumph Explorer too, but I still prefer the light weight and sporty handling of the Multi V2S, quicker handling too…
Even though I do off-road riding on much smaller dirt oriented ADV bikes (DR 650 and AJP PR7 600) the BMW would take my vote over the Tiger due to the vibrations at higher speeds with the Tiger. I have fellow riders that have extensive experience on both models. Even though I am 6 foot tall and 200 pounds, both bikes are way too big of a mass for me to consider them.
Traded my BMW GSA in May for a new KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Thought this would be one for a few years. Then came along the Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer. Well, just traded the KTM for one. Best bike ever owned (46 years of riding).
At this level, both bikes are very nice but in the looks department I'd vote for the Tiger. And I agree, muscle memory not-withstanding, I think most bikes should have backlit switchgear. Also, most reviews don't even talk about this but I would like to hear about headlight performance. Kind of critical at night. Any thoughts on which of these is better in that regard?
I own a 2019 r1250gs and based on this I would have been liable to walk into Triumph and buy the Tiger. But at this price point it's the whole package. It's reliability, MPG, aftermarket support, parts value, servicing deals/intervals and most of all customer support. Triumph don't have a good reputation (nor do BMW on the whole) but in my location the BMW dealership are great. I've been to Triumph and had a poor experience. So while I agree that on these categories alone the tiger nudges out in front; when you take it all into consideration I think BMW still have the market...and my money.
I'm into upgrading from my 750 GS to one of these. At the moment my eyes are on the 1250 GS, which I tested and I felt at home. I shall try the Tiger soon.
Vanakam from India 🙏. Here the Gs is a huge hit. We get two types off the production line. One via Thailand that ships with the seat lowering kit and the full stock from Germany. The tiger 900 is a bigger hit in that segment. But the Gs comes with it’s own sickness which is the throttle body clogging due to the excessive dust all over the country. Requires cleaning every 2k kms. Otherwise I even use it as a everyday commuting bike and it handles like butter. Cannot say the same for the tiger. Excellent review bob. I pretty much dream of putting content like yours in my mother tongue Tamizh .cheers bro 😎
@@jcb1619 i have a demographics of the sale of both. I work closely with both dealers. The 900 out sells the 1200 tiger. And the Gs outsells the tiger 1200. They have killed the tiger market more by launching the 1300yestedray. There is a waiting period till December. As for which world i live in... i live in a world filled with motorcycles. Looks like you are a Jcb guys. So try to stick to excavators and dumpers 😅
I don't ever want a T plane crank triple. If an engine is 1200 cc, it'd have enough torque, without making it lumpy and feel like it is misfiring . I love 120 degree triples .
And that is because you never tried one. 😉 The 900 one is brilliant (and still very smooth until 5500 rpm) and the vibrations only add to the feeling of being on a motorcycle and not driving a car like motorbike.
@@Motosadik I have test ridden the 900 T plane crank. I've also owned 120 degree triple engines. I really don't like the T plane crank, it is a pointless miss balancing of the engine.
Am important aspect of these bikes is their ability to ride long distance with a pillion fully loaded with luggage - I cannot comment on the Tiger having not been able to test it under these conditions yet, but having done numerous such trips on the 1200 and 1250 GS I can confirm that it is sublime. The Telever/paralever combination with automatic ride height adjustment and dynamic damping makes such trips a breeze. What is the Tiger like fully loaded with pillion and luggage on 400+ mile days?
On the switchgear, I had a previous gen Tiger 1200 and now have an R1250RS. The backlit controls were nice on the Triumph, but the little joystick wasn't nearly as nice as the control wheel on the BMW.
Agreed. I wish Triumph would rethink the joystick. It is fiddly, sticks frequently, and breaks easily. 2 bikes in a row with it and I sort of hate it at this point.
Hondas Africa Twin is killer of these bikes for someone who will ride it often, hard and long. Much less in numbers (kWs, Nm), but in feel how behave on/ off road - he is real winner.
A couple of years ago I went to the local Triumph dealer to test a Tiger and buy one. I had booked a test drive but when I arrived they said sorry a journalist had taken the test bike out. I had driven an hour from my home town to get there: I was as mad as a snake and got back in my vehicle and drove home. But in a way I am glad, I think the new 1200 is a vast improvement and is back on my wish list.
Your such a Triumph fanboy. There is no way you would get better handling from the 21inch front end of the Tiger. I had the Triumph 900 GT Pro which was excellent. I now have a 1250GS Triple Black. I love it more every time I ride it :)
I've been on both the bikes and definitely know that tiger can no way come near a GSA. Tiger can catch up everywhere except in engine & the tele lever front suspension. Rest of the areas of course you can compare it. Also in hot weather only the boxer engines don't produce massive heat. When globe trotting it's really important ride a bike that produces lesser heat and makes you tired faster.
Great review. Tough call. I purchased the Tiger 1200 GT Explorer for all of your reasons stated. Had a KTM 1290 which was a little too vibby and mechanical (noise) for me with less than sharp shifting. I hope the Triumph is comfortable and reasonably powerful. Love the sound of the triple. I am a little concerned about the vibby again though.
Bob, great comparison of these two. One thing I hear time and time again is the notion that the T plane (or 270 degree in twins) somehow translates to more bottom end grunt. It doesn’t. All it does is give “character” and, in the triple, more vibration. I rode a Tiger 900 recently and that’s how it felt. The torque (and hence power) curve is determined by many factors such as compression ratio, valve timing and ignition timing, not the firing sequence. The GS is certainly smoother but feels thrashy in the higher rev range. I have an ATAS, by the way, and the 270 crank is actually annoying from a vibration perspective, not mechanical as such but the uneven power pulses at lower revs where it should be able to lug along. Keep up the great work. Cheers, Ian
Good review, many thanks. Is there any way that you could have incorporated say a year or two of servicing costs?, these days most vehicle manufacturers have programmed maintenance at a more or less fixed price and sometimes servicing can be hugely expensive. I remember doing valve check/adjust on Alfa Romeo cars with the v6 Busso engines at the 10k/6,000 mile service and it was an all day job, plus parts, customers were shocked when they got a huge bill for what was essentially the first service they had to pay for.
Tried the Tiger 1200 GT last week and found it far too vibey, and had horrible fork dive. If speed is your thing then it's up there with the Multistrada I reckon and the handling was good. Speed not important for me I keep my sportsbike for that. The poor tft and the urine sample bottle finished it for me.
I own a gen 3 Tiger(2019) and it is better than this latest version so I don't know why they had to mess with it, other than to compete in an existing market with the BMW brand. Here are the things they didn't need to change: Engine - why make the engine more vibey when it was already smooth as silk and just needs a few more revs lower down than the thumper GS. Windscreen electric adjustment gone, plasticky brake and clutch pots, clutch lever hydraulics exposed, rear wheel extra swing arm, and front end looks ( they've made it look more like a scooter), honestly why mess with perfection?
i find the telelever front end as on other bm's the further you lean the bike the more vague the [feel] on the front end becomes, rode the 1200 triumph its very very good plus it feels lots lighter than the bm.
I have a '17 versys1000LT right now and I am looking for an upgrade. The wife and I ride 2up 99% of the time the bike leaves the garage. I plan on getting a 1250GSA for the large fuel/luggage capacity. I don't do much off-roading so the 21" front wheel on the tiger isn't for me. I would rather have the torque and the sound of the opposing twin, paired with the lower center of gravity. I used to have an '09 sv650sf, and the engine breaking of the GSA is great, reminded me of the SV. I recently test rode both and I greatly appreciated the suspension and the ESA of the BMW.
I have test c riven the Tiger 1200 Rally pro, for me it was a great ride, however there are a couple of issues. Vibration not really an issue but the bike was quite lame in hair pin bends. The fork dive in the Rally pro version was extreme to say the least when emergency braking. But for me the price would be the killer for the Tiger 1200. My normal bike is a BMW F 800 GS as I do a lot of mountain touring in the Black Forest region of Germany and Sud Tirol
Replaced my 2013 Triumph Trophy, which I put 97,000 miles on, with a GT Explorer earlier this year. Got 11,000 miles on that with no issues. Just never fancied a German Klunkenwaggon.
The GS will undoubtedly hold its value better than the Tiger, it's far easier to pick up if you were to drop it, and the engine doesn't sound like a bag of spanners on tick over. Not big points if considered on their own but significant when put together.
Yep. I sold my Tiger 900 RP and bought a R1250 GSA. Having dropped it 5-6 times already trying to get it out of a creek, I can confirm it’s much easier to pick up. With the Tiger I needed a winch after picking it up the first or second time. Imagine how much harder the Tiger 1200 would be.
As a Speed Triple owner, I love Triumph... But it needs to be 120 degrees firing order. That's the way a triple is supposed to be. You can't beat it! Such a beautiful sound!!
Excellent review. I've done many touring miles on hired GSs, but own a Gen 3 Tiger. Tried the Gen 4 but for me they've made a big mistake with the T-plane crank. Compromising road ability for better traction on dirt simply feels wrong, and if they'd made the new triple with a 120 degree crank, I'm sure Bob's scoring would have given the Triumph an easier win. And maybe tempted more buyers away from the BMW showroom.
A factor which seems to be overlooked in just about all of these decisions, decisions, decisions determinations is the dealer scheduled servicing costs, particularly the 'big' service. Dealers typically have pre-set pricing of these - perhaps that's because they all charge around the same rip-off price? In my country, the customer cannot do their own scheduled servicing (eg. oil changes) in order to maintain warranty.
The real winner is neither of them. Get a midrange bike instead. Just as much fun, 30-50Kg lighter, at least £5K cheaper, lower running costs (insurance, servicing, fuel). And chain/belt driven bikes just feel so much better, with a more direct drivetrain feel and a better suspension action due to much lower unsprung weight. To this day I’ve never ridden a bike at night and wished for backlit switchgear. It’s not a car FFS…
Triumph triple engine is a gem .i have known a few lads who bought bmws rode through winter months and frame rotted painted poor on bmw my 2000 triumph is as good today as when i bought it 22 years ago so on that triumph is my choice
Great review! I have been riding the Tiger 1200 XCa for the past 5 years and have absolutely loved it! Never owned a bike that long before. I have a testride planned on the GT Exporer this friday and my gut tells me I will own one soon ;-)
I raced Professional motocross. All the bikes are evenly matched. It’s the rider that takes a bike to the next level. For non professional riders, pick the bike that pulls your heartstrings. You can never go even near the limits or use the limits of most bikes. Brembo brakes are nice. Do you need them? No! Brakes are brakes in most hands. The list goes on.
Having said that, the BMW has been around for decades like a 911. It has been gone through so many times. I like what Triumph has been though recently. It’s a a tough call. When your spending that much for either bike a couple thousand here or there should not matter. Just buy the bike that pulls you.
GS and I did and partly because of the dealer service My experience with Triumph dealers is that they're a little patchy but never had a BMW dealer issue
Never thought a dealership will have any effect about what I like, me personally, I'm quite sure about myself and what I like, the rest is subjective to single instances.
After test riding a tiger yesterday i found compared to my gsa was the throttle around town was really snatchy also the gearbox felt quite sloppy the bottom end compared with my bike was none existant. The tft looked better in real life than on videos but the buttons were not that good i also felt like i was leaning to the bars the qs was i would say ok at best. Also whilst it felt better than older triumphs it still didnt feel special like the bmw
Both set the bar on Adventure motorcycles. I would be interested in the maintenance cost for the BMW GS 1200 . I was looking at the HD Pan American, what put me off was the overall maintenance cost. Trying to negotiate a price on a 2023 Pan American to the HD sales manager included a $3500 maintenance plan into the price . I initially thought that was absurd, but he reported to me that every service on a Pan American would be between $500 to $800 dollars. That killed the deal for me...
If you do mention the GSA, then you forgot some important things, the higher suspension, the suspension rake angle and the MOST important thing: the 790 mm seat height. So if you are not tall, the Tiger gets 0 points everywhere :)
The gs is closer to the gt pro than the rally. Mainly because they both have the 19 inch front tire.. the rally has a 21 inch front so it's more off road focused
What’s the big deal about the braking anti-dive? Doesn’t the weight transfer to the front wheel improve the resistance to locking it up under extreme/hard braking? Without the weight transfer, ABS is almost no longer an option but a safety necessity..
A huge thanks to Superbike Factory for their support! You can find all their stock here, including some great deals on almost new bikes like the GS featured in this video:
tinyurl.com/2m7ydhaj
Can you ask Triumph, why aren't they making police bikes? British tax-money should NOT be buying competitors bikes.
@@tvdinner325 like in Thailand and Brazil? sadly.
I am a very huge fan follower of your TH-cam channel 🫶
You also forgot that the Triumph only has to be serviced every 16,000 km, which is certainly a big argument for people who travel to buy a Tiger.
Triumph aren’t famed for their reliability. I’d be servicing it more often than 16000km.
@@SimonBrisbane not a bmw eighter 😊. When l worked at a dealership for bmw triumph suzuki yamaha harley Davidson , guess what was most present on the lift?!.. Yess.. Bmw.
…or annually, as every other bike, so practically speaking there’s no difference.
@@SimonBrisbane I've got 30,000 miles on my current tiger rally Pro 900 and I have had zero problems versus all of my friends with KTMs
Saving you about £200 every 10,000 km. Or 3p a mile. Hardly a deal changer! Especially when the vast majority of riders will never do 16000km a year
I’m definitely on the Tiger team. In respect to price, shouldn’t you have compared the Tiger Explorer model to the GSA? 30 litre tank and wire wheels for example. The GT Pro was probably a better comparison for the GS in the video. Just my opinion however I’m heavily biased to the Tiger 😁
I went with a Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer and so far it’s a beast of a machine! Love it.
Tiger 1200 for me !! I think it’s the best looking ADV bike on the market today 👍
I'd say it's the Tenere 700
It is cheaper.
I went for the tiger Rally Explorer and no regrets love it 🏍👍🏍👍🏍
Hi Bob. I got something to say.. This video is brilliant! Perfect light , perfect angels on the cameras, perfect lenght and you speak loud and clear and not so fast so us foreners can understand what you are saying. You are in my top 3 spot!
Keep it up, im already excited for your next video 👍🏻
Thanks for the support JK! Appreciate it 🍻
I think both are fantastic bikes, but the Tiger takes it for me.
Regarding comfort, I've only taken both for a 1 hour test ride, but I found Tiger much more comfortable.
I have quite large feet and kept kicking the boxer engine.
I found my legs were much more bent on the GS, which caused a bit of cramping. Then trying to stretch out was difficult due to the engine being in the way.
You are absolutely right about the seating position on the BMW GS. The GSA is very much better in this regard.
And the seat on the Tiger is the best seat I ever had on a bike😊
If Triumph had given me a better test ride/dealer impression, I probably would have bought one. They didn't though, and BMW were reasurringly professional and patient, so they got by business. With so little to choose between the bikes, the "living with" component and knowing that I'm going to get looked after if and when things go wrong, is worth the cost for me.
I have to agree with you about dealer experiences. Here in Reno, NV (USA) there is a night & day difference between the BMW dealer and the Triumph dealer, in favor of BMW. So, BMW got my business. In order for me to deal with that other dealer, they would have to have THE bike that I absolutely could not resist. Even then, I would dread the relationship with the service department to follow.
yes it truly is sickening, I have been patiently waiting for 3 years now to test ride any tiger and it cant be had here in toronto/ canada I dont care for the looks and whats on the paper when it comes to my bikes I care about how they make me feel, I am super heartbroken over Triumph not allowing test rides I have a test ride of BMW coming up in a month and seems this is the route I am going to take if I do like how it feels.
Same experience here. Asked a triumoh dealer to test ride the floor model and they looked at ne like i was crazy! Went to bmw same day and encouraged me to take their floor model out for a cruuse. Even told me a good place to stop and eat. Brought a gsa home at the end of the day.
Triumph is an iconic brand and one that I am proud to ride. That does not mean that there is anything wrong with BMW, they also build fantastic machines. I test rode both and felt that the Tiger had more grin factor and character.
I own the 2023 Triumph GT Explorer and it is amazing! I've ridden the BMW and it is bland in handling and character. I traded my previous Tiger XCX for the new one. Vibration? Not an issue. Feature for feature, it is the best ADV bike out there.
Are you from the future?
@@W3TFART 2023 models are already available
@@winterkraul3716 they aren’t 2023 build plated only MY 23 different thing altogether
but triumph stalls at low rev and that's a big issue
@@shaileshsankaran3021 use your clutch
Test drove both. I ended up with the GS.
Three main reasons:
- The Tiumph build quality wasn't what I expected
- The vibration, reminded me my S1000XR.
- The BMW keeps its price better.
It was a hard call, as both are great bikes, yes, while adding running costs, insurances and depreciation the GS is a much better option (for me).
Ride safe
What about the maintaining cost and service fees?
What did you said abaout S1000XR ?
@@raysen623when buying new you can do a service plan upto 50k Miles and 5 years at £1000 which works out at £200 a year. That's cheaper then my Tracer GT
@@raysen623changing the oil and air filter and plugs is simple
Had a Tiger 900 RP. Best bike I've ever owned. Switched to a T1200 RP. Although the Showa system is much more sophisticated than the ESA, the T1200 RP seems to be unbalanced when it comes to stable driving. The bike has a tendency to shimmy (dealer tried everything to solve the issue but just couldn't find the problem), it's very difficult to get onto the center stand, difficult to get off the center stand when on a smooth service and the vibrations and lack of proper wind protection are really annoying on long tours.
So I switched to a T1200 GT Explorer. Better road handling and cornering, no shimmy effect, getting it on and off center stand was much easier but the vibrations and lack of wind protection are the same (of course).
For my type of riding (long tours) the vibrations, buffeting and the seats (too soft on both T1200's) were ultimately the reasons I switched to the 1250GSA. Doing 650 kilometers on a day with the 1250 is easy. You come home after 9 hours of riding only to want to go for just a few hours more. Where as the T1200 just doesn't offer the same comfort.
I love the 1250GSA but I hate the BMW brand and the way BMW treats it's customers. If only Triumph would have given the Tiger a smoother engine and a bit more long touring capabilities I would have never switched to BMW.......
Tiger for me. Also, did anyone notice that GS has a stock exhaust with an Akrapovic decal on it? Weird.
Interesting, I've watched your videos on these bikes. I'm considering both, but the Tiger gives me pause because my nearest dealer is 3 hours away. BMW dealer is 1 hour away. I will do all of my own service though so only concern is warranty issues.
Because it's a used 2-3 year old bike! Still weird though!
@@chasingtrail Servicing is straightforward. Warranty issues/ recalls will still be taken care of but I guess distance is a factor to consider.
@@chasingtrail my dealer who sells both says triumph will honor warranty for home repairs with proof while BMW must be done at dealer…FWIW
I live in USA
@@freeheelsak Interesting. I had an R1250R previously and my dealer said it was fine to do home repairs, just save my receipts. They can't force you to do service at the dealer because of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Harley is being sued for this now. To deny a warranty claim the burden of proof is on the manufacturer to prove that something you did caused the failure, otherwise they must honor the warranty. This is my understanding of it all, anyway.
I’ve owned 2 Beemer GSs and 1 Triumph Tiger Trail so I think I’d go for the BMW based on experience, reliability. Still wish I’d kept my R80GS Paris Dakar with its 32 litre tank. The R100GS off road was a classic case of bigger is not necessarily better.
I don't have either but have had my eye on the Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer since it was launched. There's just something about the Tiger I can't explain but draws me in. Maybe because it's not so popular but I'd love to own one.
I have one and love it. I love the GS as well, but this bike is different and new
Great review! Objective and professional. And I say this despite the fact that the Triumph won by a hair, while I'm actually a 1250 GS HP rider (my 7th GS, since "96). I stuck to BMW because of the better dealer support in the Pacific NW. Not many dealers, but they stand behind their product. No questions asked, never giving me a hard time, just going out of their way to keep me loyal to the brand for 26 years now.
Had four GSA's. Just traded a Multistrada V4S for a Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer - very happy, combines the best of both worlds nicely.
Curious why you got rid of the v4s? I almost got that over the Tiger and there are days I wish I did.
Recently switched from a KTM 1290 Super Adventure R to the BMW GSA, and I don't know how anything could be better. My personal opinion of course.
Disagree on the T Plane Vibration, did 2300 mile trip to Switzerland and back on the triumph and can say i never had any tingling through the bars or pegs whilst touring. The bike i took was a Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer.
My test bike had really horrible vibes over 100 mph. Just couldn't ride it that fast, but just a few minutes..
@@Art-kz6zf hell I’d never maintain speeds like that here in New Zealand. Too many twisties
I went for the Tiger RE and I definately don't regret my choice. What a machine!
One other point: ease of picking up in the event of a drop? GS. I say this as an owner of a 2016 XCA Explorer, though to be fair the weight difference in this iteration is immediately evident in practice, not just in theory. That radar, though...it's a good thing to have.
The Tiger for me. I've ridden 10,000 on a T plane crank Tiger 900 with speeds 80 to 85 mph without any thought about vibration being an issue. Trips of 1000, 1800 and 2500 miles. If the consideration for touring was dead smooth then the Goldwing is the best. Does the Tiger vibrate more than the GS? Absolutely but not in a bad or intrusive way. The GS vibrates more than a Goldwing but it doesn't disqualify it from being a touring bike.
GS owners will never admit to any bike being better or even as good, it isn't in their DNA or the BMW mind set of being a cut above the rest of the world.
Having previously owned a GS for 50,000km I can honestly say my Tiger RP is a far more exciting machine to ride 🍻
@@daveo9844 on the street
But what about an adventure bike??
I've never owned or ridden either one and based on your review, I'd have a tuff time deciding between the two..looks like you couldn't go wrong either way!
I have never ridden a bike like this. I have to say, coming from the dirt bike world, the thought of riding and jumping! a 550 lb bike like these off road is hard to even imagine.
I've ridden road bikes for over 30 years with only 15 minutes on a dirt bike before I even had a bike license. I wouldn't dream of taking either of these behemoths off road. Too tall and too heavy for my liking. Since I'd not go off road on them their height especially would be a big turnoff. The more sport touring version of the BMW would be more suitable if I was interested in doing huge amounts of km's. Which here in Australia is the norm if you do any sort of touring.
I think the re-sale value of the GS will give the Tiger a good hiding. I am amazed at how the GS's hold their value, and how fast the Triumphs drop in value. At least in markets outside the UK...
because knobheads buy bmws for the badge
Certainly correct in South Africa. I tried to make similar comment but put it on the wrong review 🫣
In the states triumphs drop in value drastically where the bmw does not
Also good to mention that you can find 100 GS for sale for every tiger 🤭🤭🤭
True but life’s too short for ‘beige’ riding.
I'd go with the beamer evry time, not because it's better but because I've had so many shite experiences with Triumph , their build quality and customer service that the last time was the last time I will ever buy a Triumph.
Perhaps it’s an individual dealer thing as the Isle of Man triumph dealer is fantastic whereas our bmw dealer doesn’t offer any servicing (sales only) and recommends other firms for any servicing or repairs😢
Just bought a 2023 Tiger Gt Explorer 1200. It's a lot of fun. The throttle mapping at low speeds is kind of tricky, but I have no regrets. The dealer also sells and services BMWs. The service manager recommends Triumph over BMW for mechanical reliability.
Not to mention that the servicing cost of a BMW is definitely greater than Triumph's.
I'm in the process of deciding now, and after a test ride of the Tiger, the throttle mapping at low speeds has me worried. Low speed cornering in traffic is something that I would have to get used to. Also, maintaining a constant speed without being on and off the throttle - maybe it's just me. I'll go for a test on the GS soon and see if it suits my style better for these things.
@@MKA63 I would expect GS to be better at low speeds. Please do share your observations after you get your test ride!
This is a quality review. It would be awesome to see you add lifetime cost to account for maintenance and reliability (e.g., maintenance intervals, etc.) as a criterion versus just the purchase price as well as extensibility (i.e., how much aftermarket support exists for each brand) as a criterion. I think there are tradeoffs for the latter--how much you have to spend customizing your bike to get it the way you want it (maybe feeling "nickle and dimed") versus how much you're able to customize your bike with aftermarket products.
As a GS fanboy the Tiger is the one bike that puts doubt in my fanboy heart.
Just picked up my GS 1250 and watching this video to make sure whether I've made the right decision :)
Congratulations, in my opinion that’s the top-shelf bike. Hard to argue with 40 years of heritage. 👍🏼
@@bradleyalexander5821 Thank you so much for making me feel better 😀
Both great bikes mate 🍻
After three GSs, one a 1250 GSA I ‘downsized’ to a chain driven Multistrada V2S, I’ve had a Triumph Explorer too, but I still prefer the light weight and sporty handling of the Multi V2S, quicker handling too…
Even though I do off-road riding on much smaller dirt oriented ADV bikes (DR 650 and AJP PR7 600) the BMW would take my vote over the Tiger due to the vibrations at higher speeds with the Tiger. I have fellow riders that have extensive experience on both models. Even though I am 6 foot tall and 200 pounds, both bikes are way too big of a mass for me to consider them.
Traded my BMW GSA in May for a new KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Thought this would be one for a few years. Then came along the Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer. Well, just traded the KTM for one. Best bike ever owned (46 years of riding).
At this level, both bikes are very nice but in the looks department I'd vote for the Tiger. And I agree, muscle memory not-withstanding, I think most bikes should have backlit switchgear. Also, most reviews don't even talk about this but I would like to hear about headlight performance. Kind of critical at night. Any thoughts on which of these is better in that regard?
I own a 2019 r1250gs and based on this I would have been liable to walk into Triumph and buy the Tiger. But at this price point it's the whole package. It's reliability, MPG, aftermarket support, parts value, servicing deals/intervals and most of all customer support. Triumph don't have a good reputation (nor do BMW on the whole) but in my location the BMW dealership are great. I've been to Triumph and had a poor experience. So while I agree that on these categories alone the tiger nudges out in front; when you take it all into consideration I think BMW still have the market...and my money.
I'm into upgrading from my 750 GS to one of these. At the moment my eyes are on the 1250 GS, which I tested and I felt at home. I shall try the Tiger soon.
Vanakam from India 🙏. Here the Gs is a huge hit. We get two types off the production line. One via Thailand that ships with the seat lowering kit and the full stock from Germany. The tiger 900 is a bigger hit in that segment. But the Gs comes with it’s own sickness which is the throttle body clogging due to the excessive dust all over the country. Requires cleaning every 2k kms. Otherwise I even use it as a everyday commuting bike and it handles like butter. Cannot say the same for the tiger. Excellent review bob. I pretty much dream of putting content like yours in my mother tongue Tamizh .cheers bro 😎
Tiger is a huge hit. Which world you're living duhhh
@@jcb1619 i have a demographics of the sale of both. I work closely with both dealers. The 900 out sells the 1200 tiger. And the Gs outsells the tiger 1200. They have killed the tiger market more by launching the 1300yestedray. There is a waiting period till December.
As for which world i live in... i live in a world filled with motorcycles. Looks like you are a Jcb guys. So try to stick to excavators and dumpers 😅
Greetings from NC, USA !
I don't ever want a T plane crank triple. If an engine is 1200 cc, it'd have enough torque, without making it lumpy and feel like it is misfiring .
I love 120 degree triples .
And that is because you never tried one. 😉 The 900 one is brilliant (and still very smooth until 5500 rpm) and the vibrations only add to the feeling of being on a motorcycle and not driving a car like motorbike.
@@Motosadik I have test ridden the 900 T plane crank. I've also owned 120 degree triple engines.
I really don't like the T plane crank, it is a pointless miss balancing of the engine.
Am important aspect of these bikes is their ability to ride long distance with a pillion fully loaded with luggage - I cannot comment on the Tiger having not been able to test it under these conditions yet, but having done numerous such trips on the 1200 and 1250 GS I can confirm that it is sublime. The Telever/paralever combination with automatic ride height adjustment and dynamic damping makes such trips a breeze. What is the Tiger like fully loaded with pillion and luggage on 400+ mile days?
On the switchgear, I had a previous gen Tiger 1200 and now have an R1250RS. The backlit controls were nice on the Triumph, but the little joystick wasn't nearly as nice as the control wheel on the BMW.
Agreed. I wish Triumph would rethink the joystick. It is fiddly, sticks frequently, and breaks easily. 2 bikes in a row with it and I sort of hate it at this point.
Triumph all day purely for engine sound and looks😁
Hondas Africa Twin is killer of these bikes for someone who will ride it often, hard and long.
Much less in numbers (kWs, Nm), but in feel how behave on/ off road - he is real winner.
A couple of years ago I went to the local Triumph dealer to test a Tiger and buy one. I had booked a test drive but when I arrived they said sorry a journalist had taken the test bike out. I had driven an hour from my home town to get there: I was as mad as a snake and got back in my vehicle and drove home. But in a way I am glad, I think the new 1200 is a vast improvement and is back on my wish list.
Your such a Triumph fanboy. There is no way you would get better handling from the 21inch front end of the Tiger. I had the Triumph 900 GT Pro which was excellent. I now have a 1250GS Triple Black. I love it more every time I ride it :)
I've been on both the bikes and definitely know that tiger can no way come near a GSA. Tiger can catch up everywhere except in engine & the tele lever front suspension. Rest of the areas of course you can compare it. Also in hot weather only the boxer engines don't produce massive heat. When globe trotting it's really important ride a bike that produces lesser heat and makes you tired faster.
Great review. Tough call. I purchased the Tiger 1200 GT Explorer for all of your reasons stated. Had a KTM 1290 which was a little too vibby and mechanical (noise) for me with less than sharp shifting. I hope the Triumph is comfortable and reasonably powerful. Love the sound of the triple. I am a little concerned about the vibby again though.
Bob, great comparison of these two. One thing I hear time and time again is the notion that the T plane (or 270 degree in twins) somehow translates to more bottom end grunt. It doesn’t. All it does is give “character” and, in the triple, more vibration. I rode a Tiger 900 recently and that’s how it felt. The torque (and hence power) curve is determined by many factors such as compression ratio, valve timing and ignition timing, not the firing sequence. The GS is certainly smoother but feels thrashy in the higher rev range. I have an ATAS, by the way, and the 270 crank is actually annoying from a vibration perspective, not mechanical as such but the uneven power pulses at lower revs where it should be able to lug along. Keep up the great work. Cheers, Ian
Good review, many thanks. Is there any way that you could have incorporated say a year or two of servicing costs?, these days most vehicle manufacturers have programmed maintenance at a more or less fixed price and sometimes servicing can be hugely expensive. I remember doing valve check/adjust on Alfa Romeo cars with the v6 Busso engines at the 10k/6,000 mile service and it was an all day job, plus parts, customers were shocked when they got a huge bill for what was essentially the first service they had to pay for.
Which is the easiest for finding a service centre, BMW or Triumph. Here in South Africa I think BMW is everywhere.
Tried the Tiger 1200 GT last week and found it far too vibey, and had horrible fork dive. If speed is your thing then it's up there with the Multistrada I reckon and the handling was good. Speed not important for me I keep my sportsbike for that. The poor tft and the urine sample bottle finished it for me.
I own a gen 3 Tiger(2019) and it is better than this latest version so I don't know why they had to mess with it, other than to compete in an existing market with the BMW brand. Here are the things they didn't need to change: Engine - why make the engine more vibey when it was already smooth as silk and just needs a few more revs lower down than the thumper GS. Windscreen electric adjustment gone, plasticky brake and clutch pots, clutch lever hydraulics exposed, rear wheel extra swing arm, and front end looks ( they've made it look more like a scooter), honestly why mess with perfection?
*_Thanks for sharing the comparison. Just found the channel and enjoyed it. My heart is with the GSA just love that bike._*
i find the telelever front end as on other bm's the further you lean the bike the more vague the [feel] on the front end becomes, rode the 1200 triumph its very very good plus it feels lots lighter than the bm.
I have a '17 versys1000LT right now and I am looking for an upgrade. The wife and I ride 2up 99% of the time the bike leaves the garage. I plan on getting a 1250GSA for the large fuel/luggage capacity. I don't do much off-roading so the 21" front wheel on the tiger isn't for me. I would rather have the torque and the sound of the opposing twin, paired with the lower center of gravity. I used to have an '09 sv650sf, and the engine breaking of the GSA is great, reminded me of the SV. I recently test rode both and I greatly appreciated the suspension and the ESA of the BMW.
i ALSO HAVE THE 1200 RALLY EXPLORER, AND I LOVE IT. IVE HAD IT FOR A MONTH AND A HALF AND HAVE OVER 3000 MILES AWSOME BIKE.
Pick up my new Tiger 1200 GT Pro this coming weekend, I can't wait!
The GS has a problem with the stock vs the adventure. The Tiger gets it right, and I'm a huge GS fan!
What do you mean by the "GS has a problem with the stock vs the adventure?"
I have test c riven the Tiger 1200 Rally pro, for me it was a great ride, however there are a couple of issues. Vibration not really an issue but the bike was quite lame in hair pin bends. The fork dive in the Rally pro version was extreme to say the least when emergency braking. But for me the price would be the killer for the Tiger 1200. My normal bike is a BMW F 800 GS as I do a lot of mountain touring in the Black Forest region of Germany and Sud Tirol
Replaced my 2013 Triumph Trophy, which I put 97,000 miles on, with a GT Explorer earlier this year. Got 11,000 miles on that with no issues. Just never fancied a German Klunkenwaggon.
Both of these are absolutely awesome to take into the city in full leathers during 100° heat
The GS will undoubtedly hold its value better than the Tiger, it's far easier to pick up if you were to drop it, and the engine doesn't sound like a bag of spanners on tick over. Not big points if considered on their own but significant when put together.
Yep. I sold my Tiger 900 RP and bought a R1250 GSA. Having dropped it 5-6 times already trying to get it out of a creek, I can confirm it’s much easier to pick up. With the Tiger I needed a winch after picking it up the first or second time. Imagine how much harder the Tiger 1200 would be.
As a Speed Triple owner, I love Triumph... But it needs to be 120 degrees firing order. That's the way a triple is supposed to be. You can't beat it! Such a beautiful sound!!
Nah. The roar of the cross plane is awesome 😎
You also have to look at resale after 3 years . In my experience the residuals are better with the BMW .
Deffo sold on the GS if more comfortable, like floating on air?
The ride on both is great but yes the GS does the comfy thing best!
Just put my deposit down on the Tiger 1200 rally explorer! Nice review, I think you nailed it. Thank you.
Excellent review. I've done many touring miles on hired GSs, but own a Gen 3 Tiger. Tried the Gen 4 but for me they've made a big mistake with the T-plane crank. Compromising road ability for better traction on dirt simply feels wrong, and if they'd made the new triple with a 120 degree crank, I'm sure Bob's scoring would have given the Triumph an easier win. And maybe tempted more buyers away from the BMW showroom.
The Tiger is so buzzy my hands used to start to go numb when running at speed for a while.
I've just sold my 3 month old Tiger GT Explorer because of this. I've spoken to other riders who really find this to be a problem
@@howarthp1 I'm going to dump mine as well because of this. Waiting for the new Multistrada Rally
A factor which seems to be overlooked in just about all of these decisions, decisions, decisions determinations is the dealer scheduled servicing costs, particularly the 'big' service. Dealers typically have pre-set pricing of these - perhaps that's because they all charge around the same rip-off price? In my country, the customer cannot do their own scheduled servicing (eg. oil changes) in order to maintain warranty.
I have a Tiger and my dealer says Triumph honors warranties with home repairs…at least with mine.
Test rode the Triumph , has the power, but sounds like a bag of bolts on idle and since I don't have an autobahn handy, I'll keep my GS .
I own a 2019 Tiger 800 XCa therefore my dream bike is a 2022 1250 GSA triple black. For long distance touring and a dash of off-roady-ish fun. 👍🏼
Why not bought bmw offroad version with spoked wheels
As tiger rally is offroad oriented bmw is road oriented u brought
The real winner is neither of them. Get a midrange bike instead. Just as much fun, 30-50Kg lighter, at least £5K cheaper, lower running costs (insurance, servicing, fuel). And chain/belt driven bikes just feel so much better, with a more direct drivetrain feel and a better suspension action due to much lower unsprung weight. To this day I’ve never ridden a bike at night and wished for backlit switchgear. It’s not a car FFS…
GS. Better low speed handling and I prefer mechanical solutions over electronic ones.
I like the triumph but how bad is the vibration and where is it exactly handlebars and footpads?
i only notice vibration by the handle bars, touring long distance by 150 k/ph.
Triumph triple engine is a gem .i have known a few lads who bought bmws rode through winter months and frame rotted painted poor on bmw my 2000 triumph is as good today as when i bought it 22 years ago so on that triumph is my choice
Great review! I have been riding the Tiger 1200 XCa for the past 5 years and have absolutely loved it! Never owned a bike that long before. I have a testride planned on the GT Exporer this friday and my gut tells me I will own one soon ;-)
Good review. I'm actually considering a one of these bikes next year or the tiger 900
Both are great bikes. Look at reliability. BMW all day long.
Really mattered to all the slaves building planes for the nazis to kill allies
At 68, I only do day trips.... 5 hours in the saddle per day.... mostly back roads and twisties... it'll likely be the Tiger for me.
I raced
Professional motocross. All the bikes are evenly matched. It’s the rider that takes a bike to the next level. For non professional riders, pick the bike that pulls your heartstrings. You can never go even near the limits or use the limits of most bikes. Brembo brakes are nice. Do you need them? No! Brakes are brakes in most hands. The list goes on.
Having said that, the BMW has been around for decades like a 911. It has been gone through so many times. I like what Triumph has been though recently. It’s a a tough call. When your spending that much for either bike a couple thousand here or there should not matter. Just buy the bike that pulls you.
GS and I did and partly because of the dealer service
My experience with Triumph dealers is that they're a little patchy but never had a BMW dealer issue
Never thought a dealership will have any effect about what I like, me personally, I'm quite sure about myself and what I like, the rest is subjective to single instances.
@@baetech1982 good for you, nobody cares though.
After test riding a tiger yesterday i found compared to my gsa was the throttle around town was really snatchy also the gearbox felt quite sloppy the bottom end compared with my bike was none existant. The tft looked better in real life than on videos but the buttons were not that good i also felt like i was leaning to the bars the qs was i would say ok at best. Also whilst it felt better than older triumphs it still didnt feel special like the bmw
Both set the bar on Adventure motorcycles. I would be interested in the maintenance cost for the BMW GS 1200 . I was looking at the HD Pan American, what put me off was the overall maintenance cost. Trying to negotiate a price on a 2023 Pan American to the HD sales manager included a $3500 maintenance plan into the price . I initially thought that was absurd, but he reported to me that every service on a Pan American would be between $500 to $800 dollars. That killed the deal for me...
also dealers are offering 8k on a trade! beware
For looks my OCD gives the win to Triumph. That BMW headlight just wrecks it hardcore for me.
Great video I don't like the beeked look on these or other ADV Bikes hence why I have an Africa Twin Adventure Sports.
If you do mention the GSA, then you forgot some important things, the higher suspension, the suspension rake angle and the MOST important thing: the 790 mm seat height. So if you are not tall, the Tiger gets 0 points everywhere :)
The gs is closer to the gt pro than the rally. Mainly because they both have the 19 inch front tire.. the rally has a 21 inch front so it's more off road focused
Very informative and it backs up how I was thinking.
1st one to comment... Always have been a fan of MotoBob channel. Being a Triumph Street Twin owner brings me back to this channel all the time.
Cheers CS! Appreciate the support
I too own a Triumph Street Twin
@@motobob Anytime ✅
@@VinuGPaul Wow! Which model year?
What’s the big deal about the braking anti-dive? Doesn’t the weight transfer to the front wheel improve the resistance to locking it up under extreme/hard braking? Without the weight transfer, ABS is almost no longer an option but a safety necessity..
Very good video and I went for the new Tiger Rally Explorer. My seventh Tiger.
No experience on any of these but like the reviews 👌
Bit strange you have the bmw with the cast wheels
Gs everyday, there is a reason why the Kings are attacked from every directions…
👍🏽
looks tempting to get a Triumph tiger GT for a future bike..
Hi i bought the the Tiger explorer in black and love it..... New kid on the block I think well done Triumph 👍
Nice vid mate. Great info, proper review. I have the GSA and you still made me think about elements of its performance !
I want that GS ergonomics and front end on a naked bike :) Lighter and ready for anything
I tested a Rally Explorer, even with the bridge mounted 2,5 cm lower it's hard to touch the floor. I'm 1.80m.