1200 GS or Triumph Tiger 800?

keithquad

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Ok so which would you, in your subjective, view go for?
I'm 5 foot 2, my wife (having sold her GS650 single) gets my GS 650 twin - which I have really enjoyed, so we don't need a bike for two up - other than occasionally.
So in our stable we have her bike, as well as a Beta Alp (which in the Lakes allows some hooning in the lanes) so the desire is to have a bike which will permit some infrequent 2 up, provides motorway cruising, yet still able to do v. Tame green laneing, fire tracks!
I've tested (admittedly for only a short ride) the Triuimph 800 tiger: my view would be; flighty, nice to ride, great engine - playfull bike. A bit skitty 2 up, although admittedly I didn't change the pre load (pain in the arse to do from what I could see). A bit tall for me so will require subtle changes.
Tried GS 1200 08 factory lowered, v nice: grounded, cornered v. Well. Felt good 2 up. Not perhaps the poke of the 800. But for a big bike felt very manageable. Although moving it around manually will be heavy but still doable!

So given my stature & the infrequent 2 up what would be your thoughts ( tried the GS 700 & that wasn't different enough to the 650).
Intrigued to hear your thoughts , particularly those that have extensively used both bikes.

Thank you
 
Asking for choice on the home forum ( clue in the title) may give you a biased view:thumb2
 
At 5' 2", I'd defer the matter to your wife :D



PS The obvious answer is to try out the bikes (and maybe some others) to find the one that suits YOU best. Work out how much simple green laning and fire trails you are going to do, compared with your occasional two-up, motorway bimbles.

Have a look at a couple of the manufacturers' websites, ride your steed (from your stable) to a few dealers, chew the fat, kick some tyres, have a test ride, engage in biker banter, make your mind up and strike a deal. You chose your wife without help; a bike should be a doddle.
 
I'd have thought the factory lowered GS1200 would have been the obvious choice? :thumby:

I've ridden both the Tiger 800 and the lowered GS1200 (though not back to back) and despite being a massive Triumph fan I would go with the GS every time. I don't agree with the argument that a Tiger 800 off road will destroy itself as there are plenty of videos on You Tube that tell a different story :augie
 
Nice 'n' Fat said:
. I don't agree with the argument that a Tiger 800 off road will destroy itself as there are plenty of videos on You Tube that tell a different story :augie
Click to expand...
i agree that there are u tube vids that show the triumph being ridden off road:thumb2
the same can be said for any bike you chose to think of!!
but if you take a long hard look at most "adventure bikes" there is too much vulnerable stuff down low.alloy footrests and brake pedals etc.
added to that the width of the lower engine and lack of ground clearance,it is plain to see that any thing other than very easy trails(which could be ridden on any bike) can quite easily cause expensive damage.
as much as i like the triumph,i maintain it is a road bike.
the R1200 GS is one of the best dual sport bikes ever made:thumby:
with the right rider on board it is far better off road than it ought to be,and will tour fully loaded with ease.also,plenty quick enough when the mood takes:cool:
on a side note,if you look at the factory luggage fixings on the 800, it looks like a complete afterthought .:blast
big lumps of alloy bolted onto the rear, strange
 
mikeyboy said:
i agree that there are u tube vids that show the triumph being ridden off road:thumb2
the same can be said for any bike you chose to think of!!
Click to expand...

Now that's not strictly true is it?

Tame green laning and fire tracks was the remit so stick a decent sump guard on the Tiger 800 and that should fit the bill at a fair bit less wonga than the equivalent year R1200GS:thumb2


For my money though I'd rather pay the extra and go with the GS :thumby:
 
I have had both bikes.

1200GSA (and ridden lots of miles on a 1200GS) and Tiger 800XC

The heart and mind say the Triumph.

The BMW is great but in the back of the mind you are always thinking what is about to go wrong - final drive electric bits etc etc

The tyre pressure sensors are brilliant and told me that the front tyre was deflating early enough to allow me to get to a garage. Easier to do a repair when there are drinks and a concrete surface available (Not available on the XC due to wire wheels design)

The Triumph engine is great and the handling just fine even on trails.

I would not take either off road again. (The BMW is better off road but far too heavy)

The riding position was similar for both.

The wind protection on the Triumph was possibly better until over 90mph though that again is subjective (see all the threads on buffeting in this forum)

I would buy Triumph again though a good local BMW dealer would sway me.

Oh one final thing I disliked the vanilla version of the Triumph (The non XC version) a lot but loved the XC. I cannot explain why apart from to say the XC was more BMW like in riding position. Other people feel exactly the opposite
 
I had exactly the same choice of tiger or 1200GS when I last changed bike. I chose the GS because it had a better standard of finish and better luggage by far. But it is a heavy old lump to move around and I am average height. Even with a low seat I cant get my feet flat so I would have thought you would be tippy toe which isnt good on a big heavy bike and two up as you plan. The mechanics of the Tiger are more modern, smoother and better engineered - the shaft drive on a GS is more expensive to maintain than a chain given that sooner or later the bevel box bearings fail. Cant comment on the off road bit - I dont do it.

I'm pretty sure I will get the tiger next time round
 
Hi to all those who have contributed - thank you. Interesting views, I need to try them back to back again.
Still interested for those who have ridden o r indeed have both bikes.

Thanks again.
 
Have you chucked a leg over both bikes yet?
My missus loved the triumph but couldn't even scare the floor whith her toes.
My gs with the seat on low she's quite able to reach the floor comfortably.
 
I have a 31 maybe 32 inside leg. With a standard GS seat on GSA I can get right foot comfortably flat with left foot on foot peg. Bike is less stable with both legs flapping about, so not getting both feet flat has never been an issue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
HI - yes tried both bikes Tiger wasnt lowered therefore was a bit precarious, GS 1200 08 was lowered & felt v grounded & stable.

Has anyone expereince of both bikes at similar speeds on the motorway to get a sense of wind protection, acceleration?

Cheers
 
I've ridden them both. I loved the Triumph but I own a 1200GS. It really comes down to this;- complex 3-cylinder water-cooled engine driving by a chain vs easily accessed monster air-cooled flat twin driving through a shaft ! Can you work on or service the Triumph ? The Beemer is so easy to fettle for routine
purposes, just pull up a low stool and whip the covers off or take out the plugs; and as for chain-lube . . . .
 
The shaft drive reliability might be an argument if it was made by Honda, but not on the pre toilet GS /RT /R. I've seen bevel boxes fail at 2k miles and my own failed at 11k. When ( not if) it does go, it isnt a DIY job like changing a chain. Chain and sprocket £140, bevel box repair £450.
 
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