GS1200 V TRIUMPH TIGER

[dogman]

I have seen few posts where GS riders have defected to the other side by changing to a Triumph Tiger and appear to be very happy to do so. Having just bought my new GSA and liking it very much, it didn’t stop me wondering if I have made the right choice? Is there something better? Is the Tiger really that good?
So as Harry Hill would say – ‘there’s only one way to find out’!
I booked myself a test ride on the Triumph at my local dealer. Nice new model with 100 miles on the clock. The bike looks nice for sure. Quite a good standard of finish as well.
Sat on her and thought ah.. you are quite small compared to the GS. The seat was also rock hard! If I thought the GSA stock seat was unforgiving then this was going to give me some real grief.
Started her up and off I went. Very revvy – well it would be being a triple, but it took off like a train. Very responsive, smooth and lots of torque. Oh yes, Here we go I thought. Nice gearbox, brakes good and handling seemed impressive as well. I do like this. The low screen was pushing the wind right under my chin which was rubbish. Spent the next hour thrashing around and quite enjoying myself, well you do when it’s someone else’s petrol don’t you? The switch gear is quite tacky and plasticky which is a real shame given the effort Triumph have gone to elsewhere on the machine. The clocks were small and difficult to read, no gear indicator either that I could see.
Still getting numb hands on this bike, so it aint just the GS that causes that then. When I got back and parked it up I thought – the bike is nice, but there are quite a few issues that would put me off, despite being 2K plus less than the GSA. The Tiger is a fun bike but I’m not sure I would want to spend that long riding it. The SE version in black is much nicer than the other colour options which looked quite drab in comparison and comes with luggage at 8.6k. Asked the sales bloke what the waiting time is to get one and he said no problem there are plenty in stock. Mmmm. Can you swap the seat over for the higher version? Yes but you will have to pay £175 on top. Hang on a minute.. you can keep the standard seat! ‘No matter, still £175 ‘was the reply. Not impressed with that.
I got back on the GSA and rode off up the road with a big smile and realisation that the Tiger as nice as it is, is not in the same league as the GS. It lacked the presence, character and sheer growl that only the GS can give you (only my view of course and we are all different). I’m not sure why I had to ride the Tiger, but I’m glad I did.
The GS is worth the extra money without doubt and no regrets!
Next contender please!

 

[jtw000]

I had a Tiger. Hated it with a passion so went out and bought a GS out of spite, expecting it to be equally crap. I love the GS and made money selling the Tiger so all is right with the world.

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

I've had 3 Tigers and loved them all especially the Lucifer green 2000 model.Quick revvy and good to chuck about. Build Quality was an issue,the ignition switch fell off on 2 of them,clutch cables snapped regularlly and head bearings were made of chocolate as were the chains.At the time I had a tiger a fat boy and a T Max ,sold the lot and bought a GSA1150 as my only bike and have been a big fan of all things GS since .Tigers are good,but once you,ve had a GS.....................................

 

[Bones]

I have not tried the 1050 Tiger but owned the previous 955/885 versions. The earlier trumpet is more comparable with a GS and was a great bike. It had it failings but then so has my GS. The new 1050 is more comparable with say a KTM SMT, pure road bike with no 'adventure' pretentions. As I have no 'adventure' pretentions either (and now do far less mileage than I used to)I will be looking at both the 1050 tigger and SMT when I get round to chopping the GS.

 

[GSmonkey]

I found the 1050 Tiger to be a sportsbike on stilts with Fazer switchgear for not far off GS money -a concept of no use to me, hence the GSA. Only the KTMs really equal the GS for GSness.

 

[Ali-bear]

My conclusion was England 1 Germany 5.

The Triumph 1050 engine is truly a thing of wonder but the rest of the Tiger is just OK. I still want a green Speed Triple 1050 but then I also want a 750 gixxer and I only have room for one bike

 

[Big Lee]

The 1050 Tiger is a bike I`d like to try. A good looking thing imo but the 1 awful bit that I hated the time I sat on one was the bloody awful cheap looking handlebars!
Had a sit on an Aprilia Shiver yesterday, nice

 

[Trix]

I've had three Tigers, too, and I've just put 500 miles on my first GS.

I absolutely loved my Tigers - I had one 885 and two 955s - and wouldn't have swapped them for the world. Tall, responsive, comfy, with a creamy smooth triple. Popped a con-rod early doors on the 885, but after that had 8 years of no problems with any of them. Then my last one got nicked.

I really tried to like the 1050. Really. Took it for three day-long test rides, over all kinds of roads. Just could not get used to it. It was way too sporty for me. If I wanted a Fazer thou, I'd have bought a Fazer thou and paid less and got more. I didn't want to buy an older 955 because of the reliability and build quality issues that crop up once they're 3+ years old, so that didn't leave me with many options.

Bought the GS about two weeks ago. I'm very very happy with it. Do I love it as much as I loved my Tigers? No. Not yet, but then I'm still limited to 4k revs, so some of the fun factor is missing . Is the GS better than the Tiger? Yes, in lots of boring, but very good, ways (ABS/Suspension etc etc). Would I have bought the GS if Triumph still made the 955? No. I wouldn't have given the GS a thought.

Strange how things turn out, eh?

 

[(RIP) john plane]

Is the gs worth £3000 more

 

[theop]

I had a 955 ST which was a lovely bike and currently the bargain of the lot as you could squeeze a late one for under £3k. I never liked the look of the old tigers, thats why I got the ST. It was follwed by the GS which I currently run since 07 (its an 05 bike).

I have tried the 1050 Tiger, which is lovely, but has quite a few tacky/plasticky and cheap looking points as pointed above: switches look like coming off a 10yo Korean moped. Electrical cables and sockets showing more than a Ducati monster. Too much naked metal in view that you feel won't last a month in the UK winter (evidence of the contrary- apparently they weather ok and likely better than the GS- through their blogs and users is accepted though). I loved the engine - reckon the best motorcycle motor I ve tried, that and the 1200 ZX kawasaki hyperbike... The bike looks quite small and feels smaller still for me. Felt like the Fazer 1000 with less protection which I chopped for the more comfy 955ST in 2003. More super moto, less tourer in other words...

Would I buy one for 3k less than the GS? possibly. But then again I ve never bought new, and the spreads in the used market are tighter... So I d rahter spend 7k and get the GS than 5 k for the tiger, in other words exactly as I did...

 

[Davy F]

I had a test ride on a Tiger 1050 last week (as well as a Harley Fat Boy...don't ask..., a KTM990 Adventure and a KTM990 SMT).

The Tiger is a bike that I have considered as a possible replacement for the GS. But after my ride......no.

The suspension was its worst aspect, all mushy and even bottoming out the rear on one particular corner (which didn't trouble the KTM's or my own GS). I was also expecting some sort of grunt meister as all the road tests I have read heap praise on the three cyclinder engine. But, to me, it just felt like an line four. The bike wasn't totally standard and came with a set of Remus twin exhausts on it and it popped and farted on the over run which I found annoying after about half an hour. Comfort was fine tho' and the brakes were pretty good too. It also had an aftermarket screen on it which did provide decent protection from the wind blast.

Maybe it'd be better if it was totally standard and newer (I remember seeing this bike at the dealers last year and believe it is Philip McCallens own machine), but I had to ride what was available. I can't remember how many miles this demo had clocked up, but considering I have 24k on the GS and I'm quite sure the Tiger had nowhere near that mileage, my impression of the Tiger was that it was 'baggy'.

 

[Bones]

the 1 awful bit that I hated the time I sat on one was the bloody awful cheap looking handlebars!

I thought the same thing. They look like they have come off a CG125. Factor in the price of a set of Renthals when working out the price.

The suspension was its worst aspect, all mushy and even bottoming out the rear on one particular corner

The rear shock has a reputation for losing damping sooner that it should. Apparently this is fixed on later year models. (as reported by Bike when they had a 1050 Tigger on long term test.

 

[Ali-bear]

The rear shock has a reputation for losing damping sooner that it should. Apparently this is fixed on later year models. (as reported by Bike when they had a 1050 Tigger on long term test.

Bottoming out should have nothing to do with damping or loss thereof, but then Berk know sh!t all about suspension anyway

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

what about compression damping then ?

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I loved my 955 Tiger (IMO probably the most underated bike ever to make it out of the Hinckley factory) but p/exd it for the GSA and I have no regrets in doing so.

I've not ridden the 1050 Tiger because I think Triumph missed a trick in not giving it an adjustable screen, spoked wheels and the Speed Triples single sided swing arm

Oh yea and the handlebars look shite too

 

[smartbear]

snarl

havent owned a tiger but did have a 1050 speed triple,the engine is a beast but just not practical enough-if the tiger came with shaft drive i would be seriously tempted.
makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end-best sounding bike out there in my opinion

 

[rickyxsara]

A bit off topic, but Davy F what did you think of the 990 SMT?

 

[arrybash]

I have had 2 Tiger 955i's. They are a great bike and apart from some minor niggles e.g. Ignition bolts fall out, centre stand bolts come slack and you can't see the instrument lights in the sun and the speedometer in the dark, they are pretty reliable. All the niggles ae easily resolved.

I only defected to a new 1200GSA 4 weeks ago. Why? Basically because the new 1050 is more of a Super moto, and it does not suit my style at all.

I like the size of the beast and the style.

Howver, if a get lots of problems like I have been reading about I will defect to something else and probably not come back to a boxer.

So far my only real gripe is the vibration that comes in at 4,500 RPM.

Chris

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

havent owned a tiger but did have a 1050 speed triple,the engine is a beast but just not practical enough-if the tiger came with shaft drive i would be seriously tempted.
makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end-best sounding bike out there in my opinion

I had an XS750 with a 3-1 alfa ( correct spelling ) - that sounded lovely over 6 grand too

 

[Davy F]

A bit off topic, but Davy F what did you think of the 990 SMT?

Feckin' ballistic !!!!

Of all the bikes I rode that day, the SMT is the one I would change too from the GS. Yes, it has no off-road pretentions and in that respect, the Tiger is a direct competitor. But the SMT is worthy of all the praise heaped on it by the motorcycling media. Fast, comfortable, eye popping brakes, good ergos and a suprisingly effective screen. The biggest problem I see from buying one is the lenght of time you'll have to wait to get your license back ! It induces utter lunacy and I don't know if that explaination will stand up in court. I did try to ride it with restraint, but failed, and in that respect, it's not as good as the GS. Maybe with time the desire to thrash it so comprehensively would deminish.

As for the 990 Adventure......I can see why it is a better off road behemoth compared to the GS, but as a road bike, if falls too short for my liking. Less comfortable, noisy/buffeting screen, horribly spongy front brakes with dive one of those looneys who jump off tall cliffs into the sea would be proud off. Rather disappointing really.