Bmw R 1250 Gs Vs Triumph Tiger 1200 Gt Pro 2022

An Austrian biker magazine has conducted a first comparison test between a BMW R 1250 GS and a TRIUMPH TIGER 1200 GT Pro 2022.

Link: https://www.1000ps.at/testbericht-3...-vergleich-mit-triumph-tiger-1200-gt-pro-2022 (in German)

Conclusion: The TIGER has shown in all areas how to outrank the BMW.
Below I have attached for you the technical details of both bikes.

 

@Neal H: I bought my TIGER1200 in August 2020 and I received my BONNIE T120 in late March this year. Till now I rode 30.000 km with the TIGER and 2.500 km with the BONNIE. In the next two or three years I plan to exchange the TIGER 1200 to the new one.

 

@Neal H:
My dealer had a new 1200 TIGER on site as part of the promotional tour at the new launch. With this one was unfortunately not allowed to drive, only admire and test sitting. My impression: The seat is narrower on the sides, which makes it even better with the feet on the ground. For me, the difference in weight was remarkable. Even when standing, you could immediately see the difference with slight movements of the bike. The new TIGER almost feels like my wife's TIGER 900. The difference of the old TIGER to the new TIGER is about 25 kg (depending on the equipment). You really notice them!

 

@Dougie D and all the other interrested Triumphants:
I translated the main parts of the article from German to English.
Enjoy it, if you like to read it.

BMW R 1250 Gs Vs Triumph Tiger 1200 Gt Pro 2022 - Part 1
The BMW R 1250 GS with its 4-stroke boxer 2-cylinder engine with fuel injection and a displacement of 1,254 cubic is opposed by the Triumph Tiger 1200 GT PRO with its 4-stroke series 3-cylinder engine with 1,160 cubic. The Triumph offers slight advantages on paper with 150 hp at 9,000 rpm compared to the BMW with 136 hp at 7,750 rpm.

The Triumph, for example, was already thrilling in cold conditions in city traffic. The entire drivetrain with engine, transmission, quickshifter and cardan convinces with smoothness and perfection. The gears can be sorted easily without a clutch, even at low speeds. The engine can be precisely dosed and the motorcycle provides safety and gives confidence.

In direct comparison, the current GS seems a bit coarse. The transmission chops a bit at low revs and the overall load change reactions are noticeable and require a bit more concentration in the wet. Everything already looked like a canter victory for the engine of the Triumph when a slight weakness was revealed in the tight hairpin turns. There the response from the throttle grip was a bit too sluggish in the transition from sliding to load operation. Strangely enough, the topic of power and acceleration was not an issue at all on the following 2 days. On the one hand, it was so that the Tiger 1200 can not really play out its performance advantage in practice. May be that in highway duels the Tiger with its 150HP allows the higher speed, but in fact one felt with the GS with its 136 HP at any time great motorized. On the other hand the engine of the GS seemed more brutal but nevertheless the pilot in the saddle of the Tiger could never break away even in the tightest hairpin turns. The Tiger also stuck there to the rear wheel of the GS and scored with a flawless pull-through and a precisely regulating traction control. Overall, the two units seemed on a par. However, the GS is a little rougher and harsher in every respect, the Tiger more precise and sensitive.

Better integration of cardan and gearbox on the Tiger!

What really surprised us were the smooth gear changes and the smooth-running engine, especially since the new Tiger 1200 is also equipped with a cardan drive. With the BMW Boxer, the propshaft is the natural extension of the direction of travel of the crankshaft and the integration into the vehicle concept feels natural. The level of the entire drivetrain is now at a great level and in the saddle of the GS, one would not give it a second thought. But when moving directly to the Tiger, even the most demanding pilot in the saddle is left spitting. The final drive has no noticeable impact on shifting and everything feels so harmonious and balanced. Although the Tiger 1200 needs an additional angular gear for the redirection of the power flow, the final drive works better and the Tiger is on top of that also almost 10kg lighter. Here you just notice that the Tiger is a completely new motorcycle. The GS is a great advancement in the meantime infinitely much experience is. But the base is now a bit in the years and is due to the tough competition 2022 properly under pressure. BMW may also have to do without the single-sided swingarm in the future. Although it looks better, it is likely to be at its limit in practice for enduros. Ducati, too, can only fit the single-sided swingarm on the road-oriented Pikes Peak Multistrada. At Triumph, the twin-sided swingarm looks like more weight. However, Triumph says this solution was lighter than a solution with a single-sided swingarm.

BMW GS versus Triumph Tiger - chassis and handling in comparison

When it came to chassis and handling, we were particularly attentive. On the one hand, it was the case that the high-quality electronic chassis is superior to the Tiger. The components are better, the response is finer and the adjustment range is wider. The Tiger's suspension will satisfy even demanding pilots and cut a great figure on gravel as well as on the road. The spread between ride comfort and precision succeeds very well and the Showa suspension was integrated into the vehicle great. The chassis of the GS is good, but can not quite meet the demands that connoisseurs expect in this price range. Without going deeper into the books, I suspect that the Triumph's suspension is significantly more expensive to buy than the suspension in the BMW GS.

But BMW GS riders know exactly that when it comes to chassis, the GS strikes mercilessly when the turns get tight. Even compared to the Tiger 1200, the great front end is spooky good and the bike falls into the radius with ease.

The inside line is easily caught. Despite the nimble handling, the bike doesn't seem nervous. At the moment, only the Multistrada V4 S can keep up with the boxer GS when entering corners. The Tiger 1200 seems more stable and requires more pressure on the handlebars at low speeds than the GS. It also drives the curve precisely, but it always needs clear commands on the handlebars and does not eat the inside line completely automatically. The GS manages this better. At higher speeds, the Tiger's handling is on a par with the GS. It can score by the better chassis, however, with more comfort on bad asphalt. Despite the tendency to tip slightly into the radius, the GS does not become unstable and has no disadvantages at higher speeds.

Possibly these differences are due to differences in the vehicle geometry. BMW relies on a 17" wheel in the rear, Triumph on an 18" wheel. BMW has the more radical geometry at the front with less caster and a steeper steering head angle, and at the end still the lower center of gravity with the boxer engine. The fact is: the front remains the strongest asset of the BMW R 1250 GS.

Ride comfort and seating position

The BMW R 1250 GS was also the big benchmark for a long time when it came to seating position and ergonomics. It was probably the case that the Triumph people were strongly oriented to the conditions on the GS. The seat height is the same. You can choose between 850 and 870 mm on both models. Both bikes offer practical ergonomics and you feel comfortable even on longer trips. Maneuvering and conducting at low speeds is easier on the GS. The Tiger offers the better seat for longer distances. At cruising speed, both engines offer pleasant smoothness and a tolerable vibration level. In those passages where one goes particularly heartily to the gas both motorcycles have slight comfort weaknesses. The Tiger tingles a bit in the fingers in the upper rpm range and the GS just sounds too obtrusive in the saddle. It just feels strange when you're on a motorcycle and constantly feel the need to wear hearing protection.

Brake - Triumph scores with hardware

BMW GS fans will look at the Tiger's hardware with envy, especially when it comes to brakes. Both motorcycles play in the same price league. BMW has a capable brake that does a good job in practice. In truth, you can't find a fly in the ointment and would actually be satisfied. But in direct comparison, the Tiger simply feels higher quality. Triumph has installed a Magura HC1 Premspumpe and a high-quality Brembo Monoblock anchor. Similar to the chassis, as a customer you simply get the better hardware for your money. In practice, however, only demanding customers will probably notice the difference. Because without a direct comparison, we wouldn't have thought to criticize the brakes on the GS. But the pressure point on the Tiger is just even clearer, the dosing better and the effect even more brute. On the Tiger, in addition to the better components, larger discs have also been fitted. Here 320er disks instead of 305er disks perform their service.

 

BMW R 1250 Gs Vs Triumph Tiger 1200 Gt Pro 2022 - Part 2

BMW R 1250 GS and Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro in practical comparison

When riding in the rain, both motorcycles offered good weather protection. The bikes themselves were completely soaked, but the riders were well protected from the rain and dirt. On both bikes, only the boots were poorly protected. In the shoulder area, the Tiger offered the better weather protection. This is due to the slightly wider windshield. The windshield adjustment is well solved on both bikes. On both bikes, you can adjust the height of the windshield with one hand at full speed.

BMW offers the better connectivity app at the moment. The BMW Connected app is much more sophisticated and practical than Triumph's solution. The graphic display including animation looks more modern on the Triumph, but does not offer any real advantages. Both displays are easy to read and convince in practice. The switches on the Triumph are backlit, while the BMW's controls make you fly blind at night. On the Triumph, the small joystick at the left end of the handlebar is sometimes annoying. This is because it is always in the way when operating the turn signal.

Apart from the pure driving performance, there are two topics which are certainly also relevant for the purchase decision. The Triumph Tiger is manufactured in the Triumph factory in Thailand. The BMW R 1250 GS is manufactured in Berlin, Germany. The fact that Triumph has lower production costs than BMW also leads to tangible advantages for consumers.

Triumph is able to install higher-quality and more expensive components at comparable selling prices. On the product, you notice this in the brake pump, the brake cylinder and the suspension components. Buyers are certainly also concerned about the dealer network. BMW's dealer network in German-speaking countries is somewhat denser than Triumph's network. So there are certainly regions where the way to the Triumph dealer is further than the way to the BMW dealer. The opposite situation will rarely be the case on average. Triumph will have to turn this screw in the next few years. After all, buyers of high-priced and sometimes quite complex products also want short distances to the nearest contact.

There are significant differences in terms of warranty and service. BMW is actually quite well positioned with a 3-year warranty plus 10,000 km or 1 x per year service. Triumph, however, surpasses this with a 4-year manufacturer's warranty plus 16,000km service interval (or 1 x per year as well).

In direct comparison, it became clear on the one hand that the GS is a fantastic motorcycle. One can understand why it is still the most successful motorcycle in the German registration figures in 2022. It rides well and seems mature. But with the Tiger 1200, the next motorcycle is now at the start, which will end up being even more exciting in the saddle than the GS. 2021 it was the Ducati Multistrada V4 S which enchanted our hearts. In 2022, the Tiger 1200 is the new superstar on the touring enduro market. Unlike Ducati, however, the bike is in the same price league as the GS. In this respect, the Triumph people have done a really good job.


Conclusion: BMW R 1250 GS

The BMW R 1250 GS presents itself as a very complete motorcycle even in 2022. Sovereign and well balanced, it convinces on intensive rides. The motorcycle scores with the wonderful engine, the great ergonomics and the practical riding aids including great app integration. However, in direct comparison with other touring enduros in the upper league, it now shows its first weaknesses in terms of equipment and installed components. However, the 136 hp from the boxer engine is convincing in every situation.


Conclusion: Triumph Tiger 1200 GT PRO

Triumph has delivered with the new Tiger 1200. The motorcycle is dynamic, modern and has high-quality components. The motorcycle offers a very wide range of uses and already appears very mature. The engine including quickshifter convinces in everyday life with a high ride comfort. Despite the cardan drive, the motorcycle is one of the lighter models in this league. In practice, the chassis, which offers a wide range of applications thanks to its broad adjustment range, is also impressive. In the test, the motorcycle convinced with a great practicality in all respects.