Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer vs BMW R1200GS Review

We’ve lately published an article comparing the BMW F800GS with the Triumph Tiger 800XC and came to a conclusion that Triumph is surely leaving it’s impact in this class. But what about the latest Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer vs BMW R1200GS Adventure? Triumph are directly challenging BMW and are claiming to undercut 3% of BMWs sales in the worldwide market. Will they really manage to do this? Well, in my opinion, it’s not easy but they’re surely on the right track!

Until early this week, I only had the opportunity to see the Triumph Tiger Explorer at the trade shows but this week, during a trip to France, I had the pleasure to see one on the road and not just parked but ridden by someone who surely was feeling at ease with it! Believe me, I was impressed with the way this guy was handling this bike but was much more impressed with its sound ……. I couldn’t not follow this bike until it was completely out of site! Coincidentally, I happened to view this bike while I was just out of a Triumph showroom in the center of Marseille 🙂

I haven’t had the chance to test drive it and share with you my personal experiences but I’ll make sure I’ll do this soon and give you my sincere opinions about it. As most of you know, I do own a BMW GS, and I admit I love BMWs and the GS, but think I can still be neutral when giving my personal opinions. Having said that, I still would like to give you as much info I read about this bike!

To begin with, the Triumph Tiger Explorer is surely an all new bike and with an all new engine. As most of you can imagine, it’s continuing where it’s little sister left, the Tiger 800. Contrary to the 800, and to be sure it’s competing like with like with the BMW R1200GS / GS Adventure, the Explorer is shaft-driven. The 3 cylinder engine is surely unique and Triumph are making sure they’re the ones developing such an engine on a motorcycle before any other. Torque can be felt from slow speeds and, what some are pointing out as a negative remark, its sound gets quite rough on high revs. Personally, I love this and, after hearing this guy I saw while in France, I’ll keep confirming that I like this sound at high revs even more!!!

A number of people, who owned and/or test drove this machine, also pointed out the good job in hiding all cables and wires, they all agree that it’s hard to get a neater looking bike. Another good remark is the service intervals, Triumph are claiming that the bike only requires a minor service after 10,000 miles and a major one after 20,000!

The BMW 1200GS is surely the bike but after seeing the difference in price and the standard equipment the Explorer comes with, such as ABS, Cruise Control, Traction Control, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and the center stand, the Triumph is surely a bike worth considering. In most of the european countries, the difference between these 2 bikes is approx EUR 2,000 – EUR 3,000. In Malta, which is still part of the EU, the difference between these 2 bikes is approx EUR 10,000 …… yes, we are being stolen and from our own Government!!!! When the time comes, between these 2 bikes I THINK I’ll still go for R1200GS Adventure, if I’m living in any of the EU member states except Malta, and for the Tiger Explorer if I’m still living on this island!