Triumphrat

Tiger-G · 09-25-2006, 01:51 PM

Sold my beloved Impreza wrx STi prodrive (18mpg !!), so got some spare cash to buy a newish Tiger or BMW 12000GS.

My last three bikes have been Tigers, starting with two of the older shape, and the one I have now a 1999 Tiger 900. That really does say alot about the Tiger. Great bike so why spoil it by bringing out the new one - it looks s**t (IMHO). Its not a big traily, which is the reason why we buy them (isn't it ??).

I would love to hear peoples views on both bikes as these are the only two I would look at, as I don't think there are any other "trailies" that come anywhere close.

The reason I'm looking at the BM is:

No chain.
Its big !!
Time for a change ??

The reason I love the Tiger:

Great build quality.
It's British.
It looks great.
It handles well.

Look forward to your replies.
Graeme.

CATUCK · 09-25-2006, 05:05 PM

May be worth having a look round all the local dealers to see if you can roll a good deal on what will now be the "old" 06 model.

There was a thread on here, where a guy was going to pick up a new model for about £5.9k with £500 off Triumph clothing.

That is more than I paid for my one-year-old 02 when I bought it in 2003, and I still had to find extra the luggage and heated grips!

With regards to whether the Beamer is better than the Tiger, that is for you to decide, but you would be going for the roughness of the boxer, over the smoothness and creamy smooth power delivery of the triple(and the sound),

Combine that with British make, I would still choose the Tiger every time.

Banjax · 09-25-2006, 05:28 PM

Graeme,perhaps you ought to take a look at a couple of good Websites regarding the R1200GS.

www.ukgser.com (biggest UK GS owners site) and
www.advrider.com (american site for all types of "adventure" riding).This has its own BMW section.

My GS1150 is a great bike,but,the 1200s have had a few problems,particularly with the early ones.Search the forums and make your own mind up;but i wouldn't touch a 1200.

KuzzinKenny · 09-25-2006, 08:27 PM

test ride 06 Tiger and BM !! then buy the Tiger !! :razz: :razz:

KK

tyrebyter · 09-25-2006, 09:54 PM

Tiger is better because it has a chain, liquid cooling, a proper fork and reasonable price tag. The world needs another GS like it needs another Harley... both air cooled V-twins at that... OK it's a 180 degree V-twin but still technically an air cooled V-twin.

JRO · 09-26-2006, 01:06 AM

You could buy BMW. You could point a loaded shotgun at your head and pull the trigger, too.

Whatever turns you on.

Jonny955 · 09-26-2006, 02:42 AM

The sound advise here is to try the BMW. Most dealers will be willing to offer a test ride and often encourage a longer one becuse a short ride puts most people off.

When you've done that, get a mate to take a picture of your face, then go out and do the same thing on a Tiger. Compare the photos. Forget all the dross you hear about which one is better - just choose the one which puts the biggest grin on yer face!

Me and a mate have both been down this route and both of us really wanted to love the GS. He ended up with a KTM Adventure and me the Tiger.

Jon

tcowjww · 09-26-2006, 05:29 AM

Agree wholeheartedly with Jonny.

Whilst it'd be wrong to suggest that the 1200GS has been completely problem free over its lifetime, forums like UKGSer do seem to be frequented by some quite bitter people who harp on about the failures and blow them out of all proportion.

Whilst my personal opinion is that the type and frequency of failures on the 1200GS has been unacceptable, BMW warranty have been second to none in almost every case I've seen. They pay up without question on items which Triumph have been known to quarrel over.

Then again, you pay considerably more for the BMW in the first place!

So on that note, if you do decide that the GS is for you, I wouldn't rush into buying anything. The second hand market certainly seems busy with them at the moment because of all the "Long Way Round" wannabees who purchased them when they were released in 2004 and, as I believe the warranty is now starting to run out on the earlier ones, a fair few people seem to be nervous about running the bike knowing that future failures will come out of their own pocket.

Reports seem to indicate that the 2006 model has had a real going-over, had a lot of the teething troubles ironed out, and is a better bike all round though.

I really liked the 1200GS when I took one for a sizeable test ride - it is a fantastically involving piece of machinery, but the boxer just didn't float my boat (entirely personal preference) and, to be honest, I just didn't have that kind of money floating around!

winger · 09-26-2006, 08:30 AM

As someone who owns both Tiger and BM i see both side of the coin,question is do you ride two up??? if you do then the 07 is very iffy,haveing sat on one on saturday,i'd buy a GS without a secondsthought,if you ride one up then it's more complicated.

I have no problem with the 17" wheels, mines been like that for years,but the new 07 will only float certain peoples boat.

I'll bet good money,if the 07 Tiger sell anything like,BM will have a SupetMoto GS out with 18 months

Same old problem,what do you want!!!!!!

.

Durk · 09-26-2006, 08:47 AM

Why not consider the KTM?
I did, and am going to buy one now I have seen the 2007 Tiger.

[ This message was edited by: Durk on 2006-09-26 06:50 ]