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Switched from Tiger 900 Rally Pro to BMW R 1300 GS: First impressions

25th July 2024, 12:35 by Utkarsh Chaudhary

The transmission has come a long way from the R 1250 GS but is still jerky and not precise and nowhere near to the Triumph Tiger's gearbox.

BHPian adi_sun recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

It all started in 2007 when I saw Milla Jovovich with BMW K1200 in Resident Evil. Was a dream to own a BMW one day.

Stage 1 – Morden Classic | Triumph Street Twin 900

Roll forward 11 years and I relocated to Pune for a short time and picked a Triump Steet Twin, that was my introduction to the big bike category. Absolutely loved the motorcycle and still regret selling it. This was a coffee and paratha bike for me, never been outstation on it.

2 years, 9k km

 Stage 2 – Cruiser | Harley Davidson Low Rider S 114

After 3 years, wanted to explore and picked a Harley Davidson Low Rider S 114. The love for that was short-lived and very soon I realized I am not the cruiser guy. In six months it was on the block to move to an ADV. The only long trip on it was Delhi-Jaisalmer.

6 months, 8k km

Stage 3 – ADV | Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro

Picked a Tiger 900 Rally Pro and enjoyed it for a good 2 years and 22k km. The bike while brilliant for most parts had its shortcomings but that writeup is for a different day. This post is all about the BMW R1300 GS Trophy!

2 years, 22k km

Stage 4 – BMW R 1300 GS

Was always in love with the GS, thought long and hard at the time of Tiger too of picking a 1250GS but the extra $ was too much. A year later this thought was still moving around in circles and Tiger too was showing areas where the the BMW excelled. Most in the riding group have 1250 GS/GSA and the few times I rode a dear friend's GS I was always laughing ear to ear.

Comes Oct 2023 and 1300 GS was revealed, the initial impressions were bad and I found the 1250 better looking than the 1300. The X headlight started to grow on me and in Feb 2024 went to book 1300 GS expecting arrival in June.

Days were hard to pass and I can surely say there was not a single day that passed when I did not think of picking the 1250 now rather than waiting longer in the dark. The price, feature list or even availability and definitely reliability were unknown.

Had a few calls with the dealership guys and the discounts on the outgoing 1250 GS made the deal too sweet to pass, yet the thought of owning a 1300, an all-new motorcycle held on to me. Thankfully in May, they sold off all the 1250 GS stock and I was relieved somehow. One less thing to choose from!

In June mid the bike was finally here, since I was amongst the first few to book it the dealership was kind enough to get it unveiled by me at the Delhi launch! Loved it.

Initially had booked the triple black but liked the trophy colour more. The issue was that Trophy came with the high seat as standard making the seat height to 870 mm. While I can flat foot this too with my riding boots, can't with other boots (seat height with standard seat is 850 mm).

So a standard seat / Wunderlich was added to the budget and the trophy colour was finalized!

First impressions:

Absolutely blown away right from the word go. Truckloads of torque make the take-off like a jump and require getting used to.
The size instantly dissolves and feels no bigger than a 100cc bike launched with a rocket launcher. It’s so agile that the test ride bike had no guards and I of all people wasn’t worried!
Gearbox has come a long way from 1250 but is still jerky, not precise and nowhere near where Tiger is. Shift up and down are better with the clutch, quick shifter is like an un-lubed pole in a dry hole. Thankfully clutch is light.
Did I mention power and torque are pronominal? Basis memory I feel it’s a significant bump over there 1250 as well. Was laughing at my stupid speed pulls, it’s that fast.
The bike doesn’t dive at all! What a change but not sure if it’s the tele lever or the diet - the front feels very light, twice I think I pulled an accidental wheelie or was it that the front was weightless not sure
Seat comfort is good with the split seat holding you in place
Did not like the foot pegs one bit, it’s not a peg it’s a round pipe that’s manageable if you are sitting but standing and you feel slippery. Imagine the rider's foot peg is smaller than the pillion foot peg.
Wind protection is spot on, leave it in the lowest position and it allows air to flow. Flick the switch and it’s good for highways (electronic windshield on paper looks useless but is fun to have)
Heat management is superb, coming from Tiger my bar anyway is near the frying point. There is a radiator fan blowing air near the right leg but nothing to be worried about.
Loved the exhaust note too, 1250 has a little rough sound but this one sounds better to my ear.