At the end of the day...
We all agree that there isn’t a bad choice here, just three very good bikes and a brilliant one. After 700 miles, one sea and a gravel excursion, all four riders say their first choice for doing it again would be the BMW R1200GS Adventure. Yes, it’s the most expensive bike; yes it’s about to be replaced by a new 1250 (see page 50) and yes; it might seem like a dull, predictable verdict to some — especially if you haven’t ridden one, or own a rival.
So let’s be clear: the GS isn’t the best bike in every area — in fact, the other three are all superior in some respect. The KTM has mountains more power, aggression and rorty, naughty spirit. The Honda is far more affordable, uses less fuel and is miles more attractive. The Triumph is faster, has a greater payload and comes with a more complete specification, including its heated seats and electric screen.
But all three bikes also fall short in some way too. The KTM lacks comfort and effortless grace. The Honda lacks performance and helpful gadgets. The Triumph lacks tank range and off-road confidence.
While the BMW R1200GS Adventure doesn’t offer it all, it still ties together an unmatched combination of all the traits you should expect from a premium, flagship adventure-tourer. It devours miles with unreal ease, can hustle down backroads at implausible speed and offers legitimate dual-purpose credibility.
“All the traits you should expect from an adventure-tourer”