Video: Triumph Tiger 800 vs BMW F650GS

This is our first chance, not only to ride the first official Triumph Tiger 800 on UK roads, but to pitch it against the very bike Triumph were gunning for in the first place: the BMW F650GS.      

• Read the Triumph Tiger 800 review

Although the BMW is badged a 650, both bikes are 800s, the German machine is a parallel twin and the Brit a rasping triple. They both have 17” rear tyres, 19” fronts fitted with dual purpose tyres and they’re both softer, cheaper, pure road versions of their more serious enduro-spec brothers: the BMW F800GS and Triumph Tiger 800XC.