Triumph has been manufacturing motorcycles since the early 1900s, and has produced everything from classic cruisers to speedy sports bikes. Of all of its motorbikes, few offer a better balance of speed, torque and value-for-money than the Triumph Tiger 800. It is a dual-sport model, meaning that it is suitable for both town/city and off-road driving conditions.

BMW, meanwhile, has produced its own counterpart to the Triumph Tiger 800 in the G 650 GS. This bike similarly handles city roads and country lanes with equal panache, and with its sporty styling, it is a great choice for those who want to remain on two wheels, wherever they happen to be.
This article isn't intended to act as a buyer's guide, however. Instead, we shall look at the components that drive the Triumph Tiger 800 and the BMW G 650 GS. For the first-time buyer, it's important to understand what the jargon-filled specifications refer to - and, for the sake of clarity, we shall be comparing Triumph's and BMW's dual-sport models.

Engine Capacity: In the UK, this is measured in cubic centimetres, or 'cc', though it can also be measured in cubic inches (especially in the classic car market) or the modern International System of Units standard 'SI'. It refers to the volume covered by all pistons in an internal combustion engine in a single sweep. Generally speaking, a higher engine capacity means more power, but it also means that you may pay more for fuel. As a comparison, the Triumph Tiger 800 has an engine capacity of 800 cc (hence the name) whereas the BMW G 650 GS boasts a capacity of 652 cc.

Bore and Stroke: Bore is the measurement of the diameter of an engine's cylinders. Stroke is the distance that its pistons travel in one forwards or backwards motion. The Tiger has a bore/stroke of 74 x 61.9 mm, whereas the bore/stroke of the G 650 GS measures 100 x 83 mm.

Power Output: This is measured in brake horsepower or 'bhp'. Horsepower is a measurement that was originally devised to compare the output of steam engines with horses, and it usually defined as being between 73.5 and 750 watts. Brake horsepower refers to an engine's power output before other components of the engine - such as the alternator, water pump and gearbox - cause it to lose power. The Tiger boasts a power of 96 bhp at 9,300 rpm. The power of BMW's bike is only given in horsepower, and it can manage 48 hp at 6,500 rpm.

Fuel Efficiency: The rate at which fuel is consumed is usually measured in miles per gallon (mpg), or litres per 100km. The Triumph Tiger 800 consumes 3.8 litres per 100km, and the BMW G 650 GS consumes 3.2 litres. However, both companies measure their fuel consumption differently - with Triumph giving their rating based on the bike travelling at a constant 75 mph, and BMW basing theirs on a bike travelling at 90 km/h. Since 75 mph equates to around 120 km/h, it is difficult to compare the two bikes in this regard.