I took this Explorer out from Pidcocks Nottingham, while the wife’s StreetTriple was in for a service. Wanted to compare it to my Multistrada: First impression is it’s a bigger bike and heavier to wheel around I’m 6’3” and thought it was a bit of a stretch to the very wide bars but it’s a reasonably comfortable position. Engine is super smooth compared to the Multi and has plenty of torque although lacks the full on surge of power the Ducati has; it never felt like it wanted to lift the front wheel in the air off the throttle like the Ducati does. I like the idea of shaft drive but found at low speed there was a noticeable whine generated from the transmission 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] gear especially. When I had to go for petrol (did about 80 miles!) I found there was a weird filler just inside the petrol tank that stops you putting the filler nozzle more than about 40mm inside the tank…… no idea why. The bike handles well but not as good as the Multi but there is no way I would take it far off road it’s just too big. I know looks wise it’s a very personal thing but in my opinion it’s a bit of an ugly brute but it does feel quite strong and well put together. The sales guy offered me £9500.00 for my 13 month old Multistrada 1200S Touring
I waited for the triumph with some excitement but just found it looked too agricultural for me. I'm sure its a great bike but just not to my taste. I also cant look at it without seeing the "sleepy owl" looking back at me from the engine!!! Maybe its just me???? Anyway my better half would kill me if I sold my Multi. She loves it. I was offerred £10,500 in Feb for my 18 month old bike as I lazily wandered into the BMW store for a look at the K1600GT.
And this is where i believe objectivity goes out the window on the side of MCN...sorry but I cannot believe a bike which is LIGHTER 220kg vs 256kg GS1200 of 259kg Truimph can be worse off road, especially as they all rate the ease of steering and handling... LOAD OF BOLLOCKS if you ask me! Comfort i can live with...although at 6ft2 i have no issues!
Coming from a St1050, a couple of guys on the triumph forum have traded in for one of these. There is a forum meeting in a couple of weeks time that i am leading the ride out on, (on my multi LOL !!), so will be the first chance to see one in the flesh and compare notes after the ride. I was not impressed with the one at the NEC, and as they did not do one in the right colour decided not to bother, and came nack to a Ducati.
3 of my mates have bought them. I think they're fugly personally. The tank doesn't fit properly on any of them (Larger panel gap one side than the other, have a look). Agree about the engine, it's a beauty but the bike is restricted to just over 130mph. Real world MPG is 40. One of them has had a slow speed topple and snapped the ball off the end of the clutch lever and that was it, the engine bars did their thing. We're off to Eurpoe in 3 weeks time for 2000 miles of fun so it will be interesting to do a comparison. One big difference though, the Triumph touring screen works.
I whole heartedly agree. The manufacturers saw BMW having some success with the GS and, desperate for sales, blindly followed suit. The whole "adventure" concept is a marketing invention. Some even have spoked wheels! The only reason to want them is because it is assumed that the bicycle repairer in whereverstan might be able to repair them. I thought I'd seen the last of them 20 years ago. For every other road riding reason, cast wheels are better. Same with the silly size front wheels. They probably won't help a heavy, inappropriate bike off-road but they look like they will. The reason we are buying the adventure style bikes is because they have an uncramped, relaxed riding position, better than most so called touring bikes, NOT because we are going "The Long Way Round". Do they think we are taken in by the off-road pretence? Are we so gullible that we are buying into a make-believe lifestyle? I thought that was only Harley buyers.
Haha, just noticed that!!! Your dead right, I will always see that now!!! I do think MCN is biased, every test recently has had a Triumph winning or being the bike which didnt win but if they were spending there own money thats what they would buy!!! Tosh. It is good they are backing Triumph though, British firm and all that. My Mutley 1200 is the comfiest bike I have ever had, did more or less non stop to Bordeaux last week, and it was fantastic.
