Triumph Explorer V Multistrada S Touring 2013 V BMW GS 1200 I have just sold my Triumph Street Triple R and I am in the market for a new bike, I have always been a fan of the Triumph Triple engines, (had a Tiger 1050 a couple of years ago) I was undecided whether the new 2013 Multistrada was for me so I thought I would give both the Explorer and Multi a test ride, therefore, last week I took a day’s holiday and made arrangements to test ride the Explorer in the morning and then the Multistrada during the afternoon, the following is a summary of my opinion of both bikes both positives and negatives as I found them, I know others may have different opinions based around perceptions and expectations together with our differences in weight & height etc. I am 5'10" (178cms) and weighing in at 13 1/2 stone (86kg) First thoughts on the Explorer as I manoeuvred it outside from facing the show room window to a position where I could ride away, boy did it feel like a big old bus weight wise, but once I climbed on board and pulled away the weight disappeared and the bike felt perfectly well balanced and easy to manoeuvre, the clutch was light and the fueling from the ride-by wire throttle was smooth and controlled the gear change was a little clunky at first but clicked smoothly through the gears a I got used to the feel and the engine warmed up. The ride was composed and well mannered as I trundled through the town traffic heading towards the B roads of Northumberland, once out into the open the engine was wound up and the pull of torque from as low as 2k revs up to around 7k was very impressive, this engine was better than I imagined from all the press reviews, a brisk pace was set where the handling was found to be assured apart from a sense of a slight bounce / oscillation coming from the front wheel / fork area, it wasn’t much but It did catch my attention. Wind protection was adequate (Touring Screen fitted) but I did experience some buffeting and wind noise above 65 mph. the brakes were effective given the weight they have to pull up. The riding position and seat were very comfortable after my 180 mile ride, although the instruments / clocks seem a long way in front, overall I was very impressed with the ride and it gave me some food for thought. After lunch I picked up the Multistrada and straight away the difference in manoeuvering was evident, the Multi is so much lighter to move around and felt like my former Street triple in comparison to the Explorer, the engine on start up was a bit of a surprise as I have never ridden a Ducati before, it felt very lumpy, rough & certainly different, I suppose that’s what you call character, I was advised to use Urban mode whilst I got used to things and while traveling through traffic, which I duly did, I pulled away smoothly and the gear change was crisp and precise, the thing that surprised me was the engine does not like to be trundled along anywhere near or below 3k revs, it just does not like it and tells you to change gear, this is in total contrast to the Explorer were you could leave it in a higher gear and let the engine do the work. The multi still pulled from low down and the acceleration was smooth and did not have any of the surging and hunting reported on the earlier models. When we had reached the B roads again and sport mode was engaged the Multi became a totally different animal “wow can this thing shift” handling was precise and the bike could be flicked through the left & right hand bends with consummate ease, the brakes were something else and could have stopped a train. Wind was minimal at 70mph with the screen set on its highest position, no sense of buffeting with just a little wind catching the top of my helmet, the mirrors did give a blurred view behind at this speed due to some vibration but it cleared above and below this speed, overall I was very impressed with my fist experience on the Mulistrada S Touring 2013, Now time to reflect and make a choice, another test ride arranged for this Saturday, weather permitting as Snow is forecast for this week. Manoeuverability - Multi Comfort - Draw Engine - Explorer Low revs – Multi the rest Brakes - Multi – just Handling - Multi Wind Protection - Multi – just Looks - Personal thing but has to be the Multi Seat height - Explorer
I have just bought the 2013 multi. I own a tricked out Street Triple R in orange. I haven't been able to sell it yet as I just can't get rid of it. Great bike. I was pleasantly surprised with the multi. Especially the "lumpiness". I didn't find much on mine and I'm happy about that. You should try a Streetfighter 848 around town. Then you would know what lumpy was.
I have just moved from a 2010 Multi to the Explorer. If I had never owned a Multi I would take it over the Explorer. having had the Multi I now find the Explorer just....better. Its not got the character or the looks of the Multi but i just feel that it is a better all rounder. BUT....as I said. You have to own a Multi. The Explorer can wait....
I couldn't choose between them so I bought both. The Explorer does let me get away without changing gears because of its low revs grunt. The Multi takes off at a phenomenal rate when the revs get into the sweet spot. Both handle very well and I have no problem hustling the Explorer along with the sports bike types in the Surrey TOMCC. The Multi can catch me out because it simply doesn't give the feeling of speed. Wind protection on both is fine and I am a six footer. The Explorer wins for two-up touring though simply because of it's flexibility, seat and ease of riding slowly.
I had the use of an explorer as a loan bike for 3 days and although it was a nice machine i thought it a bit pedestrian compared to the Multi , I ragged it around the Welsh A&B roads as well!
I test rode one in the same afternoon as the ducati....nice kind of sums it up, it didnt wow me at all....maybe i just prefer a vtwin.
I tested both the Multi and the Explorer and ended up buying a GS The reliability of the Multi and its lack of any offroad ability would send me towards the Explorer out of the pair, but all the electrickey is un necessary and causes problems imo
"Unnecessary"? Excuse me? All Ducatis are unnecessary, as far as it goes. We could all buy something cheaper, simpler and more ordinary. Surely Ducati owners want something special, and the electrickery is one of the special things about the Multi. If an ordinary GS better suits your purposes, fine. Good choice.
Different strokes for different folks as they say. The Ducatis I own and love are about simplicity of purpose,untainted by anything superfluous, thats the way they used to be and thats what I like, so I wont apologise. We will have to agree to differ on your opinion that electrickery is one of the special things about a Multi for me it was the reason not to buy one.
I faced the Multi versus Explorer decision and after due consideration and the usual test rides I bought the latest water cooled BMW GS! No, it's not like the old tractor GSs, I never wanted one of those. This is a thoroughly modern machine with all the electronics of the latest Multi including the semi active suspension and more and price wise it's between the two bikes. Why not the Explorer? - it's spec. is now behind the game technically and I know that I would be frequently thinking that I should be on the BMW or Multi. Why not the Multi? - I've had a Multi and also still own a 999S, but on balance, since I have never liked the look of the Multi, its V twin engine can be irritating unless you're pushing on out of city traffic and the BMW dealer is close, has experienced technicians, the dealer is likely to still be around in a few years time and best of all it's a great machine to ride under all conditions of slow traffic/fast runs/long distance touring, I know I've made the right decision. It's a personal thing of course, but look further than Triumph/Ducati, at least take a test ride on other similar bikes of other brands, I did and glad I did.
Thanks for all the comments. I had never really fancied the BMW GS as an option, don’t like the look of the cylinders sticking out the sides of a bike but after the comments posted I am going to have to have a test ride just to satisfy my curiosity, I will post my observations and comparisons after that test ride. Getting back to the Multistrada and on the subject of the Sky hook suspension, you don’t really notice anything unusual during normal riding but once the road condition suddenly changes from smooth to rough the response you feel is astonishing, where normally the suspension may get out of sorts with the sudden change especially when in mid bend but the Sky hook absorbs and smoothes out even the severest of drain covers / pot holes and bumps. For want of better wording It seems to change from firm to enduro-soft instantly but still keeping the bike stable, very impressed and this one advantage makes it stand out way ahead of the Explorer as my choice of preference, now it’s time to see how the BMW GS suspension and all compares.
I'd have though the new Tiger Sport was a more relevant comparison to the Multistrada than the Explorer?? The new Aprilia Caponord might be worth a look as well...
I had my Multi 1200 SSport for two years & 25000 miles. It was a great bike. Having ridden the new Multi with Skyhook and the new GS, I have just ordered the new GS. The new LC Boxer engine is great (almost as good as the Multi) but the BMW version of Skyhook is better. It's a totally new bike in every way, and beautifully made. Must say that the revised Multi engine is a big improvement, I found it super smooth. Tough call, they are both great & interesting bikes bristling with the latest technology.
I have a MTS1200 base model owned since June 2010 so comming up for 3yrs old, normally swop bikes around every 2yrs but the MTS has been a great bike so kept it that extra year..... Time soon to change though & short list for me is 13my MTS (already tested) KTM and last but not least is the LC GS1200 which I'm hoping is as good as the mags/media are raving about! Got to be a substantial improvement over mine though to stump up the extra £7,500 plus my bike..........
It is. I just upgraded from a 2010 S Touring to a 2013 S Touring. Same colour (has to be red!). I thought it wouldn't be that different. I test rode it a little but boy was I unprepared for how different it is. If the 2010 was 4 bikes in 1, the 2013 is 1 hooligan of a bike for all conditions. Prior to getting it, I had fantasized getting an 848 Streetfighter. My first Duc was a 848 and it was light, revvy and handles sharply. The MTS 2010 was powerful, comfortable and versatile. Fantastic on Touring or country lanes. Not the most agile. Too much pitching for my liking. But goes like stink on sweeping bends. On the twistys, its constant throttle all the way while other brakes braking, accelerating and shifting. the 2013? Its not just one thing, but I think the whole combo. Down to the redesigned windscreen. The engine i not rougher than the 2010, but just rev happy. Like the 848, it just wants to go. Most unlike a big twin. You can hold it if you want, but i find it hard to restrain myself. With the skyhook, every road surface feels good. Confidence everywhere. Feedback without being obstrusive. Attitude control means it darts and flicks with precision. Together, the 2013 floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee. On urban roads, drop the screen and lean forward. You could ride over the handlebars like the Hypermotard. Country roads, pin the throttle and track a razor sharp line through those sweeping bends. Motorway. Screen up, heated grips and coast past every thing on an armchair. Off-road. Er, not that advanced... Haven't had this much fun since the 848. It just revs and revs. But with the comfort, poise and stability of the 2010. I've done 170 miles since collecting the bike yesterday, putting it through a mixture of roads. I can't believe how amazing ir is. Supposedly evolutionary improvements made a revolutionary bike. My 2010 was decatted but the stock 2013 was smoother, revvier and hasn't even been broken in! It feels light because the DSS prevents excessive pitching (dive and squat). Brakes are solid, again reminding me of the 4-pot 848 Brembos. And there are little detailings which make the whole bike more enjoyable. LED headlight for example. A deeper storage compartment under passenger seats. Bigger side storage in front fairing. Better screen. (tall screens can be obstructive when dirty or wet!). They may have adopted Panigale technologies, but the bike is easier to start compared to the old. To me, the 2013 was a developed in response to the Ducati sportsbike rider like myself. It provides similiar riding experiece but in the MTS package (comfort, touring etc). I always wished the 2010 was more "sporty". And my wishes have come true! In summary: 2010 = happiness 2013 = ecstacy
Took the New GS out over the weekend just to satisfy my curiosity, the bike itself has had a styling update that gives it a more modern up to date look which I quite liked, its always different when seen in the flesh. The bike felt a lot heavier than the published weight would suggest when manoeuvring it, although it does wear its weight lower down than the Explorer but I would say they appear to be on par with each other weight wise. The main thing I noticed once on board was the lightness of the clutch lever and controls compared to both the Multistrada & the Explorer, I could flat foot on both the Explorer & Multistrada but not on the GS, balls of my feet were in order on this one, the engine fired up first time with a slight rocking motion but sounded smooth with a deep throaty tone emanating from the exhaust, the gearbox was smooth and clicked into gear without any of the clunking of past models, the bike pulled away smoothly enough and was precise off the throttle for good control in the light traffic encountered, once on the move riding through the urban areas and with the setup on Road the suspension was plush whilst being a little firm on the front which must have been as a consequence of the unusual front suspension configuration. Out onto the B roads the engine was found to be energetic with low down torque but levelled off towards the 6K mark, the engine seems to fall between the Explorers spread of creamy torque and the paunchiness of the Multistrada’s, the Explorer is more flexible and smoother while the Multistarda is more direct almost race bike like but still controllable and flexible. The handling on the GS was sure footed with that low down weight a noticeable advantage when changing direction at a brisk pace, I liked the ride quality of the GS suspension but once again the front end was a little vague. The seat was firm but very comfortable, it was narrow at the front but still high for me, I took the opportunity to change the seat position at one of my tea stops, it could be changed for both front and back height, after a bit playing around I stuck with a position which I found to be more suited to me. Instrumentation is a little bit cluttered with some of the readouts a little small to be easily read on the move otherwise the information provided is as you would expect with the now normal miles to empty, consumption & trip information etc. To summerise my opinions I have revised my scoring matrix to suit. Manoeuvrability – Multi Comfort – GS – Just Engine – Explorer low revs – Multi the rest Brakes – Multi – just Handling – Multi Wind protection – GS – just Looks – Personal thing but has to be the Multi for me Seat height – Explorer This has made my choice even harder, who suggested giving the GS a go!! But, based upon my findings and opinions and also what I want from a bike, the Multistrada comes out a clear winner and is the one for me. The Explorer & the GS are so very close to call, they are very similar bikes with the Explorer being better for me on handling and in the Engine compartment but the GS came out better than the Explorer on Comfort and wind protection, taking the semi active suspension and riding modes out of the equation, as that is what the extra cost over the Explorer gets you, but when you add these to the bike then it just gives the GS that edge. Hope you find my comment interesting and only take them on face value as they are how I found the bikes. Now to consult the financial advisor (the wife) it looks like there will be a Multistrada joining my K1600 GT SE in the garage. Happy days
