Just about to buy a Triumph Explorer 1200

Just about to buy a Triumph Explorer 1200

Author
Discussion

wormus

Original Poster:

14,509 posts

202 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
I've never ridden one but I'm about to buy an Explorer from a dealer up north. I have ridden a Tiger 1050 and owned a TDM 800 for a few years so like the relaxed riding position. The one I'm looking at has heated grips, hand guards, comfort seat, fog lights and Arrow exhaust. I'm thinking of getting luggage later if I need it. Any informed opinions on the Explorer or things to look out for?


Rubin215

3,985 posts

155 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
You've never actually ridden one but you're about to buy one?

You're mad; what if you hate it?

Did you get married without ever having nookie first...?

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
Rubin215 said:
You've never actually ridden one but you're about to buy one?

You're mad; what if you hate it?

Did you get married without ever having nookie first...?
^^^ This.

wormus

Original Poster:

14,509 posts

202 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
Note to self, don't expect anything useful from pistonheaders.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
wormus said:
Note to self, don't expect anything useful from pistonheaders.
Oooooooo

A mate bought one earlier this year when it first came out. It blew up on the M4 on the way to Spa. He's sold it already. It was something to do with the final drive(?). Either way it took two months to fix it and the dealer support network were ste.

He renamed it the "Exploder"

Yazza54

18,464 posts

180 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
rofl

bass gt3

10,186 posts

232 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
wormus said:
Note to self, don't expect anything useful from pistonheaders.
In fairness you've presented us with a fait d'complis. You're getting the bike but make no mention whether you've tried anything else, whether we can recommend anything else.
You're 90% down the purchase path and now you're asking for feedback.
Aside from Loon's mates experience, I doubt there's too many on here who have experienced the 1200 explorer as its such a new bike.
So why not add something useful yourself like why you discounted the BM GSA or the big Yam.

Note to you. You get what you give.

Silver993tt

9,064 posts

238 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
A few months ago I test rode the Triumph Explorer, Ducati Multistrada, Water cooled GS1200 and Honda Crosstourer. I opted for the Crosstourer as it had the best engine with a V4 (power/torque/refinement), best build quality and that fabulous DCT gearbox. Now completed 6000 miles and loving it, it's been a joy to own and ride. The Triumph was a nice bike to ride but the design of the shaft drive system looked like an afterthought and there were batches of bikes that had to have replacement cylinder heads due to excessive mechanical noise. For me the Honda ticked all the boxes as a bike for long European tours.

wormus

Original Poster:

14,509 posts

202 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
Thanks. I haven't actually bought one yet, just talking to the dealer about figures on a particular bike. I've owned my ZX12 for a long time and while I'm extremely fond of it, find myself riding less an less. It's not much fun on wet, crap encrusted roads and not really practical. I guess there comes a point in one's life when we get bored of sports bikes? I saw the Explorer and thought it was a handsome beast. The convenience of heated grips and shaft drive also look good and the torquey, engine is full of character. My old 955 speed triple was a brilliant bike and very well made and I hope the Explorer will prove to be the same. Having said that I haven't bought it quite yet so would value informed opinions from people with similar experience. I have considered the Multistrada but worried it would fall to pieces with every day use. The BMW GS is a bit too common, although I do appreciate it's a good bike. Anyone else gone from a sports to adventure bike? Did you regret it?


Edited by wormus on Saturday 19th October 09:37

Rubin215

3,985 posts

155 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
wormus said:
Note to self, don't expect anything useful from pistonheaders.
wormus said:
There, I've laid out my stall. Discuss smile
Yeah, you're right; you certainly laid out your stall on that one.

Poke your explorer up your arse, you cheeky .

There; that's my stall laid out too...

rolleyes


Fleegle

16,688 posts

175 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
rofl

Mind you don't get any splinters in your arse Rubin

wormus

Original Poster:

14,509 posts

202 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
Rubin215 said:
Yeah, you're right; you certainly laid out your stall on that one.

Poke your explorer up your arse, you cheeky .

There; that's my stall laid out too...

rolleyes
No offence intended. I forgot to add the smilie when I posted. No need to call me a c***.

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
Well this thread has gone well hehe



Do you tend to buy bikes without riding them OP? I never would unless I had experience of that type of bike already.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
I've never test ridden a bike before buying it. Think I've bought 8 now.

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
I like to know I feel comfy on stuff, else I'll never enjoy it. Mind you I don't suppose comfy happens on sports bikes? wink

PIGINAWIG

2,339 posts

164 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
Silver993tt said:
A few months ago I test rode the Triumph Explorer, Ducati Multistrada, Water cooled GS1200 and Honda Crosstourer. I opted for the Crosstourer as it had the best engine with a V4 (power/torque/refinement), best build quality and that fabulous DCT gearbox. Now completed 6000 miles and loving it, it's been a joy to own and ride. The Triumph was a nice bike to ride but the design of the shaft drive system looked like an afterthought and there were batches of bikes that had to have replacement cylinder heads due to excessive mechanical noise. For me the Honda ticked all the boxes as a bike for long European tours.
I also had a Crosstourer. - stunning bits of kit. At least try a few......

Money no object? Go for the multistrada, probably one of the best bikes on the planet.

Mr OCD

6,388 posts

210 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
Hooli said:
I like to know I feel comfy on stuff, else I'll never enjoy it. Mind you I don't suppose comfy happens on sports bikes? wink
Maybe it's because your a bit tubby?

Just saying like... hehewink

I've not test ridden my last couple of bikes either.

scorcher

3,982 posts

233 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
I like to have a test ride for at least a couple of hours.(One thing Fowlers are good for !) If I'm spending all day on a bike for pleasure, I want to know that i'm going to be comfy for most of it.

Fleegle

16,688 posts

175 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
I've never test ridden a bike before buying it.


Same here. I've test ridden loads but never bought them. Maybe its psychological with me.....lets use the 675 as an example....rode it for 2 hours and found it really heavy on my wrists so didn't buy it. Yet I could easily have bought it blind like I do all of my bikes, found the same problem yet put up with it under the guise of being focussed

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
Mr OCD said:
Hooli said:
I like to know I feel comfy on stuff, else I'll never enjoy it. Mind you I don't suppose comfy happens on sports bikes? wink
Maybe it's because your a bit tubby?

Just saying like... hehewink

I've not test ridden my last couple of bikes either.
I wasn't tubby when I got the 14 tbh & I need to sort it out as I don't like being fat.

I just find little things bug me a lot if they are slightly wrong & I'll never settle with the bike (or indeed car) because of them.
I went to try a Tiger 1050 once. Sat on it, looked down & realised the plastics around the headstock made it look exactly like looking into a toilet just before you puke. Never even test rode it after that.