Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 - US price released

[Rincewind]

$15,699 with standard swtichable ABS, shaft-drive, cruise control, and traction control (first Triumph with traction control).  

http://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/motorcycles/range/adventure/tiger-explorer/2012/tiger-explorer/7946

[bomber]

Yet more data indicating they've got the big GS in the crosshairs . . . . . .

Interesting bike, for certain, and I predict brisk sales . . . no personal interest, but I have no doubt that it'll be very well done!

[Cablebandit]

Wow!  Cruise was something I didn't expect.  This should be a brisk seller.

[Rincewind]

For comparison to the other big ADV pigs:

Duc MTS1200 standard: $16,995 (ABS NIC, optional extra)
BMW R1200GS: $16,150 w/ABS
KTM 990ADV: 2012 prices not released yet, was $14,899 in 2011 (w/ABS)
Stelvio: $14,990

So the new Triumph is looking competitively priced, generally speaking.

[wibornz]

I sat on one at the International Motorcycle show.  It seamed like a nice bike.  If it was my thing, it would be a contender.

[Cablebandit]

It says the ABS is switchable.  I wonder if the traction control is as well.

[Rincewind]

It says the ABS is switchable.  I wonder if the traction control is as well.

Yes.

[bomber]

Wow!  Cruise was something I didn't expect.  This should be a brisk seller.

I was also surprised, until I thought of the real market that buys these big trailies . . . . . with that in mind, Cruise is a must have!

[ConPilot1]

Nice. Bet it's a winner.  

Sounds interesting.

[ridingfar]

I have a C14 and a 1050 Tiger - this could potentially replace both....

[Liquidsilver]

It's a big dude.   To me, aside from the ammenities like cruise and traction control, it doesn't seem like a gigantic departure from where the Tiger 1050 is right now.  
 
I guess the new 'Trophy' will have this motor, if they release one.

[bikerider]

For comparison to the other big ADV pigs:

Duc MTS1200 standard: $16,995 (ABS NIC, optional extra)
BMW R1200GS: $16,150 w/ABS
KTM 990ADV: 2012 prices not released yet, was $14,899 in 2011 (w/ABS)
Stelvio: $14,990

So the new Triumph is looking competitively priced, generally speaking.

You left off the Yamaha Super Tenere at $14,500 MSRP with ABS and Traction Control.

I paid $12,500 for my 2012 Super Tenere.

[Rincewind]

It's a big dude.   To me, aside from the ammenities like cruise and traction control, it doesn't seem like a gigantic departure from where the Tiger 1050 is right now.  
 
I guess the new 'Trophy' will have this motor, if they release one.

I think the shaft-drive will be the main selling point for this bike over the Tiger 1050.  Surprisingly the listed weights are not that far apart 539 vs 570lbs, and the gas tank size is identical at 5.3 gallons.  The other main selling point is the 89 ft-lb of torque, which should make it quite the stump-puller.  

You left off the Yamaha Super Tenere at $14,500 MSRP with ABS and Traction Control.

I paid $12,500 for my 2012 Super Tenere.

Yes that crossed my mind as soon as I posted the list, thanks.  Great price you got on yours!  

[bomber]

Yeah, shaft drive, as incongruous it seems, is a HUGE selling point in this market niche . . . my guess is that, more than any real advantage in this application, it's inertia left over from the founder of the niche

[bomber]

extra weight to lug around, loss of power due to inefficiency, random explosions, difficulty in changing gearing . . . . . . .

But, and it's a big but, shaft make perfect sense given that most of the big trailies leave the pavement so seldom that they are, in essense, street bikes with silly tires ;-}

[Cablebandit]

It's not a BMW. Plus... meh... the power argument is overstated, and as for the weight, we're not talking about a SS/RR 600cc bike. Meh.

Yup, all these liter bikes already make enough power to spin up the rear wheel at will.  Hence the traction control.

[bomber]

It's not a BMW. Plus... meh... the power argument is overstated, and as for the weight, we're not talking about a SS/RR 600cc bike. Meh.

The exploding thing was humor.

If you were to go off-road and have to pick the poor dear up a couple of times a day, meh would not be the sound you would make. Weight is a huge problem off pavement -- it gets moreso as you gain, well, experience.

But I understand that meh is all the rage.

;-}

[Dan K]

I'd like to know exactly what percentage of the adventure segment's riding occurs off pavement.  My guess it's 10%, and of that 10%, likely half is just unpaved dirt roads as opposed to 'off road' riding.

But hey, adventure is cool.

[expatbrit]

Big trailies are the rider equivalent of soccer mom SUVs, from my observations. Heading in that direction, anyway. The people who *actually* use them as fully-capable, all-roads machines are a fleeting few. IIRC, the fastest recorded time on the Dragon was done on a BMW GS, and the GS is one of the fastest growing models for touring use.

There's a reason my 'big traillie' is one of the more street-biased ones; I wanted the 'space' it provided in riding position and was well aware I'd rarely do more than a dirt road. If ever.

[Cablebandit]

Yup, few bikes give you the amount of room as a big trailie.  The longer travel suspension also makes the crappy roads a joy to ride.  There are several roads around here that felt smooth on my Weestrom yet rattle my fillings on the Concours.  I think that's the real appeal to these bikes.