Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 - US price released

[bomber]

There are bikes for actual dirt riding.

There are bikes that are able to take the occasional fire road for exploration, and to handle less than perfect terrain.

What you're describing is a dirt bike.

I know, from personal experience, that even occasional fire road exploration, as you aptly put it, will result in the need to pick the bike up, and to be otherwise concerned with weight.

I agree with your later post regarding most big trailies use as street bikes, though -- brilliant marketing on BMW's part turned a surprise into a huge money maker for the company.

I'm pretty sure I know what I'm describing. Thanks for the offer of the assist, though. Looks like we simply don't share identical interests, or concerns.

[expatbrit]

+1

If they weren't all 9 feet tall I'd consider one. I was working on Colleen's GS and - LITERALLY - had to pull the seat off it in order to ride it. I like the naked styling and upright seating, and the more-than-ample room, extra wattage, and the (generally speaking) lower-revving, torquier engines a bike like that might tend to offer.

Hey -- I have a short inseam for my height too, but I think I'm a touch taller than average.

[bubba zanetti]

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.

I live in close proximity to lots of offroad options. Some pretty gnarly too. But I would have to admit that less than 15% of my miles are offroad. I think the KTM is a big Trailie by definition, heavy in other words. I have dropped the bike a few times when out alone and a couple of those were unpleasant and a bit concerning. In one , I nearly went down a steep bank in a very isolated area. Even though I ride with a SPOT, it was a silly place to be alone. Most of my offroad riding has been solo and for that reason I ride less off road than I could OR would like too. Some of those areas you never see anyone all day and it is a hell of a walk out.



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[expatbrit]

5'6" on a good day, and on the very good days, I have a 29.5" inseam. I was Gimlii's stunt double.  

Yeah. I'm taller than that.

6'7, 34" inseam. I don't look nuffink like Gimli.

[R Doug]

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.

I disagree.  


I ride mine about 70% on road and 30% off road.  The on road travel is pretty good and I can keep up with just about anything out there in the twisties and sweepers.  Plus, I have the luggage capacity to go as long as I need.  



But, when I see that gravel road or jeep trail / double track, I can explore that with ease.  You can't do the following on a Tiger 1050 or any other bike w/ a tighter suspension.  Note my adventure touring rig gets airborne (front wheel only or both) at the following marks... 0:38, 1:08, 1:11, 2:16.



This same double track at the same speed used to tear the crap out of my KLR650.  I broke more bits on the KLR by riding on this stuff (w/o dropping it) in the short few months I owned it than the 2+ years I have owned the KTM with -0- breaking on the big KTM (knock on wood   )

[Rincewind]

Nice counterpoint and KTM proselytizing.  You had me at "airborne."  

[R Doug]

That said, the above video represents my type of off road riding on the big bike.  So, when I go to replace it, I want something that can do the same.  Can this new tiger hold up to that?  I know the GS can as I have ridden with folks on a GS at similar speeds on similar terrain.  

[Rincewind]

That said, the above video represents my type of off road riding on the big bike.  So, when I go to replace it, I want something that can do the same.  Can this new tiger hold up to that?  I know the GS can as I have ridden with folks on a GS at similar speeds on similar terrain.  

Has the Tiger 800/XC proven itself for that type of riding?  I imagine the offroad integrity of the 1200 will be similar.

[R Doug]

Nice counterpoint and KTM proselytizing.  You had me at "airborne."  

   Thanks.  I forgot about the jump at the 2:21 mark which knocked my camera out of whack.  

The bottom line on the big KTM at least is the thing is much more capable than most think.  It's abilities are WELL beyond mine.  

At 1:23 in the following video where the instructor says, "we've done the easy stuff,"  that's about my limit right now.  But, if you keep watching, the bike isn't a soccer mom SUV.  But, to Chris' point, are the newer adventure touring bikes becoming soft soccer mom SUVs?  I don't know but I'll want to know before I buy my next one.  

[bomber]

My guess is the Explorer isn't aimed directly at an off pavement mission -- those cast wheels are something of a giveaway, I think . . ..  

that said, my 1050 (also cast wheels) does OK on fire service roads so long as I've had to pick it up in the last couple of weeks -- the fresh memory reminds me to keep wht speed down --

[black hills]

There are bikes for actual dirt riding.

There are bikes that are able to take the occasional fire road for exploration, and to handle less than perfect terrain.

What you're describing is a dirt bike.

Not really, depends on the rider. I wish my Adventure were lighter and it's the lightest of the bunch. other than the coffe shop riders the adventure bikes are made for exploration and even a decent fire road can be slick enough for an occasional low side, I would hate to pick up a 600lb. bike or try to keep it from tipping over on a slipepry surface.
I really wished for a lighter bike off road on my Moab trip (the 300 would have been perfect), but I wouldn't have wanted any less bike on the way to/from?

[black hills]

I disagree.  


I ride mine about 70% on road and 30% off road.  The on road travel is pretty good and I can keep up with just about anything out there in the twisties and sweepers.  Plus, I have the luggage capacity to go as long as I need.  



But, when I see that gravel road or jeep trail / double track, I can explore that with ease.  You can't do the following on a Tiger 1050 or any other bike w/ a tighter suspension.  Note my adventure touring rig gets airborne (front wheel only or both) at the following marks... 0:38, 1:08, 1:11, 2:16.



This same double track at the same speed used to tear the crap out of my KLR650.  I broke more bits on the KLR by riding on this stuff (w/o dropping it) in the short few months I owned it than the 2+ years I have owned the KTM with -0- breaking on the big KTM (knock on wood   )

this is exactly the way I use my Adventure!!

[BobW]

i would agree with Chris for most owners and I would say like any other bike, it is the rider once past a certain level of use. The KTM appears to be the highest % of true off road competency by design and the GSA a bit more road competent, but the skilled rider on either can blister most lessor riders regardless the bike in most situations. It may be semantics, but I can still remember competing in Enduros and MX when I was on Honda, Husky, Bultaco, etc., and a few guys still wrestled the odd 441 around, not sure how many trusses were sold to the heavy pig bikes' riders, but even they were light compared to the svelte (not) liter plus class bikes we are talking about. I find the platform super comfy and less troublesome to load up nor damage pretty plastic in the dirt, but they are not dirt bikes like Chris is referring to on their best day.

Cheers

my futura "off road"
 

my stelvio "off road"

[R Doug]

Bob, we should ride together someday.  I'm not far from you on I40.

Regarding the Tiger Explorer 1200, I will be looking to replace my current bike in 2014 (maybe late 2013).  The big Tiger is on my very short list.  Of course, I am waiting to see if the proposed Adventure replacement comes through and what it will be like.

[nferr]

5'6" on a good day, and on the very good days, I have a 29.5" inseam. I was Gimlii's stunt double.  

Yeah, I'm 5' 6 1/2" (that half makes a difference!), but I have a 32" inseam. I sat on the present Tiger 1050 and could barely touch the ground with the tips of my toes. My Scrambler is about as tall as I can go and feel comfortable. And that's only because the bike is so narrow.

[BobW]

R. Doug

Hey!, a ride would be great. I haven't been out near enough with all the beautiful Spring like Winter weather we've had (series of Murphy's Law days an all ). I'll pm my cell and e-mail.

Cheers

[falconati]

Bob, we should ride together someday.  I'm not far from you on I40.

Regarding the Tiger Explorer 1200, I will be looking to replace my current bike in 2014 (maybe late 2013).  The big Tiger is on my very short list.  Of course, I am waiting to see if the proposed Adventure replacement comes through and what it will be like.



 

[Davy F.]

The Explorer will be in my local Triumph dealers in late March and I've already got my name down for a test ride.  Usually, I get to cover 100 miles or so, enough to form a reasonable opinion. I'll let everyone know how I get on.  

[stk0308]

The Explorer will be in my local Triumph dealers in late March and I've already got my name down for a test ride.  Usually, I get to cover 100 miles or so, enough to form a reasonable opinion. I'll let everyone know how I get on.  

Wait, who is this?!?!  You look faimilar from somewhere  

[Rincewind]

I saw this yesterday in NYC.  A very nice, burly man's bike.  It sits pretty well (that's not me in the pic).