Triumph Tiger Explorer

[Kenn157]

Oh, don't get me wrong, Kenn, the Explorer can certainly handle a trip like the Trans-Lab, and I'm convinced you're going to love the bike. I was just saying that the XC, with its 21" front wheel and lighter weight, would handle those conditions a bit more effortlessly, hence the reason it would be my choice for that type of trip. But last time I rode the Trans-Lab I did it on my Wee-Strom, and stayed upright the whole time (at least, I did till I made it back to suburban traffic in Maine...). It was just much more of a white-knuckle experience than it was the previous year on my XR650L.

--mark

Next year lets do the Trans-Lab or are you thinking Alaska?

[markbvt]

You could probably talk me into the Trans-Lab. Not sure yet when I'll be able to make it to Alaska. Probably not next year.

--mark

[Kenn157]

VIN has been allocated!

[GearHd6]

Great news Kenn! It's only a matter of time now.

[Kenn157]

Great news Kenn! It's only a matter of time now.

Thank you Jeff! Yeah I'm pretty excited...! Ha!

[Kenn157]

Its IN!

[OreoGaborio]

That's what he said.

[Point37]

this looks pretty nice as well...2012 Honda NC700X...
http://powersports.honda.com/2012/nc700x.aspx

[nhbubba]

She came early!

[nhbubba]

this looks pretty nice as well...2012 Honda NC700X...
http://powersports.honda.com/2012/nc700x.aspx

47.6 HP of pure insanity!

[nt650hawk]

YEA out of a 700. I get that out of my stock Hawk 650 at the wheel. come on HONDA. WTFU

[Point37]

it's the slower better looking cousin of the tiger

[markbvt]

this looks pretty nice as well...2012 Honda NC700X...
http://powersports.honda.com/2012/nc700x.aspx

No. No, it really doesn't. What it looks to be is useless for anything but suburban commuting.

--mark

[Point37]

true, but i'm sure they can both handle a dirt fire road just fine ...plus 100lbs less to pick up if ya drop it, probably cheaper, better gas mileage and much less fugly

[j4eric]

looks like a

[nhbubba]

much less fugly

You should start another thread. I'd be happy to dump on that Honda there.

[SprintPoser]

Its IN!

Nice! When do you get to ride your new toy home?

[Kenn157]

when all the accessories are installed... no rush. obviously.

[Kenn157]

a week ago Wednesday.

yesterday more almost done

[Garandman]

this looks pretty nice as well...2012 Honda NC700X...
http://powersports.honda.com/2012/nc700x.aspx

17" front, peak hp is 51 according to the manufacturer versus 59 for the Versys and over 60 for the V-Strom.

The base bike is quite cheap ($6,999) and competes pretty directly with the Versys ($7,899). But to get ABS, you have to get DCT model, while ABS is not available on the Versys [in the US] and is standard on the V-Strom ($8,299).

The Triumph appears to have more power than the R1200GS or Super Tenere, while still 100 lbs lighter than the inline 4 sports tourers. So in the upright light-heavyweight sports tourer market, it may cut a big chunk out of BMW, which is still a huge seller for them.

[nhbubba]

... while still 100 lbs lighter than the inline 4 sports tourers.

This is a good point.

C14: 670 lbs
K1300GT: 635 lbs
FRJ1300: 641 lbs

Explorer: 570 lbs

But their own Sprint ST is still lighter at 530 lbs.

And then there is the Honda ST1300 @ 730 lbs.

I think I'd rather slide ST rubber onto the Explorer and tour on it than any of the others listed.

And then there is always the 800 @ 462 lbs. More I read, the more that'd be my pick if I were spending.

Triumph has a helluva lineup on their hands these days.

[SprintPoser]

I'm actually kind fo shocked at just how much less money those Japanese bikes are than the European ones. I know it's not apples to apples, but my Tiger 800 ABS was $10.5K and those others run $7K or $8K. While power & torque isn't really in the same league, you certainly can add a lot of farkles to them to make up some of the difference. For me, I've been in love with the triples since my first one in 1978 and am not likely to back to a Suzuki anytime soon.

Kenn...it looks like your Tiger Exploder should be ready for pickup on Saturday. True?

[nhbubba]

Hasn't it always been that way?!

Even I will recognize that the 800 outclasses the Suzi DL650, Kawi Versys 650, and especially the Honda offering. It really is an apples to oranges game as Triumph doesn't make a 6x0cc Tiger and the Japanese makes don't make 800's (for the US).

There isn't a lot of competition in that 750-900cc range. To my knowledge there isn't any other offering there in the US. AFAIK Honda isn't bringing the Crossrunner thingie to the US.

The > 1k's are more diverse. Especially if Suzi is bringing the DL1000 back.

[Garandman]

I'm actually kind fo shocked at just how much less money those Japanese bikes are than the European ones. I know it's not apples to apples, but my Tiger 800 ABS was $10.5K and those others run $7K or $8K. While power & torque isn't really in the same league, you certainly can add a lot of farkles to them to make up some of the difference. //

Not really apples-to-apples. The stock suspension on the Tiger 800 is quite a bit better than on the V-Strom, for example. An aftermarket shock and cartridges is over $1,000. And the Triumph is very competitive in price with the BMW F800 models. I guess the real mystery is why Suzuki removed the SV650/Gladius from the market just when Honda and Kawasaki were adding 650cc twins.

The 1200cc "Adventure Touring" market is a hotspot right now. Triumph made no bones about aiming at the R1200GS - and also intimated that BMW was juicing their press bikes. BMW is introducing a water-cooled R1250GS and KTM a 1290 Adventure.

In the meantime, Suzuki has an excellent, compact, powerful 1,000cc V-twin that could compete with those bikes in the slice of market that the V-Strom was aimed at "Younger and more sport-oriented riders than the GS." So what does Suzuki do? Nothing, they bring out the DL1000 for 2012 unchanged since 2004. Unbelievable. Suzuki should just go hire all the product planners and field marketers from Triumph and get a clue.

[nhbubba]

I agree about the DL1000, especially after I looked back at the price tag. At $10,400, it looks a little sad. But at least its an option.

I did forget the GSX1250 above. Surely we can count that as a liter+ I4 ST bike. It weighs in at ~570 lbs.