Please do your homework before taking off into a "review" This video is just...look at me driving a new big bike i don't know. A test ride without real feedback.
Hi there, I found it interesting how you compared the Explorer to the GS as I preferred the BM which could well be because you're over 6 foot but I'm only 5'7". There was a lot to like about the Explorer but I found the BM far easier to manage with its lower COG and because it was 20kg lighter and had a lower seat height. To me the Explorer felt a bigger bike physically too which for taller riders wouldn't be a problem, in fact they might prefer it but to me the extra weight and top heavy nature of the Explorer ruled it out due to my size, especially when the BM had better brakes suspension and wind protection. The low and mid range torque of the boxer suited me too though again the Triumph triple is a great engine and better IMO than a 4 any day. Next years Explorers have solved some of the issues by fitting better suspension and brakes and have a low option too now so looks like they will cater for the shorter rider so it'll be interesting to see how many they sell compared to the current model and what the cost will be compared to the GS and KTM. Just a pity they didn't do the upgrade last year as I've just bought my bike so will have to wait a few years before I can change again.
Thank you for the well thought out comment. It could very well be just because I am taller than this bike suited me better. I did have to get the guy at the BMW garage to lift the seat for me when i took that one for a spin. Hopefully you will be happy with your purchase either way and you can get many happy miles!
Looks very smooth. I think I've got too used to the harsh ride of a sport standard; plus the roads are shit here. It's not a problem as such, but it definitely slows me down a little. What was it you disliked about the fbw throttle?
+James Trimbee Its more just because on my 96 blade it really does feel as though you are opening the throttle bodies and its as though you can feel what the engine is doing (hard to describe). But the fbw feels like you may aswell be using a playstation controller, there just isn't any "feel" when you twist it. Probably just me being old school but I much prefer the feeling of a throttle cable. Also just one less thing to go wrong. Thanks for watching and commenting!
+carlsant1 Electronics can take things away, for sure. I miss the creamy throttle on carb bikes; the precise fueling on high-compression EFI twins can make them very burpy at low speeds, it does my head in. Apparently the Bonnie with stock ECU suffers a little from this too.
+James Trimbee not something im aware of to be fair but yeah Ive used both types on numerous different bikes and much prefer carbs. and would much rather have to clean/balance carbs then have to find a fault in an EFI system!
I _think_ you might be deceiving yourself with the relative agility of the bikes... The Explorer _is_ agile, but the chassis is set up for stability, agility comes from you having loads of leverage through the wide bars. The blade is a sports bike & set up to be quick steering & agile, although I bet the steering lock is less generous. The fact that you feel it's more agile at speed is the clue here, since dynamically bikes are less agile at speed due to increased gyroscopic effects - it can be a real effort to change direction at high speeds... However there's a tendency to tuck your body in &,lean forward a bit more at speed, which drops your shoulders, & thus your elbows; that changes the angle you're applying force to the bars, & miraculously makes it easier. So, suggestion - try sitting a tad further back on the blade - you want room for a fist between your knackers & the tank &drop your shoulders so that your forearms are parallel to the ground. Voila, instant low speed agility!
+Ken Haylock I probably shouldn't have used the word agility to be fair. I meant it was easier to handle at lower speeds. I by no means struggle on the blade to take corners, quite the contrary given how big I am i can just stick a leg out a bit and it turns on a dime, I was merely commenting at the ease at which you can throw it round. And yeah I get its due to the bars but as I was comparing it to the blade then that's one rather large difference between them. Im sure anyone who jumps on an upright wide barred naked will say its more agile than a super sports bike at low speed. Cheers for watching and commenting!
+carlsant1 I agree with that I test rode a tiger 800 and couldn't believe the difference at slow speeds from my cbr 600. Have you had a go on the tiger sport?
I haven't I'm afraid, Would be looking at this type of bike for a second bike along side my Blade so happy for it to be a full on adventure instead of a crossover.
I've ridden the Tiger 1050. The Tiger Sport is the and bike with the air box restriction removed and a couple of styling tweaks and it is an excellent road bike, let down now by the lack of toys that a Multistrada or even the Tiger 800 has to offer...
some lovely scenery in that video ... nice review as well
Thank you very much! Glad you liked it.
Please do your homework before taking off into a "review"
This video is just...look at me driving a new big bike i don't know. A test ride without real feedback.
Hi there, I found it interesting how you compared the Explorer to the GS as I preferred the BM which could well be because you're over 6 foot but I'm only 5'7". There was a lot to like about the Explorer but I found the BM far easier to manage with its lower COG and because it was 20kg lighter and had a lower seat height. To me the Explorer felt a bigger bike physically too which for taller riders wouldn't be a problem, in fact they might prefer it but to me the extra weight and top heavy nature of the Explorer ruled it out due to my size, especially when the BM had better brakes suspension and wind protection. The low and mid range torque of the boxer suited me too though again the Triumph triple is a great engine and better IMO than a 4 any day. Next years Explorers have solved some of the issues by fitting better suspension and brakes and have a low option too now so looks like they will cater for the shorter rider so it'll be interesting to see how many they sell compared to the current model and what the cost will be compared to the GS and KTM. Just a pity they didn't do the upgrade last year as I've just bought my bike so will have to wait a few years before I can change again.
Thank you for the well thought out comment. It could very well be just because I am taller than this bike suited me better. I did have to get the guy at the BMW garage to lift the seat for me when i took that one for a spin. Hopefully you will be happy with your purchase either way and you can get many happy miles!
Looks very smooth. I think I've got too used to the harsh ride of a sport standard; plus the roads are shit here. It's not a problem as such, but it definitely slows me down a little.
What was it you disliked about the fbw throttle?
+James Trimbee Its more just because on my 96 blade it really does feel as though you are opening the throttle bodies and its as though you can feel what the engine is doing (hard to describe). But the fbw feels like you may aswell be using a playstation controller, there just isn't any "feel" when you twist it. Probably just me being old school but I much prefer the feeling of a throttle cable. Also just one less thing to go wrong.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
+carlsant1 Electronics can take things away, for sure. I miss the creamy throttle on carb bikes; the precise fueling on high-compression EFI twins can make them very burpy at low speeds, it does my head in. Apparently the Bonnie with stock ECU suffers a little from this too.
+James Trimbee not something im aware of to be fair but yeah Ive used both types on numerous different bikes and much prefer carbs. and would much rather have to clean/balance carbs then have to find a fault in an EFI system!
Try the Sprint GT. I think the seat on it is awful considering they called it a GT, the older ST had a much better seat.
I _think_ you might be deceiving yourself with the relative agility of the bikes... The Explorer _is_ agile, but the chassis is set up for stability, agility comes from you having loads of leverage through the wide bars. The blade is a sports bike & set up to be quick steering & agile, although I bet the steering lock is less generous. The fact that you feel it's more agile at speed is the clue here, since dynamically bikes are less agile at speed due to increased gyroscopic effects - it can be a real effort to change direction at high speeds... However there's a tendency to tuck your body in &,lean forward a bit more at speed, which drops your shoulders, & thus your elbows; that changes the angle you're applying force to the bars, & miraculously makes it easier. So, suggestion - try sitting a tad further back on the blade - you want room for a fist between your knackers & the tank &drop your shoulders so that your forearms are parallel to the ground. Voila, instant low speed agility!
+Ken Haylock I probably shouldn't have used the word agility to be fair. I meant it was easier to handle at lower speeds. I by no means struggle on the blade to take corners, quite the contrary given how big I am i can just stick a leg out a bit and it turns on a dime, I was merely commenting at the ease at which you can throw it round. And yeah I get its due to the bars but as I was comparing it to the blade then that's one rather large difference between them. Im sure anyone who jumps on an upright wide barred naked will say its more agile than a super sports bike at low speed.
Cheers for watching and commenting!
+carlsant1 I agree with that I test rode a tiger 800 and couldn't believe the difference at slow speeds from my cbr 600. Have you had a go on the tiger sport?
I haven't I'm afraid, Would be looking at this type of bike for a second bike along side my Blade so happy for it to be a full on adventure instead of a crossover.
I've ridden the Tiger 1050. The Tiger Sport is the and bike with the air box restriction removed and a couple of styling tweaks and it is an excellent road bike, let down now by the lack of toys that a Multistrada or even the Tiger 800 has to offer...