Just bought an xrx low as I,m 5'8....absolutely amazing, yes it's heavy when moving around, however when riding it feels like. 600cc, light, nimble and very quick.The suspension is brilliant, I can ride pretty quick through the bends and the bike feels like it's on rails.Good review Jamie- top videos....Thanks!!
Damn! Didn't know the 1200 was a shaft drive. Another check mark in the plus column :). Good review Jamie. With your passion for motorcycles, I know it's not easy for you to focus on the negatives sometimes.
I own one, fantastic bike, weight not an issue, fantastic handling, love the screen ect, engine has more grunt than a pig farm, great brakes, best standard seat on the market. off road! forget it.
The problem with your motorcycle reviews is that they are so enthusiastic, that you basically never say a bad word about any of motorcycles that you review. I just don't ever get any of your personal preferences like authentic (everything is super cool and beautiful). Sorry for such bad feedback, but I just like your channel and traveling videos that I just wish if you could get a little bit more authentic when it comes to reviewing motorcycles.
Seems like everyone needs to define "adventure" for themselves and get the bike that meets their needs. How much off-road riding are you likely to do? Maintained twin track or wild single track? For most riders with modest skills, I would venture that 70 HP is more than adequate. Beyond that is bragging rights. All-in-all, plenty of great bikes on the market to fill the need. Good review, sir.
I am confused on all the different trims the new explorer 1200 comes in. If I was to do a lot of 2-up touring, which one would be the best? I have always been a sportbike guy for many years. I am now looking for an "adventure bike" my GF and I can take on tours. How much slower is the steering on a 19in front wheel?
Yeah, I have a tiger 1200 and the weight is my big complaint, too. It's a bit tall for me (also 5'9"), but I can still flat-foot it (but if I go over a ditch or whatever I'm boned b/c I can't touch down). That combined with the weight make for some tricky low speed maneuvers, which is a bit too stressful for me. The engine is a gem but the position is a bit too aggressive for me (not upright enough). I think I'm going to trade it in for a vstrom.
MrSlowestD16 Why not go for a BMW like the GS or the RT? I understand price is an issue for a lot of people but if you can afford it those bikes are the best you can get, IMO. Ride safe
I recently went to AK and put 3000 miles on a GS there, so I'm pretty well acquainted with it. Aside from the fact that it sounds (and feels) like a dying cow above 4k RPM (I've never heard an engine that sounds/feels so shitty when you wind it up except maybe BMW's 800CC parallel twin) I like it in pretty much every way over the Triumph. While you can definitely feel that it's still a huge bike, the throttle is better, cruise control is better, and it feels like it has a lower center of gravity. If I had to buy one of the 1200cc adv bikes again, even though the BMW is nowhere near as fun as the Triumph in the twisties (that thing screams like a banshee and sounds damn good, race bike motor ftw!), I'd buy the BMW. Now why the VStrom over the BMW? It comes down to frequency of riding and how much depreciation I want in my garage. These huge adv bikes aren't ideal for the ~5 mile commute to work I make. I have a CB450, a vrod 1130 which are much easier to ride in town, and then various cars I race/ride on weekends, so the adv bike only gets used if I'm making a long weekend trip (w/ or w/o the lady). Now while I got a slamming deal (loads of extras) in my Triumph, it's still a 2013, it's still depreciating massively, and I still never ride it, and it's a 14k or so bike, so depreciating LOTS. Lots of equity tied up there. Meanwhile if I buy a second hand vstrom (ie. 2007?) 650 I get: Better gas mileage (65 vs 40, tested), a MUCH better footing on loose ground, and that engine is still fun to pound on in the twisties, while it has enough power to ride 2-up comfortably and doesn't fuss on the highway like my F650 did. So yea, sorry for the long winded answer, but the long and short of it is that I want a bike which is easier to ride locally while depreciating less in my garage but still performs the essentials that I like the Triumph for (the nice winding characteristics of the engine and 2-up touring). My Triumph gets ridden like once a month because I have no reason to commute to work when I have far better bikes to do that with. Waste of depreciation.
because Kardan shaft is expensive, so its price can only be 'hidden' in a big heavy expensive motorcycle; the light-weights are built to price: manufacturers 'cut corners' any way they can
I've sat on a couple of Explorers and I think it's more of an issue of the high center of gravity. I think some adjustments in this area would take the Explorer from a great bike to a phenomenal bike.
Just bought an xrx low as I,m 5'8....absolutely amazing, yes it's heavy when moving around, however when riding it feels like. 600cc, light, nimble and very quick.The suspension is brilliant, I can ride pretty quick through the bends and the bike feels like it's on rails.Good review Jamie- top videos....Thanks!!
Neil McNaught hi Neil is it heavier than my 1050 sprint. Am thinking of changing it for the explorer
Excellent review, short and precise, do more reviews on bikes like that.
For me the Tiger Explorer is the most handsome adv bike i have ever seen.
Objective and honest review. Thank you.
Damn! Didn't know the 1200 was a shaft drive. Another check mark in the plus column :).
Good review Jamie. With your passion for motorcycles, I know it's not easy for you to focus on the negatives sometimes.
Got the poster today! So cool! Thanks Jamie.
I own one, fantastic bike, weight not an issue, fantastic handling, love the screen ect, engine has more grunt than a pig farm, great brakes, best standard seat on the market. off road! forget it.
Bad off-road?
love the applecross area in scotland. love the roads in the west coast full stop.
Great review man!
Nice review Jamie, I haven't ridden an Explorer but I have sat on one and I do agree with you that the bike feels HEAVY
The problem with your motorcycle reviews is that they are so enthusiastic, that you basically never say a bad word about any of motorcycles that you review. I just don't ever get any of your personal preferences like authentic (everything is super cool and beautiful). Sorry for such bad feedback, but I just like your channel and traveling videos that I just wish if you could get a little bit more authentic when it comes to reviewing motorcycles.
Slightly unfair as he did point out a few things he did not like, sub frame, weight etc.
Seems like everyone needs to define "adventure" for themselves and get the bike that meets their needs. How much off-road riding are you likely to do? Maintained twin track or wild single track? For most riders with modest skills, I would venture that 70 HP is more than adequate. Beyond that is bragging rights. All-in-all, plenty of great bikes on the market to fill the need. Good review, sir.
I have the 800 version and love it
I am confused on all the different trims the new explorer 1200 comes in. If I was to do a lot of 2-up touring, which one would be the best? I have always been a sportbike guy for many years. I am now looking for an "adventure bike" my GF and I can take on tours. How much slower is the steering on a 19in front wheel?
Are the flowers included or is that extra?
Good video, congratulatios.
Yeah, I have a tiger 1200 and the weight is my big complaint, too. It's a bit tall for me (also 5'9"), but I can still flat-foot it (but if I go over a ditch or whatever I'm boned b/c I can't touch down). That combined with the weight make for some tricky low speed maneuvers, which is a bit too stressful for me. The engine is a gem but the position is a bit too aggressive for me (not upright enough). I think I'm going to trade it in for a vstrom.
MrSlowestD16 Why not go for a BMW like the GS or the RT? I understand price is an issue for a lot of people but if you can afford it those bikes are the best you can get, IMO. Ride safe
I recently went to AK and put 3000 miles on a GS there, so I'm pretty well acquainted with it. Aside from the fact that it sounds (and feels) like a dying cow above 4k RPM (I've never heard an engine that sounds/feels so shitty when you wind it up except maybe BMW's 800CC parallel twin) I like it in pretty much every way over the Triumph. While you can definitely feel that it's still a huge bike, the throttle is better, cruise control is better, and it feels like it has a lower center of gravity. If I had to buy one of the 1200cc adv bikes again, even though the BMW is nowhere near as fun as the Triumph in the twisties (that thing screams like a banshee and sounds damn good, race bike motor ftw!), I'd buy the BMW.
Now why the VStrom over the BMW? It comes down to frequency of riding and how much depreciation I want in my garage. These huge adv bikes aren't ideal for the ~5 mile commute to work I make. I have a CB450, a vrod 1130 which are much easier to ride in town, and then various cars I race/ride on weekends, so the adv bike only gets used if I'm making a long weekend trip (w/ or w/o the lady). Now while I got a slamming deal (loads of extras) in my Triumph, it's still a 2013, it's still depreciating massively, and I still never ride it, and it's a 14k or so bike, so depreciating LOTS. Lots of equity tied up there. Meanwhile if I buy a second hand vstrom (ie. 2007?) 650 I get: Better gas mileage (65 vs 40, tested), a MUCH better footing on loose ground, and that engine is still fun to pound on in the twisties, while it has enough power to ride 2-up comfortably and doesn't fuss on the highway like my F650 did.
So yea, sorry for the long winded answer, but the long and short of it is that I want a bike which is easier to ride locally while depreciating less in my garage but still performs the essentials that I like the Triumph for (the nice winding characteristics of the engine and 2-up touring). My Triumph gets ridden like once a month because I have no reason to commute to work when I have far better bikes to do that with. Waste of depreciation.
I have a 09 VStrom and they are great, low cost, low maintenance, etc., you couldn't go wrong.
Yeah, that was my thought about it. They won't be as good as the tiger for 2-up, but it won't be bad, either!
How about multistrada?
What's your favourite adventure bike so far?
Cold back in Blighty after California, Jamie?
Why is there no light-weight bike with a drive shaft on the market? The new Africa Twin would be perfect, if it only had a drive shaft.
because Kardan shaft is expensive, so its price can only be 'hidden' in a big heavy expensive motorcycle;
the light-weights are built to price: manufacturers 'cut corners' any way they can
Why are Triumphs always so heavy? I love Triumph but it seems they need to use more Aluminum or something.
Yeah, even the basic bonnie is 500lbs. You don't feel it, though, in that bike, where-as the tiger you def. feel the 560lbs.
I've sat on a couple of Explorers and I think it's more of an issue of the high center of gravity. I think some adjustments in this area would take the Explorer from a great bike to a phenomenal bike.
Awesome
That is one Giant motorcycle. That is not struggle a little bit. they will struggle a lot. That is a street bike in reality.
Sprig of 'Lucky Heather', I see - Top Man ;-)
cool
big bikes are not the way to go, i believe small lightweight sub 450cc is the way to go, you dont need that extra power
give it to me and just take all my money!!!