Triumph Tiger Explorer

On gadgets:
I have to confess that I am fond of most of these electronic things which in a path trialed by BMW and I think today soldiered by Ducati is invading all this tall rounder market.
But apart from electronics which look like are better to get directly when ordering the bike, there are some of them which I prefer to be fitting later like engine guards, longer mudguards, even luggage (I don't know yet which bike but I am almost sure it.ll be carrying a givi trekker 46 in the back rack) but I have a doubt on the usefulness of the bum roaster offered with the Explorer... Or fog lights which I think difficult to protect from robbing at least here in my city. Or some others. Which additionals will you for sure be fitting if a new explorer and which don't?

Thanks Cap, that was a prompt and complete response

And what about seat heaters? My ass-umption is that well, being the only part always in contact with the bike, as well as the only one not exposed to the wind, then not much sense on having it heated, it can be roasted very quick.
Other thing is getting heated grips, which I've got, heated clothes, gloves or boots, but the bum bussiness I don't see it clear.
I actually live in Barcelona, downtown, burglars don't need much time to steal parts of any bike if they are expensive and easily disassembled.
I probably won't go for the Ducati mainly for this, I prefer to get a more discrete bike, like the Explorer, or more usual like the GS (here there are plenty of them), just to sleep better.
On the price matter, from my experience I think here you can get even 15% discount from BMW's full equipped, if Triumph only goes for 5 or 6% then the situation will be in which not much difference between both bikes and...

BMW- GS with ESA, ASC, ABS, heated grips, panniers, computer, engine guards, hand guards, will be around 17k€ already discounted. So the Triumph, same conditions, same equipment except ESA, and with such a 6% will be 200€ less...
I like ESA, on the paper at least. I like Triumph and that "triple horn". I like not having the GS which everyone owns. But in the end, the figures will be sending me to Bavary!!!

As you know seat heating is rare on any production bike. However it's been around for a long time as an option on Harleys for instance. And I once owned a K1200GT SE (horrid bike!) back in Blighty with a heated seat. The bike came with the heated seats as standard and I just thought they were a gimmick. However one of the first rides taken on the bike was early morning two-up and at quick speeds. It was so cold that the windshield frosted up and ice started to form on it. Suffice to say neither my wife or I were skeptical as to the benefits of heated seat after that!

But nowadays I live in the south of north America, and this winter (at least) I've been able to ride whenever I feel like it just in either denim jeans like today (70F and sunny) or gore-tex two-piece suit. I'd much sooner have good riding outfits than a heated seat. But if I lived somewhere that can have cold Springs and Falls like much of New England, then I think they could be money well spent.

The stock seats already sound wonderfully comfortable, but if there's one area my boney backside always suffers from it's seat comfort. And I've been very happy with Triumph's own comfort seats personally (mixed reviews in forums, but they've worked for me), so I'd have no hesitation in going for them, based on past experience.

I guess the only other area I've occasionally suffered is cold fingers. In my experience heated grips heat the hands superbly, but the fingers only acceptably well. Ugly bar-muffs work superbly, but are, erm, ugly! :-D But with wind-cheating hand-guards and heated grips it means that I can still wear summer gloves on a chilly day or if the temperature quickly drops (which it can do here) whilst riding in the mountains. If you head north into Andorra and the Pyrenees regularly (ridden there, loved that!) during the colder months, then they might make sense (probably more so than the heated seat), but not strictly necessary with decent gloves and the hand-guards.

I've owned two GS's, and multiple BMW bikes with ESA fitted. ESA II was an improvement. But overall the system is nowhere near as good as the Multistrada. But on both the BMW and Ducati I think they are unnecessary. They don't make 'that much' difference and either annoy you (keep changing mode every two seconds!) or you leave them in one mode (then what's the point?). I rarely change the power mode on my Diavel for the same reason too. I'd much sooner have full power, smooth power delivery and good suspension. Fortunately, it sounds like, this is exactly what Triumph have given us :-D

I would expect the BMW to be heavily discounted as nearly all interested in one will want to wait another year for the liquid cooled version. But remember that is likely to heavily hit the resale value of any R12GS you buy now. Who will then want a 110 hp GS when you could have a 130 hp GS-LC? Fortunately, again, Triumph already provide a 135 hp GS challenger! I liked my GS's, but their quirks do take time to grow on you and they certainly aren't for everyone. The Triumph will be a lot easier to live with immediately (I've owned a few, including a Tiger 1050), with that smooth power delivery and other clear assets like the cruise control and 10k mile service intervals.

It's a personal choice and a win-win situation for you. The BMW will continue to sell the most, but the Triumph seems to be a better all round bike given what Kevin and MCN, amongst others, have already said. And like I say I've already owned two of the (common!) GS's.

I'd say the best advise I can give you is ignore the money, the reviews, what your friends think or what you think you 'ought' to buy. And just simply buy the one that 'you want' the most. If you don't you'll always regret it. Or to put it another way. Don't try to fit in, when you were born to stand out - go your own way! ;-D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp7rYjVTz0o&feature=player_embedded

When I bought an expensive Kahedo seat last October for my GS I got the heated one which didn't cost that much more. I use the bike all year, only thing that stops me riding is ice and snow and I do really like the heated seat. Especially for a shortish trip in cold weather where I'm just wearing relatively thin riding jeans its nice because it heats up really quickly and there are no wires and stuff to fiddle with. I've also had plenty of positive comments from passengers.
I suspect with really thick clothes on you maybe wouldn't feel the heat much but I've not tried that out yet because so far this winter I have avoided long motorway trips. I worry too much about getting stuck somewhere if it starts to snowand missing work .

The best thing about heated seats is my other half likes em. I can ride longer in winter without stops !

Good to hear RIC. I have a speculative buyer for my Diavel, he should confirm he's got the funds in place tomorrow. If it goes, I'm going for a blue SE methinks. Let us know how your demo ride goes....

Gone to a Triumph dealer today (only two in Barcelona city), to see it.
Only ten minutes, just a peek: taller than my Girlie, looks well thought, with not superfluous stuff => practical. Riding position looks better than in the old one.
Don't like plastic covers on tank sides, where the "Explorer" label lies.
Nice side view of rear wheel.
Very very VERY BIG exhaust!!! Reminds me some Burgman stuff.
Not stunning but not average.
I am not an market expert nor an sociollogist but for me it's like if would be addressed to German customers, trying to steal some share in the heartland of its rival.
The bad news is that the dealer doesn't want to take my old bike, it's not a popular brand here in Spain.
And BMW dealer has already given me prices.
Well, I'll get another GS for testing, and book a ride on new Explorer, to compare.

Ric, thought you liked the MTS, what made you go off it?

I had done 14,000 miles in 21 months and loved it. Guess I feel the need for a change for no other reason than I like triples and have not had one for 10 years. In the back of my mind the Mk2 MTS is lurking.

The agility, ballistic engine and quality components of the MTS coupled to Ducati support is difficult to walk away from but if the xPlorer has the triple pizzazz then I'll enjoy the stimulus of the new steed.

deja vu? I say, deja vu? Or just router timings! ;-D

Interesting. Typing 'deja vu' twice (sic) kicked off the sites auto-spam filtering. Tried it again and it was accepted, providing a double-entry! Spooky... :-D

Still, we'll be moving to the new web forum software by year end, because Kevin said so. In 2012... 2011... 2010... Only joshin' Kev, ;-D

Don't despair, there is a solution. I heard this story about an old couple.
While sipping a glass of Merlot on the patio at sunset with her husband, the old lady said 'I love you'. The husband asked if it was her talking or the Merlot, to which she replied that it was her talking to the Merlot.....

Galimatias filter? Would that be more or less restrictive than a K&N?

Anyway, I bet his sudoriferous glands were working overtime after aestivating for too long with a glass of the fuscoferuginous liquid in hand.

I say Gala, you say Dali.

You know it makes sense.

Good news Captain......well as long as the xPlorer bike does the biz which I'm sure it will if you don't rev it over 5000 rpm to get the 'vibe'.

I met an ex Triumph bike development test rider yesterday who did 11 years on Triumph development, only 35000 miles per year....the last bike he did was the Speed Triple. He said Triumph now benchmark most of the competitor bikes irrespective of their plans to compete. This involved buying the bikes 'in the crate' and thrashing them for 15000 miles or so.

What was also revealing was the warranty claims over the past 3 years, at the dealership, which were truly minimal- and I called the bluff so they showed me their records which truly astounded me given my Ducati and BMW experience.

Apparently I ordered a Blue bike, can't remember, and it arrives next week or the week after. I hope to test ride this Friday for at least 3 hours.

As of yesterday the UK's allocation of launch models were sold out bar one Blue bike, so all Grey ( which I like ) are sold. 1400 loaded models in all. Replicating the spec is a £200 premium plus fitting labour.