Ride Review: 2012 & 2014 Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200

2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer (test ride)

Very, very impressed…BMW should be very concerned! This is a very well thought out & developed bike. The power train is fabulous with just enough visceral character/sensation to know it’s neither a twin nor a 4 cyl. The just off idle power delivery might initially seem just a tad soft given the displacement, but I think it is deliberate to enhance off pavement control…Desi (sales manager) suggests it will improve with break-in. The ride-by-throttle response is spot on & not as overly light or as sensitive as the K1600GT, the tranny is a revelation compared to BMW’s…light, quiet, not requiring any adaption or attracting attention to itself…same for the shaft…virtually no driveline lash…again puts BMW to shame…yet without all the complicated engineering design & increased weight…Yamaha also seems to have figured this out as well with the Super Tenere. The fueling seems perfect even <2500rpm, clutch is light with even, smooth engagement. Because of the low demo kms was asked to keep <6k which provided very good linear acceleration with a nice exhaust note for OEM (growing deeper & snarlier with increased rpms)…they have ordered the Arrow aftermarket, which one client has already installed & reported to sound great while adding 3-5 hp…the triple is reported to be fabulous once it gets on song…at 6k & blipping the throttle at standstill I heard enough to like it…it gets deeper & more guttural with rising revs. The mostly exposed motor is dramatically quieter than older Triumph triples with much reduced gear whine…<3-4k it’s motor & induction noise, >3-4k the exhaust takes over. 4krpm =116 km…much better spacing of gear ratios than the K13…it feels more relaxed at hwy speeds, yet with good top gear roll on. Love the large digital speedometer, analogue tach & info display with gear indicator & a host of other display options including temp...similar to BMW!

The demo was fitted with the tall windscreen (easily adjustable via 2 properly sized knobs over a decent range) which provided surprisingly good protection & decent noise/buffeting in the high or forward position…best of breed so far, followed by the Super Tenere, then the GS. The wind stream was going at or just over the top of my helmet (ducking down behind provided ability to really hear the motor & bike at work). It started to spit rain as I pulled out & increased to steady light rain during the ride. Amazingly, the only part of my body that was exposed was the tips of my feet, my shoulders & helmet…the design of the tank & radiator housing did an excellent job...my thighs, knees & shins were completely dry & windblast free (should translate to very good cold weather protection)! Good mirrors with decent proportions top to bottom & despite positioned close to the rider, provided good rear view with hardly any blockage by the arms….lots of adjustability range.

The on road power seems similar to my K13, particularly in the 3-6k range, perhaps a little softer <3k, both bikes are involving in their visceral feel (i.e. refined mechanically, fairly smooth, but not turbine like) with the K13 feeling courser with more driveline snatch under load, particularly during trailing throttle…to me the Triumph seems easier to ride smoothly & feels immediately comfortable except for the reach to bars that for my 33” arms is about 1-2 “ too forward (although that is a deliberate compromise for off-road standing, standard tube type bars allow easy customization, barbacks alone should suffice). The foot to seat positioning with seat in the low position is not as roomy as the Super Tenere (don’t think anything is since i added 1.5" peg lowers) but very agreeable (did not raise the seat). The std huge aluminum tail rack is nice & sturdy…but beware of hitting your knee on the extended side passenger side handles when swinging your leg over…ouch!

The handling was friendly, neutral & confidence inspiring...felt well controlled & taught, no discernible dive or squat (less than the Super Tenere), I expected more from the long travel suspension…but too short & slow of a ride to properly assess. Turn in was good, maybe not quite as quick feeling as the Super Tenere. Brakes felt strong with good feel & linearity, rear had decent feel compared to many that feel wooden.

Western Motorsports is the largest Trophy & Tiger dealer in Canada & has sold more Explorers so far than anyone else. They have a grey demo which looks good & integrates with the rest of the bike well…they had a Blue (looked good, but personally preferred the less flashy but more integrated Grey scheme which should wear better) one which I saw in the warehouse last week…now sold (black is 3rd colour option…perhaps red will show up soon as it did with the 1050 Tiger)…all 2012 inventory in Canada is supposedly sold & the 2013s will arrive in Oct…one of the sales guys took the demo home for the weekend & immediately bought a 2013…somehow Desi (sales manager) was able to get another Grey 2012 from British Italian (apparently in-town riders don’t buy adventure bikes..at least from them!) & that may be the last until Oct.

They start at $17,499 & top out at around $20k with every option including the 3 bag set up (which look well designed & user friendly). Desi said that one of his clients has done an exhaustive comparison to the GS & the Explorer comes in $6k less optioned identical except for BMWs ESA 11 suspension (so far only Ducati offers electronic suspension adjustment similar to BMW). The Explorer does have easily adjustable suspension (manual hydraulic rear) that is glove friendly. The Explorer’s list of std equipment (electronic cruise control, traction control and switchable ABS brakes) vs the GS is outstanding.

2014 Triumph Tiger explorer 1200 (used demo ride)

I previously rode one 2 years ago & was surprised that it didn’t measure up as nice as I remember it. The motor, while not having the Tiger 800XC trademark gear whine, felt course & gruff (diesel-like) with driveline snatchiness & a disconnect between the ride by wire throttle & the motor. 

It was a well used demo which may have something to do with it not feeling as nice, regardless, this particular bike has not aged well with use. It is very fast with what feels likes stronger mid range p/u than my S10 & the Ducati Multistrada, but felt lacking in sophistication in motor, drivetrain & suspension with upper rpm vibration that is in direct contrast to the 800’s sweet powerband that encourages high rpm use.