Triumph Tiger Explorer
 

Hi
I had a Tiger 800 when I lived in Australia. I now live in Norway and am looking at getting another bike. I loved the Tiger 800 and am thinking about the Triumph Tiger Explorer. I would be using it for weekend rides for the next couple of years, and when my kids are older, am looking at going on longer rides through Europe. Long term a friend and I are considering riding through North and South America.
Does anyone have advice as to the suitability of the Triumpf for this? BMW has a larger dealer network so servicing and repairs may be easier, particularly if we are in remoter areas, but I prefer the Triumph. Any other advice is appreciated.
Many thanks,
Rory

If you are planning to ride the Pan Am highway and stay on the more main routes the Tiger 1200 would be fine Im sure, there are a few Triumph dealers in South America, one opened in Bogota while we were there a few years ago.


For me and my riding skill level I would not enjoy riding some of the more remote technical pistes in South America on the Tiger Explorer, in every review I have seen or read the Explorer has been noted as 'Feeling Heavy' and does not handle as well as the 1200 GS or KTM 1190


But don't let me put you off, it is possible for sure, for me the Tiger 800XC would be a good bike to ride 2up in South America, we did it on a DR650.


Suerte!

Thanks Grif,
Appreciate your thoughts. Loved the 800. I tried the 2010 model Triumph 1050 but found the ride to be a bit less comfortable than the 800. I honestly think the 800, or the 800XC would be fine, but I just want the 1200 ;-)

I live in Norway and the taxes are insane - was looking at an 8 month old, 3000km on the clock Tiger Explorer in Germany - price equivalent about 93,000 kroner. This had panniers, tank bag, sump guard, fog lights, grip warmers and handguards. Similar bike in Norway, without any of the extra's, just over 200,000 kroner. If I buy the bike outside of Norway, then import it, I have to pay the tax (I did this with my Landrover Freelander, and it was slightly cheaper than buying the equivalent in Norway). I think I can have a foreign registered vehicle in Norway for 6 months in a 12 month period without having to transfer the registration. Since there is only 6 months of riding weather a year, wondering if I can buy it oversea's, and then take it out of the country for the other six months??? Just not sure about if Germany or the UK will let me have a bike registered in their country if I don't live there. As well as insurance etc. Also need to look into the vehicle inspection requirements for registration etc.
Oh well, lots to look into.

Regards,
Rory

Hi Rory,


It would certainly be doable if you have friends in either country and you can use their address to register the bike and use for insurance and storage. It would be easier to do it in Germany (if the bike is already on German plates) its also easier/cheaper/more fun to ride the bike back to Germany than taking a ferry to the UK for the Winters.

When you come to ride the Americas there are so many good trails to ride in North America that I would not want to be on a big bike, for South America our average daily speed was normally around 60 kmh - sometimes much slower, so a big heavy 1200 is a waste and limits where you can go - to a certain extent.

its a good excuse to have 2 (or more) bikes! or better still save money on shipping and buy bikes in the USA.

It's true, buying in USA is quite a bit LESS than the EU in general and used bikes are pretty cheap too. No shipping costs. Sell off before you go back or ship to EU?

My good riding buddy Torsten (originally from Denmark) owns an Explorer and loves it. But he does not take it off road much. He is not a good off road rider but he can do most easy dirt and gravel roads OK, but nothing technical.

He also has a BMW R1200GS ... which he's ridden since 2005. He bought the Explorer a year or so ago and really likes it a lot for two up or just long range touring solo. His R1200GS is for sale NOW ... a great low mileage one for good price! Has lots of extras on it.

As Gipper says, in South America you can mostly stay on paved roads but if trying to get to more remote areas (like inland areas of Northern Peru') then you have to ride dirt roads.

Most dirt roads would be fine on the Explorer if not too wet/muddy ... if you take MAIN ROUTES. You would have to stay OFF the little remote back roads ... as some become technical, so might be tough on the Explorer.

She's a big heavy beast at slow speeds but a delight once moving. (I've ridden Torsten's Explorer for an hour or so) Torsten also owned a 1050 Tiger. He did not like it but is totally SOLD on the Explorer ... likes it even more than his GS. IMO, that says a lot!


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_...0/P1020913.JPG
My riding group on one of our monthly rides. This one up to Oregon.
Torsten's Explorer on right, my 1050 Tiger on far left (out of shot). Nice mix of KTM's, GS's, Yam Tenere', Tigers et al.

Sounds like a plan but I hope Norwegian law is different to UK law. Here you're not allowed to ride a foreign registered bike (or car) in the UK on a UK licence if you're a UK citizen. So no reregistering my UK bikes in France and bringing them back here to ride around tax and MOT free (I think :confused1:)

Thanks for the reply and advice. As a temporary resident in Norway I can probably purchase and keep the registration in Germany (or another country), but when I become a permanent resident, the rules change. So I will have to decide on the best course of action.
Grif, I think you are right about the 800 - your advice from your experience in South America was really helpful. And love the set-up on your bike - did you make or have the panniers and top box made? And sadly I don't think my budget will stretch to two bikes (especially for the prices in Norway!). When I bought my Tiger 800 in Oz, the price was 20% of the average annual income. In Norway the same bike is about 36% of the average annual income :thumbdown:

Rory

Re Triumph Tiger Explorer
 

Hi RMP, I was lucky enough to ride the above through Morocco in March 2012. We rode over 2900 k's, through ALL sorts of conditions, and none of the 17 Triumphs on the trip missed a beat. Triumph have done a great job with this bike; it is tough and great fun to ride. In Europe you should be fine.

Hi Rory,

apologies, I missed your question from June, the panniers on the DR are from Happy Trail in the USA:

Happy-Trail.com - Adventure-Proven Motorcycle Gear and Aluminum Panniers

for our 2up trip they were perfect, plenty of space, this company makes panniers/racks for the 800/Explorer too - they are not the cheapest but they are well made, the best metal panniers IMO are from Jesse, my buddy has some on his KTM 990, they are extremely well made and the mounting system is a great design, but expensive!

Jesse Luggage Systems | The Most Durable and Functional Products for Adventure Touring Motorcyclists

Did you get any further with the German registered Explorer?

Sorry for the lateness of my response - haven't been on the site for a little while.

Thanks EGlider. I'm looking at the 800XC as it suits what I need. Love the 1200, but really don't need a bike that large.

Grif,
Thanks for teh links on your panniers. I've looked into the German option more, and if I take a VERY liberal view on it, and use my Australian driving licence rather than my Norwegian one, I could POSSIBLY get away with it. Basically just comes down to paying the tax difference if the law says I am wrong in my understanding. Will wait a bit longer before I get the bike as I have just spent all my money on some investments, and I may be facing a change of jobs. So sadly I need to demonstrate just a little financial responsibility :-(((

I took her for a little ride
 

HI folks,

i took her for a little ride. I like the Tiger Explorer.

Weight: Where the Tiger Explorer is to heavey the GS1200 and the others are also.
Handling: I like it and very good on the rd, fair in gravel. Loadedd dont like the sand.
Consumption: Fair. Fuel tank could be 5 liters bigger, but fine, since it adds weight.
Dealer network in Europe, good. Along the Panam Highway every country has a dealer now. Rest of the world progressing to get better network.
Spare parts: The essential ones you have on board when you travel far, everything else you fly in in case of need.

Abuot the bike: Its still something else to ride Triumph. :mchappy:

Get one you will not regret it,
Roland

______________________________
www.FiveElementsTour.com | Trans-Africa now // Panamericana (complete)

I took her for a little ride
 

HI folks,

i took her for a little ride. I like the Tiger Explorer.

Weight: Where the Tiger Explorer is to heavy the GS1200 and the others are also.
Handling: I like it and very good on the rd, fair in gravel. Loadedd dont like the sand.
Consumption: Fair. Fuel tank could be 5 liters bigger, but fine, since it adds weight.
Dealer network in Europe, good. Along the Panam Highway every country has a dealer now. Rest of the world progressing to get better network.
Spare parts: The essential ones you have on board when you travel far, everything else you fly in in case of need.

About the bike: Its still something else to ride Triumph. :mchappy:

Get one you will not regret it,
Roland

______________________________
www.FiveElementsTour.com | Trans-Africa now // Panamericana (complete)

Hey folks, this thread is a bit old, I'm wondering has anyone any input on the newly released 2016 Tiger Explorer?

I have test ridden the new Tiger 800 XR and it was a beautiful ride, but felt a little small for me (strange since my present bike is a Wee-Strom), and I am now salivating over everything I've read about the new Explorer.

I'm working abroad now, so cannot test ride the Explorer for another couple of months, but test ride going well, it's in the bag.

Just curious if anyone has any input on the new model?
Maybe any comparison on handling/weight compared to the 1200 GS also?

Hi, I own a 2012 1200 Tex and love it, though at first I was skeptical of the cruise control, after riding 2 up to Corsica even the wife enjoyed the ride and cruise came into its own through France:thumbup1:

I did find it a heavy bike to start with, my previous ride being a 650 GS but once rolling it is nimble and the engine is fantastic. I did have to put bar risers on as I found them a little too low.

I've got 18K miles on it now and have looked at buying a replacement, I tried the 1200GS - loved the riding position it handled well and felt lighter to push around and get on the center stand than the Tex but it was fecking pricey without the spec of the Tex and as I buy my bikes outright rather than HP or a PCP the difference in price was a major factor.

I took a 2016 TEX out and loved it, it was for me a better option than the GS, I would not be using it off-road so don't need the GS off-roady-ness.
Horses for courses I guess.

The luggage on the '16 Tex is equal sized cases now unlike the odd sized cases on mine, & guess who gets the small one.!
When I change my ride in the spring it will be for a new TEX.

Regards
Gren

I don't think that is quite right. Many british expats visit the uk in French registered vehicles on a uk driving licence.

Curiously enough I had a test ride on the Explorer 1200 recently.
Here is my full report on the experience........

WOW! WOW! WOW!

Stunning in every way apart from the bars being just a tiny bit low for the height of the seat but easily rectified.