Triumph Explorer 1200 vs. BMW R1200GS

[burmbuster]

Originally Posted by cug

Okay, last comment from my end: you still haven't backed any fact, you were aggressive when I pointed that out, and you call other people confrontational? Come on. When you're in the Bay Area I'll buy you a beer and you can tell me all evening long how different the suspension on the Explorer XC is ... until then, maybe look at a mirror ...

The Bay Area? No thanks. Next thing you know you will invite me to one of your bath houses.

[pluric]

Originally Posted by Voluhzia

I am very subjective, so don't listen to me, because I'm riding the BEST adventure motorcycle in the whole world...


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As long as your adventure has a seperated white line on the "trail".

[Voluhzia]

Originally Posted by pluric

As long as your adventure has a seperated white line on the "trail".

Well, you are the famous Pluric on a great Super Tenere so I bow out with respect... Following most of your posts sir


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[pluric]

Originally Posted by Voluhzia

Well, you are the famous Pluric on a great Super Tenere so I bow out with respect... Following most of your posts sir

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Oh great, another stalker. PM me for an autographed 8X10 photo of that butter rimmed Tenere with a
bent rim induced flat.

I've said it before. I've got to try one of these triples everyone is raving about. I did try to buy a Speed triple once.
The Harley/Triumph dealer would only let me test a Thunderbird. I was less than impressed and went up the
street and bought a Bandit. Always wondered what I missed.

[Nevada]

Were it me, I'd go with the Triumph. Truth is though, unless I was planning on a lot of two up, I'd be looking at the F800GS or Tiger 800XC instead.

That said, the essential tradeoff between the two you're looking at is going to be this:

Better offroad (GS)
vs
More Engaging/fun engine (Explorer)

Your call. Oh, and keep one more thing in mind: the GS is a brand new BMW model. From a reliability perspective, Triumph seems to have BMW beat over the last decade. Whether you think the risk is worth it is up to you. For me, no, but the BMW doesn't light my fire, so my take on this aspect isn't relevant for ya.

Good luck, test ride, test ride, test ride.

[burmbuster]

Originally Posted by pluric

Oh great, another stalker. PM me for an autographed 8X10 photo of that butter rimmed Tenere with a
bent rim induced flat.

I've said it before. I've got to try one of these triples everyone is raving about. I did try to buy a Speed triple once.
The Harley/Triumph dealer would only let me test a Thunderbird. I was less than impressed and went up the
street and bought a Bandit. Always wondered what I missed.

Wow, Pluric. A Bandit? That's been a few years back, ey?

[pluric]

Originally Posted by burmbuster

Wow, Pluric. A Bandit? That's been a few years back, ey?

I never claimed to be a youngster. I really wanted that bug eyed Speed.
I even bought the gen 2 Bandit when it came out. After getting my butt kicked by a FZ1
I switched teams. Still have the FZ in the back garage. Ah, the good ole days.

Sorry I'm not much use on the topic. I only know what I have read in magzines and threads.
I keep hearing good things on the triple. After riding side by side for 9,500 miles with a new
GS1200 (06) I lost interest in the brand. Some will put up with the drama. As long as there
are other choices out there I don't see any reason to.

[Voluhzia]

Originally Posted by pluric

Oh great, another stalker. PM me for an autographed 8X10 photo of that butter rimmed Tenere with a
bent rim induced flat.

I've said it before. I've got to try one of these triples everyone is raving about. I did try to buy a Speed triple once.
The Harley/Triumph dealer would only let me test a Thunderbird. I was less than impressed and went up the
street and bought a Bandit. Always wondered what I missed.

Well, Thunderbird is not a triple... But a good poser bike to ride in town and between bars... I had it as a loaner while my Explorer was serviced... This is something I also wanted to mention...

Cheaper service, I was surprised that parts and labor are not as high as BMW's... To date, I only paid once for 10K service and it was $180... Here comes the great benefit of Super Tenere - the flipable fuel tank and ease of access to head cover..

That's where I can list things I don't like about Explorer
- 5.4 gallon fuel tank that's bitch to remove to service things under
- damn thing makes me want to ride it all year round, even on ice

[pluric]

Originally Posted by Voluhzia

Well, Thunderbird is not a triple... But a good poser bike to ride in town and between bars... I had it as a loaner while my Explorer was serviced... This is something I also wanted to mention...

Yup, that's why I thought it was so stupid of the dealer to use it as a demo.
Later I tried a Scrambler too. Size wise felt like a mid size bike. Power for a 900
was, well, weak.

The Tenere has had zero shop time for maintenance. The down side, about $1,500
in wheel repairs/replacement.

Your Triumph looks nicely set up. Damn shame to lay it down on the ice.

[Voluhzia]

Originally Posted by pluric

Yup, that's why I thought it was so stupid of the dealer to use it as a demo.
Later I tried a Scrambler too. Size wise felt like a mid size bike. Power for a 900
was, well, weak.

The Tenere has had zero shop time for maintenance. The down side, about $1,500
in wheel repairs/replacement.

Your Triumph looks nicely set up. Damn shame to lay it down on the ice.

Never dropped it on ice/snow but on very steep incline at Meat Cove Campground on Cape Breton Nova Scotia (wearing sandals and shorts)... The bike laying toward the incline is impossible to lift...

Ha, all the campers ran to me to help, but I stopped them trying the known technique - after several attempts I finally gave up and waved them for assistance...

I regret I didn't take picture, the bike fell on top of my brand new expensive REI tent...


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[pluric]

Sorry, but that's a pretty good visual.

Why would one put a tent on an incline???

[zivsteevs]

It's not so obvious actually that bmw is better offroad. I've driven r1100gs for 5 years and tested offroad r1200gs and for me telelever fork in not for offroad, Feedback is late and poor, front feels like disconnected from rest. Now I've done 10k km on Explorer and I really feel safer on it offroad. Of course it's not for dirt tracks, but I could go wherever I wanted last summer, even mud, thick dry sand, steep ascends, descends etc.

[Voluhzia]

Originally Posted by pluric

Sorry, but that's a pretty good visual.

Why would one put a tent on an incline???

Go to Meat Cove you'll find out... Just google it... Flat spots for RVs only


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[pluric]

Originally Posted by Voluhzia

Go to Meat Cove you'll find out... Just google it... Flat spots for RVs only


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I'll take your word for it. I can just imagine the links I would get googling "Meat Cove".

[Voluhzia]

Originally Posted by pluric

I'll take your word for it. I can just imagine the links I would get googling "Meat Cove".

View from the tent in AM



Sorry for off topic, back to the...

...what were we talking about?


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