Triumphrat

duncan67

Get the tiger 1050 and dont look back . I have had mine on many many miles of logging roads and what would only pass as goatpath. It isnt really an offroad bike but it is a very controllable big bike. Fast and agile in the twistys and a very imposing commuter in heavy traffic. Its height gets and keeps the atention of the cagers and keeps your head well above most car roofs for visablity. If I couldnt have my tiger anymore and couldnt get another one I dont think I would even want another bike.It seems so strange to say I love my Tiger but by God I DO.

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I admire harly riders greatly.How brave they must be to take to the hiways and byways on a motorcycle so bereft of handling and horsepower!

jkmaurer

To be honest I almost never take my Explorer off road - I love the adventure type bike because if I want to I can ride on nice packed dirt, I sit up-right (very comfortable), and the Explorer is fantastic two-up. I am 6'2" so this type of bike is ideal for me...

Capri142

You really need to take your TEx off the pavement. I was hesitant with mine at first after all it is a big bike and all but it takes beautifully to the dirt roads. Now I search for them. Find a good fire road and give it a try, you will have a blast!

Like this one I found last week it went on for miles and smiles:

[IMG][/IMG]

roadrunnerdavid

I recently got to spend a couple of days riding some Tigers. I got to ride the Explorer down some beautiful paved roads in western NC, then the next day I rode an 800 XC off road all day. This was my first experience actually riding a Triumph and it was awesome, I absolutely loved both bikes. I will say that both bikes do have a very twitchy throttle, especially the 800. It was very difficult to modulate the throttle while bouncing around on dirt roads and crossing streams. Of course I only had a day, so I'm sure it would get better the more you got used to it. I will say both the Explorer and 800 were very impressive off road, obviously they'll never be able to go all the places a smaller, more dedicated dirt bike could, but I'd take that trade off for the power and comfort they offer.

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RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel

dgg9

I wonder how many people actually take these bikes off-road? Vs the appeal of a bike which is fast, good-handling, sharp-looking AND has an upright, comfortable sitting position congenial to non-20something knees and backs....

Farmer Jon

Mine goes off road almost weekly. Nothing too technicle, but off road none the less. It handles great, but needs a little more aggressive tires. It looks like some Heidenau K60's may be in my Tex's future...

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Jon

PaulF

You put the K60's on Tex, and you'll be wanting to go off road a lot more ...

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"Even if you are on the right track,
you'll get run over if you just sit there."
-- Will Rogers

kanhulk13

For any real offroad riding (other than hard packed trails) lighter is better. My last offroad course we had our choice of KTMs from the new Freeride 250 to the 350s and 400s and 540. For my preference (inexperienced) I preferred the Freeride (light and easy and low) or the 350s (light, easy but high seat height). The 400s and higher were very difficult to modulate the gas, therefore frequently had the slip the clutch (which is apparently par for the course offroad?).

For onroad riding once you've had the POWER it's hard to look back. I had a GS 1150, which was a great tourer, but too heavy and not very exciting in the engine department..you really 'ride the waves of torque'. The GS1200 is just too 'plasticky' for me and there are simply too many on the road.

Now I have the Triumph 1050 and love it. Powerful engine, but you don't feel like you HAVE to go fast. Any complaints are relatively easily and cheaply fixed (progressive springs, add lights, adj clutch/brake levers, etc.). It's a bike you can work on and improve a little at a time.

For the psychology of adventure bikes and a good review of the Explorer see below, which I thought was a very well written article:

http://bigbikemad.com/triumph-explorer.html


In the end you have to correctly choose what you like to actually do with your bike. Do you actually ride off road, or just like the thought that you could?

The spectrum runs from KTM (990/950 ; better off road) to BMW GS (best compromise?) to Triumph Tiger (better on road). I haven't ridden the Explorer, but from the review it stills seems to be suited more to the road.

Travlr_45

I gave up a BMW K1200S for my tiger 1050. No regrets at all. While e tiger doesn't produce the power the k bike does its way more comfortable on long trips and that's what I enjoy, all day riding. I've had my bike on several gravel roads with no problems at all. granted, it's not what I would want on a logging trail but that's not where I ride. For me it's the best bike I've ever owned. Would buy it again without hesitation.

cjmadura

I considered long and hard about selling my green 2002 Tiger and upgrading to a newer bike. I felt the jump in price to a new Tiger 800 ($$) or TeX ($$$$) was unjustified. After considering a return to a traditional Sporttourer, I decided to upgrade to a very low mileage blue 2006 Tiger 955.

It's a very affordable & remarkably capable bike. Very reliable too - not to many electronic gizmos to go wrong. I replaced the stock bars with Rox Risers, Tiger 800XC bars and heated grip kit, and sticky road tires. Now it's a GREAT road bike which will devour miles seemingly without effort. It is still very good at tackling quality dirt roads.

For true dirt & commuting duty I have a farkled-up KLR650. Two bikes are the way to go!

I agree that large bikes are ridiculous in the woods. Even the KLR can be a handful out there.

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