Triumph Tiger Explorer ride review from a Super Tenere owner

[Salmon Sam]

So, for the third year in a row, I have sandwiched a 2 or 3 day ride through the Smoky Mountains while doing some work down in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Bike rentals (and moonshine) were through Dan and Deb at GSM Motorent (http://gsmmotorent.com) – who are huge Beemer fans, out of Townsend, TN. Other than that, they are great people. The first year, he had a fully “Twisted” Super Tenere that he had in his fleet. I bought mine later that fall. The next year, I let my buddy try the Tenere, and I went with the GS (pre-water head). This year, Dan had sold the Super Tenere (anyone on the form buy it?), and added the new Triumph Tiger Explorer, again fully farkled by Twisted Throttle. I decided to try it and let my buddy go back to the GS, all the while lamenting that he no longer had a Super Tenere to rent.
Incidentally, Dan is going to only have GS’s in his fleet. He says that’s all he gets requests for (**##@@!!). He is picking up a “water-head” this summer, and will be selling the Triumph (although he just bought a new VStrom). No interest in the 2014 ST because no one asks for it: “Everyone wants the GS” to ride mostly on asphalt (So, feel free to call him up (828-448-6090) or email him at ltdan@gsmmotorent.com and ask if he has the new Super Tenere and that you may be interested in renting from him someday if he got a real Adventure bike!).

Now, for riding or testing adventure bikes, the Greater Smoky Mountain National Park area is amazing. Legendary asphalt twisties like the “Tail of the Dragon”. And no the “Dragon” isn’t over-rated, damn it, just overcrowded, especially with H-D’s. Why the heck would anyone find the Dragon fun on a hog, beats me. But I digress … there are great cruising roads like the Parkways (Blue Ridge, Foothills, Cherohalla) and miles and miles of forest service roads of all kinds of “texture”, cool views, and interesting geology.
So, after a couple of days and 600 miles with the Tiger Explorer, what did I think:

The pluses:
- Beautiful engine – smooth and really powerful. Acceleration was a “kick”
- Unbelievably smooth transmission (when it worked – see below)
- Good riding position and comfortable seat
- Nice cruise control that worked very well
- Electronic function algorithms were a bit laborious and “clunky”. I got used to them, but it took a bit to figure out how to turn off the ABS and TC when we hit the dirt.
- Tough and pleasing looking M-Fer (for an adventure bike)
The minuses:
- Very buzzy at 3500 to 4000 with numbing vibrations on the grips and blurred mirrors
- Stupidly top-heavy, with a side-stand that was so short that I actually needed help to get it vertical when I stopped on a slope one time (and I am not THAT small).
- Probably one of the worst handling bikes that I have ever ridden. Not confidence inspiring in the twisties or off the pavement. The Dragon was almost unpleasant, and I have done it multiple times with a GS and an ST. Constant input was required and it didn’t seem to be planted when going straight, or return by itself easily once tipped over.
- Heated grips didn’t work (I think they were OEM and they had shorted out)

- A couple of times I couldn’t up-shirt out of second gear and had to pull over and shut the engine off and restart????
- It’s a pretender off road bike, and a little too top heavy for fun sport bike performance.

So, in the end, I was extremely glad to get home to my 2012 ST. It feels lighter and more responsive and with the ECU re-flashed quick enough for me. I also don’t miss the cruise control because the Kaoko works great. When we do this again (seems to be becoming an annual event), and if Dan doesn’t have a Super Tenere in the fleet, I will rent a GS – or ship my bike. It just made me appreciate the Super Tenere even more. I think my wife is catching on to my love affair with my Blue Mistress, though.

 

[EricV]

Thanks for the review. The TEX's handling may have been partly due to set up and tires. I have a couple of friends with them that enjoy them, when they are out of the shop.

In regards to the GS as a rental bike, tell Dan, he's on track. No one marries the whore, she's too high maintenance. But rent, sure!

 

[Scoobynut]

I've ridden a friend's Tiger 1200 (non-explorer). Like you, I thought the motor was a revelation, making my 2012 ST motor seem a little agricultural. The motor in the 2014 ST closes the gap somewhat, but still doesn't have the endless reserves of power of that triple. I also thought the Tiger felt top heavy compared to my bike, didn't like the ergonomics nearly as much, and thought that the clutch engaged much farther out in its travel than it should have. Other than the motor, I liked everything about my ST much better and even if all things were equal I'd still have my qualms about the Triumph dependability compared to the ST, not to mention the sparse dealer network where I live. Thanks for the ride report.

 

[kgfire]

I had a 2012 Explorer standard with the stock Metzler Tourance tires and felt that it was a great sport touring bike. Aside from being top heavy pushing it around the garage I thought the handling was great. The ST has much better ergonomics and the improvements to the "14 model make it seem a little sportier. Off highway the Tenere wins hands down, no contest.

 

[Raggety]

I took the Tiger for a few rides. Wee bit gravel. Enjoyed it. Excellent bike. Felt a bit heavy. The downside was to a good service support near me for the shop that was near me closed down. The Crosstourer also excellent bike but really felt to smooth also felt a bit heavier. The S10 is less responsive until you use S mode or switch over to the CJM. Tops lower than the Tiger and the Crosstourer but that helps to meep me out of trouble a bit

 

[oldbear]

I too found the Tex to be top heavy and, at least to me, somewhat awkward at slow speeds. Engine performance is quite good, but I'm glad I'm on an S10. I had a nice 1050 Tiger and liked it a lot, BUT the S10 fits me better and feels a lot "lighter" even though it's really not. Ride what suits YOU... ::013::

 

[Donk]

I own both. Your review was pretty accurate. The S10 handles much better than the Exp and is an overall nicer bike to ride. The Exp engine is good but the chassis isn't up to the motor which makes it a bit nerve racking to ride, especially if you like to use that motor. What the "14 S10 gives away in top end it seems to make up for down low. As Rasher said when I was considering buying the S10, 0-60 its all S10 60-80 its even after that the Explorer wins. That's not winning very often in the real world that I ride in. If the S10 motor could run to 8500rpm it would be perfect. That little extra rpm range is all the bike needs.

 

[ExTriumphExp]

I own both. Your review was pretty accurate. The S10 handles much better than the Exp and is an overall nicer bike to ride. The Exp engine is good but the chassis isn't up to the motor which makes it a bit nerve racking to ride, especially if you like to use that motor. What the "14 S10 gives away in top end it seems to make up for down low. As Rasher said when I was considering buying the S10, 0-60 its all S10 60-80 its even after that the Explorer wins. That's not winning very often in the real world that I ride in. If the S10 motor could run to 8500rpm it would be perfect. That little extra rpm range is all the bike needs.

Spot on Donk, I was glad to see the back of my Explorer after the performance I had with the Dealer & the factory. I`m much happier with my S10 & I dont have to worry if the engine is going to explode on me, yes Triumph have extended the warranty on bikes that have had the new head fitted but I really wouldnt want my bike going near the factory again, even if all the work is being done FOC.I cant understand what the finance company they use was thinking about letting people take finance / PCPs out on bike that cost £11 - 15000 on a product that they they knew wasn't fit for purpose (whilst guessing for an engine fix)

I hope when they launch the face lift version in a couple of years they don't repeat this & further tarnish their reputation, I really do wish them the best of luck but it will be a long time before I spend my money with Triumph. They could do themselves a favour by getting rid of some of their less customer focused dealers too!

 

[Donk]

Spot on Donk, I was glad to see the back of my Explorer after the performance I had with the Dealer & the factory. I`m much happier with my S10 & I dont have to worry if the engine is going to explode on me, yes Triumph have extended the warranty on bikes that have had the new head fitted but I really wouldnt want my bike going near the factory again, even if all the work is being done FOC.I cant understand what the finance company they use was thinking about letting people take finance / PCPs out on bike that cost £11 - 15000 on a product that they they knew wasn't fit for purpose (whilst guessing for an engine fix)

I hope when they launch the face lift version in a couple of years they don't repeat this & further tarnish their reputation, I really do wish them the best of luck but it will be a long time before I spend my money with Triumph. They could do themselves a favour by getting rid of some of their less customer focused dealers too!

I think we may be looking at; The Decline of the British Motorcycle Industry Round 2. I was a big Triumph fan, I think I have owned 10 of them. The Explorer has been a big disappointment and the resale value is so bad I won't sell it! Never owned a Yamaha before the S10. It impressed me so much now I own 3 Yamahas!

 

[mrpete64]

I was hot to buy this bike until I sat on one in the NYC bike show a few years ago. Without gas in the tank it was, in my opinion, VERY top heavy. I agree with one comment that Triumph needs to revise this bike totally. Another issue is that there are not any Triumph dealers around like years ago. Triumph wants the Starbuck coffee look with their dealers. Ed's, in Hyde Park, NY, was one of the oldest dealers in the U.S. I understand that they wanted Ed to build a big fancy store. Since Ed was 80+ it did not make any sense. After all, people come to bike shops to buy bikes...not compare coffee brands.

Maybe the new 800's will be what people want in a dual sport bike. Time will tell.

Mr. Pete------->
aging hippie

 

[2112]

Triumph are trying to be BMW and Ducati at the same time instead of just being Triumph. They make some great bikes (the 675's for example) but they are too keen to jump on the bandwagon as the Explorer and Trophy are simply BMW clones. I get the point that everyone wants to increase market share, but quality suffers (ahem, BMW...) as you chase the big production numbers. Better to stay in control of quality and make fewer, better bikes in my humble opinion. That way you keep a healthy profit level, resale values remain high and it gives a more up-market image, but what do I know ? Moto Guzzi seem to be heading down that route with a definite (and much needed) increase in quality which is helping to prop up residual values.

 

[Donk]

Any reputation for quality that Triumph had has gone out the window with the new 1200 Explorer/Trophy. They are in my kindest words junk. Triumph does not know where to market themselves. They try to be more upscale than the Jap bikes but clearly cannot compete with the Euro bikes, or for that matter the Jap bikes either. As I said earlier, get ready folks here it comes; The decline of the British motorcycle industry, Round 2.

 

[2112]

I think you could well be right Donk, they have spread themselves too thin with recent models in most sectors and there are a lot of grumblings about quality issues in the UK. I've heard a few issues over warranty claims in the UK too, which isn't very reassuring. Oh well, at least Norton are on the way back and Hesketh could be on the rise again http://www.heskethmotorcycles.co.uk/hesketh-24/ with an S&S engined bike.

 

[Donk]

Interestingly enough the Thailand built bikes like the Daytona 675 and Street Triple have maintained a high quality standard. I think the problems with the Explorer/Trophy are 50% build quality and 50% design errors. They pushed the bike from drawing board to dealers too quickly. I wish I could sell my Explorer but I refuse to take a 40% hit on a year old bike with 5k miles on it. I would trade it for a second S10 or FJR if I could but expect I am stuck running it for another year or 2. If I'm going to lose a ton of money on the bike I might as well put the miles on it.

 

[eemsreno]

My riding buddy "Tiger Mike" traded his Explore off for a Harley.
He was always leery of a brake down with no dealers out there.
This way he can break down with a dealer close by. )

 

[Donk]

FWIW I've owned a few Harleys.. the RoadKing very well may be the original Adventure Touring bike! While not suited for off road it will do a dirt road just fine. Something to be said for a low center of gravity. Back to the point. My Harleys never broke down, left me stranded or had any other serious problem. The RoadKing is similar to the S10 in that its a bike you can ride through a nuclear war without it breaking down. Say what you like but I'll take a Harley over my Triumph any day of the week for quality and it has decent resale value. Take my S10 over both of them so there's that! If fact the first S10 I saw in person was at the Harley dealer. One of the salesmen bought one when they first came out. He put about 80K on it and swore by it. He convinced me to look into one!

 

[bruised]

Always get a laugh about the resale value arguments from harly owners .if ya like the bike so much keep it and resale value is mooy

 

[bruised]

Moot

 

[ExTriumphExp]

FWIW I've owned a few Harleys.. the RoadKing very well may be the original Adventure Touring bike! While not suited for off road it will do a dirt road just fine. Something to be said for a low center of gravity. Back to the point. My Harleys never broke down, left me stranded or had any other serious problem. The RoadKing is similar to the S10 in that its a bike you can ride through a nuclear war without it breaking down. Say what you like but I'll take a Harley over my Triumph any day of the week for quality and it has decent resale value. Take my S10 over both of them so there's that! If fact the first S10 I saw in person was at the Harley dealer. One of the salesmen bought one when they first came out. He put about 80K on it and swore by it. He convinced me to look into one!

Plus one on the Harley over a Trumpet, I rued the day I traded in my 883R against an Exploder, turned into a nightmare that went on for the best part of two years, it continued adter the Exploder for a Tiger Sport. Pity I didnt pursue a test ride on the S10 a bit harder before trading the Harley

 

[scott123007]

Moot

While you're at it, Harley. ;D