Test ride of Triumph 800XC and 1200 Explorer. IMHO.....

[VR_Rider]

Be interesting what you think about the 800GS second time round!

The scooter looks ace to me!

[jkclive1971]

Yeah, the 990 has been around for a while now but still looks tasty. Especially the £8995 brand new deals at the mo. Except, uncomfortable seat and rubbish screen/fairing. A real hoot but a lot of money for a bike that you then need to go and sort out yourself....

800GS, need to give another try. I did a back to back with a 1200GS a few years ago in Oz. The 12 felt special, the 800 was ordinary. I did a lot more dirt out there so the DR still won, but now in London, the 800 could be a winner. That or the General Lee scooter!!

Cheers to all for comments, thanks

The 12 felt special you said it.

[spasm]

the 660 tenere it is then

[special one]

I've had my explorer nearly 2 months and I'm really getting in to it, it handles really well for a big barge of a bike, engine is massively powerful, pulls like a bitch in any gear and if you poke it with a stick gets really angry up in the high revs.

I also test rode the 800xc the same day as the explorer, I love the 800xc too, great bike and engine.

The explorer IMO would be ok on mild lanes if the rider is reasonably experienced, but that said, I think it would do any lanes that a 1200gs would do or any other adventure styled bike with maybe exception of the 990 ktm.

[Willandkate]

The 12 felt special you said it.[/quote]

Yeah the 1200GS is special, but just too big for daily use in London I reckon. Plus lots of cash!
The 660 Ten would be cool but I want ABS due to wet commutes surrounded by numpties in cars on phones - most with ABS. Got to try to compete with their short stopping distance and vegetated brains......

[ross dean]

Excellent report - thanks.

My thoughts, not having tried the Triumph range at all:

I love my current KTM 990 Adventure (2007 model) for its off-road prowess and its general madness but, having owned two, I would choose the BMW F800GS as my round the world bike - not at all bad on fire-roads etc and superb fuel enonomy. Also its a twin 800cc bike - plenty of engine breaking when required downhill off-road while being pickup-able after a spill ... I know this from much personal experience

[minkyhead]

The 12 felt special you said it.

Yeah the 1200GS is special, but just too big for daily use in London I reckon. Plus lots of cash!
The 660 Ten would be cool but I want ABS due to wet commutes surrounded by numpties in cars on phones - most with ABS. Got to try to compete with their short stopping distance and vegetated brains......[/quote]


well will if you have a explorer type budget ..why not pick up a dl650 abs for three grand and spend the other eight on a 800gs
the wee will chug you around for 100,000 miles and take all you depreciation and winter salt ..mine has near 90.000 up and runs perfect it was a 07 bought for 3600 quid with 900 mile on it ...it has worked perfectly with no faults a bigger screen and a better seat its near perfect city tool ..very low maintanance and very frugal 280 to atank

i was recently offered 900 quid for it on a trade in but i only asked as a matter of interest ive no intention of selling it :woohoo: he he

..i dont see the point of comuting a big 1200cc a 12 grand bike ..id keep it for sunday best and save the depreciation and fuel costs

[Willandkate]

well will if you have a explorer type budget ..why not pick up a dl650 abs for three grand and spend the other eight on a 800gs

..i dont see the point of comuting a big 1200cc a 12 grand bike ..id keep it for sunday best and save the depreciation and fuel costs[/quote]

Man, don't throw in a 2 bike solution, it's complicated enough with trying to choose 1!!
The wee is a really box ticker. Probably does pretty much everything that I need from a bike except create 'desire'. I don't ride enough to warrant 2 bikes. I'll have another look at the 800GS but it would have to be a new one - I couldn't ride around on the early version with that Mr Potato head wobbly front brake reservoir looking at me!

Cheers

[sexysi]

I am just waiting for all the bits to be added to my nice new ABS 800xc, which is the free £700 worth of Triumph bits.
Test rode the 800 and it felt sooooo lowwww. I am use to being on tip toes on my 955i, so wanted a bigger bike feel. Sat on a xc and then an 800. What a difference a bigger screen, seat height and bar risers make. They feel like totally different bikes. The 800 engine was a dream engine though, what a sound!!!!

Just trying to work out what crash stuff I can put on the XC as it will be going off road, as well as the London commute.

Nice to pay only £8,299 for and ABS version of an XC, with bigger screen, heated grips, rear box etc etc.

I have also heard that Triumph are only going to produce the ABS version of the XC now and only in a couple of colours I think, Black and White.....

I got one of the last Metallic Dark green ones.

Si

[oilcan]

B) Love the tigger great all round bike I like the long distance capability and off road capability with a few adjustments. All bigger bikes are limited it might be the terrain or the rider. But as an all rounder I like I might have added a picture ?
When the mud gets bad the old un gets an outing

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