New Bike - Triumph Explorer 1200 (2014)
Discussion
So I have been on the look out for a new bike for a little while now - big 1600 miles trip for Scotland in September and the 2005 80k mile GS, fantastic as it is, is overdue replacement.
I had been looking at another GS (probably a GSA), the Yam Super Ten, KTM's and the Africa Twin. But I really didn't want to drop the best part of £8k on a bike I typically do under 2-3k miles a year on...!
Then I saw the Explorer advertised - 29k miles, luggage, FSH, the gearbox issue sorted under warranty, and had everything I wanted plus some nice extras (bar heated grips). Did a deal and got some money off - cost a little under £5K which feels like good value.
Excuse poor photo - it looks factory fit in the ready cut slot. I really must tidy up the rusty top box carriage at some point...
Bike took a little getting used to at first - but the engine is fantastic and now feels super comfy. The 200 miles journey home was all at night and it was fine - even got to test the comedy spotlights (Denali D4's and some generic chinese LED things) which really do light up the road! I will likely trim this down as 4 spots is a bit excessive...!
Now...I had a few bits I wanted to sort on the bike - I like to fettle and fiddle, but prefer genuine accessories over aftermarket where possible. First on the shopping list was a taller seat (the bike came with both standard and comfort options, but quickly figured out that the comfort seat was a low type - no good at 6ft3).
Could not get the high seat for love nor money. Called pretty much every dealer in the country! So I settled on a standard height comfort heated seat - plug and play and under £90 quid for the kit!
I picked up a cheap QI wireless charging mount / charger so needed to hardwire that in. I fitted it into the screen support bar, using bicycle inner tube to pack out the width a little and provide a little flex.
I ran the wiring the same route as the main harness and into the battery compartment area. My research told me there were two switched accessory powering points at the rear of the bike. One for an extra rear din socket and another for the powered top box option. I decided on the top box supply as it only powered when engine was running. I bought some econoseal plugs and made a loom extension that plugged into the existing socket and then into my QI charger wiring (also using econoseals). Nice, plug and play solution. I did have to fit another relay, but that was pennies off ebay and all the wiring was there.
Whilst the bike looked like this...
I decided I might as well find the wiring for the rear DIN socket and add it in. I had previously picked up a DIN socket with a weatherproof sprung flap that looked to be a clone of the genuine Triumph socket. This was a 5 min job - wiring was taped in place, I popped a blanking plug out the way and it all fitted lovely. Only time needed was cleaning up the terminals on the plug which had a nice layer of crud (but Triumph had packed it with grease so no corrosion).
Tested and both work great.
Next on the list is Heated Grips - I had ordered the genuine kit from a few stockists, but all orders have been cancelled as it's discontinued. Really wanted the genuine look, but relented and ordered Oxford Grips kit. Will wire into the genuine socket using Econoseal though - tempted to pick up the switch/loom for the genuine kit off ebay as see if I can make it work with the oxford grips (and lose the ugly controller), but will see if time allows. Thats a job for next week - will also try and figure how the fogs have been hacked in...!
I did also consider changing the Top Box from the current Triumph Adventure box to the Triumph Expedition Top Box (Givi Trekker I think). It needs the top box, new plate and a lock kit, but current ebay offers mean it would be about £280. Looks so much better and lighter....but not sure if I am just being a tart
Trip to Scotland is second week of Sept - cannot wait! Other fettling ahead of that will be a new tyre, but thats about it.
I had been looking at another GS (probably a GSA), the Yam Super Ten, KTM's and the Africa Twin. But I really didn't want to drop the best part of £8k on a bike I typically do under 2-3k miles a year on...!
Then I saw the Explorer advertised - 29k miles, luggage, FSH, the gearbox issue sorted under warranty, and had everything I wanted plus some nice extras (bar heated grips). Did a deal and got some money off - cost a little under £5K which feels like good value.
Excuse poor photo - it looks factory fit in the ready cut slot. I really must tidy up the rusty top box carriage at some point...
Bike took a little getting used to at first - but the engine is fantastic and now feels super comfy. The 200 miles journey home was all at night and it was fine - even got to test the comedy spotlights (Denali D4's and some generic chinese LED things) which really do light up the road! I will likely trim this down as 4 spots is a bit excessive...!
Now...I had a few bits I wanted to sort on the bike - I like to fettle and fiddle, but prefer genuine accessories over aftermarket where possible. First on the shopping list was a taller seat (the bike came with both standard and comfort options, but quickly figured out that the comfort seat was a low type - no good at 6ft3).
Could not get the high seat for love nor money. Called pretty much every dealer in the country! So I settled on a standard height comfort heated seat - plug and play and under £90 quid for the kit!
I picked up a cheap QI wireless charging mount / charger so needed to hardwire that in. I fitted it into the screen support bar, using bicycle inner tube to pack out the width a little and provide a little flex.
I ran the wiring the same route as the main harness and into the battery compartment area. My research told me there were two switched accessory powering points at the rear of the bike. One for an extra rear din socket and another for the powered top box option. I decided on the top box supply as it only powered when engine was running. I bought some econoseal plugs and made a loom extension that plugged into the existing socket and then into my QI charger wiring (also using econoseals). Nice, plug and play solution. I did have to fit another relay, but that was pennies off ebay and all the wiring was there.
Whilst the bike looked like this...
I decided I might as well find the wiring for the rear DIN socket and add it in. I had previously picked up a DIN socket with a weatherproof sprung flap that looked to be a clone of the genuine Triumph socket. This was a 5 min job - wiring was taped in place, I popped a blanking plug out the way and it all fitted lovely. Only time needed was cleaning up the terminals on the plug which had a nice layer of crud (but Triumph had packed it with grease so no corrosion).
Tested and both work great.
Next on the list is Heated Grips - I had ordered the genuine kit from a few stockists, but all orders have been cancelled as it's discontinued. Really wanted the genuine look, but relented and ordered Oxford Grips kit. Will wire into the genuine socket using Econoseal though - tempted to pick up the switch/loom for the genuine kit off ebay as see if I can make it work with the oxford grips (and lose the ugly controller), but will see if time allows. Thats a job for next week - will also try and figure how the fogs have been hacked in...!
I did also consider changing the Top Box from the current Triumph Adventure box to the Triumph Expedition Top Box (Givi Trekker I think). It needs the top box, new plate and a lock kit, but current ebay offers mean it would be about £280. Looks so much better and lighter....but not sure if I am just being a tart
Trip to Scotland is second week of Sept - cannot wait! Other fettling ahead of that will be a new tyre, but thats about it.
I bought my 2014 explorer when it was a year old, it’s been the length of the uk, up to the Nordkapp and around Scotland a lot.
Apart from the warranty fix on the gearbox it’s been pretty much faultless, although the adjuster for the rear shock seized (but it’s where I’d need it anyway).
I’ve no intentions of changing mine as it does everything I want and was paid for in 2015.
I did spend some time playing about with screens, eventually settling on a really short one so the wind hits me mid chest. I like the helmet vents to work!
If it hasn’t got one I’d recommend a side stand foot plate, I’ve got a Givi one, stops the bike digging in when parked.
Apart from the warranty fix on the gearbox it’s been pretty much faultless, although the adjuster for the rear shock seized (but it’s where I’d need it anyway).
I’ve no intentions of changing mine as it does everything I want and was paid for in 2015.
I did spend some time playing about with screens, eventually settling on a really short one so the wind hits me mid chest. I like the helmet vents to work!
If it hasn’t got one I’d recommend a side stand foot plate, I’ve got a Givi one, stops the bike digging in when parked.
Edited by Speed addicted on Sunday 7th August 08:59
That looks like a really good buy - well done. Speed addicted said:
If it hasn’t got one I’d recommend a side stand foot plate, I’ve got a Givi one, stops the bike digging in when parked.
I did buy one from Aliexpress and it doesn’t fit! Will check out the Givi one next Edited by Speed addicted on Sunday 7th August 08:59
Thanks all - the engine is fab. Only weird thing is these triples run a little warm (well…compared to my air cooled GS!).
guitarcarfanatic said:
Speed addicted said:
If it hasn’t got one I’d recommend a side stand foot plate, I’ve got a Givi one, stops the bike digging in when parked.
I did buy one from Aliexpress and it doesn’t fit! Will check out the Givi one next Edited by Speed addicted on Sunday 7th August 08:59
Thanks all - the engine is fab. Only weird thing is these triples run a little warm (well…compared to my air cooled GS!).
Compared to my Ducati ST it's nothing!
I'm trying to think of anything else to look out for but mine has always just got on with it.
Almost 2 years with the big Triumph. Not mega miles done, I think about 4k? Two big trips - West Coast of Scotland and the islands in Sept 2022 and then the NC500 in Sept 2023.
Nothing has gone wrong - I have replaced the front brake pads and fitted a new tyre. That's it really...very fuss free. I have been considering a change, but not really sure what I would get. Maybe an Africa Twin? But will park for a bit - I don't want to lose out on how good this bike carries the miles. And it's been amazingly frugal - 56mpg for both Scotland trips (on one of the NC500 days, I was at 61mpg - all calculated at the pump!).
It's a heavy old lump which is a pain moving it around the gravel drive, and the weight is carried a little high at low speed. But I think I can live with it.
I also managed to snag a rare "High" comfort seat so the heated seat is currently disconnected. Locally, doesn't seem to make much difference, but I suspect on a run, the extra 20mm of legroom would be nice.
I also ripped our the cheap Chinese fog lights the previous owner fitted alongside the Denalis. One was intermittent and I think I found the cause...
So off came the cheap fogs and I repaired the wiring properly...
The front end is a little tidier now...
Nothing has gone wrong - I have replaced the front brake pads and fitted a new tyre. That's it really...very fuss free. I have been considering a change, but not really sure what I would get. Maybe an Africa Twin? But will park for a bit - I don't want to lose out on how good this bike carries the miles. And it's been amazingly frugal - 56mpg for both Scotland trips (on one of the NC500 days, I was at 61mpg - all calculated at the pump!).
It's a heavy old lump which is a pain moving it around the gravel drive, and the weight is carried a little high at low speed. But I think I can live with it.
I also managed to snag a rare "High" comfort seat so the heated seat is currently disconnected. Locally, doesn't seem to make much difference, but I suspect on a run, the extra 20mm of legroom would be nice.
I also ripped our the cheap Chinese fog lights the previous owner fitted alongside the Denalis. One was intermittent and I think I found the cause...
So off came the cheap fogs and I repaired the wiring properly...
The front end is a little tidier now...
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