Tiger 800xc / Explorer mini review from yesterday...

As some of you're aware, I'm looking at changing my sprint for an adventure style bike so took out the tiger 800xc and the explorer yesterday, here's my review...

Got to triumph nice and early, hadn't even opened when I got there, I was quickly sorted out with this...



I've ridden the road version, liked that a lot, brakes left a lot to be desired though, thought it was maybe just that actual bike, but no, this xc yesterday was just as bad, way too much effort needed to stop, rear brake was actually one of the best I've tried, some loss of speed did actually happen which is rare for a rear brake.

The engine can only be described as superb, on paper it doesn't look a lot of power, but with excellent gearing, it really does get a shift on, it would embarrass quite a few bikes that's for sure.

What surprised me the most was how easy to ride it was, not being a very skilled/fast road rider, I mostly found my sprint quite hard to man handle at speed, this was down to my lack of ability rather than the sprint, but the xc changes direction like a house fly, very easy to flick around which was a massive plus for me.
Apart from the front brakes, I cannot fault this bike, if I was buying this purely for myself, I'd have one in a heartbeat.

So, anyway I took this out for an hour and got back to the dealer about 10.20, he quickly sorted me out with the explorer, but the bugge had no fuel at all so had to put some in at the garage opposite before setting off for quatt.



I had apprehension before about this bike, heavier, taller than the sprint, I'd heard stories of jerky throttle due to the new ride by wire set up but I can honestly say, all apprehension had dissapeared before Id got off the car park.

The throttle was silky smooth but not ultra light like I was expecting, no jerkiness whatsoever.
The weight on paper is approx 30 kgs more than the sprint but you'd never know unless somebody told you as, like me, it carries it's weight very well
With the bike being tall I was expecting a lot of wanting to fall over at slow speeds or stationary but far from it, it's no problem at all.

So what you getting? Ps, what's the seat height on them? mind you're a lanky git so won't be a problem.

Think I'm going for the explorer if I can thrash out the right deal tomorrow morning

Seat height is adjustable, not sure of actual range but 820mm rings a bell, has about 30mm of adjustment I believe.

The demo in the picture wasn't as tall as it looks, I could flat foot that easily.

[Winder]

Well? Are you now the proud owner of an explorer?

Originally Posted by Winder

Well? Are you now the proud owner of an explorer?

Yep, kinda, put a deposit down today over the phone, picking up saturday hopefully.

Well, that sounds very nice specialone. Please do a minireview sort of thing if you do get it

Originally Posted by andreis

Well, that sounds very nice specialone. Please do a minireview sort of thing if you do get it

I'll keep this thread updated as I get on

[Fallout]

Your comments on the brakes are interesting. My Tiger required a lot of lever to get it to do anything on the test ride. I asked them to change the pads/bleed it all through as part of the deal, but perhaps it'll turn out to be a triumph "feature".

[Winder]

Originally Posted by Fallout

Your comments on the brakes are interesting. My Tiger required a lot of lever to get it to do anything on the test ride. I asked them to change the pads/bleed it all through as part of the deal, but perhaps it'll turn out to be a triumph "feature".

Shouldn't be that much of a problem though if you can't get it up to second gear due to "windmill cog transmission"

[DJ123]

Originally Posted by Fallout

Your comments on the brakes are interesting. My Tiger required a lot of lever to get it to do anything on the test ride. I asked them to change the pads/bleed it all through as part of the deal, but perhaps it'll turn out to be a triumph "feature".

It may sound daft, did you adjust the lever span to see if that helps?