2013 Triumph Explorer Adventure
What you don’t always expect out of a full size adventure bike is superb on road performance and that is because they were designed to be used for multiple functions. Large front wheels can cause slow steering and tall seat heights often make for a top heavy feeling around town.
One look at the Adventure Explorer and you would never guess that it has an uncanny ability to be an excellent all-day sport tourer. After about ten minutes in the saddle while going down the freeway I kept thinking to myself, this is nearly as comfortable and stable as the Trophy that I just rode last week! I could not get over the fact of how well mannered and comfortable it was in comparison. Let me explain.
First, even though the windscreen is not adjustable, the design and particular position does an amazing job at blocking the wind and keeping it out of your face where all the bugs and wind buffeting normally collect. Next, the 588lbs works as your friend in this case to keep the bike steady at high speeds, just as the Trophy is. You sit up nice and high with a commanding view of the road with an especially wide handlebar that provides excellent leverage. The seat does not offer much support for your lower back, but it is all day comfortable in that department. Cruise control is a rare option to be found anywhere near a bike that is intended for offroad riding. The Explorer is fortunate it enough to be equipped with the feature giving another option for more comfort during long distance riding.
The inline triple works well for the multiple functions the Explorer is designed for. It has the low end grunt for climbing steep hills offroad at slow speeds but the mid and top end ranges are there for highway acceleration. The engine is silky smooth and is hard to detect once you’re on the interstate. In comparison to the BMW R1200 GS, the overall engine characteristic of the triple is sportier making it a joy to rev out and exploit simply because it was designed for it. As fantastic as the Bimmer engine is, it is simply a more utilitarian platform and doesn’t have the same sense of urgency to want to be ridden in that regard. The shaft drive is a nice feature for a bike like this as it eliminates frequent chain maintenance and keeps the moving parts concealed, away from potential obsticals that could be damaged offroad. The gearing is tall which keeps the rpm’s at reasonable levels at cruising speed, yet, I found still had the torque for slow speeds.
Having a lot of experience with dirt oriented bikes over my life, the Explorer to me is a very appealing option over a true sport touring bike. It has the suspension, ground clearance and capabilities to handle nearly anything in its way but also lends itself to being very comfortable for highway performance at the same time. Luggage storage and overall rider mobility space is endless making for a wide range of options whether that be from Triumph or the aftermarket. A conveniently located 12v power outlet is located directly in front of the riders view for an optional GPS unit or heated gear as well. Come in and take a test ride of the Explorer and Trophy models back-to-back to compare their highway capabilities.
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