Bought a '13 Explorer a couple of weeks ago and so far I've found a lot to like and very little to complain about. My real use for this bike is as a sport touring machine with a few excursions down forest service roads and mountain logging roads. I have no plans to take this beast into serious technical off-road situations - I have a 300 lb. dirt bike for that shit. On fire roads and such I don't think most of us could tell the difference between the Explorer and a BMW GS. But on the road this bike nails it when compaired to the GS, much more fun through the tight stuff. I think a lot of adventure touring bike owners use their bikes mostly on-road and their off-road excursions are generally pretty tame, so for a lot of us this bike makes sense. For the few who ride any of these battleships in a serious off-road environment then, from what I'm told, the GS is still the bike for you - I, personally have no desire to, or the skills to take a 500+ lb, $18,000 bike on anything but fire/forest service roads. When I'm traveling this bike will allow me to explore roads I would not do on my previous sport-touring mount ('10 Kaw Concourse) but still have a blast on the great pavement in NC, TN, WV, VA etc. This is one of the most comfortable bikes I've ever owned and I the motor is fantastic, the only complaints I have are engine heat on the legs in hot weather (only noticeable if only wearing jeans without overpants) and wind noise from the shield (I've bought another stock shield and plan to cut it down, that may eliminate some of the noise) So, all-in-all I think it's a fantastic bike that should be on anyones short list if you are looking for this class of motorcycle.
Is the Powerbronze less noisy than the stock shield? It looks great. I bought a used stock shield and thought I'd cut it down an inch at a time and see if I can get some noise reduction - this has worked well for me on some other bikes but that Powerbronze looks good enough that I might not waste my time cutting the stocker. Bruce
I agree with you about the sport touring aspects of the Explorer and riding in the dirt. (I'll take a mountain bike for that, thank you.) The only thing I would add is that for a tall rider like myself, 6'4" w/34" inseam, the stock screen tilted all the way back is remarkably quiet and the airflow smooth. I've had to get aftermarket screens for every bike I've owned since I resumed riding 10 years ago. Except this bike. For me one has to go either minimal or barn door to keep a screen quiet and the air flow smooth. The oem screen is in the minimal vein, at least for my height.
I had a ride on the demo bike with the oe screen and had the powerbronze fitted when I picked my bike up. IMO far better than the oe screen altho I`m 6`6" and have the high seat on. It looks better as well!
Thanks mate, I have tagged this post for post-christmas reference I too like the look fo the CF and my riding habits may well suit it.
Get pics of that scorpion can up asap! That one seems like it fits the bike well. Other ones Ive seen seem just otta place on it.
I'll post a couple of pics as soon as it arrives & I can get time to install it. I called the supplier a week ago and he said it may be here sometime this week. I'll try to post a sound clip also if I can figure out how to...
The new water cooled boxer info is out. Sounds like a quantum jump and complete redesign. 2013 BMW R 1200 GS.
46 pages and not one picture. Pictures elsewhere don't look much, if any, different from the present to be honest. Certainly not radical. More of the BMW philosophy of incremental change.
Quantum jump? Are you kidding? That's the most half-assed liquid cooling system I've ever seen. If they'd done a more thorough redesign, maybe including proper water jackets around the cylinders, they could have made the engine powerful enough to be competitive with the Tiger Explorer, Multistrada 1200, and KTM 1190 Adventure...... But this "completely redesigned" GS is essentially the same bike with a few updates. I don't see it wooing too many buyers besides the ones who've already drunk the BMW Kool-Aid. --mark
The two biggest changes are obviously water cooling for one and a wet clutch on a Boxer motor. After that it's lots of incremental improvements or changes; shaft drive and exhaust changed sides, more power, revised electronics, smaller tank supposedly for better ergos, wider tires, different frame, cruise control, etc.... Sounds very interesting. I'm not certain I would want to shell out $20k to be a beta tester though.
I looked at new BMW and think its a failure... Especially from ergonomics standpoint - it's just ugly... Facebook Nova Scotia on Explorer
From the article, "BMW is now beginning a whole new chapter in GS history: the most popular travel enduro in the world has been brought to perfection." Aw come on man, live a little, its blatantly obvious that they have fixed it's foibles. Anybody should be honored to spend 20k on a "perfect" bike that will undoubtedly be UNSTOPPABLE. I wonder how much new server space Baldy will need to hold the multiple gigabytes of new GS problems.
Edit: Humor only works when you quote the right post. I'm giving up and going home. But $16k on a completely new Exp1200 is ok?
I really like the 1200 Explorer but after having seen the new GS I have to say that Triumph still has ways to go. Every little detail on the GS looks great and well though through while the Explorer looks economical (not bad) but it's still a hughe difference, at least to me. I'd say the Explorer has the better engine however it's not a Boxer (good and bad)
Explorer is an engineering success, the new LC GS is re-engineering failure... My opinion... Facebook Nova Scotia on Explorer