Explorer is selling well!!

[BeamishTripleBlack]

The GS - 12 Ex - Yam are pretty much road bikes, I am qualified enough to state you have to be close to a god to get one of these off road on anything other than a fireroad. If you want to go proper off road then get a Montesa and do the job properly.

Guess you haven't done the off road school in Wales then?. I am no god but we certainly tackled more than just firetracks on GS's and GSAs. They are heavy but also capable. The yam also scored higher than the gs in an off road comparison test (ride mag iirc) with one of the test riders being simon pavey ( mr BMW himself).

 

[Davy F]

I would be interested to actually SEE any GS owners riding thier bikes off road.

 

[Rasher]

How bizzare, you came to this conclusion without ACTUALLY riding it...?

It would appear there a large number of folks on here slagging of the 12ex without ACTUALLY having ridden it..... why is that I wonder....

I was not slagging it off, I really like the look, it was easy to come to my conclusions and, unlike you, I cannot deduce rake and trail by riding a bike, so I looked at the spces provided - it has the geometry of a GSX-R.

Having ridden the Honda X-Tourer and Ducati MTS previously, as well as the Yamaha and both GS models I knew I did not want anything much faster, and I may want to do more off-road in future.

By this point it was a straight battle between the slightly better (IMHO) GS or the most likely more reliable (IMHO) Yamaha.

Depreciation occurs on all bikes, I have seen fully kitted GS's selling at a £5k + loss in under 2 years, and I remember one chap who lost about £6k in 12 months flogging his bike here. My GS was two years old and I bought it off the dealer for over £4k less than the original owner paid so he too must have lost £5k - all new bike values plummett, some more than others but they all do it to a large degree.

The main thing is get a deal you are happy with, I paid £2600 under list for my bike with 150 miles on it, two year old bikes fetch close to £8k privately, so mine should lose @£1500 in 18 months- which I am happy to except.

If you don't want to lose much money you need to look at bikes over 3 years old which tends to rule out the latest models.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Personally, it isn't the Ewan and Charlie image that would put me off buying a GSA now. Whatever you think about the showbiz element of the TV programme, Russ Malkin et al, it was a great trip and did inspire many others to follow in their tracks. No, it's the idea that a lot of people would see me as 'just another Ewan and Charlie wannabe'. It's kind of sad that the GSA is now, for many, just a status symbol - a two-wheeled version of the Chelsea Tractor - something to be polished and garaged next to the Range Rover.

Well said, I bought a new GS in 1997, trading in a Tiger900

I was fed up with Triumph's marketing, which pre-reg'd loads of bikes to achieve published sales numbers and then this stuffed s/hand values for people who had genuinely bought a new bike @ RRP

Never again

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Genuine question: is that a common fitment on modern bikes? I'm not aware of the GS having such a device.

My Fi Honda Trials bike has a 'tilt switch', pretty apt though as it 'lays down' a lot

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

I would be interested to actually SEE any GS owners riding thier bikes off road.

Have a look here and 'see'

 

[mrsroynie]

I would be interested to actually SEE any GS owners riding thier bikes off road. Lets face it all these 'adventure' bikes spend almost their entire lives on road ...

You really don't have a clue, do you?

My idea of adventure is going away with a mate or two with no itinerary, minimal gear and some money. Enjoying roads and foreign countries. It doesnt include battling with a behemoth on light dirt because I believe it has 'off-road' potential.

Again, good for you. My mum's idea of adventure is getting on the Isle of Wight ferry. And, yes, I think we can all see why you don't need a GS, though I think some of us might be a little puzzled as to why you replaced it with another "behemoth" with off-road potential. If you don't intend to venture beyond the tarmac, there many, many, other bikes that might have suited you just as well for less money.

It's fine to admit that you like the styling of the Explorer, the super smooth triple engine, the comfort and the clever drive-by-wire(??) fuel system, traction control and other gadgetry. I'm sure it's a great bike in many ways. But don't go slagging off GS owners for not being MX fanatics. I'm sure that competition trials are fun and I applaud you. But I can't see many here lining up to cross continents on a naked trials bike with a razor blade for a seat. While I'm always first in line to bemoan the fact that people like you buy the GS (or, indeed, the Explorer) for the image, a lot (perhaps most) of us bought our bikes with at least the idea that we might one day venture beyond the congested European road network.

And you don't have to be a God to ride these bikes off-road. All it takes are good riding skills and guts. But you really are the shallowest of 'shallow berks', aren't you? Spouting arrogant nonsense about the GS' lack of off-road capability, just because you lack the balls or imagination to push the boundaries of your comfort zone. Take your head out of your arse and browse the Ride Report section of this forum or, better still, book yourself on an ORS course ... THEN come back and tell us that your Explorer will do everything that the GS can.

 

[Nutty]

But you really are the shallowest of 'shallow berks', aren't you? Spouting arrogant nonsense about the GS' lack of off-road capability, just because you lack the balls or imagination to push the boundaries of your comfort zone. Take your head out of your arse and browse the Ride Report section of this forum or, better still, book yourself on an ORS course ... THEN come back and tell us that your Explorer will do everything that the GS can.

You've hit the nail on the head there.

 

[Bryn]

I know this is UKGSer...

But there's a Harley section ( not much off road potential)

KTM section
Suzuki section
Yamaha section...

Is it ok for someone to post in the Triumph section, or should it just be binned... it appears that if you decided to buy an Explorer instead of a GS it seems to make you a shallow berk....

Sounds like the BMW club to me

 

[illustratedman]

Love or hate it Triumph are selling a good number of Explorers at the moment

In April they sold 263 and in May 239 making it the best selling Adventure bike in the UK for those 2 months.

http://www.mcia.co.uk/Press-and-Statistics/NewReg_Statistics.aspx

Will be interesting to see how sales settle down for the rest of the year.

Does this make the 1200GS a niche bike again

That's weird because it definately said 'Motorcycle Registration Statistics' in the OP's link

So there's a few people who can't read or think they've read something they err actually haven't read

Can read fine thanks, i'm refering to the op's post not his link to registration statisitics but there you go i'll try to be more precise in future if it concerns you
my actual post regarding sales was in reference to bmw's annual reports following the lwd sorry if it was'nt clear enough for you...

 

[The Burpster]

I know this is UKGSer...

Is it ok for someone to post in the Triumph section, or should it just be binned... it appears that if you decided to buy an Explorer instead of a GS it seems to make you a shallow berk....

Sounds like the BMW club to me

Sadly Bryn it appears that way - try to make a point that there maybe something out there better than the precious GS and you would think you have been kicking poeples dogs and slapping their kids....

It used to be a great resource back in the day but sadly seems to be full of trolls.....

It would appear that the only reason that there is "other bike" sections is to allow GS owners to slag off owners of and, other marques....

Oh well enough of my effort wasted trying to talk to these wasters, I'm out to ride one of my bikes instead of pontificating about it - which it appears that most of the contributors do on here now -

I'll no doubt meet you at Piddies at some point -

 

[Stonker]

 

[mrsroynie]

I know this is UKGSer...

But there's a Harley section ( not much off road potential)

KTM section
Suzuki section
Yamaha section...

Is it ok for someone to post in the Triumph section, or should it just be binned... it appears that if you decided to buy an Explorer instead of a GS it seems to make you a shallow berk....

Sounds like the BMW club to me

With respect, my issue with Burpster is not that he chose an Explorer over a GS or even that he finds it to be a better bike for his needs. I believe I have made it perfectly clear that there is a strong Triumph following in this household. But statements like these

… I am qualified enough to state you have to be close to a god to get one of these [GS bikes] off road on anything other than a fireroad.

I would be interested to actually SEE any GS owners riding thier bikes off road. Lets face it all these 'adventure' bikes spend almost their entire lives on road ….

My idea of adventure … doesnt include battling with a behemoth on light dirt because I believe it has 'off-road' potential.

on a site packed with some mind-boggling off-road ride reports really does make him look like a bit of a berk.

Anyway, I take your point that the argument would have been better had on another forum.

 

[Bryn]

The main thing is that everyone enjoys what they ride ... and they all have their own adventures in whatever way suits them ... that's what biking is all about

I'm enjoying my adventures on the Explorer... doesn't mean I'll not end up with another GS

 

[illustratedman]

Sadly Bryn it appears that way - try to make a point that there maybe something out there better than the precious GS and you would think you have been kicking poeples dogs and slapping their kids....

It used to be a great resource back in the day but sadly seems to be full of trolls.....

It would appear that the only reason that there is "other bike" sections is to allow GS owners to slag off owners of and, other marques....

Oh well enough of my effort wasted trying to talk to these wasters, I'm out to ride one of my bikes instead of pontificating about it - which it appears that most of the contributors do on here now -

I'll no doubt meet you at Piddies at some point -

I'm tending to agree a bit there, but it does'nt really matter if you are happy with your bike who cares what the trolls think.

The main thing is that everyone enjoys what they ride ... and they all have their own adventures in whatever way suits them ... that's what biking is all about

I'm enjoying my adventures on the Explorer... doesn't mean I'll not end up with another GS

+1 but unless they start making 1150's again i wont be back on a beemer again.

 

[bowser]

Sadly Bryn it appears that way - try to make a point that there maybe something out there better than the precious GS and you would think you have been kicking poeples dogs and slapping their kids....

It used to be a great resource back in the day but sadly seems to be full of trolls.....

It would appear that the only reason that there is "other bike" sections is to allow GS owners to slag off owners of and, other marques....

Oh well enough of my effort wasted trying to talk to these wasters, I'm out to ride one of my bikes instead of pontificating about it - which it appears that most of the contributors do on here now -

I'll no doubt meet you at Piddies at some point -

That's a little harsh, Tolling is starting the argument with a controversial statement, which in this case was you stating that the Ex12 is better than the GS, now that may be your opinion, but not others, I am not particularly fond of the bmw 12, either by the way.
The slagging "off" as you put it is because of the statements in your previous posts which make you appear like a complete Knob, may not be true, we may well get on in the flesh however you come across in print as as I say a complete Knob.
I have no particular interest in slagging off the bike, its not my cup of tea but I am sure its competent, hey ho off to ride either my KTM, or my Harley or the wifes Harley or possibly the wifes Gs11.

 

[pitternator]

It will be interesting to see how the depreciation pans out...Triumph residuals are crap, and thats from owning 3 new triumphs in the last 8 yrs...my " iconic" speed triple lost almost 50% value because, shock horror it had 13k miles on it in " only " 3 yrs. FFS thats only 4k miles per year.
My fear with the explorer is its just the latest thing ...and a couple of yrs on it will lose similarly. Look at the VFR1200, another bike I was interested in...low milers are at best 9 to 10k retail...so thats a likely residual of 7k, from a 12k purchase price.Not a great deal better...
Yet the GS seems to maintain its value " reasonably" well...if it as bad as some would have us believe, just why do they sell 25k bikes every year ?? Fashion statement ??..naw...its a bloody good product. Like so many allrounders, individual characteristics can be weak, but its the PACKAGE which counts.From my extensive test riding , the quality and alltogetherness of the GS just shone through from the start.Yes it would be nice to have another 20bhp, but is that really what a GS needs ??I would like better throttle response, but my GS still wangs up to 130 if I want.More than that and I do question if one has the right bike to start with ??...if its big speeds, get a sportsbike . The big issue with the GS is its versatility , and thats not just potential off roading either.
My experience with Triumph is that as yet they are not at that standard, which is a shame as they have a good product in their triple engines , but maybe it was rushed out a bit quick,corners were cut , to grab sales.The horrendous accessories back up is testament to this.Yes , explorer sales are good at the moment , but not IMHO that outstanding. They claim to be able to produce 5k bikes a year .So its never going to be enough to trouble BMW, but maybe thats a tactic to sell out so retail price can be maintained.
Meanwhile the RT copy , has just been released. Ironic really this copying ( sprint vs VFR, Exp vs GS , now Trophy vs RT)...cos that is what the Japs did to Triumph the first time round.BMW by contrast have not stood still.But from what I can glean ,with the new GS, engine power is not the main goal....
The end result as someone has already pointed out is more choice ( at a price) for us bikers.

 

[Stonker]

Everybody says the trophy is copying but what do you expect a tourer to look like, a Thunderbird with a Rickman fairing on the front?

 

[cookie]

Everybody says the trophy is copying but what do you expect a tourer to look like, a Thunderbird with a Rickman fairing on the front?

the GS doesn't look like anything else, and neither does the RT though, does it? so it can be done, but not by triumph apparently. a company whose entire design philosophy from day one seems to be taking others ideas and sticking a union jack* on them


*yes, i know

 

[chad]

I know this is UKGSer...

But there's a Harley section ( not much off road potential)



Is it ok for someone to post in the Triumph section, or should it just be binned... it appears that if you decided to buy an Explorer instead of a GS it seems to make you a shallow berk....

Sounds like the BMW club to me

taking a Harley off road , now that sounds like an Aventure

feckit im gonna have me one of those , my tigers to fast and keeps getting me in trouble anyway

not a day goes by i dont miss my Lebben Fiddy though