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Introducing Dora... The Explorer!

Discussion in 'My Bike' started by Fox, Oct 6, 2012.

  1. becsta
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    You will fall in love with it. I did.

    Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk 2
     
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  2. Tenzin1999
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    Sitting at T33 admiring the Explorer - what a bike! Will no doubt have more to say when I get back (via the long way home).
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2012
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  3. Tenzin1999
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    Just got back home and I can honestly say I can see why Fox loves this bike. The engine is an absolute gem and in no time I really felt at home on this bike. The main feeling I got is I could do some very serious touring on it and I really didn't want to head back to Eurotune to hand it back. Comes with all the bells and whistles and this is the first bike I have ridden that has cruise control! For a taller bike it corners beautifully and given that sweet engine, if I got an Explorer my license may be in some danger!! I love my Thunderbird, but after riding the Explorer, I'm starting to wonder if it is time for a change....must...resist...asking... the wife...for a.... new....bike.....
    :costsmoney!:

    Edit: Forgot to add it soaks up the bumps on the shit roads like they don't exist, which is quite a contrast to the short suspension on the TB. [MENTION=36953]Bomber[/MENTION] you really need to take this bike for a ride now that you have had a test ride on the GS.
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2012
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  4. Bomber
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    [MENTION=36953]Bomber[/MENTION] you really need to take this bike for a ride now that you have had a test ride on the GS.[/QUOTE]
    Good choice Fox. :like I took one for a ride last Saturday for about 40 minutes. You are absolutely right - it goes great! I loved the cruise control and found it really holds its speed on hilly sections. Two words summed up the experience for me - effortless and composed. I couldn't believe how fast I was going on a dirt road! The screen makes it feel a lot slower that it actually is. Once I did the usual cruiser to tourer adjust - not finding footpegs and sitting crouched forward - I loved the ride. It would be great to hear how you find the Arrow pipe.

    Now - if I could just sell my Shadow - anyone, anyone?
     
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  5. Fox
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    After having a couple of louder pipes on previous bikes (a straight through system to single Micron on the Black Bird and straight through system on the ZX-10R) and Ash still having the Jardine on her CBR Thou, I find this one to be quiet.

    Now, in saying that, I found that the bike with stock can was just plain wrong. I don't believe for a second that any bike should have an engine that makes more noise than the rear end, ever, yet that's how I found stock on this bike to be. Now that I'm able to open Dora up some more (only 20km until I can take her to 8000 RPM) I find that she does have a really nice note at the higher revs, and a lovely burble on roll off and down shift. I guess the reason it feels (sounds) quiet to me is because it still conforms with the 94dB standards, and I haven't had one that does that for a while now (I still say that a louder exhaust brings you to the attention of relatively inatentive drivers).

    Now, while the Arrow won't be making anyone's ears bleed in a hurry, it still sounds "nice". Is it worth Triumph's asking price? Well, I don't know. Apparently you get a tune (flash) done on the ECU when the can is fitted, giving you a small amount more on the power and torque, but in my book it's a tough call if I was to go through the buying process again.
     
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  6. Fox
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    So, I've now made it through the wear in process period and I can use all of Dora's rev range. While it was a little painful dealing with the restrictions to begin with, the engine is feeling quite smooth now (hopefully) from doing so. I went for a spin on Sunday through the hills with Ash on the back, accidently taking a wrong turn and finding some other nice roads on the way, but Dora just ate up everything in front of her with ease. If only I'd been able to beat the living piss out of the car drivers that didn't like to stay on their side of the road or the pushbike riders who think they own it, my life might be a little more complete.

    I've finally added a couple more items to the bike to make it more accommodating too. I now have a headlight protector (I figure it's cheaper to replace a small amount of plastic than the headlight) and now have a top box too. The top box required a sliding rail fitted (separate) and I also grabbed the soft pads for the box as well, just in case the passenger felt like bumping into it. All items were pretty darn easy to fit, taking my time to fit them all in about 3 hours. The good thing with the top box is that it can hold a helmet (and more) for when we stop (so we can fit both helmets in the luggage space now), and the top box also comes with a handy 12V cigarette lighter power point inside (making good use of the 950W alternator on the bike).

    More pics of Dora to come soon... :)
     
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  7. gixxerjunkie
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    Looking forward to seeing some new pics of Dora. Sounds like you have been hard at work making her uniquely yours!!!
     
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  8. Tenzin1999
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    Don't put up any photos of Dora Fox - you will only make me want this bike even more! ;-)
     
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  9. andtfoot
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    Drrrrooooooooollllll.... :drool

    I've got alternator envy.
     
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  10. Fox
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    So, it's been about 4 months since I said I would put more pics up. I couldn't let the suspense hang any longer, so here is a pic of her taken today. The only real changes, as mentioned in my last post, are the top box and headlight protector.

    IMG_0281.jpg
     
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  11. Tenzin1999
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    Tenzin1999 Member Supporter

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    I so like the Explorer!!
     
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  12. Fox
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    Well, it was a lovely day over in RADelaide for Father's Day. As such, and having just given Dora her 3rd ever bath yesterday, I figured it was about time to see if all the dirt on her was holding her together. Apparently it wasn't, which is a particularly good thing.

    Once I got past Birdwood (saw a fantastic yellow Lamborghini Countach while we were going through) and leaving all the idiot drivers behind, we did a 140km loop up and around through Nuriootpa. This may become a normal loop for me, starting tight, long sweepers, ending on the freeway.

    Anyway, here are a couple of photos from the Eden Valley Scenic Lookout (which let me test out the new camera as well, 2 birds with 1 stone today!).

    P9070040.jpg

    P9070042.jpg
     
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    zaccy182, Vid and Lurch like this.
  13. Vid
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    Looks like your bike has the goods to keep you happy in all conditions even dirty ones..
    Tyres are the Pilot Power4, are you happy with these and give you good confidence in corners.
    Also your camera is suberb to the photos are well composed and good clarity.
    Are using an slr or snappy?
    Cheers Fox and thank you for sharing..:ridgy
     
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  14. Fox
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    Fox Member

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    They are the Pilot Power 4 Trail, as apparently the Trail is the version that the have for the heavier bikes (apparently built a bit more sturdy). They are a bloody good tyre, and I feel like I'm getting more out of the bike than when I had the Metzler Tourance's on there (although, they are a lot more road oriented than the Tourance).

    The photos were tweaked a bit in Lightroom afterwards, but that's all I do with them. I don't know how people do the photoshop stuff of integrating multiple images into one. That said, it's a new camera that I have now. The Pentax is currently sitting on the shelf, and I'm now using an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Compact System Camera. I'm finding it takes a much sharper image than the Pentax did, but I think that it's more in the glass that I've bought as well.
     
    #34