I tested the Explorer and Crosstourer back to back. Honda Wins, better suspension feel , better power delivery, better sound, easier to handle, all round more comfortable for rider and pillion, seating position makes more sense on the Honda.
Have ridden the Crosstourer for 17K kms now since september 2012, awesome bike, came from 3 different GSses (1100/1150/1200Adv) but this one kills them all. Excellent bike!
I bought a 2017 Honda Crosstour new in 2019 & have had it for 2 years now with 22k on it. Great bike with DCT, feels much lighter than specs say it is . I added 2" risers to the handlebars & a 2" lowering kit to the pegs. Also added a larger w/screen & a givi top box. It performs handles great for this size bike.
honda all the way - if I'm in the middle of nowhere and get a breakdown there's a honda dealer on every corner- and hondas don't break often in the first place. The triumph is a great bike but I wouldn't trust a triumph in the rough stuff unless I had to. Once the honda gets popular there is bound to be a huge aftermarket for it too, which will enable you to turn it into whatever you like.
There's a Triumph Motorcycle dealer in every major city here in Florida (Jax, Orlando, Tampa, Daytona Bch, SoFla, etc...) and also places where you wouldn't think of a Triumph Dealer (Gainesville, Ocala, St. Augustine, Naples, etc...) so parts access wouldn't be an issue.
The more "Hummer-cycles" are bought by road riders, the quicker they will be replaced by 30% lighter, quick, agile bikes with knobby tires. To discover dual-purpose / off road riding (or rediscover) is a brilliant thing, and there are brilliant bikes that do the job. For the vast majority of riders, both these monsters inhibit the adventure they're seeking. Here's the test: Take the adventure bike you just bought with your hard earned coin, let it fall over in the dirt, pick it up. If you're still smiling, you've probably bought the right bike.
@@RuddleDuddle44 i checked few things out: with 200kg bikes you'll be attempting to lift 100kg weight(easy to check with bicycle), if it's not on incline, if it is, it'll be more, and last time it felt just like 100kg or more, ie 2 men job. and t.alp is about the same weight as my xtz750. so I'm thinking about devising jack screw of sorts to gain some mechanical advantage. portable, kit type, of less than 500g weight. if you're riding alone to the middle of nowhere, that is.
Matt tries to imply that the Honda crosstourer is far heavier, it is heavier but not that much. triumph explorer 1200 (dry) weight was 259 kg, wet weight 270kg with all fluids. Honda crosstourer publishes there wet weight 277 kg (DCT 287 kg) all fluids ready to ride.
Actually, maximum grip is when the wheel on the point of skidding. That's why ABS is designed to keep the wheels turning. If it were as you wrote there would be no point in ABS at all. All ABS does is mimic, very quickly, a technique called "cadence braking". Works much better on tarmac than on dirt though because on dirt a locked wheel builds up a pile of dirt in front of the tyre which helps the bike stop.
That is the point I was making. It is swivel to steer a motorcycle whilst braking... Watch any racer drag the brakes into corner... It just takes a lot of talent (far more than I have). This is why ABS is helpful to most riders. It won't actually improve your stopping distance but it might mean you don't topple off if the bike is at a slight lean angle :)
Well i'm for the Honda crosstourer; gr8package but pricey in Australia, but on the other hand the triumph still has adecent package as well price is better also a little lighter.
haha, the GS sales are still more than tenfold of the big V4 honda + the triple Triumph .. I'd grab a Honda with DCT from the nearest dealer though if it looked a little bit more exiting and if I had the 18grant that it costs over here ;-))
I know it's a bike review but I really enjoyed the surroundings, where were you? I'm in the UK but go to Zambia regularly the terrain looked similar. Great review by the way.
I'd like mine rugged, light, capable of offroading but still powerful and with low fuel consumption. And that will be the new KTM. At least it will be what comes closest to that fantasy. :)
Great video, but even though similar, I believe you are comparing different beasts. Honda vs Super Tenere would be much closer match, or Versys 1000 vs Triumph on the road side.
ABS is only there to allow you to turn or make adjustments whilst you brake as all it is doing is allowing the wheels to keep turning by reducing braking force. Physically maximum grip is always when the wheel is skidding, on or off road. So there should be no surprise that the Explorer with ABS off stopped quicker.
Great video, I'm curious what made the triumph stand out from the honda for the rider? I found the CT a little jumpy and stuttery on the throttle at low speeds and low rpms... Is the triumph better in that department?
When going off road, the younger guy on the Honda says "It's 30k heavier", then in the conclusion, at 8:30, the older guy says the Triumph "Is heavier". So... which bike is heavier?
For starters, I own a TEX, and absolutely hate the stock Metz tires. Bad on the road, worse off road. The best bike in the segment I feel is a KTM, then a GS, then the TEX and then the rest of the pack. if you are looking for off road bikes with some on road, cross planet, fix it anywhere riding, get a KLR650 :) All that said, I do love leaving the boxes home, turning trac n abs off and ripping the torque on my TEX, with TKC70s! Peace!!
fair comments. as a Tex owner I wouldn't take it off road but the Cross Tourer must be one of the few bikes in the segment less suited to off road than the Trumpet. Being south east UK-based unfortunately there's not much call for off road. If I lived in southern Spain, SW USA or Australia my bike choices would be different...i.e Tex and and proper MX bike rather than Tex and urban scooter as I currently own ;)
Hi Guys, nice video, where was this video produced? To be honest 300k's on a tank isn't much for a dual purpose. How many buttons to switch off the Honda's ABS, hey Clinton? Come on, ABS not supposed for offroad, is it?
I'm tired of people saying, "Honda is the biggest seller of motorcycles in the world, so they're the best." Hey, Toyota is the biggest seller of cars in the world, and they don't make a sports car and they make the most boring cars in the world (Camry, Prius), so don't give me that BS.
you say boring, wich i wont argue, but at the same time i didnt read you counter the statement that they are best, its hard to counter a fixed track record of historically proven reliability huh :) that said, in a nutshell, honda is the best engine builder in the world ps: are the Prius and camry really the only 2 cars you can come up with from Toyota, really? Toyota dont make the most boring cars in the world, I can name 2 europeans who have a much more shallow boring line up, Peugeot, Citroen. What about Suzuki, Isuzu. I aint even gonna start on Toyotas that make the average family car look like a poor mans car... Not even mentioning the Lexus brand. Ignoranus
Erikootje, it's fitting you signed your post Ignoranus, I assume you meant to spell Ignoramus.. it's fitting you mispelled that word, it fits you so well. Citroens and Peugeot, while shitty are not nearly as boring as the company that has inflicted upon the world Camrys and Minivans, which make up most of their sales. My point, which you are so stupid you missed, is that just because a company has the most sales doesn't make it the best. I've never heard a car guy say he wants to get the latest Camry or Yaris. Toyota doesn't even make a Sports Car anymore! (and don't say the FRS, that's a Celica remake). Lexus.. are you kidding me?!? Lexus is known for being the most boring of the Luxury segment.. BMW, Merc, Audi, Infiniti.. all making more exciting cars. They tried to make a coupe and it came out bloated and heavy, but it has the Camry engine in it, so I'm sure it will last a long time. Honda is not the best engine builder in the world. Do you watch Formula 1, Ignoramus? They can't catch Mercedes. Yes, their bikes are reliable, although they have problems just like anyone else. Reliability is just one factor of being the "best". Certainly not how many sales they have. You are a moron.
Explorer is the better bike because in every review i see this guy do he puts the honda last ,If the explorer was made by honda he would rip it to bits
Please do your review of your quarter ton bike loaded with all your camping gear etc, on a muddy or sandy road and then tell us what you think......its just the real world
Why duz this Honda CrossTourer's power output drop like a rock,when in fact it shares a similar block to her more cultured sibling,the VFR.While "Horses" dropped dramatically for this (a condition thought justifiable for all off-roaders,as torque-pulling power is more crucial in this category,more so than pure Horses for faster speeds,what's usually synonymous with asphalt Bikes) there's but in this case howevr not a hint of increment to its torque figures.The contrary however is the case & had instead evn dropped a bit.What's the rationale behind this stuff,really,Can someone please care to elucidate a little?
Lol, you can be biased towards your favourite bike but to say the Honda had better ABS is a joke, on the video it clearly took waayyyy longer to stop compared to the triumph.... and then the young guy turns around and says it's better?
Make test drive on ktm 1290adventure,1190,1090 .... you will drop your crosstourer in the scarp yard 😂 honda suspension to soft , front to heavy,no grip on rear wheel...
Clinton has absolutely no credibility. More Hondas sold so it make Honda a better bike. Seriously? Also, Matt spends all his time telling you why the Triumph is a nice bike, Clint, instead of telling you about what is is good on the Honda. Wastes his time telling you how crap the Triumph is. Pre conceived notion much? Just compare his review to all the others on TH-cam.
I tested the Explorer and Crosstourer back to back. Honda Wins, better suspension feel , better power delivery, better sound, easier to handle, all round more comfortable for rider and pillion, seating position makes more sense on the Honda.
Have ridden the Crosstourer for 17K kms now since september 2012, awesome bike, came from 3 different GSses (1100/1150/1200Adv) but this one kills them all. Excellent bike!
still so?
I bought a 2017 Honda Crosstour new in 2019 & have had it for 2 years now with 22k on it. Great bike with DCT, feels much lighter than specs say it is . I added 2" risers to the handlebars & a 2" lowering kit to the pegs. Also added a larger w/screen & a givi top box. It performs handles great for this size bike.
honda all the way - if I'm in the middle of nowhere and get a breakdown there's a honda dealer on every corner- and hondas don't break often in the first place. The triumph is a great bike but I wouldn't trust a triumph in the rough stuff unless I had to. Once the honda gets popular there is bound to be a huge aftermarket for it too, which will enable you to turn it into whatever you like.
There's a Triumph Motorcycle dealer in every major city here in Florida (Jax, Orlando, Tampa, Daytona Bch, SoFla, etc...) and also places where you wouldn't think of a Triumph Dealer (Gainesville, Ocala, St. Augustine, Naples, etc...) so parts access wouldn't be an issue.
Travis, I have a Tiger 1050 and it has been super reliable. You wouldn't trust a Triumph? Then you're a moron.
Moron? Because u said so? I think you are moron for taking Triumph over Honda. Is that ok? Ride safe!
The more "Hummer-cycles" are bought by road riders, the quicker they will be replaced by 30% lighter, quick, agile bikes with knobby tires. To discover dual-purpose / off road riding (or rediscover) is a brilliant thing, and there are brilliant bikes that do the job. For the vast majority of riders, both these monsters inhibit the adventure they're seeking. Here's the test: Take the adventure bike you just bought with your hard earned coin, let it fall over in the dirt, pick it up. If you're still smiling, you've probably bought the right bike.
one uses dirt bikes for that, not tourers
@@ivok9846 My transalp will disagree :p
@@RuddleDuddle44 i checked few things out: with 200kg bikes you'll be attempting to lift 100kg weight(easy to check with bicycle), if it's not on incline, if it is, it'll be more, and last time it felt just like 100kg or more, ie 2 men job. and t.alp is about the same weight as my xtz750. so I'm thinking about devising jack screw of sorts to gain some mechanical advantage. portable, kit type, of less than 500g weight.
if you're riding alone to the middle of nowhere, that is.
i bought a crosstourer for touring with the wife. The only time it will be off road is when it's going across the grass at a campsite!
ABS will always take longer distance to brake on gravel, same with cars. Test it on surfaces with more friction, that's where ABS is developed for.
Correct, ABS allows you to steer while braking instead of locking the wheel(s). Takes longer to stop though.
Great review. You could teach MCN in the UK how to test bikes. They don't now nowt !
Matt tries to imply that the Honda crosstourer is far heavier, it is heavier but not that much. triumph explorer 1200 (dry) weight was 259 kg, wet weight 270kg with all fluids. Honda crosstourer publishes there wet weight 277 kg (DCT 287 kg) all fluids ready to ride.
Actually, maximum grip is when the wheel on the point of skidding. That's why ABS is designed to keep the wheels turning. If it were as you wrote there would be no point in ABS at all. All ABS does is mimic, very quickly, a technique called "cadence braking".
Works much better on tarmac than on dirt though because on dirt a locked wheel builds up a pile of dirt in front of the tyre which helps the bike stop.
Nicely explained
That is the point I was making. It is swivel to steer a motorcycle whilst braking... Watch any racer drag the brakes into corner... It just takes a lot of talent (far more than I have). This is why ABS is helpful to most riders. It won't actually improve your stopping distance but it might mean you don't topple off if the bike is at a slight lean angle :)
ABS is not for stopping shorter it’s for turning as you brake, you know , to avoid obstacles or people
Heavier in the sense that it's top heavy, compared to the Honda which is a more manageable weight cause the weight is lower down
Honda is best (I have Honda VFR 1200 X). :)
honda all the way :-)
The VStrom is another good option btw! Btw was he driving the 500 or 700??
My wife is getting a Honda CB 700X as soon as we can sell her Shadow ACE 750! I'm excited to drive it, and I'm a CBR 954 guy!
I am a fan of honda( XL 200, TRANSALP 650 MOD.2002 AND NOW VARADERO XLV 1000 MOD. 2008) but i think the crosstourer is not what i was expecting!
Well i'm for the Honda crosstourer; gr8package but pricey in Australia, but on the other hand the triumph still has adecent package as well price is better also a little lighter.
haha, the GS sales are still more than tenfold of the big V4 honda + the triple Triumph .. I'd grab a Honda with DCT from the nearest dealer though if it looked a little bit more exiting and if I had the 18grant that it costs over here ;-))
Good in the city but still far behind XT660Z out there where AA does not get and fuel pomps are not every 20 miles.
what happened to the right hand guard on the TEX? :)
I know it's a bike review but I really enjoyed the surroundings, where were you? I'm in the UK but go to Zambia regularly the terrain looked similar. Great review by the way.
ABS will always take longer distance to brake on gravel, same with cars. Test it on surfaces with more friction, that's where ABS is developed for.dub
Enjoy your video's!! Professional and entertaining!!
Great review guys.
brilliant review but the oak should research the difference between static and dynamic friction
Who makes those Tiger upper sliders-nice and small compared to the SW Motech upper crash bars.
I'd like mine rugged, light, capable of offroading but still powerful and with low fuel consumption. And that will be the new KTM. At least it will be what comes closest to that fantasy. :)
Who makes the upper case saver/engine guard on the Triumph?
Is the Triumph really an “Asphalt Tiger?” The Bike Show should invite expert riders to do reviews more often when testing non sport bikes.
I'll take one of each!
2 cylinder, chain driven? I`d like my adventure served with shaft and as few shifting as possible please :)
Great video, but even though similar, I believe you are comparing different beasts. Honda vs Super Tenere would be much closer match, or Versys 1000 vs Triumph on the road side.
that triumph looks badass
Liked your review guys, two great bikes as well. BTW I ride a BMW GS1200 Adventure, won't be changing anytime soon!
Bring the Honda to the United States....PLEASE HONDA!!!! I would pay cash for that tomorrow if it were out. PLEASE GIVE IT TO THE U.S
ABS is only there to allow you to turn or make adjustments whilst you brake as all it is doing is allowing the wheels to keep turning by reducing braking force. Physically maximum grip is always when the wheel is skidding, on or off road. So there should be no surprise that the Explorer with ABS off stopped quicker.
Mouthpiece likes triumph. Off-road rider likes Crosstourer who to listen to? Crosstourer looks happy jumping to me.
One capable biker, the other a presenter. Not really a balanced review
Best dual sport in my opinion is ktm890 adventure
Essa honda é demais!!
Honda for ever !
Great video, I'm curious what made the triumph stand out from the honda for the rider? I found the CT a little jumpy and stuttery on the throttle at low speeds and low rpms... Is the triumph better in that department?
So, did you drop the bike on the video? and also... why where you using ABS on off road?
When going off road, the younger guy on the Honda says "It's 30k heavier", then in the conclusion, at 8:30, the older guy says the Triumph "Is heavier".
So... which bike is heavier?
I would like the Honda if it was 100 lbs. lighter and had cruise control. It weighs 608 lbs wet!
Africa twin
I rode a crosstourer it's a heavy bike off road .
If something doesen't breack down ....
The Triumph Exploder
Abs only works on road. Offroad you need slide.
For starters, I own a TEX, and absolutely hate the stock Metz tires. Bad on the road, worse off road. The best bike in the segment I feel is a KTM, then a GS, then the TEX and then the rest of the pack. if you are looking for off road bikes with some on road, cross planet, fix it anywhere riding, get a KLR650 :)
All that said, I do love leaving the boxes home, turning trac n abs off and ripping the torque on my TEX, with TKC70s! Peace!!
fair comments. as a Tex owner I wouldn't take it off road but the Cross Tourer must be one of the few bikes in the segment less suited to off road than the Trumpet.
Being south east UK-based unfortunately there's not much call for off road. If I lived in southern Spain, SW USA or Australia my bike choices would be different...i.e Tex and and proper MX bike rather than Tex and urban scooter as I currently own ;)
Honda did market it as a road bike...so
Guess there were no KTM ADV's available? The 1190R (or even the 1290SA) would eat these two for lunch and still want desert.
The KTM might of been in the garage ttotm? and the BMW was busy having its stanchion recall so the front does not fall off
Honda will always be superior to the Brit bucs.
EH TIGER 800 XC ALL THE WAY
Triumph Explorer = Sport
Honda Crosstourer = Offroad
that's the only "offroad" those bikes will ever see......
Hi Guys, nice video, where was this video produced?
To be honest 300k's on a tank isn't much for a dual purpose.
How many buttons to switch off the Honda's ABS, hey Clinton?
Come on, ABS not supposed for offroad, is it?
Triumph looks great , with a shaft drive now , tough choice.
I'm tired of people saying, "Honda is the biggest seller of motorcycles in the world, so they're the best." Hey, Toyota is the biggest seller of cars in the world, and they don't make a sports car and they make the most boring cars in the world (Camry, Prius), so don't give me that BS.
you say boring, wich i wont argue, but at the same time i didnt read you counter the statement that they are best, its hard to counter a fixed track record of historically proven reliability huh :)
that said, in a nutshell, honda is the best engine builder in the world
ps: are the Prius and camry really the only 2 cars you can come up with from Toyota, really?
Toyota dont make the most boring cars in the world, I can name 2 europeans who have a much more shallow boring line up, Peugeot, Citroen.
What about Suzuki, Isuzu.
I aint even gonna start on Toyotas that make the average family car look like a poor mans car...
Not even mentioning the Lexus brand.
Ignoranus
Erikootje, it's fitting you signed your post Ignoranus, I assume you meant to spell Ignoramus.. it's fitting you mispelled that word, it fits you so well. Citroens and Peugeot, while shitty are not nearly as boring as the company that has inflicted upon the world Camrys and Minivans, which make up most of their sales.
My point, which you are so stupid you missed, is that just because a company has the most sales doesn't make it the best. I've never heard a car guy say he wants to get the latest Camry or Yaris. Toyota doesn't even make a Sports Car anymore! (and don't say the FRS, that's a Celica remake). Lexus.. are you kidding me?!? Lexus is known for being the most boring of the Luxury segment.. BMW, Merc, Audi, Infiniti.. all making more exciting cars. They tried to make a coupe and it came out bloated and heavy, but it has the Camry engine in it, so I'm sure it will last a long time.
Honda is not the best engine builder in the world. Do you watch Formula 1, Ignoramus? They can't catch Mercedes.
Yes, their bikes are reliable, although they have problems just like anyone else. Reliability is just one factor of being the "best". Certainly not how many sales they have.
You are a moron.
From commuter bikes to MotoGP...no one dominates the 2 wheeler industry better than Honda.
Explorer is the better bike because in every review i see this guy do he puts the honda last ,If the explorer was made by honda he would rip it to bits
Please do your review of your quarter ton bike loaded with all your camping gear etc, on a muddy or sandy road and then tell us what you think......its just the real world
"Please use the bike in a particular situation it's not suited for so it looks bad."
Why duz this Honda CrossTourer's power output drop like a rock,when in fact it shares a similar block to her more cultured sibling,the VFR.While "Horses" dropped dramatically for this (a condition thought justifiable for all off-roaders,as torque-pulling power is more crucial in this category,more so than pure Horses for faster speeds,what's usually synonymous with asphalt Bikes) there's but in this case howevr not a hint of increment to its torque figures.The contrary however is the case & had instead evn dropped a bit.What's the rationale behind this stuff,really,Can someone please care to elucidate a little?
Honda make adventure "style" bikes.
Great objective video!
2013 there is a KTM 1190 Adventure coming to kill them all :)
Was I hearing the Tiger clackity clack clackin....not cool. Sounds like its about to fall apart every bump.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Swivel was meant to say possible* lol
HONDA FTW!!!
ABS
Honda is way above the triumph
Triumph looks bloated : Like "Cringer the Battlecat" from He-man series from 1980s
The triumph does not like it, just like a man would have a stomach inserted in a glass jar
Motojitsu channel will help you improve your riding skills and emergency breaking 👍✌️🍻
Lol, you can be biased towards your favourite bike but to say the Honda had better ABS is a joke, on the video it clearly took waayyyy longer to stop compared to the triumph.... and then the young guy turns around and says it's better?
Video quality sucks............content is good!!!
exactly what i was gonna say.. Three words :-) KTM 1190 Adventure
what is forgotten in this test is that the honda like most modern honda's is the ugliest pos on the road
I agree that the Crosstourer is ugly so are many other Honda bikes, but the NC700S as well as the newer 750S are beauties :)
triumph is a good bike so as the honda but if you want a on,off road bike buy the - bmw r1200gs ;)
Make test drive on ktm 1290adventure,1190,1090 .... you will drop your crosstourer in the scarp yard 😂 honda suspension to soft , front to heavy,no grip on rear wheel...
Crosstourer : Off road
Sport: CB1000R
Honda have not made anything nice looking for ten years.. even the transalp was messed up at the front and certain other areas..
the older guy has more experience and I value that more.
Lol, so what happened to the right hand guard on the TEX? :)
Clinton has absolutely no credibility. More Hondas sold so it make Honda a better bike. Seriously? Also, Matt spends all his time telling you why the Triumph is a nice bike, Clint, instead of telling you about what is is good on the Honda. Wastes his time telling you how crap the Triumph is. Pre conceived notion much? Just compare his review to all the others on TH-cam.
Take that Honda offroad and you’re asking for trouble!
Offroad joke.
beetje lullig om de Triumph beter te vinden met een jas aan van het zelfde merk........
That young guy is South African,so he's not going to pick British bike.