The 2016 Triumph Explorer XR and XC (along with half a dozen higher-end variants...) get engine and electronics updates, more power, better fuel economy, semi-active suspension and an electrically-adjustable windscreen
Triumph used to have a nice, capable, dual-purpose motorcycle called the Explorer, which was powered by a 1200cc inline-three and which you could ride pretty much anywhere you wanted. Then suddenly one day, Triumph decided to go mad with acronyms, so then there was the Explorer XR, which is optimised for on-road riding, and the Explorer XC, which is better suited to off-road riding. Now, more variants have been added to the line-up and while the XR and XC continue to be the base model Explorers, the Explorer XRt, XRx, XCa and XCx live further up the range, and we're no longer sure about which bike does what! What's good, however, is that they've all been updated for 2016. All variants of the Explorer are powered by the same 1215cc three-cylinder engine, which produces 139bhp at 9,300rpm and 123Nm of torque at 6,200rpm. Triumph claim that this is now the most powerful shaft-driven motorcycle in the adventure bike segment and fuel economy has also improved by 5%.
These days, an adventure-touring bike is nothing if it doesn't have more computers and electronics than a 1980s space shuttle, so the 2016 Triumph Explorer range does. It has multi-stage traction control, cornering ABS, a hill hold function and five riding modes, including one...