I’ve been approached by Viking Bags in Los Angeles to use and review one of their ADV products, the Viking Apex ADV Touring Bag with Hydration Pack. I think it’s ADV, though the video and copy on the website refers to it as ADX, AC/DC mid-drift not withstanding. It’s clear here that Viking is rightfully…
Tiger Explorer Tools: Update
The $15 tool roll finally disintegrated along with the Triumph factory tool roll, and I had made enough changes to the kit to warrant a redo, always using the tools on board to do roadside and garage fixes, to remove, fix and replace fairings and gas tank, brake calipers and battery, wheels and controls. RadioHead…
And Then There Was Only One
If you’ve ever worked on the top end of an internal combustion engine you know there are certain signs and indications that are cringeworthy, evidence of mechanical malfeasance that warrant holding one’s breath, only to exhale in an explicative or two. I usually have this same type of wonky mechanical hypervigilance when the machine is…
Exhaust Header Cerakote
While waiting for a new cylinder head to make the trip across the pond I decided to look into alternatives to the finish on the exhaust header, which was still coated in a fine patina of grasshopper proteins. Cerakote, a patented ceramic coating and process, had the most buzz on Explorer forums and after looking…
NaviCam CL876
UPDATE POST DEATH VALLEY RIDE: This is an undependable, glitchy, useless piece of crap. I lamented not having my Garmin Zūmo on this ride and bought a new one while on the road, tossing the NaviCam into a dumpster. I would’ve returned it, but the product is no longer available. The Tiger’s command center was…
12V Distribution
Adding accessories piles on to the battery terminals and it all becomes spaghetti after too long, so I added a Blue Sea fuse block and ground bus under the Tiger’s seat for better management of current and service. The fuse block is directly connected from the battery positive (12G) which routes power out to the…
New Wheel, Rotors and Rubber
The failure of my fork seals three hundred miles away from home resulted in my pushing this machine beyond its mechanical limits and whenever I do that, something’s got to give. In this case it was my front wheel, bent from a solid hit on a cement seam rolling into a gas station. Replacement rims…
Pannier Makeover
UPDATE: The adhesive failed and the EVA rubber turned brittle on my ride to Death Valley. Back to the drawing board. Thirty-six thousand miles were taking their toll on the Explorer’s panniers, GIVI’s 48-liter side cases, the Trekker Outback. The finish on the lids was marred by an attached MSR dromedary bag on the left…
Aux Lights
There have been enough cagers pull out in front of me regardless the roadway and despite that I run daytime with high beams and driving lights, that I thought to add a set of auxiliary lights to the Tiger’s front profile. With the turn signals relocated, their factory spot was wide open for a fitment…
Turn Indicator Relocation
As mentioned in a previous post, SW-Motech’s Kobra handguards have a slot where an LED turn indicator can be inserted, raising the level of the flashers with an increased brightness to boot. I did the same modification on my KLR and really liked the improvement as well as freeing up a spot for additional auxiliary…
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