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Few people realise that Triumph Motorcycles has been around for more than 100 years*.
The chances are someone in your family has owned at least one of its products. I’ve owned several models, including a 500cc sprung-hub Speed Twin, a 650cc Bonneville and more than one Thunderbird – superb bikes.
Triumph Trophy specs
The marketing people at the factory in Hinkley, England, seem to have the happy knack of continually developing bikes that customers really want – and names that owners can warm to – as is the case with their latest model, the 2012 Triumph Trophy. Ostensibly, this is a large-capacity tourer, complete with shaft drive. That's a first for this revitalised British brand.
Triumph reckons it’s its most technologically advanced bike yet with ride-by-wire technology, traction control, cruise control, electronic suspension, electrically adjustable screen, an audio system (with Bluetooth), linked anti-lock brakes and a tyre-pressure monitors -– and there’s plenty more innovative features I haven’t mentioned.
PREVIOUS TROPHY NO MEASURE
You’d be correct in thinking there was a previous Trophy but certainly not one with the above glowing attributes. Further standard kit to be found on this new version includes a centre stand, a 12V power outlet (well, we have to charge our cellphones, don’t we?) and a 25-litre fuel tank – a must-have on any good touring machine.
At the heart of the beast is the similar lusty-by-nature, three-cylinder engine developed for the award-winning Tiger Explorer. This shaft-driven, 1215cc, liquid-cooled triple delivers an impressive 99kW at 8900rpm and 120Nm of torque at 6450rpm, providing smooth effortless power whenever needed – perfect for those of us who regularly carry a pillion passenger, methinks.
The feisty motor is mated to a six-speed constant-mesh gearbox which turns the shaft. There’s a single cast-aluminium swing arm for easy rear-wheel removal in the event of a puncture. Tyres are 17" back and front; the wheels are five-spoked, cast-alloy.
I’d say the R&D guys at the factory have excelled themselves this time around and have made every effort to provide optimum wind and weather protection with a a truly aerodynamic fairing.
STELLAR HISTORY
Taking a closer look at the electrically adjustable screen, I see it can be raised/lowered through 16.4cm and comes with a memory function that automatically adjusts to your last pre-set position when you restart the bike. (Driver and pillion comfort is further enhanced with a range of seat options including heating, front and rear.)
To prevent tippy-toe motorcycling, the rider's seat height can additionally be adjusted between 800 and 820mm – perfect for the vertically challenged among us! Availability in South Africa is estimated the final quarter of 2012 with SA prices to be announced then.
The Trophy will enjoy extended 16 000km service intervals with major services only every 32 000km.
*Triumph Motorcycles was established in 1902 so this year, 2012, is celebrating 110 years of motorcycle manufacture. For more than 20 years the company has been based in Hinckley, Leicestershire and assembles about 50 000 bikes a year. Triumph is the largest British motorcycle manufacturer and has more than 750 dealers worldwide.
Triumph Trophy specs
IMAGE COMPILATION
The chances are someone in your family has owned at least one of its products. I’ve owned several models, including a 500cc sprung-hub Speed Twin, a 650cc Bonneville and more than one Thunderbird – superb bikes.
Triumph Trophy specs
The marketing people at the factory in Hinkley, England, seem to have the happy knack of continually developing bikes that customers really want – and names that owners can warm to – as is the case with their latest model, the 2012 Triumph Trophy. Ostensibly, this is a large-capacity tourer, complete with shaft drive. That's a first for this revitalised British brand.
Triumph reckons it’s its most technologically advanced bike yet with ride-by-wire technology, traction control, cruise control, electronic suspension, electrically adjustable screen, an audio system (with Bluetooth), linked anti-lock brakes and a tyre-pressure monitors -– and there’s plenty more innovative features I haven’t mentioned.
PREVIOUS TROPHY NO MEASURE
You’d be correct in thinking there was a previous Trophy but certainly not one with the above glowing attributes. Further standard kit to be found on this new version includes a centre stand, a 12V power outlet (well, we have to charge our cellphones, don’t we?) and a 25-litre fuel tank – a must-have on any good touring machine.
At the heart of the beast is the similar lusty-by-nature, three-cylinder engine developed for the award-winning Tiger Explorer. This shaft-driven, 1215cc, liquid-cooled triple delivers an impressive 99kW at 8900rpm and 120Nm of torque at 6450rpm, providing smooth effortless power whenever needed – perfect for those of us who regularly carry a pillion passenger, methinks.
The feisty motor is mated to a six-speed constant-mesh gearbox which turns the shaft. There’s a single cast-aluminium swing arm for easy rear-wheel removal in the event of a puncture. Tyres are 17" back and front; the wheels are five-spoked, cast-alloy.
I’d say the R&D guys at the factory have excelled themselves this time around and have made every effort to provide optimum wind and weather protection with a a truly aerodynamic fairing.
STELLAR HISTORY
Taking a closer look at the electrically adjustable screen, I see it can be raised/lowered through 16.4cm and comes with a memory function that automatically adjusts to your last pre-set position when you restart the bike. (Driver and pillion comfort is further enhanced with a range of seat options including heating, front and rear.)
To prevent tippy-toe motorcycling, the rider's seat height can additionally be adjusted between 800 and 820mm – perfect for the vertically challenged among us! Availability in South Africa is estimated the final quarter of 2012 with SA prices to be announced then.
The Trophy will enjoy extended 16 000km service intervals with major services only every 32 000km.
*Triumph Motorcycles was established in 1902 so this year, 2012, is celebrating 110 years of motorcycle manufacture. For more than 20 years the company has been based in Hinckley, Leicestershire and assembles about 50 000 bikes a year. Triumph is the largest British motorcycle manufacturer and has more than 750 dealers worldwide.
Triumph Trophy specs
IMAGE COMPILATION
