News – Triumph Trophy 1200: the standard and SE versions under the microscope – The new Triumph 1200 Trophy under the microscope

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Triumph Trophy 1200: the standard and SE versions under the microscope

News - Triumph Trophy 1200: the standard and SE versions under the microscope - The new Triumph 1200 Trophy under the microscope

The Trophy 1200 vintage 2013 was unveiled on Site Friday evening. MNC goes into detail on the new Triumph road. Or rather on the two new roads: in October will land the Trophy and its SE version “ full options ” !

The new Triumph 1200 Trophy under the microscope

It is on the occasion of its 2012 Tridays – which take place close to Bavaria … – that Triumph has chosen to lift the veil on its first novelty for 2013: the Trophy 1200! After our, Site wishes to give its readers all the information provided by the English manufacturer !

Availability, colors and prices

  • Availability: October 2012

  • Colors: "Pacific" blue or "Lunar" gray

  • Prices: around 16,700 € (SE: 18,300 €)

After informing us that the return of the Trophy was long awaited by customers (read), Simon Warburton, product manager at Triumph, explains to us that the new 2013 Trophy is intended to be more "GT" than its predecessor, who died in 2004. And also much more sophisticated !

"Ten years ago, the Trophy looked more like a sport-GT, but this place is now occupied by the Sprint GT which, I would like to point out, will remain in the catalog at least this year.", specifies our interlocutor.

By launching its Trophy 1200 "2013" in October 2012, Triumph is therefore openly hunting in the lands of the BMW R1200RT, or even K1600GT and GTL! "If our bike looks like RT or Pan European as you say, it’s because it has the same goals and the same customers", insists Mister Warburton.

"We did not copy BMW !", he defends himself, however, in the face of an insistent colleague:"we simply chose to compete with them! Everything about the Trophy has been arranged in such a way as to have the best possible bike, that’s all"…

In evolutionary biology, we would speak of analogy … Experts in the field are categorical: two species extremely close from an anatomical point of view can belong to genera, families or even orders or classes that are perfectly distinct !

This is the case with the Trophy and the RT. These two motorcycles – to which we could add the Honda Pan European and the Yamaha FJR – first of all share the same plush aspect. The fairing is integral for optimal protection, the cardan transmission for simplified maintenance and the controls are lined with buttons !

We find on the Triumph the same tips as on its competitors, such as the mirrors that accommodate the turn signals and act as a windshield for the driver’s hands. Adorned at their black rubber end, the Trophy does not fear – too much – parking lots close to the walls.

Likewise, Triumph was keen to equip its electrically adjustable screen (on 16.4 cm) with a memory, thus avoiding the pilot having to adjust the height of his screen on each restart. To travel loaded, the new Trophy (standard and SE) have suitcases of 31 liters each.

We note however at this level a first originality "made in Hinckley": the TDLS or Triumph Dynamic Lugage System, that Sprint GT owners already know. "The cases are integral with each other but can rotate 5 ° around their upper fixings", specifies Triumph.

"This eliminates certain resonance phenomena", explains Simon Warburton,"and maintain the agility of the bike, even loaded, on angle changes". But this is only a detail: the Trophy stands out from the competition in other much more significant points. !

The engine is obviously the first difference claimed by Triumph. If the aluminum frame is completely new, the engine is directly borrowed from the release in early 2012.

"Apart from the pot and the air box, we didn’t touch anything"the Triumph product guru told Site."This induces minimal variations in the maximum values, but the character and the performances are almost the same.".

The technical sheet of the new Trophy 1200 reports a power of 134 hp at 8900 rpm (against 137 hp, 100 rpm higher, on the maxitrail) and a torque of 120 Nm at 6450 rpm ( 121 Nm at 6400 rpm on the Explorer) … Not enough to whip a Tiger !

As on the Explorer – and the 2.3-liter Rocket III – the interval between each minor overhaul is 16,000 km, while more in-depth inspections are performed every other time, or every 32,000 km. "The spacing of these appointments is important because these motorcycles are made to ride a lot !", recalls Simon Warburton.

In order to save the mechanics and improve the pleasure on the motorway, Triumph has all the same agreed to lengthen the last report of the six-speed gearbox: "on the Trophy, we cruise at 120 km / h just below 4200 rpm", informs us the manufacturer.

The second distinction between the Trophy and its rivals would be "the connection between the pilot, his machine and the road", continues the English manager. According to him, his new baby would offer both"control, stability, agility, precision and neutrality".

"You will verify this during the dynamic press presentation in September: while you might expect a car on two wheels it isn’t, the Trophy is still a fun bike to ride.", our host promises us…

The 1542 mm of wheelbase, 27 ° of chassis angle, 119 mm of trail and 301 kg all full facts, however, seem to indicate that the Triumph will be more stable than agile. A good balance and good suspension settings could surprise us, however….

It should be noted occasionally that the Trophy SE differs from the standard version by its electronic suspensions. "Triumph has collaborated with WP: the fork rebound will be electronically adjustable, as will the preload and rebound of the rear shock absorber", explains Simon Warburton.

Like the ESA option offered at BMW, this TES (Triumph Electronic Suspension) allows you to switch to Sport, Normal or Comfort mode – the system then plays on the trigger – and / or Solo, Solo charged or Duo mode – preload -, depending on the desire or need.

Delivered as standard on both models this time, the "standard" Trophy and SE benefit from coupled ABS braking, traction control – disconnectable, it is the heritage of trail! -, the speed regulator and an on-board computer providing all the information essential for large rollers and "commuters" (see technical sheet on next page).

And the list of practical aspects of lying down: electronic adjustment of the lights – what, it is not automatic? -, glove box with automatic closing equipped with a small clip very practical to hold its credit card and a 12 V socket, second 12 V socket for the driver, automatic adjustment of the brightness of the dashboard, adjustable rider seat (800 or 820 mm)…

The Trophy SE even benefits from a tire pressure indicator (TPMS) and a latest generation audio system that not only incorporates Bluetooth technology – of course! – but also that of Apple iPods.

"It is a system specific to our motorcycle which is very simple and pleasant to use: the volume varies according to the speed, as do the equalizer settings responsible for managing the bass and treble balance.", welcomes Simon Warburton.

"And all that for how much ?", inevitably asks Site …"The price has not yet been decided, it will be necessary to wait until September to find out, but it will be aligned with those of the competition", answers Éric Pecoraro, marketing manager at Triumph France..

As a reminder, Site got the same story from Simon Warburton, who however tells us that the SE should cost "between 1500 and 2000 euros more than the standard version".

At Triumph Switzerland, on the other hand, we are already announcing the standard Trophy at around 20,000 Swiss francs and the SE at 2,000 francs more. Or after conversion approximately 16,650 and 18,320 €: amounts that a beast rule of three based on the prices of the Explorer, the R1200GS – equipped with the Security Pack – and the R1200RT can be validated !

"We plan to sell 2500 Trophy worldwide in the first year", says Sam Warburton,"including 600 to 700 in France". For comparison, the R1200RT was sold in France in 2174 copies against 1212 FJR1300, 451 1400GTR and 443 Pan European.

"Indeed, the Honda works better in England, in particular thanks to the vehicles delivered to the police", confirms the English manager."At home, the police drive BMW or Honda".

Despite the contributions in terms of registrations and image, Triumph has no plans to align itself against the Germans or the Japanese in this administration market: "they are making too much effort to equip these fleets, it would not be interesting for us".

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