Menus
- The Pullman version motorcycle
- Discovery
- Comfort
- First turns of the wheels
- The road
- Night flight
- Road cruise
- Duo
- Convenient
- Conclusion
- Strong points
- Weak points
The Pullman version motorcycle
The
Triumph Trophy is the Grand Touring model of the English brand: a 1200
cm3 four-cylinder.
Discovery
The Trophy 1200 is second to none, with its organic shapes.,
thus setting itself apart from the tendency to sharp shapes
of Japanese production. We immediately notice its double optics
oval front and the wide fairing grooved by three gills
carrying a wide and high bubble, bordered by two enormous
side cases. It exists in three colors: light blue, blue
dark and bronze … It is in its midnight blue version that it distills
the highest honor.
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By getting closer, we discover a complete and traditional instrumentation
and four large blocks: between the fuel gauge and the clock, the
counter shows a totalizer and a daily trip and the tachometer
a tiny red zone between 9,500 and 10,500 turns. It’s clear, it’s not
neither a sports car, nor a streamlined roadster. Installed behind, we think we are
at the controls of a boat, with only a flashing red diode: alarm
mounted in series. In normal mode, the alarm is sensitive enough to
start up when the suitcases are opened but it allows a cat
to jump on the motorbike without waking up the whole neighborhood. In silent mode,
it will only come into action in the event of a quick maneuver of the motorcycle or
in the event of an attempted break-in or opening of the Neiman. And for the
head in the air, the alarm goes into action automatically (without screaming)
after two minutes, once the key has been removed from the switch.
Comfort
The first contact with the bike is soft: the saddle, wide and comfortable,
foreshadows hours of comfortable driving. The wide handlebars drop immediately
under the hands and offers a particularly upright overall position:
no pressure on the wrists here. Comfort helping, it feels like
a chair. Be careful, however, for small sizes: if the saddle
is low, it is also very wide, and the feet are on the tip
for any biker of a meter seventy.
First turns of the wheels
Kickstand folded, neutral, choke on (no injection
on this model) the Trophy snorts in a sound
moat and grave with slow motion over 800 laps.
The
first passed, the motorbike rushes off on a trickle of gas. We feel everything
due to the greater weight and a higher center of gravity compared to
to a roadster. This gives a first impression of swaying
easy at low speed. Once on the road, the bike is needed in the middle
of the roadway in its entire width. And then we notice the mirrors.
Wide and ample, they offer a panoramic view without
blind spot on both sides, allowing – almost – to get rid of the traditional
side head butt.
On the handlebars, we hesitate at first to slip it between the
lines of cars as we would with a roadster or a sports car,
impressed by this unusual width. After
a few tries, we finally go everywhere and the lifts of
queues, including on the Paris ring road, are carried out
no problem … although it is clear that the width of the
motorcycle taking into account the large rear suitcases, so that the space
granted is less important than usual. this
also explains that it is less easy to let go of the handlebars for a gesture
friendly, especially in "borderline" conditions, so the
margin is reduced to any driving error and particularly
in the city.
The road
Exit
of the city, the Trophy finds its ease and winds quietly. The
fairing protection is excellent and also provides protection
to wind and rain an unparalleled sense of security. Therefore,
despite the size, we are surprised to take cornering in bends
impressive, visually accentuated by the huge bubble (which is similar
here at a windshield) which seems to tilt outrageously. This ability
cornering will stop on tight bends or a shed one
slow throttle will cause the rear wheel to slip slightly.
Surprising the first time, the maneuver can be repeated without danger,
the motorcycle never losing its balance. This is of course a situation
extreme, because day by day, the Trophy encourages more tranquility and
will rarely lead his pilot to experience this extreme.
Offering unparalleled protection on the departmental and national levels, the
Trophy enters with confidence on the western highway. The evening is
apparently conducive to freedom since the average speed of cars
rubs shoulders with 180 km / h in second row, while a few cars overtake
still well in third row. The tachometer needle therefore rises
in order to remain homogeneous with the circulation. The motorcycle remains stable and the
bubble does its job: the pilot is protected over its entire width
and its height, up to the helmet, without feeling any eddies. Even at these
high speeds, the helmet is relatively little subjected to the pressure of the
wind, offering tranquility to the cervicals. The only discomfort comes from
then of the headset itself and its inability to muffle noise. He stays
still the possibility of slightly lowering the shoulders and the head to
take full shelter behind the screen in a safe and comfortable position
and thus eliminate any noise, for a sound comfort equal to that
of a car !
The kilometers go down quickly without noticing it. Only the gauge
tends to go down quickly. The motorcycle then just passed the bar
200 kilometers from the previous fuel tank while the motorbike signals by
its slowing down that it is time to switch to the reserve, manually.
At the pump, she greedily swallows 21 liters of gasoline, marking a
particularly greedy consumption on this type of fast circuit.
When it’s full, we leave immediately without having to walk,
neither to rest, nor to do exercises and relaxations. And when
the final stage comes after another full tank, we still feel full
form. There’s no denying it, it’s the Pullman version of the motorcycle: the way to swallow
the kilometers without tiring.
Night flight
When the road continues and night falls, the Trophy continues to show
his predilection for the road and long journeys. Its double optics
is very effective in headlights, and superior to that of the Speed Triple
in full lighthouse. So, in full headlight, the double beam is practically
equivalent to that of a car: an exception! We can thus continue
to drive at practically the same speed as in broad daylight without anxiety,
including in the middle of the forest.
Road cruise
Come
safely, the motorway is abandoned in favor of small coastal roads.
The Trophy then winds on the torque, allowing a smooth ride
by staying on the two thousand turns and ensuring a modest sixty
kilometers per hour. The times are then soft and smooth allowing
to quietly discover the landscapes. If the landscape turns out more
hilly, it will then suffice to open a little wider or stay on
a lower gear. In terms of consumption, the Trophy then finds
its cruising speed and allows long crossings of three hundred
kilometers before going to reserve. By staying really in sixth,
under 3000 rpm, on country roads, you can even reach
the record of 391 kilometers … and the fuel exhaustion at
that time 😉
For others, and on intermediate gears, the Trophy
offers straightforward covers, without being a thunderbolt. It’s not
clearly not a motorcycle made for stopped starts.
Braking turns out to be up to the bike: efficient without excess.
It is not likely to surprise, even when firmly seizing the lever.
The rear brake is a decent retarder. Front brake plunges
the bike on strong braking, solo. In charge, and accompanied,
the motorbike keeps its plate.
The only difficulty with this type of motorcycle is during maneuvers.
at low speed. The greater weight, a higher center of gravity, and
a wide saddle offering generally less ground support,
put out of balance more easily than a roadster or a sports car.
This phenomenon will be further amplified when we find ourselves making a
maneuvering on a steep slope and will require a little practice before
feel perfectly at ease.
Duo
The comfort that the Trophy brings solo is extended for the duo. The
saddle is also wide and comfortable for the passenger, obliging
by the same to a rise by the footrest … or the exhaust. This is
moreover this exhaust which can interfere – or even burn – during a
missed saddle descent.
Side handles allow you to choose an upright, comfortable position,
while offering good visibility of the road and the countryside. The only
difference in protection can be felt in the rain: the passenger is then
less well protected than the pilot by the enclosing fairing.
Convenient
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The side cases are spacious – 36 liters each – and
easily removable. Suddenly, they really serve as suitcases.
Being close to the road, however, they get dirty very quickly
and require a certain vigilance during transport not to transform
Jean in black mop. The icing on the cake, the motorcycle line
remains pleasant, even without the suitcases.
The storage compartments arranged on either side of the fairing
allow you to slide a small camera, a map, a flashlight
pocket, change, phone…
The on-board instrumentation indicates when the stand is engaged with an exclamation point
Red. Lined by the safety that prevents rolling with the kickstand,
there is no longer any risk of wrong maneuvering.
Conclusion
It
there are motorcycles to play and those to go far and long without
to suffer. The Triumph Trophy is part of the latter category. She
literally swallows the kilometers and allows you to make particularly
long without tiring either the pilot or the passenger. She adapts
to all driving styles and allows you to wind up quietly for
discover the landscapes without driving. Its luggage capacity
allows long and far stays. It will delight couples and promote
peace in households. She will convince the trembling wives
that the motorbike also allows you to dream and enjoy travel.
Strong points
- comfort
- rider / passenger protection
- the alarm
- price
Weak points
- consumption in intensive use
- low speed maneuverability
- not very demonstrative engine
- no gimbal
Datasheet
- See also the complete test of the 2012 Triumph Trophy 1200 vintage
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