TRIUMPH TROPHY 1200 (1991 - 2004) Review

Year: 2000

Top heavy, cluch engages firmly, front brakes grab at low speed. A PIA in the city.

Buying experience: Private buyer - went well.

Year: 2002

It's a beautiful machine but uncomfortable.

Buying experience: I bought it for $2300 used with 40k on it. I wish I'd bought something from Japan or Germany. It was an impulse buy because the bike is so good looking.

Year: 1997

Annual servicing cost: £150

Top heavy is the worst feature. Best is storage, panniers, weather protection, reliability, comfort. I shall not be selling any time soon.

Buying experience: Bought at a Triumph Roadshow with just 2130 miles on at 2 years old. Paid £5,595 in 1999.

Year: 1998

I bought my 1998 1200 Trophy brand new. Embarassing story - dropped it on the test drive at a gravel stop sign and took off the passenger mirror and left a few scuffs on the pannier. The salesmen happened to be an old high-school classmate and I bought it anyway. Loved that bike - really a handsome bike and I never had a single problem with it over the roughly 15,000 miles I kept it. The bike was on the top-heavy side. Living in Wisconsin with plenty of rural roads - you are sure to run into more than a fair share of gravel parking lots and some stray gravel and sand on roadways and intersections - once you lose your footing when you're coming to a stop this bike is a tough one to keep north. I hate to say my test ride drop was followed by 3-4 others in parking lots - gravel of course. All in all - a great bike I was proud to own. I've been back to HD's - was on them before I bought this and afterwards when I sold it. But, I may pick up another if I find a low-mile one if great shape as a second bike.

Year: 1993

Annual servicing cost: £100

This bike is so good I’ve talked my son into buying one

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £200

A beautiful looking bike when I bought it in 2003, still stops folk in their tracks when they see it 16 years later. Super smooth to ride, awesome tourer for the Mrs, carries everything you need for a few nights away in side panniers and top box.

Buying experience: £3,500 or thereabouts

Year: 2003

I bought my bike in February 2018. I had promised myself in 1990 that I was going to have a Hinckley Triumph but kids and life happened until this year. And I wish I hadn’t waited. From the moment I sat on her I have looked as if I’d eaten a coat hanger, so smitten am I. Had a few days out around Devon, Somerset and Cornwall then went on a Continental tour or France and Spain with a friend and his wife on their GSX1400. What a joy in almost every respect. One niggle came around half-past-France with a squeaky dry speedo drive that took some finding but was soon addressed temporarily with some chain spray. The only other complaint was the seat. As a 6’1 long legged gent I found the seat shape to continually push me into one single position which when you’re covering around 200 miles daily was literally a pain. I did eventually get used to it, so probably tells you more about this born-again-biker’s derrière than the bike’s seating arrangements. In short I love my bike and cannot imagine selling her now such a member of the family is she. Indeed I’m now looking to add to my garage, a Daytona 1200, then a Speed Quattro and eventually a Rocket III. The bug has bitten, and I’m thankful for that.

Buying experience: Superb, thanks mainly to the fastidious servicing the previous owner bestowed on the girl.

Year: 2003

As I decided to write a review about my Triumph Trophy, the only options it offered me, was 1 out of 5. Personally, I would not give this bike a star. Although my bike was a 2003, and it all comes down to how previous owners had looked after the bike, I first noticed that the black pain, surrounding the engine, was peeling away from the engine. The next thing was the oil leak pulsating out from the alternator seal (which became a pain to replace). The seating position, was not at its best although the bike handled and rode well. I found it very difficult to judge the engine oil level through the oil level glass. And if I was a couple of inched shorter, the windscreen may have saved me from turbulence so bad, it felt as though my head was in a wind tunnel. Any speeds over 50 MPH, became unbearable. Moving about on the seat to lower my head height, became compulsory when travelling on motorways. And I think the design of the screen caused this to happen. After working on this bike, I felt that the screen, was not the only design issue. This bike was a disaster. Thankfully, I have sold the bike to hopefully a happy Triumph lover. As this bike has put me off Triumphs, for the near future.

Version: 1180cc 142bhp frame number 202

Year: 1991

Fabulous engine and total reliability. Front brakes and forks need upgrading with Daytona items for much better stopping power and fully adjustable suspension. My forks have been tuned by Maxton with their rear shock also fitted. Very early ones like mine have larger carb jets fitted and do around 38-40 mpg. Later jets increase this to 42-45 under similar riding.

Buying experience: Bought new from a dealer Market M/C of Tring in 1992. Paid £7149.

Version: 1200

Year: 1996

Annual servicing cost: £100

Brilliant tourer, in the past three years I have toured Spain, France and Portugal and to be honest it has been near perfect but I rated it Four out of Five because of the weight and whilst I have never dropped it I find it demanding riding over cobbled streets in old town centres. I would rate it highly and considering the price of them I would recommend anyone wanting a tourer to give them serious thought.

Buying experience: Bought privately 17 years ago from a fastidious owner. Then it was £2250 on e bay auction with 9000 miles and very good condition.

Purchased a '94 Trophy as my first bike - and so far it has been excellent. Starts on the button and rides nice and smoothly. Plenty of room for my long legs and easy to balance. It has been very forgiving with my while I have learned how to ride it. Overall it has been a dream for both commuting and the "fun" rides. Plenty of power when asked, but nice and smooth on the day-to-day stuff.

I,ve had this bike about 6 months now and so far been realy pleased. As the review states its a bit old school, but i find it can move on quite fast on most roads. Its big strong and well put together, as well as being very comfortable. The furthest ive been is this years WSB at Magny-Cours, it carried me and all my kit plus 2 other peoples tents no problems on a 1000 mile round trip.It does what it says on the box,and is good value for the money. And the best bit is its British.

Bought new Feb 2000 slight problem with engine within first week diagnosed as faulty coil and replaced under warranty. Now on 62000 miles and still running like a dream, smooth, fastish, hurtles across roundabouts, 14 hours riding in a day and still no sore arse and carries enough kit for a fortnight away with tent, sleeping bag etc. Would I change this bike....not in a million years, British racing green, union jacks - hey its great to be touring europe flying the flag.

great for long journeys 2 up,averages about 41 mpg, a big improvement on my diversion in the way of sheer power & torque & able to give many a sports bike a run for there money if the road has nice sweeping bends.have fitted a scottoiler great invention saves getting messy,great bike. Strengths: Riding position, torque and price.  Weaknesses: Weight, turning circle and paint quality.

If like me you are a born again biker looking for a lot of bike for your money, one you can get out and tour on in comfort, then look no further than the Triumph Trophy. A good solid VFM machine, try and find a 1999 or later model. The screen and fairing were restyled to minimise buffering for 99 and it worked. Strengths: Comfort, stylish & loads of storage with the full luggage system. Weaknesses: Bit heavy on the fuel.

I have owned this bike for two years now. I use it for commuting and days out as well as long touring holidays. I have been to southern Spain and Prague as well as touring France and Germany. The reliability has been excellent and comfort is first rate. A 500 mile stretch in one day followed by the same the next day is no problem.  Strengths: Fast, comfortable, excellent fairing, good handling. Excellent luggage. Weaknesses: Fuel economy could be better. Thats a minor issue. In a perect world it would have shaft drive, that again is a minor issue.