A triumph in touring

Triumph’s latest bike, the Trophy, takes it straight to the top of the touring class as Jimmy Yarwood reports

The motorcycle touring market has long since been dominated by BMW and Honda; it’s taken three years for Britain’s flagwaving Triumph Motorcycles to finally launch a tourer that it considers worthy to enter such a highly competitive market. However, the wait has been worth it as once again Triumph has come up trumps. The initial observation of the SE1200 is it’s huge and a little intimidating if you’re only 5ft 7in. While the saddle height is fine for short-legged riders its wide, forcing your thighs apart, so stopping is a tippy-toe affair, but once on the move the bike fits like a glove and any initial intimidation falls away as the Triumph is a revelation. I decided to put as many miles as possible in the short test period, so I headed from Maidstone for the Kent coast near Dymchurch, worked my way along as far as Brighton and then turned in-land via Lewes and Tunbridge Wells. The ride down across the twisty Romney Marsh B roads showed the Triumph, although marketed primarily as a tourer, was surprisingly agile and the front end, despite a substantial fairing and screen, really light in operation. It has a three-way adjustable suspension setting system, but I didn’t feel the need to take it off the “normal”. With dry roads the SE1200 took everything in its stride and despite being fitted with an enormous topbox and side panniers the steering was direct and confidence-inspiring. The 1200SE boasts an on-board radio system – I find it a distraction – as a consequence the left handlebar switchgear is a little confusing with buttons everywhere. Parking up at Dungeness I discovered putting the bike on the centre stand wasn’t too easy; it wouldn’t roll and needed a fair tug and pull to get it on to the stand. As the afternoon wore on and the temperature dropped the heated grips and saddle came into play, these were a definite plus, as was the fully adjustable electric screen – possibly one of the best on the market – by deflecting the cooling air. The triple cylinder motor is the heart of the SE1200 and cruising at 70mph showed a mere 3,500rpm – not redlining until 12,000rpm – and as a consequence was never under any stress; at 6,000rpm in lower gears and on the overrun the sound from the massive single-sided exhaust was pure music. Coupled to a six-speed gearbox, and transmission via shaft to the rear wheel, the hefty tourer just munched mile after mile and, as the daylight fell, the dials and LCD readouts were clear and concise. Back home I began to have a closer look at the stationary SE. The attention to detail and finish was typical high-quality Triumph. The panniers are well made and the glove box compartments in the fairing make good sense for toll change and ferry ticket stubs; there’s also a 12v outlet and a USB adaptor. Next morning I headed to Margate and on the return leg over to Sheppey; these routes would allow me to take in motorway and dual carriageway, the forte of big tourers, and play with the cruise control. I wasn’t disappointed, within no time we were down on the seafront grabbing a warming cuppa before heading back inland. Since returning to mainstream bike production, Triumph appears to have the Midas touch – the SE1200 is no exception – pure gold! For more details go to Laguna Motorcycles, Hart Street, Maidstone. Contact 01622 681765 or go to www.lagunamotorcycles.co.uk