The Trophy Might (Will) Have To Go

Hi RR. The bike makers should consider us small arses too there's so little to choose from. I hope your wife enjoys her R1200R and that it stays reliable. Before I bought my Trophy I actually bought the last of the air cooled R1200R's. I really liked the bike, it was low, relatively light and nice to ride but mine was a bit of a lemon and eventually I got fed up of it and traded it in for the Trophy and now I'm back to the same dilemma again. I think the Explorer with the low seat is probably what I'll end up, but I'm still looking around.
Cheers

 

In pursuit of my Trophy replacement, whilst the Tiger Explorer is still on my potential list, on Saturday I've arranged a test ride on the BMW R1200GS and the Suzuki V-Strom 1000 both with lowered seats. The BMW dealer also sells Suzukis so I'll be riding one after the other. He's trying to get me to buy another BMW, but they are so expensive.
The Suzy weighs 232kg (wet) similar weight to the Beemer but is roughly 6-7000 euros cheaper (no brainer really). Strangely enough I sat on the new Bandit 650 and it felt really nice - really low (I can flat foot it) and super light (well it is compared to Big Bertha anyways). It's quite exciting trying out all these bikes. - Keep you all posted

TC.

 

BMW R1200GS - Although this water cooled engine version is better than my old air cooled, the rest of the bike is agricultural. Gearbox was shockingly clunky. The quickshifter was good however. Low seat was hard, screen was not so good. The bike is not for me

Suzuki VStrom 1000. - Low seat enabled me to partially get my feet down, but goodness it was harder than the BMW. It was like sitting on a plank of wood. Gearbox was in a different league to the BMW, so smooth and quiet. The bike felt nimble, light and flickable. The screen was pretty good. But just couldn't live with that seat. (I'd develop Farmer Giles in no time)

Could've ridden the low seat TEX today as well but will try it next saturday.

So far the best bike of the lot is .............................. yes you guessed it the TROPHY. It has presence and comfort in spades

 

littleade - just to correct you, The honourable gentleman is in actual fact female. We ladies ride and love bikes too
But back to the issue at hand, yes the Trophy is a handful moving it about and the weight is not getting any easier as I get older, but it's far superior in my view to all the bikes I've tried so far. I will try the TEX with low seat next saturday, but I'm starting to think and accept that for now I'll hang onto the Trophy.

I had the BMW out for about 45mins and about the same for the VStrom. It was enough time for me.

Nikki

 

yes awesome. I'd go for that

 

I love that

 

Went to my local friendly Triumph dealer this morning and he wheeled out the TEX XRT with low seat for me to try. After getting on I discovered there is no difference in the height and I'm still on the balls of my feet. I turned off the engine and gave him the keys back without even taking it out. So if I wanted a TEX I'd have to have the low model (not just a low seat fixed to the original).
Conclusion:- I'm keeping the Trophy - maybe in a couple of years I'll see what's out there but for now Big Bertha and I aren't getting a divorce.