First the bad--my Trophy is waiting on parts for an ECM recall, center stand recall, and TSB to replace the cylinder head. I had only a few of the electronic problems that have dogged the bike and none of the serious throttle position sensor problems which actually shut the bike down. Apparently they are blaming all those on the ECM. I had things like it not finding the audio system, randomly resetting the trip computer and multiple low voltage announcements which cause multiple functionality issues with the electronic doodads, but don't stop the bike from being started and ridden.
The good, most of these glitches seem to have been fixed--there is a redesigned ECM, cylinder head, center stand, and a multitude of other things modified about halfway through 2013 production. My bike is a very early model.
Its funny about the power--most reviews tout the extra HP of the 1215 cc triple, but the Trophy's exhaust is different than the Tiger Explorers and drops HP by about 10. Compared to the ST, I'd say they are about even. I often used the word "seamless" to describe the acceleration of the ST and that also applies to the Trophy. There isn't any sudden hit of power, it just accelerates quickly. Not in sport bike territory, but it definitely moves and while it has tremendous roll on torque, I think the ST probably has it beat in a top gear roll on. It has a six speed gear box so that may affect things. I tend to ignore 6th until I'm going to be riding over 70 mph for an extended amount of time. 5th seems just right for 70 mph.
It vibrates more than the ST. Its smooth, but not like a V4 or my Gold Wing, I'd say it feels more like an in-line four in that regard. Having said that, you don't feel it much unless you look for it as rubber foot pegs and bar end weights keep that tingling out of your feet and hands. The mirrors are fairing mounted so they aren't fuzzy. You can feel just how much vibration there is by putting your pinky on one of the bar end weights. There is a considerable amount of buzzing going on there that I don't feel on my Gold Wing and didn't feel on the ST.
Weather protection on the ST was excellent, better than the Gold Wing in my opinion. The upper body protection of the Trophy is just as good as the ST and the lower body protection is better and the mirrors do a better job of keeping the wind off your hands. Speaking of mirrors, they aren't any better than the STs. I get a good view of my knuckles and the top of the saddle bags. You can see what's behind you between the two. The Trophy fairing seems much bigger than the STs and you sit closer to it.
The Trophy is lighter than the ST and looks bigger so it's kind of an odd riding experience at first because you just expect it to be a handful. It's quite agile when you're riding it, but like the ST is top heavy at low speed. I replaced the low seat (standard in North America) with the regular seat and the bike is all day comfortable now. I rode the 200 miles from Abilene to Salado on the low seat and was ready to get off after just three hours. You sit more up right and your feet are a little bit in front of you compared to the ST. In fact the foot position feels too far forward and I ride with my toes on the pegs 90 percent of the time.
The Trophy has more lean angle than the ST and I've not scraped anything yet. That comes at the expense of being a very tall bike. I have a 32" inseam and can't come close to flat footing the bike. I guess that is a trade off between the regular and low seat. Since its lighter it changes direction a little quicker than the ST and the adjustable suspension is better than the STs in normal and sport. In comfort it feels a lot like the ST did and its easy to overwhelm the rear if riding very fast. I will say that the ergonomics of the ST are better for very aggressive riding than the Trophy's as it feels like I'm just sitting too up right to really take advantage of the bike.
I get around 50 mph on every day riding, but it goes down quickly as your speed increases. Once I leave central Texas and head west, the speed limits on most roads are 75 with some at 80 mph and at those speeds gas mileage is close to 40. You're pushing a really big fairing through the wind. I had a Clearview GT large screen with Gold Wing vent on my ST and it was perfect for me. The stock Trophy screen is smaller and there isn't a lot of aftermarket support out there yet, but I'd like a set up similar to what I had on the ST. The Triumph touring screen is wider and taller, but doesn't have a vent. You don't get pulled forward like I did with the stock ST windscreen and don't slide toward the gas tank on the seat.
Maintenance on the ST couldn't be easier and the Trophy seems more like the Gold Wing in that regard. You have to remove the fairing and gas tank to change the air filter! Valve adjustments are every 20K and fairly complicated according to the service manual. Triumph uses a lot of threaded fasteners for the plastic parts instead of those plastic clips which makes it easier to remove and replace the plastic. There doesn't seem to be a zillion different size ones either. The oil filters sticks out the side of the engine for easy access and the interval is 10K. Its definitely a bike designed to be ridden a long way and often.
I think the Trophy is closer to the ST in terms of riding experience than any other bike I've ridden. In fact, I think Honda would be better served by upgrading the ST, like Yamaha did the FJR, than designing a whole new platform around the VFR-1200 engine. If they did, they'd end up with the Trophy.
I have never owned one bike this long. No plans to replace it.
Sounds like one nice bike when they get everything worked out. Glad to see them doing what is right.