If there`s been one consistent motorcycle type over the past few decades it`s the large capacity tourer. For the vast majority of riders, touring means long distances at high speeds on tarmac, and the best bikes are not adventure bikes (or cruisers) but those built specifically for that purpose. The Triumph Trophy will enter this market and in doing so compete in the most significant of all motorcycle classes, not least because it`s the most visible - the average person`s idea of a big motorcycle, and one you see every day.
The bikes are everywhere. The police ride them; they are used by a number of different groups to escort and marshal major sporting events on the road; and increasingly, city centre paramedics ride them. Although not done intentionally, these users are showcasing their bikes and more importantly, the bike`s manufacturer. The machines are thought by most onlookers to be reliable because they are the choice of large public bodies or companies. Public perception is that they must be comfortable, allowing hours to be spent in the saddle, and safe at high speed. It`s here that Triumph need to better BMW: not competing with the GS, but with the RT. When we see the majority of European police forces using Triumphs and the Gendarmerie leading the Tour de France on Trophys, then Triumph will have arrived at the top – on the most important British bike ever.
