Help me decide! RT1200/Trophy/RT1200?

[dcdbraun]

Hello all!  I could use some help in determining which bike is the better deal.  Number 1 is a 2013 R1200RT with 10k miles for $10k.  Number 2 is  2014 Trophy SE with 7500 miles for $7500.  Number 3 is a 2015 R1200RT with 24k miles for $11,500.  I'm sure the 2015 is the best bike but the cost if the Trophy is hard to turn down.  Thoughts?

[Dartman340ta]

Well does finance have a part in this .  I’m a Bmw guy and I like the 15 over the 13.  Like it now more than when I first received it.  Seat change.couple other things.  That’s just more or less making it fit.  But in reality do what’s best for you

[emlevy]

I’d choose the ‘15 RT. You won’t remember the price difference after a month of ownership.

[BoB21]

Test rode trophy b4 buying rt. Personally if i lived in America or did more long motorway riding would go for trophy. Larger and more comfortable but more top heavy. But short production run so parts imagine hard to get.

[PeteM]

Having owned both a Triumph and BMWs I would go for one of the BMWs. Triumph was the most unreliable bike I have ever owned

[Our Gee]

I have owned BMW Tourers for nearly twenty years. Three years ago I thought I was retiring from Motorcycling and sold my last RT (a 2013 Twincam). Then after a year of being "bikeless" I realised my mistake and on the spur of the moment bought a Mint Condition Triumph Sprint GT at a very, very attractive price. Fantastic engine and gearbox, very well put together, good quality switches etc.(dare I say better than BMW !!) The downside, Very protracted and expensive (if done at Triumph Dealer) maintenance schedule. I was quoted over £700 for a Service (which included a valve check). The BMW R1200's are very home maintenance "friendly" with only a couple of things requiring Dealer knowledge and facilities. My own humble opinion would be haggle like hell and if it is in mint condition go for the 2013 (Twincam) which is the more "sorted" bike. I have now returned to the fold and own a very , very nice 2011 Twincam with less than 14,000 miles and full Dealer service history. Put in a "nutshell" the Twincam RT's are a Design Classic.

[David.]

Between owning a new 2010 Camhead and purchasing a used 2012 Camhead in 2014, I looked at both the Triumph Trophy and the Wethead RT.

The reasons I looked at the TT were because at the time, I was doing 10K to 12K miles per year and cosmetically, the TT is similar in appearance to that of the RT. The TT service intervals are every year or 10K miles vs every year or 6K miles for the RT. I thought great, only 1 service per year for the TT. However, when looking at a 2 year or 18K to 20K period, there was nothing to choose between the 2 bikes. I didn't test ride the TT, and was familiar with RT's having also owned a 2007 Hexhead, therefore, left it at that.

Now to the Wethead RT, when they first appeared in 2014, I was keen to have a look at one. My first impressions were, I didn't like the cosmetic appearance over that of the Camhead and didn't take it any further. Later in 2014, I had a good test ride on a Wethead, around 100 miles on a variety of roads. My impressions were vs the Camhead, more vibration through the handlebars & footrests, the plastics were not as solid or well secured. The Wethead engine felt more free revving than the Camhead to the point where it had lost some of the boxer twin character. After the test ride, I saw a very low mileage 2012 Camhead in the showroom and bought that.

When it comes to maintenance, I always think of how simple it is to check/adjust the valve clearances on the Camhead vs the Wethead.

If the same question is posted on a Triumph Trophy forum, the advice would most likely be, buy the TT. Likewise, when it comes to Camhead vs Wethead RT's, owners are always going to recommend their particular model.

There's more to it than price, what about service history, overall condition, number of owners etc. Why is the TT the cheapest, perhaps not as popular, it didn't have a long model run. Triumph produce some very nice looking bikes, but don't have a tourer in their line up. Perhaps even they decided that the RT was the better bike!

[beemerboy9]

Hello all!  I could use some help in determining which bike is the better deal.  Number 1 is a 2013 R1200RT with 10k miles for $10k.  Number 2 is  2014 Trophy SE with 7500 miles for $7500.  Number 3 is a 2015 R1200RT with 24k miles for $11,500.  I'm sure the 2015 is the best bike but the cost if the Trophy is hard to turn down.  Thoughts?

Surely there must be a very good reason why the Triumph loses value so much faster than an RT - and is therefore undoubtedly the best deal of the three machines?


However is it the best machine for you and are you going to enjoy riding it?


My test ride of the Trophy ended before switching on the ignition. I could not get in onto its center-stand.

[Gavj]

I traded in my 2013 Trophy after 4 years of ownership for my R1250RT. To be honest I would have bought another Trophy if they still made them. I loved every mile on the Trophy and it never let me down. The BMW has a hard act to follow.... I bought the RT as its the only bike on the market similar to the Trophy.
I have only done a couple of thousand miles on the RT and so far I love it. As the RT is 7 years newer than my trophy its no suprise that the RT is  smoother. The technology on my RT is leaps ahead from the Trophy but I cant comment about the older RT's.


If you look back at your bike when you park it you wont have gone far wrong with your choice.... only thing on the Trophy is the 20k service.. ouch £1k at the dealer. It took me a full 8 hours to strip the fairing off mine and change the airfilter and plugs, and I didn't do the valve clearances at that visit.


Trophy's triple engine is a peach but a bit rattly. The weight / bulk disapears when you go faster than 5 mph.


I dont think you will be dissapointed in either bike. The final decision for me buying my RT was the way the dealer came across.. weight up everything and go for the best deal (not just price)


good luck

[speedy]

Seems like an obvious answer to me....2014+ RT.  As was said above, a month from now, a few extra bucks in your pocket will long be forgotten as you enjoy your new bike!

[simbo]

If you can't find a suitable GS? (which is the perfect bike after all) I'd go for the 2013 RT without a doubt.

[PeteM]

To the OP remember when reading these posts (including mine) that this is an RT forum so there is likely to be a touch of basis 


Might be worth asking the same question on a triumph forum to get the alternative view

[simbo]

To the OP remember when reading these posts (including mine) that this is an RT forum so there is likely to be a touch of basis 


Might be worth asking the same question on a triumph forum to get the alternative view

The GS 'is the better bike'... That's why Triumph have scrapped production of the Trophy and concentrated on the Adventure series bikes.


:-)

[BoB21]

(The GS 'is the better bike'... That's why Triumph have scrapped production of the Trophy and concentrated on the Adventure series bikes.)




Which are far better, more exclusive than Boorman wannabe's.  Just not as great as RT.

[David.]

I know someone who had a Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer, he changed it for a Camhead RT.

He said, "The Camhead RT was the best bike he had ever ridden".