Trading Up

[Bludy L]

I've seen on various threads that some individuals have or intend to trade up to newer models of the Trophy because of glitches in the early ones. I must admit I've been considering trading up to a 2015 before the warranty on my 2013 runs out.

I was curious what percentage of the 2013 have had issues and how that compares to the 2014s. How are you folks with the 2014s doing? Are the glitches minor?

[1150newguy]

10,000 miles on my 2014. ECM replaced under recall. No other issues. What few changes I have made have been for comfort/convenience reasons .

[cropbiker]

I have a 2013.... no significant issues to talk of beyond the known recalls.... I intend to keep my usual 6 years or so.

[Trumpetman14]

I had a 2013, in the shop 14 times in less than 12 months! Traded up for a 2014 and no problems. Love the bike, just had to have one that works!!!    -Dr Ron

[w8d4it]

I'm not planning on moving to a newer model.

[Saaz]

Same here, due for 32,000kms service. The cruise disengaging very infrequently is the only minor issue - it might do it once then not again for 5,000kms or more.

Originally Posted by NavyDad

10,000 miles on my 2014. ECM replaced under recall. No other issues. What few changes I have made have been for comfort/convenience reasons .

[Northkaibab]

I'm coming up on one year and close to 9k miles on my 2013 TTSE. The bike has had no serious issues aside from the recalls and a set of leaking fork seals replaced under warranty. Oh yes, and sometimes the windshield won't retract in cold weather.

I love riding the Trophy, and I'm impressed with most aspects of the design. The evidence - so far - indicates I got one of the more reliable ones. That said, some of the stories on this board and a few other web sites concern me a little. I bought the Trophy for long, solo tours and reliability is my absolute #1 priority.

Perhaps owning a new, complex bike that had not been in production very long didn't fit my priority stack very well.  But I've wanted a Triumph since I learned to ride in the early 1960's when 650 Bonnies ruled the roads (at least when they were running). So my purchase decision was not exactly an exercise in cool logic.

Yamaha came to town last week with a truck load of demo bikes, and I test rode a 2014 FJR1300 ES. I was very impressed with almost every aspect of the FJR, including riding position, ergonomics, control feel, engine / driveline smoothness, power and low-speed handling. (Yamaha had two nannies with us on the test ride...didn't let anyone break 50mph). Of course the fit and finish were first rate, and the FJR has a reputation for very high reliability. One could argue it has less "soul" than the Trophy, but I bond best with machines that get me where I want to go...and back.

I'll be riding the Trophy on a ~6k mile trip from Ohio to Colorado and Utah during the first two weeks of October. If the bike continues to perform well and I like it as much when I get back as I do today, there's a good chance I'll buy the extended warranty in another year and stick with the 2013 Trophy until that runs out.

Otherwise, there may be an FJR in my future.

Mike

[Bludy L]

When I got my Trophy the 2014 FJRs weren't yet out. I might have given them serious thought. The other bike that really appealed to me was the ST1300 but it hadn't been updated in years and it's now discontinued, at least in the US. 

It seems to me that the newer the Trophy, the fewer the problems. Therefore if the electrics problems on mine aren't resolved I would consider trading up to a 2015 Trophy, a black one!