Request for Owner's Experience/Feedback

[CD8TR]

Greetings Everyone-
I've had my eye on this bike for several years now. Purchased a new Concours in 2012; awesome bike, but a little cramped for two-up riding, plus really like electronic cruise control/heated seats, which of course is still unavailable.

So in 2013, traded for a new GTL1600. LOVED IT, but everytime I went to dealer for service, would require recall/warranty work, etc. Dealer was/is phenomenal (Jacksonville, FL) but 3 hours from home. Everything posted in the forums ended up becoming a warranty reality, so I finally decided to scale back to something a little more tried and true (or so I thought), and being a huge Beemer fan, traded for a 2014 R1200GS.

Three months/4000 miles into ownership, engine begins clattering once hot, sounded like it was going to self-destruct. After 5 months, two dealerships, and 2.5 months sitting in service department while BMW tries to figure out a fix, we finally negotiate an upgrade to a 2015 model (no '14's available) and move on with a new one.

At Daytona bike week last month, riding around the first Saturday, and discover what appears to be a blown fork seal; 7 months old and 6000 miles---good grief!!  So I've decided, mostly in part because the only dealer I would trust to properly work on this is 200 miles away, its time to go, and ride something that I can get worked on locally.

Which leads me to the Trophy. I've read the articles about first year bugs, etc. Heck, the GTL was still cutting its teeth for the first "3" years into its production.  With all respect, I just don't want to get into another BMW situation with a different European company, when I know from previous bikes, that I could go Japanese (2016 FJR, for example)  and never look back.

Having said that, I've always leaned toward bikes that weren't "main stream" and somewhat off the common path, and something that's unique and has come character, and the Trophy seems to fit the bill. I'm 5'8" 170# and about 30-31" inseam....for anyone out there of similar stature.....

Any comments would be greatly appreciated, especially, any advise that I should explore regarding service department personnel capabilities before trying to navigate through a purchase.

Thanks in advance!

CD8TR 

[DaMonk45]

There were a couple of service bulletins, and
I think 2 recalls...have the dealer check the VIN and
see if they have been done.
There is also an audio upgrade to 1.04E that will keep your battery from going dead when it is parked.  You should also check that.

Other than that...Take a test ride.
Beware the test ride monster is alive and well, make sure you have your check book.

[CD8TR]

Thank you !!

[brbo]

Hey CD8TR,,

Welcome to the Forum, if there is an issue or a fix you'll find it here...

Here's an excellent thread Coconut created for this purpose that is kept up to date, note lots of the items may only apply to earlier models and may not be specific to a 2015/16...

Good luck,

[CD8TR]

Awesome, thank you!

[Studley]

Hey CD8TR, with the lower seat option you should be fine. I think you will enjoy the Trophy.

Studley

[trophied]

  to the forum.  From posts on this forum I don't think there are many issues at all with the '15 or '16 models, and my '13 hasn't had any of the serious issues and my smaller issues were all taken care of quickly after I got it new.  I did lower mine which you won't need to do, and you will have many more seat choices than all us vertically challenged individuals.  Room wise compared to the Concours I'm not sure two people would find it particularly roomy, and torque wise it may not be as gutsy as the Kaw, but I don't find it lacking terribly in power after coming off a K1600.  Careful on that test ride, the draft behind you has a habit of sucking your checkbook right out of your back pocket and the vortex will inevitably deposit it at the dealers where you will find it atop the transfer papers empty.  There is the usual motorcycle farkling required, it's just not quite as expensive as the beemers are from my experience, and you will save some due to longer maintenance intervals.

[Tankertruck]

Coming from a 2010 C14 to a 2013 TTSE myself, I can chime in a little bit, and give you my thoughts for what they are worth.

First off, I do a lot of 2-up riding with the wife, and we both liked the C14, but there were a few niggles that we couldn't fix (or I didn't really want to).  No factory cruise was a big issue for me (as was the lack of factory heated stuff and other hi-tech gadgets), and she didn't have QUITE enough leg room (but was otherwise comfortable). Otherwise, handling (with different tires than stock) and performance made me quite happy.  It did feel a bit top-heavy to me after 8 hours of riding 2-up, but I think all bikes probably would do that. I had no real complaints regarding the bike at all to be honest.  It loved hi-speed sweepers and had a great hi-end rush - it just wasn't quite "refined" enough for us and the type of riding we were doing.

Then we got the TTSE (with a Tenere thrown in the middle) and the wife is much happier - for no real obvious reason.  There really isn't much more room on the bike, but the foot peg position must be just a bit different for her to where she is much more comfortable.  It's not a goldwing or a GTL, but it has slightly more room than the R1200RT we tried - which is just enough for us.  She said she didn't care about the heated seat, but I notice whenever we go for a ride it gets turned on.  I LOVE the cruise and the heated everything and the Bluetooth.  I just got 1" handlebar risers and it made it more comfortable for me - it's just about a perfect neutral position for me now.  I think the weather protection for your lower body was marginally better on the C14 with the Cee Bailey screen (YMMV).  The TTSE rides more 'lightly' and feels easier to flick around for me, even though I don't think it actually is any lighter.  My only complaint is the motor is so smooth and so linear that the bike actually feels a bit ... boring... at times with no hi-end rush like the C14 had.  However it still way outperforms me and can get to license-losing territory quite quickly (it just does it so smoothly).  I just got a Remus exhaust to try to inject a little bit of perceived-life into the bike (and because I'm obnoxious). 

As far as reliability, I can't comment too much as I have only had it for about 2,100 miles.  I had a TPMS die on me.  And ... hmm.... I had a the low fuel light come on and stay on I think.  A warrantee trip to the dealer and he fixed it all in an hour.  Otherwise it's been great.