Hello everyone, from the Netherlands

[Helder]

Hi there!

Before anything else, this is my first time in forums and things like this, so please be patient.

I am portuguese, currently living in the Netherlands.
After several years without a motorcycle (mostly because of financial reasons) I finally decided to buy one.
My last motorcycle was a 2001 Suzuki GSX 600R that I bought brand new and kept it for 8 years, until I had to sell it... now, going for the touring!!
And long story short, after checking and reading a lot, I went to try a 2013 Trophy 1200, from a local dealer. Visually, it was love at first sight!

Then I went to test drive it and everything was almost perfect...

 Almost... And this is the part that I need your help:  While I was cornering, at slow speed in the roundabouts, I had to fight the steering back to it's center position. It felt like the steering wanted to oversteer to the side that I was cornering to. I really, really had to puuuuuuuuush the steering back into the straight position. Does anyone relates to this? Is it maybe a bad/worn tyres issue or is there more into it? Any ideas? The dealer wasn't very helpful, saying that no one has ever complained about it... But I also don't know if anyone has tryied it, as well.

This was the only thing that stopped me from buying it that day. Can you please help me on this?

Thank you.

[Coconut]

Hi Helder, and to the Forum !

No need to be apprehensive about this being your first Forum -
we are all quite friendly and helpful in here. 

The Trophy is certainly a heavy bike ( 301 Kg ), but once moving it seems very light
and ( I ) find the Handling to be superb, with no problems like the one you describe.

All motorcycles have their own handling characteristics, and it may just be something
that seems different to you, but that you would get used to, however ......

Was it a Standard Model or an SE Model that you rode ?

Bear in mind that both have adjustable suspension :

Manual adjustment on the Standard Model, and Electric adjustment on the SE Model.

Check what the Suspension is set to, and adjust as appropriate for the riding conditions.
( e.g. on the SE you can adjust the Mode ( Damping ) for "Rider", "Rider with Luggage"
or "Rider with Pillion", and the Loading ( Pre Load ) settings for "Comfort", "Normal", and "Sport."

Instructions on changing the settings are in the Owners Handbook that should be with the bike,
( Page 54 for the SE Model ), or if it's missing it can be downloaded here :
Triumph Motorcycles Owner Manuals.

Try the different settings on the same bend to see what difference it makes. 

In addition to checking the tyres for wear, and the cirrect oressures ( 36 PSI Front, 42 PSI Rear ),
I would also take a look to see if the Suspension  has been lowered, which can affect the Handling, although it shouldn't have any major effect if done correctly.

Have a look under the centre of the bike at the rear suspension unit and it's Drop Links.

This is a Photo of the stock assembly, showing the approximate measurement
between the mounting points :



There may be different length Drop Links fitted, or a type with adjustable length
which will be obvious due to their design - with threaded sections and lock nuts.

You should also check if the front suspension has been altered - for example one supplier of lowering kits recommends lowering the front suspension by releasing the front forks
in their clamps, and raising them by a certain amount.

The easiest way to check this is to look at the top of the suspension legs. 
Compare both to make sure they are both set at the sane height.

This is a Photo from my Trophy SE showing the top of the left Leg,
and how it should look if it has not been adjusted :



Hope this information helps !

Cheers 

[Helder]

Hi, Coconut!

Thank you for your quick and so complete answer to my cry for help!

I forgot to mention hat it was a standard model. (beginers mistake )

True that it is a bit heavy while stopped, but once I started to ride it, it all went way, no problems on that. I was really surprised of how light it felt on an open road!! It was only on the slow cornering that I felt some struggle on bringing the steering to the center position.

I will try to check the items that you described.

 But in your expert opinion, this should be more a matter of me getting used to the handling of it, instead of a "malfuction" of the motorcycle?

[Coconut]

...in your expert opinion, this should be more a matter
of me getting used to the handling of it ..

First of all I don't consider myself an "expert",
and I've never ridden a Standard version of the Trophy,
so cannot answer that question, which is somewhat subjective and personal to you.

If possible you could try and find another Trophy to ride and see if the Handling is the same ?

The information for adjusting the Suspension on the Standard Model
can be found in the Owners Manual on Pages 137 & 138.

Cheers 

[Helder]

Yes, I'll try to find another one to try out nearby, and compare the differences.

Thank you for you time, and I'll get back to you, as soon as I figuered it out.

 

[redcap0006]

 :401:Helder to a great forum

[leathers999]

Hi
I have the standard Trophy and can confirm that I have never had the problem you have described in fact the opposite the handling is amazing for a bike of this size and weight. I would find another one to test ride  and you will clearly we the difference.

Good luck and hope you find a good one.

[Helder]

Hello, redcap0006 and thank you for the welcoming!

Hi, leathers999. Thats what I'm going to do. I already found one at around 100Km and I'm going to book a test drive. then I will be sure. Thank you for your post.