Saying "Goodbye" To An Old Friend

[atomsplitter]

My first ever Triumph was a brand new 1999 Triumph Trophy 1200 I purchased at Engle Motors in Kansas City, MO. It was Pacific Blue and I enjoyed that bike for 50K miles. When I bought a new Rocket III in 2006 I reluctantly sold my Trophy on Ebay and delivered it to the buyer at Pauls' Valley, Oklahoma. About 4 years ago I saw a 1998 Trophy 1200 for sale here in Keller, TX and ended up buying it as a heart decision and not a cerebral one. I had to get it running again as it hadn't run for some time and was in sad shape from being left out in the Texas elements, which included a hail storm. My son-in-law and I spent several weekends stripping and working on it and after about a month had all kinds of new parts and pieces installed and the bike running. I had to buy a front fender due to missing chunks from the hail storm, had the tank dents taken out and repainted and graphics applied, replaced mirrors, turn indicators and windshield due to hail damage, reupholstered the seat, replaced the rusted drive chain, flushed all hydraulics and cooling systems, and the list goes on and on and on. But now I found myself with a machine I loved to look at but rarely ever rode and that isn't doing anyone much good, so I decided to sell my Trophy (again) so someone can enjoy it as much as I did back 20 years ago. There is a buyer coming tonight to complete his purchase and ride it home.

What it looks like today 7/25/24:

Before the new windshield:



What I started with:












Son-in-law Tom helping with the project.


When I bought the bike it came with a trunk mounted, but as I didn't want to kick a box every time I swung my leg over the seat I removed it and replaced it with the correct grab handles:

 

[Rocky]

Very nice machine
For the same reasons, I recently sold two of my Hondas. Not being ridden enough to warrant keeping them registered and insured.
Like you, parting with them was the right thing to do and let new owners enjoy them.
I loved the "loved to look at " part and sounds like most of us

 

[Qship]

Great transformation from beast to beauty.
Glad you got to enjoy it for a while, and now the new owner will.
It's a sharp looking ride.

 

[atomsplitter]

Buyer picked it up last night. He's happy with his purchase. He texted me after he got home (he lives in McKinney about an hour ride from Keller). He said the bike was smooth as butter and plans to install the trunk and take it camping. Glad it's putting a smile on someone's face other than just mine and that it will be enjoyed for years to come.

 

[sikatri]

Excellent! Happy solution to all!

 

[Rob the Scott]

Fantastic work on the bike, and she looks like a beauty! Unique styling setting it apart, especially with the faring and headlights. Since I own a 2013 Trophy SE, I can't help but notice a lot of differences. Did your bike have 4 cylinders? Mine has the 1215cc 3-cyl engine. The evolution of the faring is dramatic (mine has much sharper lines in lieu of the rounded design of the '98 faring). And the '98 has a chain drive, whereas the '13 has a shaft drive.
So what are you left to ride these days?

 

[atomsplitter]

Fantastic work on the bike, and she looks like a beauty! Unique styling setting it apart, especially with the faring and headlights. Since I own a 2013 Trophy SE, I can't help but notice a lot of differences. Did your bike have 4 cylinders? Mine has the 1215cc 3-cyl engine. The evolution of the faring is dramatic (mine has much sharper lines in lieu of the rounded design of the '98 faring). And the '98 has a chain drive, whereas the '13 has a shaft drive.
So what are you left to ride these days?

The bike is a 4 cylinder, it was a detuned version of the Daytona 1200 motor with a milder cam profile. It featured a remote actuated preload adjuster on the single rear shock and had inserts to the lower fairing to duct engine heat onto your legs for winter riding. The dash had an analog clock, fuel guage, tach and speedo. It was advanced for its day. The new owner is thrilled with it.

What I have left to ride requires chosing one of these for the day:

 

[Rob the Scott]

The bike is a 4 cylinder, it was a detuned version of the Daytona 1200 motor with a milder cam profile. It featured a remote actuated preload adjuster on the single rear shock and had inserts to the lower fairing to duct engine heat onto your legs for winter riding. The dash had an analog clock, fuel guage, tach and speedo. It was advanced for its day. The new owner is thrilled with it.

What I have left to ride requires chosing one of these for the day:
View attachment 58565
View attachment 58566
View attachment 58567
View attachment 58568

Tough choices!! The RS is pretty sweet, but the last one (I'm not familiar with the model name) looks like it could handle a longer ride. Nothing with a windscreen?

 

[atomsplitter]

The last one is a T-120. I just put the stock seat back on it as the seat in the photo is similar to riding a vinyl covered brick. The OEM seat feels a little more plush. I haven't done enough highway miles in the last 4 years to warrant a windscreen, flyscreens seem to be adequate. I was really shocked and pleasantly surprised with the amount of air pressure the Bobber's flyscreen took off my chest at 65mph.

 

[DaveM]

You sure did a great job on the Trophy and the new owner must be very pleased with it.

 

[atomsplitter]

He was, and still is, but I bought it back from him yesterday (refunded his money) because during his safety inspection (and it did pass) for registration they found the left swingarm eccentric axle clamp was cracked through. When he contacted me about the swingarm I said I'd make it right by him so I went over yesterday and picked up the bike and gave him his money back. How and when that happened I'm at a loss. I found a good used undamaged swingarm from a '00 1200 Trophy on eBay for $20.00 plus another $75 shipping and tax so bought that to replace the broke swingarm. I also will go ahead and put new tires on it since I have to pull the rear wheel off and the tires need replaced anyway (old old rubber). When it's ready (again) I'll post it back for sale only at a little higher price to cover the cost of tires. The buyer texted he wants to buy it even with a higher price, so yeah I think the hour plus ride he took going home was the big selling point of the bike.

 

[Rocky]

Wow, that was an unexpected turn of events!!

 

[sikatri]

Sounds like it’ll still turn out okay. Obviously the buyer realizes you are fair and honest. That sure looked like a strange crack. Do you think it was stress related?

 

[atomsplitter]

Sounds like it’ll still turn out okay. Obviously the buyer realizes you are fair and honest. That sure looked like a strange crack. Do you think it was stress related?

Yes. I'm wondering if Tom (or I) over-torqued the pinch bolts when we replaced the chain. It could also have been a fatigue/corrosion failure, I'll know more when we get it off and I can really inspect the damage. I just got a confirmation the new swingarm has shipped.

 

[sikatri]

Yes. I'm wondering if Tom (or I) over-torqued the pinch bolts when we replaced the chain. It could also have been a fatigue/corrosion failure, I'll know more when we get it off and I can really inspect the damage. I just got a confirmation the new swingarm has shipped.

I suppose it can give way over time even if slightly over torqued. Aluminum tends to fail exactly as seen in the picture, sudden and catastrophic. Take some pictures of the parts after you remove them. Interested in getting a better look.

 

[atomsplitter]

Will do.