TRIUMPH'S all-new tourer – almost certain to revive the Trophy name when it's launched later this year – has been spotted testing by spy snappers for Spanish magazine Motociclismo.
With Triumph's long history of developing new bikes in Spain's favourable winter climate, it's no surprise that's where the pictures have emerged, and they show a tourer that's likely to send a shiver down BMW's corporate spine.
The new machine comes hot on the heels of the new Tiger Explorer and shares much of that bike's technology including the 135bhp, 1215cc engine and shaft-drive transmission. And just as the Explorer has something of the BMW R1200GS about it's appearance, the tourer could easily be mistaken for one of BMW's offerings.
In terms of performance, it should sit somewhere between the BMW R1200RT and the new K1600GT, but the three-cylinder motor will endow it with quite a different character, somewhere between the thumping torque of the two-cylinder BMW and the creamy smoothness and high power of the six-cylinder machine. At the right price (something Triumph has been particularly successful at finding in recent years) it could be an extremely tempting alternative.
It seems to have an aluminium beam frame, although much is covered by bodywork, while the suspension is dealt with by upside-down forks and a single-sided swingarm at the back.
In terms of kit, Triumph has been on the high-tech warpath recently, smothering its range in anti-lock brakes and recently starting to add traction control to machines including the Explorer. The Trophy is sure to get both those gadgets, along with plenty more; expect an electric screen, heated grips and seat, tyre pressure monitors and the sort of trip computer that would make astronauts jealous.
We're guessing the official launch is going to be around October, with sales starting in early 2013.
