VOLUME ISSUE JULY , P151
known for their superb handling
characteristics, and the Trophy
Trail honored that reputation.
CN listed its weight as "about
355 pounds," which seemed
high at the time, especially for
a bike that was supposed to
be equally at home on the road
or in the moors. We misnamed
these bikes "enduro" machines
at the time, and out of the box,
it would be a challenge to get
them to meet the demands laid
out by both twisting asphalt
roads and bumpy, hilly dirt trails.
The Trail Trophy was certainly
hampered by minimal suspen
-
sion travel and a weak front
brake, but fireroads and casual
uphill climbs, the Triumph was
as surefooted as they come. A
big, comfy saddle was a stock
item—no need for an aftermarket
seat! Dirt-oriented handlebars
were of an acceptable bend for
street use.
There were some of the stan
-
dard gripes about this Triumph.
If there was such a thing as cut
and paste in 1973, magazines
could've infinitely re-used the
phrase "lighting was only aver-
age," and a standard cursing of
Lucas electrics (known as the
"Prince of Darkness" by British
bike enthusiasts) would have
been embossed into the pages.
New USA regulations mandated
all road-going motorcycles would
be equipped with turn signals,
and those, too, gave the CN
riders occasional grief. Un
-
like other British bikes, the
Triumph leaked no motor oil—
just a little weep from a fork
seal. A broken tachometer
cable was the only breakdown
during the 390-mile test.
In 2024, nearly every mo
-
torcycle manufacturer has a
dual sport or adventure bike in
their lineup, many 1000cc and
bigger. In 1973, most compa-
nies offered up nothing beef-
ier than a two-stroke single,
with those boasting no more
than 400cc. They replaced the
desert sleds of the 1950s and
'60s, so the concept of step-
ping back in time and hitting
the trails with anything bigger
than, say, something like a Su-
zuki TS 400 was a hard sell. The
Triumph Trophy Trail was a lone
wolf, but it was one that seemed
to be as well-suited to the road
as it was to the moors.
CN
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Triumph leaked no motor oil—
just a little weep from a fork
torcycle manufacturer has a
their lineup, many 1000cc and
with those boasting no more
than 400cc. They replaced the
'60s, so the concept of step
(Above) The TR5T was around
long before the industry coined the
phrase "dual sport" for our dirt/
street play bikes. (Right) Triumph
boldly stated the TR5T was "going
to bounce the Czechs," who are
"going to be staring at our tailpipes"
and "finish first" at the next ISDT.
