Unusually for a dry sump design, the oil tank is not remote, but is integral to the engine, sitting atop the gearbox.

[6] Although developed cheaply from Yamaha's "parts bin", using a TDM850 engine, the TRX performs well and has "a coherent identity of its own".

[1] In 2014, Steve Cooper said it is, "Very much the thinking man's sports bike, this slightly oddball twin is beginning to reach cult status and for good reason".

Although manufacturers have occasionally adopted the parallel-twin format for high-performance sportbikes,[8][9][10] (such as the 2004–2007 MZ 1000S and the Métisse Mk5),[11] MCN reported that parallel twins were attracting fewer buyers.

Stuart Wood, Triumph's chief engineer, said that a 270° crank was ideal for large-capacity parallel twins, as it "generates fewer of those irritating high frequency secondary vibrations".

[17] Because of its "parts bin" heritage, some of the TRX's components were barely sufficient for the bike's intended café racer role.