2004 Racing Yellow Triumph Daytona 600
A stylish and razor sharp 600 that still feels comfortable to ride. Hey if it's good enough for James Bond, it's good enough for me! Excellent bike.
I am now thinking seriously about splashing out for the new MV Augusta F4 1000 -- the one item that might make me part with some audio gear to top up the toy fund.
In the past, I have ridden:
1998 Blue Yamaha R-1 with carbon exhaust, an insane beast of a bike,
and my first bike a 1995 Racing Yellow Triumph Daytona 900, lovely sounding triple, great torque, British style and comfy to ride but a bit soft -- more of a sport/tourer.
I love bikes. And Ruebent, I agree -- always wear safety gear. |
Taking delivery any day now of the new:
Triumph 675 Triple in "scorched yellow"
carbon end can
gel seat
double bubble screen
valentine one radar detector
for commuting in and out of NYC.
90 miles per day of adventure, hot, cold rain or shine.
Ride safely.
cwlondon |
Bigjoe, Marco, Edesilva
Wow great to hear from you guys re bikes!
The 675 Triple is a brand new bike. Their has been huge anticipation for it and the very first ones are just being delivered now.
More specifically, the DAYTONA 675 Triple.
According to the buzz and new reviews, it is a groundbreaking sports bike, surprisingly small and narrow, and gets around tracks within tiny fractions of seconds distance only behind Yamahas new, screaming R6.
But of course with a lot more personality and style, the howl of a triple, and more torque lower down in the rev range.
You can read and see everything you want to know here:
www.triumph675.net
I am disappointed that they have dropped the classic "Racing Yellow" and replaced it with a metallic, golden "scorched yellow", but this will be my third Triumph Daytona and I have always had yellow.
Thinking I might have a custom shop respray it in Racing Yellow for me or at least jazz it up a bitm perhaps with a bit of Ducatiesque white on the tail.
Marco I agree that you dont really need the radar in the City, although once in a blue moon I believe there are traps on the FDR or Harlem River Drive, where you can easily hit 100 MPH zooming down to midtown in the morning.
More importantly, I need it for the relentless radar traps on the Palisades Parkway and Route 17.
On a slow day, I will see at least two cars pulled over for speeding during rush hour, particularly towards the end of the month.
It is such a shameless money machine that I have no compunction about declaring war with detectors and hope to integrate at least one, permanently onto the new bike.
The Speed Triple?
I prefer the more raw, naked speed Triples from the mid 90s which to my eyes are gorgeous classic bikes. Looked very cool in black and also the dull orange.
The newer ones are also very good bikes, but I didnt like the exposed frames or the bug eye headlights as much.
Good luck, ride safely. |
Froggerz40
Yes, a matter of taste. You have had both versions!?
That would make you a genuine Triumph biker.
Whatever your preference, there are few engines like that triple, screaming under acceleration or popping and snarling on huge downshifts.
I hope your exhausts are illegal? |
Marco
Very impressed to hear that you drove year round in NYC.
Since moving out of the City in 2004, I have been driving 40+ miles in and out of midtown, every day I need to be there, in all weather conditions barring snow and ice on the road.
The sand, the salt, the freezing cold, the pouring rain, high winds over the bridges, fog etc. I really love it.
It has also improved my riding immensely because, as you know, you have to learn to ride very, very smoothly, with every downshift perfectly matched in its revs, and very defensively in order to stay alive.
I cant wait to get the new, bike, tweak the radar detector, and enjoy some sunny, dry weather.
Everyone looks at me like I am a total nutcase. Now I can't deny that, but deep down, I know they are secretly envious. |
Marco
I was already a fan but now you have my total respect.
Re "studs" yes, an excellent idea. I have been thinking on the trickier days this winter, that perhaps I also need a winter bike, in addition to the sports bike.
Although I love the sport bike on the clear, cold days, I really do hate it when I have to submit to public transportation.
I have told my wife and and friends that my risk of an anxiety or claustrophobia induced heart attack on the bus or train is far greater than the risk of death driving a motorcycle in the winter.
Then I thought, hey - if bad guys can drive motocross bikes down ski slopes while shooting machine guns in James Bond movies, why cant I get through a little snow and ice?
So any more info on studded tires, Mr Rainier trips, motcross winter setups etc greatly appreciated. Could I get one of the old school GS Beemer bikes and put studded tires on it? Any idea how long they last?
For the others, the new Triumph 675 Triple seems like a killer bike and I will report more upon delivery, hopefully in 1-3 weeks.
best
cwlondon |
Marco
Thanks for the links - there is nothing better than a world tour on a bike.
I dont have a lot of experience beyond my usual riding but do have fond memories of:
- driving from London to Brussels on Christmas Eve, 1997, in POURING rain the whole way. Realized, upon reaching the border, that I left my passport (??!?!) on the kitchen counter and they actually let me through. Best dinner ever when I finally arrived. Cold lobsters, foie gras, Sauterne, champagne - wonderful.
- driving from London to Nice, on to Portofino, to Florence to Rimini and then down to Siena on my newly delivered Yamaha R-1, Summer of 1998.
- driving my Triumph Daytona 900 up towards Ireland, and taking a ferry to Belfast, after which I drove across the country stopping at the cliffs on the Atlantic side. Spectacular! One of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Even better, managed to snag a ferry ticket, last minute, to stop off in the Isle of Man and watch the TT races on the way home.
My recent adventures are simply battling my way in and out of Manhattan every day, but I will check out the links.
Thanks again. |
Strictly speaking, I don't "have" it yet, but I am now
# 11 on the waiting list with my dealer for the new Ducati 1098 with expected delivery to take place in sunny February.
I have never been so wild about Ducatis, but this bike to me really looks gorgeous and specs suggest it won't be hard to pass SUVs.
For me, the perfect commuter car. |
If anyone is serious about a biker/audiophile rally or meet, please do count me in. |
I forgot to update this thread from my last post.
Circa March 2006 I traded in my Triumph Daytona 600 for a Triumph Daytona 675.
A very good, very sharp handling bike, but I never really warmed to the "Scorched Yellow".
Nonetheless, I racked up 21,000 miles in just over one year and have just sold the bike to purchase the new Ducati 1098 in yellow.
For me, the perfect commuter car for my 80+ miles in and out of NYC every day. |
Sfar,
People just don't get it at all, and in particular how any sane person could tolerate going fast outside in the winter.
So I sometimes like to ask them if they have ever heard of the sport of skiing.
|
Mechans
I have been riding about 12 years and have had about 12 accidents, mostly minor and mostly my fault, with only one not so serious injury.
Cytocycle is correct - proper protective clothing makes a huge difference and having learned to ride in the UK, where they take biking a bit more seriously, I have always worn boots, pants, jacket, gloves and full face helmet every time I get on the bike.
This won't prevent you from breaking your or back in a high speed incident, but it can eliminate many other horrible injuries. Perhaps more importantly, it shows a type of discipline and respect for the dangers of riding which is also a key to not becoming an organ donor.
In a comprehensive study of motorcycle injuries and fatalities, the DOT discovered the 3 most significant risk factors:
1) No Helmet!?
Doh...now I am all for personal freedom and perhaps not legislating this, but riding without a helmet is just plain stupid.
2) Sobriety?!?
Doh....Getting on a bike intoxicated is more than plain stupid, I might say suicidal.
3) Lack of "Visual Conspicuity"
This phrase translates roughly to "the car that mowed you over on your bike didnt see you"
Here, there are some counterintuitive statistics:
160 + MPH "sport bikes" which Cytocyle and I favor are "significantly UNDERrepresented in the accident data compared to cruiser or Harley type bikes.
On the surface, riding a bike with 150+ HP that can out accelerate any car on the road may seem more dangerous than cruising down to the grocery store on your Harley on a sunny Sunday.
In fact, however, you can get killed driving your Harley into the back of a car or a tree going as slowly as 25-30 MPH - especially if you're wearing jean shorts, flip flops and a bandana on your head after a few beers down at your local biker bar.
So if you want to try motorcycling, be sure to do the following
* always wear proper, protective clothing, and a brightly colored or white, full face helmet and factor a budget for all of this into the price of your bike
* understand that cruiser bikes are less visible to cars
* ride as if you are invisible, and every car is trying to hit and kill you
* ride as if you NEVER have the right of way - that includes green lights and intersections where the other guy has a stop sign
* Assume cars NEVER slow down or stop at red lights, stop signs and intersections
* take as much training as you can and read and study continuously
Bikes are great. Have fun. Ride Safely.
cwlondon |
Hatari
Re "service level at Duc"
Are you referring to:
* Reliability of the bike?
* Responsiveness of Ducati North America
* or Responsiveness of your local authorized Ducati dealer?
Thank you, |
Hatari and others
This thread is overdue for an update, but on the subject of Ducatis, I finally gave up.
My yellow 1098, as gorgeous as it was, spent most of its life in the shop, and I spent most of that time wanting to kill both the dealers and Ducati North America.
It seems that DNA doesnt make it so easy for them to get reimbursed for warrantee work.
But rather than fight to change the system, suck it up, or disclose that to their customers, the dealers just spew a lot of BS about what is covered, or whether or not your bike is really broken, because its better to focus on ripping off their presumably rich customers for $1000 oil changes, under the guise of a "12,000 mile service"
To be fair, lets not forget they have to make sure the headstock is secure and the headlight is pointing down the road or whatever.
So having believed that like the latest generation of Ferraris, it was finally possible to own a Ducati as a daily driver, I now feel like an idiot who was taken to the cleaners by a high maintenance mistress before getting dumped and losing half his net worth.
So as of May, I am commuting on a BMW S1000RR, Motorrad Edition.
This bike is so smooth and easy to ride around town that I worried for the first few weeks that it was a bit too boring, and had no personality.
Now that I am comfortable revving it to 14K, however, I must say there is absolutely nothing like it that I have ever ridden - an unbelievable bike.
So far, in about 6500 miles, I have had one significant problem and the dealer fixed it, no questions asked.
Highly recommended. |
Gawdbless,
A good point re mileage - yes one of the criticisms of Ducati owners is that they are poseurs who never actually ride motorbikes.
I suffered through more than 25,000 miles on my 1098, although tough to say how many actually, because the odometer broke too!
On the exceptional day when it was running perfectly, I must say it was wonderful and sounds like no other bike.
In the meantime, I am enjoying the BMW, and may get a Honda Repsol or Yamaha R1 for a hopefully reliable back up. |
For anyone familiar with the weather in and around NYC this winter, I thought you might be interested to know that other than 2 or 3 days, I have continued to ride > 80 miles every day in and out of midtown on the BMW S1000RR.
It has started right up on the first try, even in 15 degree weather yesterday, and the DTC and ABS set to "rain" mode have worked perfectly on slippery roads.
So a 193 horsepower race bike with lights, or a daily driver and winter commuter car, depending on your perspective.
Highly recommended. |
Onhwy61
The older BMWs are well known for being very robust, and I hope their first real sports bike lives up to the reputation.
Rain, shine, wind, hot and cold year round in NY and London, I am now going on 15 years, 10 crashes, and fortunately no serious injuries.
Having learned to ride in the UK, I wouldnt go to the corner store without full face helment, boots and head to toe protective gear.
As you might imagine, you are not the first to suggest I am nonetheless crazy, but after all these years I somehow find the riding position and exposure to the weather ultimately less stressful than being stuck in a car in traffic. |
