2002 Triumph Daytona Sneak Peek
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Triumph, Aprilla, etc... etc.... what a great time to be a motorcyclist!
It's not bad, but
it looks less exotic and less high-tech than the previous model! They seriously need a fairing designer over there, look at the TT600--and I'm a big fan of these bikes. The tail and headlight were the parts to keep on the old one, they looked great. They look boring and japanese now. And I know that the swingarm is a performance change, but is it really worth it? This bike has never been a really hard focused sport bike, and that's what I liked. Fast, but really streetable. The single sided swingarm looks fast and exotic, and makes tire changes easier which could really make a difference with no centerstand (like if you ever were stranded and had to tip it on it's side). And we know the single sided works well enough, even if it's not the lightest and strongest. I guess I wouldn't mind the swingarm change if they had at least made it better looking instead of boring looking (by comparison).
it looks less exotic and less high-tech than the previous model! They seriously need a fairing designer over there, look at the TT600--and I'm a big fan of these bikes. The tail and headlight were the parts to keep on the old one, they looked great. They look boring and japanese now. And I know that the swingarm is a performance change, but is it really worth it? This bike has never been a really hard focused sport bike, and that's what I liked. Fast, but really streetable. The single sided swingarm looks fast and exotic, and makes tire changes easier which could really make a difference with no centerstand (like if you ever were stranded and had to tip it on it's side). And we know the single sided works well enough, even if it's not the lightest and strongest. I guess I wouldn't mind the swingarm change if they had at least made it better looking instead of boring looking (by comparison).
Well, I must admit I'm more fond of the looks of my '99 model, but I'm stoked about the new power numbers... the question is, can any of the new engine mods be adapted to the older engines, or (seeing as it looks like the frame is identical) will the new engine "drop in" to the older bikes!?! Regardless, I'm glad Triumph is in the game, although it may never be the lightest/fastest bike out there, the Daytona is a fantastic street bike.
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Re: It
Looks fairly impossible to rig a catch pan, with the way that fairing lower is set up.... Perhaps Air-Tech, Maier or Sharkskinz will come up with a totally revised lower that incorporates a catch pan. The factory lower obviously has no racing pretense to it.
Looks fairly impossible to rig a catch pan, with the way that fairing lower is set up.... Perhaps Air-Tech, Maier or Sharkskinz will come up with a totally revised lower that incorporates a catch pan. The factory lower obviously has no racing pretense to it.
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193 Posts
Re: not bad I agree, in fact...
as a Triumph owner I'm impressed, but too bad the most impressive Triumph ever built also has to be the first one to look like yet another UJS --as in Universal Japanese Sportbike --instead of distinctive like a Triumph. My T'bird may not be near as fast but it does everything well, it's comfy, it turns more heads than chrome monuments costing twice as much and it looks like a British motorcycle "ought" to (IMHO that is and I know what opinions are the same as). So I guess I won't be trading it for a crotchrocket and if I did it would still have to be a Speed Triple.
as a Triumph owner I'm impressed, but too bad the most impressive Triumph ever built also has to be the first one to look like yet another UJS --as in Universal Japanese Sportbike --instead of distinctive like a Triumph. My T'bird may not be near as fast but it does everything well, it's comfy, it turns more heads than chrome monuments costing twice as much and it looks like a British motorcycle "ought" to (IMHO that is and I know what opinions are the same as). So I guess I won't be trading it for a crotchrocket and if I did it would still have to be a Speed Triple.
They can hire designers, you know...
But they must be spending their money somewhere else.
I was very taken with the styling of the other Daytona, and the speed triple. But this thing? Ew!
It has over-buggy eyes, the frames the same, and it looks oddly enlongated. It reminds me of the way Iacocca kept streching the "K" car to make luxury models, until it looked ludicrous.
From the specs, it looks like this bike will put about 125 horses to the ground, and weigh in at 450-470 full of gas. That will put it firmly in 1998 ZX-9 territory. Way to go, Triumph! Another ground breaking victory! Way to stay slightly behind neck and neck!
I think Triumph is going too main-stream, attempting to fight the Japanese on their own turf. THey will always be behind, and they will always loose. They need to find their own direction, like Ducati.
THis bike will probably be a very durable, reliable, good-functioning bike with great handling, as soon as they work out the bugs and flaws that sem inevitable with Triumph's products. But they will never gain a signifigant market share with bizarely styled wannabee bikes like this and the TT600.
Please note I have nothing against Triumphs. I have nothing against them. I just feel their marketing and corporate direction are lacking. I hope they do better next time.
But they must be spending their money somewhere else.
I was very taken with the styling of the other Daytona, and the speed triple. But this thing? Ew!
It has over-buggy eyes, the frames the same, and it looks oddly enlongated. It reminds me of the way Iacocca kept streching the "K" car to make luxury models, until it looked ludicrous.
From the specs, it looks like this bike will put about 125 horses to the ground, and weigh in at 450-470 full of gas. That will put it firmly in 1998 ZX-9 territory. Way to go, Triumph! Another ground breaking victory! Way to stay slightly behind neck and neck!
I think Triumph is going too main-stream, attempting to fight the Japanese on their own turf. THey will always be behind, and they will always loose. They need to find their own direction, like Ducati.
THis bike will probably be a very durable, reliable, good-functioning bike with great handling, as soon as they work out the bugs and flaws that sem inevitable with Triumph's products. But they will never gain a signifigant market share with bizarely styled wannabee bikes like this and the TT600.
Please note I have nothing against Triumphs. I have nothing against them. I just feel their marketing and corporate direction are lacking. I hope they do better next time.
I would like to here peoples first hand accounts with Triumph's reliability and longevity, especially the 955 motored bike. I'm considering a 2001 Tiger but have heard horror stories about reliability and service. Are they good bike? Any info would be appreciated.
As far as the new Daytona's styling, from the pictures I don't care for it. Maybe it will look better in person, the old one does.
As far as the new Daytona's styling, from the pictures I don't care for it. Maybe it will look better in person, the old one does.
I have 10,000 miles on my '99 and it has performed flawlessly. Early on it ran a little hot but after adding some water-wetter to the mix it has cooled down nicely. After being a Honda guy for years (2 CBRs, and a VFR) I'd say the Triumph is right on par in the quality department... and in the service department of my dealership (unlike with the Honda) I always get a loaner bike for scheduled maintenance...
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Reliability? Superb. The most miles on one I know of personally is a guy who has nearly 50K and NO problems, but I've read in the Triumph newsgroups of (Hinckley) Triumphs with 6-figure miles and still like-new on the inside. Of the several Triumph owners I know with ~5K to 50K miles on their bikes not a single one has had problems. You must be thinking about Meriden Triumphs.
Now, as for service, some dealers are excellent and some are so-so and some just plain suck. Pretty much the way it is with any brand. Other than a few tales of parts taking awhile to get through distribution channels on occasion (everything I've ordered has arrived much more promptly than some Japanese parts for past bikes) I've heard no "horror stories" about service, but I'm sure some have happened somewhere at some dealership.
Now, as for service, some dealers are excellent and some are so-so and some just plain suck. Pretty much the way it is with any brand. Other than a few tales of parts taking awhile to get through distribution channels on occasion (everything I've ordered has arrived much more promptly than some Japanese parts for past bikes) I've heard no "horror stories" about service, but I'm sure some have happened somewhere at some dealership.
Re: They can hire designers, you know...
I think it's good that they have the same frame, and no doubt this will handle better than the 98 ZX-9 (or the new one), I guess I just hate that the fairing and tail is so ugly and non-distinctive. Before the changes, I think they DID have something that was distinctive and set apart from the competition in their own way. That motor is awesome. If you get 125 out of that motor, it's worth 140 out of a four as far as I'm concerned, because it just pulls so beautifully down low. And sounds bad as hell.
I think it's good that they have the same frame, and no doubt this will handle better than the 98 ZX-9 (or the new one), I guess I just hate that the fairing and tail is so ugly and non-distinctive. Before the changes, I think they DID have something that was distinctive and set apart from the competition in their own way. That motor is awesome. If you get 125 out of that motor, it's worth 140 out of a four as far as I'm concerned, because it just pulls so beautifully down low. And sounds bad as hell.
Re: Triumph.... Creativity Wanted!
The front fairing.. TL1000R meets Bimota
The middle... Triumph had leftover frames?
The tail section...Honda CBRf4i
equals pretty damn ugly. Once again Triumph aimed at the Japanese and came up with a bike that the competition had already designed years ago. The previous generation may have looked like a rounded Ducati 916 but at least it was sexy and stunning for its day. Plus I am sure that the Triumph dealers will certainly appreciate the quick arrival of this bike, especially with all of the inventory of the '01 "old" models. The only thing that may help is the usual bugs that plague all new model Trumpets. And when will they ever think of painting these things a color people really want... British Racing Green!!!!
The front fairing.. TL1000R meets Bimota
The middle... Triumph had leftover frames?
The tail section...Honda CBRf4i
equals pretty damn ugly. Once again Triumph aimed at the Japanese and came up with a bike that the competition had already designed years ago. The previous generation may have looked like a rounded Ducati 916 but at least it was sexy and stunning for its day. Plus I am sure that the Triumph dealers will certainly appreciate the quick arrival of this bike, especially with all of the inventory of the '01 "old" models. The only thing that may help is the usual bugs that plague all new model Trumpets. And when will they ever think of painting these things a color people really want... British Racing Green!!!!
I hope triumph is listening
They did such a good job with the previous daytona. Most people don't realize just how british this thing is unless they read british streetfighter mags and are familiar with Spondon frames. Put back the headlight and taillight back, and "sleek" out everything around it. I'd cut em slack on the swingarm if the performance was there and it looked right. I really love the 955i and was excited to see that there was a new version, I couldn't wait to see it. I really wasn't expecting to be disappointed.
They did such a good job with the previous daytona. Most people don't realize just how british this thing is unless they read british streetfighter mags and are familiar with Spondon frames. Put back the headlight and taillight back, and "sleek" out everything around it. I'd cut em slack on the swingarm if the performance was there and it looked right. I really love the 955i and was excited to see that there was a new version, I couldn't wait to see it. I really wasn't expecting to be disappointed.
British racing green is for cars.
That frame is awesome. If they refine it or tweak it, fine, but they should keep that design. What triumph bugs? I swear companies pay people to go around and tell ghost stories about competitors since I'm always hearing stuff about bikes that are known to be very reliable to everyone who owns one--like the new triumphs. Hell, even the older new-triumphs have proven to be reliable. They may be slow, but I know lots of people who are riding them with high miles and no problems.
I just thought of another about the new 955 though--why no inverted front end? If they're going to get picky enough to ditch the monoarm you'd think they could at least give an inverted fork. I know their front end is really good, but even honda finally put a USD on the 'blade.
That frame is awesome. If they refine it or tweak it, fine, but they should keep that design. What triumph bugs? I swear companies pay people to go around and tell ghost stories about competitors since I'm always hearing stuff about bikes that are known to be very reliable to everyone who owns one--like the new triumphs. Hell, even the older new-triumphs have proven to be reliable. They may be slow, but I know lots of people who are riding them with high miles and no problems.
I just thought of another about the new 955 though--why no inverted front end? If they're going to get picky enough to ditch the monoarm you'd think they could at least give an inverted fork. I know their front end is really good, but even honda finally put a USD on the 'blade.
Re: It
Yeah, I have to agree. It's too bad everything has to look the same. Triumph has never (until the TT600) attempted to be in the same market as the R1 and friends yet their latest styling exercise is totally Japanese. I was really impressed with Triumph's move into the 'factory streetfighter' as it showed they had styling 'guts' and, love it or hate it, it was different. The old 955 was beautiful and fully Triumph but now?
Ah well... anyone got a 2000 for sale?
Yeah, I have to agree. It's too bad everything has to look the same. Triumph has never (until the TT600) attempted to be in the same market as the R1 and friends yet their latest styling exercise is totally Japanese. I was really impressed with Triumph's move into the 'factory streetfighter' as it showed they had styling 'guts' and, love it or hate it, it was different. The old 955 was beautiful and fully Triumph but now?
Ah well... anyone got a 2000 for sale?
You need to see the silver to appreciate it
Go to www.bikenet.com and get a glimpse of the silver 955 from various angles. It looks WAY nicer and brings out the more agressive design with more class.
I would still rather have a Falco any day, but those triples can sound nice.
Go to www.bikenet.com and get a glimpse of the silver 955 from various angles. It looks WAY nicer and brings out the more agressive design with more class.
I would still rather have a Falco any day, but those triples can sound nice.
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