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'Cheapbastard' has it dead right, there isnt much about the S3 that feels deficient. It's obviously supa-nekkid so wind protection is NIL, for street riding thats no problem if you are looking to do any significant highway riding at speed the lack of wind protection gets old fast, it annoyed me so much that I put clip-ons on my S3 and that helps streamline 'YOU' through the air a little better. For significant highway it's not so good, even w/ the flyscreen. It's a naked street bike and the highway is not it's forte! Everything else about the bike is grins and glee, fantastic torque, great power, all the usable speed you could ever need in the real world street riding (again, it's naked and feels best to me at no more than 135mph or so), handles fantastically, great ergo's, and the sound..ohh the sound of that engine, it's an angry-horny **** with the TORS (Triumph Off Road Silencers w/ remap).
Maybe it's just me but it comes across of a physically smaller bike than the D675 in all except wheelbase feel while riding, I actually prefer the wheelbase and handling characteristics of the S3 more than I do the D675 for the type of riding I do. I have to admit to being primarily a street rider and the S3 just absolutely shines. It's a shorter bike than the D675 so it feels more "bulldoggish" and squat which for me makes it feel totally tossable and you can hang off this thing like a monkey on a tree.
You can actually lay on the S3's tank if you choose to, sometimes natural to do if you are picking up the pace on the highway and you are sick of getting whipped by the wind, I find that I can crouch but cant lay on the D675's tank, it doesnt ergonomically fascilitate this for me (I"m 6'4" or so), it's no big deal at all, in fact the D675 feels pretty darn good for someone my size.
I have no concerns that I look or feel too big for the bike (strangely I had that feeling about the S3 when I first got it, but that all goes away when riding, it feels 'da bomb'), it's handles like razor sharp and is comfortable for what it is. It feels great and for a middleweight makes power in a way to make you fell very satisfied. You no longer have that always shifting, always revving manner of other 600's. You can cruise in as low a rev as 2500 on level ground and never get the sense your are lugging and it's making power at that level too.
It is a smaller displacement engine so it' simply does not make the torque or feel as grunty as the S3. For the street and as far as racebikes go the D675 is the next best thing to a 750 or big twin, but racing 750's are still tiny as a 600 (not good if your a big/tall fellow like myself) or as nut cookin' and a frequent maintenance fiend as a racing twin.
It feels wonderful on the street, gears are usable and making power right off idle all the way through the rev range, definitely torquey in a way that puts all other middleweights to shame and never requires that it's neck be wrung out just to make power, but you can wring it if ya want to, it' likes that too and feels like the most natural thing to do with this engine.
Mine is only a month old and it still hasnt been broken in so my comparo can be viewed as premature. I do love them both but If I had to choose one, I've gotta say I'd take my S3 without hesitation. It's an absolutely awesome bike and makes no excuses for what it is. It has strenghts and deficiencies and I think I'd always bit*h about the lack of wind protection but c'mon it's nekkid, whatyagonnado.
The D675 is a looker and before I got it I was itchin' for a fully faired bike, they do all look great and it's one of those things you've gotta come to terms with if you choose a S3. But it is one mean looking, ready to wrestle street punk and will get attention wherever you go!
One isnt necessarily better than the other, I think it depends much on what you wish to to use it for primarly and what features and characteristics you must have and others you are willing to compromise on.
If you intend to live a little on the track, I would say the D675 is a natural choice, but dont get it twisted- the S3 is sweet on the track also, it's hardware and geometry is all racebike. For all street duty, they both are good, the D675 is better suited if you are mostly highway, back road and suburban. The S3 is sweet on back roads, suburban metro and the concrete jungle, it'll do highway if it has to but that's not really it's thing.
Neither has storage enough for mor than a pack of condoms and a razor :-D and both will carry only the most petite of pillions and not for too far..and on the S3 they'd better be brave that pillion area is kinda small. Grab rail looks like it had best be on your list if you plan on carrying a passenger on the S3.
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