Triumphrat

daytona_1200 · 06-06-2006, 01:55 AM

Hi All -

Last month I trailered my D-12 to the track for the first time ever.

Lessons learned:
- I'm not as good of a rider as I'd thought.
- The D-12 doesn't like ultra-twisty tracks. That, or I don't. Or both.
- Motorcycling is a sport like no other. The physical exertion of a marathon; the mental exertion of playing chess against a Russian master.
-The D-12 is a stunning machine -- the number of compliments I rec'd was unreal. So is the amount of time and money I've devoted to it, but the bike just isn't for me.

Long story short, I laid down the Daytona at the track. Not once, but twice. Fortunately, you're surrounded by grass, so if you lay it down, the damage isn't TOO bad.

Post wreck pic attached, judge for yourself (why am I smiling? i was in shock...
:???: )

Simply put, I'm bidding a fond farewell to my D-1200 -- a bike that probably deserved a better rider than myseflf -- although at least I can look back and say that I really tried. I poured my heart and soul into that bike.

You can still find me on the S3 forum -- I'm planning to get an `01 -`04. I think it will be much better suited to my urban environment and easier to ride.

Should I sell or part out the D-12? After replacing signals, I'd say sell, BUT there's a crack in right fairing. Not huge one but a bona fide crack. That alone and the $ value plummets.

I'd be parting out 100% of the bike. Every last bit. Considering time & trouble, would I make more money (to go toward my future S3) that way? Any interest here? If so, please respond or PM me. If there's enough interest, I'll post a full parts list in the appropriate forum.

I'm also thinking that, for parting out, painting the bike was not such a good idea...

Thanks!
David

daytonacharlie · 06-06-2006, 09:54 AM

David,
Man, sorry to hear about your bad luck. I have to give you credit for trying a track day on the D12. The D12 is quite a handful at full chat. I've slowed my pace down a notch myself after a low-side get off 2 years ago on mine. You are correct to assume a newer Daytona would be better suited to the track.

If you do decide to part the bike out I'd be very interested.
How many miles are on the motor?

dc

bradtx · 06-06-2006, 10:06 AM

David, Most, and I mean almost all riders aren't as good on the track as they may be on the street. I'd fix the mechanical damage and use the D12 as a learning tool for a bit longer, then sell it in toto. You can get more money for parting it out, but it could take forever.

Brad

daytona_1200 · 06-06-2006, 06:57 PM

In the days leading up to track day, I was so focused on safety wiring, rebound dampening, tire pressure, which gloves to wear, hotel arrangements, and the like, that it never occurred to me to ask: Is this bike suitable for a track that looks like it was designed by a 6 year old making squiggly lines with a crayon?

The Daytona received compliments galore, but more than one rider said, "I wouldn't take THAT bike on this track..."

Made all the worse by a pace rider/pseduo-instructor who kept exalting me to "Go for it! No Fear!". I responded that I wasn't scared in the least. I was just having trouble maintaining my line on some particularly tricky areas, to which he furrowed his brow and repeated, "No Fear! You gotta push yourself!" Uh huh.

Why I listened to a yahoo spouting Rocky Balboa quotes is beyond me. He made it seem like I was storming the beaches at Normandy, not utilizing the track to improve my skills.

I've got no one to blame but myself. I knew better.

In any event, I think I would have enjoyed and learned more -- and not wrecked -- if I just rode at my comfort level. And that would have been plenty fast enough. Oh well, lesson learned the hard way.

D-Charlie: The bike has ~ 4100 miles on it. The only thing I've noticed is that under EXTREME hard braking (as in the car you're behind suddenly slams on its' brakes for a squirrel) the engine stalls out. It's only happened once, but it was disconcerting. My mechanic (a very good one; finally) says that's not unheard of on carburated bikes, and if it happens again, it can be adjusted. Other than that, he said to perform rountine maintenance and address any small issues before the turn into big ones, and it'll go another 75-100k miles easy.

BradTx: I'm leaning toward your suggestion, especially since I've hardly been overwhelmed with part requests. And yes, it would be a big pain in the butt to dismantle, package, and ship a single footpeg to Australia.

I'm just frustrated. Countless hours researching, looking for parts, debating color schemes, dealing with crooked mechanics, finally finding a good one, and then f***ing it all up. Even though it slid on wet grass, the paint job will never be the same. The fairing is cracked, not badly, but just the fact that I cracked it makes me see red. Now I find out that my "upper fairing bracket" (whatever that is) needs replacing as the plastic and windscreen are slightly off-kilter. I'm sure that's going to run me $100... :evil:

There comes a point when you're just throwing good money after bad. I feel that I've reached that point. I don't like parting it out. I don't like repainting it AGAIN. Nor do I like the idea of performing a crappy DIY fairing repair and selling it to some 19 year kid who will promptly total it. This bike deserves better.

Great, now I'm depressed...

David

YYZSKI · 06-06-2006, 07:35 PM

IMHO do not part it out.

While you may eventually get the same $$$ from parting it out as selling it, it will take way longer and is a complete PITA.

Besides, the bike doesn't look too bad (handlebar, peg, fairing) and the D1200s are not exactly common.

Parts are pretty cheap on eBay - there is a black upper fairing and some other black panels up for grabs very reasonably right now.

As for the track stuff, ride at your own pace. Though the T3 Daytonas are top heavy and long wheelbase, they are surprisingly nimble at speed and very stable through the corners. A good suspension setup helps and if you haven't yet done RaceTech valves & springs in the front and a good shock in the rear, this will make a great upgrade.

I do take my D900 to the track occasionally and it's a blast. Especially humbling someone on a newer, 'faster' bike.

Best of luck whatever you decide and I'm glad that you're not hurt...

bradtx · 06-06-2006, 09:17 PM

David, You and that D12 belong on any track in the world 'cause it's for fun and it helps teach you how to handle a bike!

Remember this, all education comes at some expense. You've learned how to deal with a tribal chieftain, the rest is easy.

Brad

Turin · 06-06-2006, 11:43 PM

If you crashed a CBR/GSXR parting out the bike might be the way to go. (and even with one of these, you'd have a bunch of leftover parts).You kinda have a white elephant on your hands albeit a cool one. You have a couple of choices; 1.Fix and sell (original color will probably get you more money), 2.Fix her and get over your post crash mental trauma. When I dumped my Guzzi 4 years ago I couldn't go into my garage to look at it without getting severe nausea and the damage wasn't even that bad. 3. Customize!!! You could always take the fairings off and do up a speed 4. Air tech might even make carbon fibre bodywork. You have options. You can't let yourself think that your'e throwing good money after bad. Your mechanical experiences haven't been the best... but others and myself had much worse with brand new bikes (KTM,Laverda,Bennelli,Ducati,etc.) You liked the bike enough to buy it, you scuffed her up a bit, but sell her or keep her, it's going to cost you.

[ This message was edited by: Turin on 2006-06-06 21:44 ]

daytona_1200 · 06-07-2006, 06:06 PM

Thanks for the logical, supportive words guys. Not only that, but I just re-read my post and I was being a bit of crybaby over this whole incident. Sorry about that. Yeah, I've had some bad luck and made some poor decisions, but I still own a good, solid bike that runs strong, looks good (at least it used to!), and has plenty of life left in her.

Turin - Appreicate your point of view especially. I know exactly where you're coming from. You make some very incisive points. Just as with your Guzzi, I don't want to even LOOK at my Daytona. I don't feel nauseous per se, but I get an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach; kinda like how you feel right after a break-up. That's the best way I can describe it.

Ok, enough of the touchy-feely, group hug nonsense... There are plenty of forums for that already. Let's ride! :wink:

Update: Since I last posted, my car mechanic (the only honest one I've ever come across, AND a Bonneville owner in the early 70s to boot) has shown a lot of interest. As the damage is all cosmetic, relatively minor, the engine is almost like new, and the "upper fairing bracket" issue I was worried about turned out to be a simple fix, he asked me to stop again tomorrow morning. If he makes a strong enough offer, I just might accept. Might. My overall outlook on the situation is much improved.

If he does makes an offer, and I accept, I planned on procuring a lightly used Speed Triple. However my attention has recently been drawn to the Moto Guzzi Breva 1100.

Does anyone have any experience with this bike? On the saddle or just anecdotally? I know this is a Triumph forum and all, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask... It doesn't look anything like the Guzzis of old and is supposedly a big leap forward for the company.

Strangely enough, I was attracted to the Breva for a number of reasons until I saw a pic of its' designers surrounding the newly unveiled bike. Basically they were a group of tanned male models posing with long, swept back hair, Armani suits and pencil thin mustaches. Not really my kind of people. I could never imagine them working on a bike. A drop of oil falling onto one of their finely sculpted noses would have them running to the washroom in horror!

If that's the Guzzi crew, I'd hate to see the Ducati designers...

Perhaps, it's just my English/Scottish heritage; a predisposition toward the Brit, stiff-upper lip "can do" attitude. Too bad I hear the country is caught in a downward spiral these days...

David

PS - Please note that I have nothing against Italians -- esp. Italian women. Wowza!

princeton · 06-07-2006, 07:57 PM

Hi,

If your sale doesn't come to fruition, PM me and let me know what you need to get for the D12, I have 2 and I'm sure a 3rd one wouldn't hurt the twins.

John

daytona_1200 · 06-07-2006, 08:38 PM

Will do John, although I must admit that after getting over the emotional trauma of it all, I just might hold onto it.

I can envision myself buying a brand new/slightly used bike that's a pure lemon and just kicking myself for selling my D-12.

Despite my admitted self-pity over the now dull paint where it slid on the grass and the cracked fairing, this bike doesn't fail.

I'll let you know either way though. Just be careful not to turn into the gentleman I originally bought this from -- 65 years old and almost as many bikes!

David