Triumphrat

dsinned

tman, I got to tell ya, when I had my '01 ZX-6R a few years back, it was the ONE other bike which has a GREAT induction sound. Not quite on par with the Daytona's triple HOWL, but pretty close. As for passenger comfort, both are really terrible for any kind of distance riding. For that matter even up front, rider comfort is hardly any better.

SPORTBIKES = Comfortable ride, NOT!!!

dsinned

tman, I got to tell ya, when I had my '01 ZX-6R a few years back, it was the ONE other bike which has a GREAT induction sound. Not quite on par with the Daytona's triple HOWL, but pretty close. As for passenger comfort, both are really terrible for any kind of distance riding. For that matter even up front, rider comfort is hardly any better.

SPORTBIKES = Comfortable ride, NOT!!!

NINETY4

dsinned I see you also have a ZX9R that was one of my favs, if any bike's envelope is close to the Daytona's it is the ZX9R's if at the risk of sounding impertinent do you have 2 such closely affiliated bikes?

NINETY4

dsinned I see you also have a ZX9R that was one of my favs, if any bike's envelope is close to the Daytona's it is the ZX9R's if at the risk of sounding impertinent do you have 2 such closely affiliated bikes?

Flyby

Well, the ST .. as fun as it is, isn't meant for serious backroad carving or track day duty ... yeah it could probably do it, if you had no other choice .. so I use the Daytona for that.

I loaded up the ST with the Luggage Rack, Trunk, Gel Seat, Stainless Race Pipe with Fuel remap and a few other goodies for spirited touring duty ... which keeps me from yawning like when I ride my father inlaws "Glod"wing.

I don't want to be the first one to test the reliability of a new design i.e. the '05 ST ... but it sure looks good!

dsinned

NINETY4, I just traded in my ZX-9R. As much as I liked it, it was nearing the point I had to invest a lot of $$$ for new tires and preventive maintenance. (The worse thing about bikes with carbs is keeping 'em running well, after sitting most of the time in the garage in semi-storage).

I concur with your comment about the affiliation between the two bikes. My ZX-9R really was a great bike to own/ride even by today's latest sportbike standards. I'd even rate it higher in the sportbike food chain than the D955i, but the latter is a very close second. Mine 9R made an impressive (STD) 140 rwhp and 75 ft-lbs bone stock on the dynojet. Also, the 9R is significantly lighter in wt. but approximately the same comfortwise. The 4 carb 9R engine seemed a slightly smoother, if not more linear power band as well.

Kawasaki really has engineered some great sportbikes over the years - especially their in-line fours. Same for Yamaha.
I had a new R6 last year and it was incredible; just a bit too much "sport"bike for my tastes.

I recently traded in my 2000 ZX-9R for a new ZRX1200R, which is just about in the same league as my FZ1.

But, as has often been said in the press, Triumph's Daytona has that rarified British character, easily differentiates itself from the rest of the pack, and (IMHO) also more comfortable to ride. Best of all is the D955i's distinctive "triple howl" at full song.