So why does her sister get all the dates?

Some people question the meaning of life but that's a little to deep for me. Here's what I want to figure out...

Why has the SpeedTriple become a Triumph icon with very successful sales over 14 years and no end in sight to it's popularity while the Daytona, basically a faster and better looking S3, started with slow sales then petered out all together?

S3 defenders please stare at the left side of your exposed engine for two minutes prior to flaming me. If you can't find the left side of the engine look at the headlights (turn them off first). After two minutes if you do not understand that the Daytona bodywork is an improvement go ahead and rant. These will be ignored but we will understand you just have no sense of aesthetics.

Please answer in 100 words or less. Humorous answers count double. You have 8 minutes.

For extra credit what happened to all those models Triumph was using a couple of years ago?

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hello silvoor, i like all triumphs

l always did.that said,i agree the daytona is better for me cause im getting old.the fan also keeps my frame and legs toasty.i just bought a leftover 2006 with 2 miles on it.she is scorched yellow,a real nice blonde thats music to the soul.ga day,md

"..while the Daytona, basically a faster and better looking S3.." --Silvoor

Maybe part of the reason there? I read a year or two ago that litre class sportbike sales are falling off, while middle weights are rising in sales. The latest litre bikes are not much larger physically than their middle weight sibs, which could open the door for a bored/stroked D675 of maybe 800 cc. The D955i is larger and heavier with a dated suspension, even at the end of it's run, compared to it's sales competitors. Sounds like doom and gloom, but makes for a better real world sportbike, IMHO.

Different market, of course.

Brad

I have had both. Sold my 03 S3 to get a Daytona.

In stock form, the Daytona is not as rideable as the S3. The S3 makes smooth power, the Daytona has poor midrange performace. I miss the S3 motor.

Insurance is cheaper on an S3...no bodywork to break on that first tip-over.

I also think the S3 came out in a time where naked bikes and "streetfighters" were becoming all the rage. Kids were crashing their fully faired bikes and not replacing the bodywork. An S3 looks much cooler than a GSXR running around with no lowers.

In 2002, Triumph was lucky to get 11k for a Daytona when you could get a GSXR 1k, or an R1 for less. Remember when you could get a nice 600 for for only $6k?

BMW and Ducati had cornered the market for wealthy 35+ year olds who were buying bikes and Triumph was not having much luck attracting those guys.

Now that 675 is hot and looks great, I think more people will be looking at Triumph.
I think the age of the Hayabusa and litre bike is on a decline and am hoping 750's make a comeback. With the new 2008 Ninja 250's popularity, maybe small bore sportbikes will finally catch on in the USA and we will be treated to some real gems (fzr400, cbr400, vfr400, gsxr400, etc...), that no one wanted here in the late 80's.

Not sure I agree with you on the midrange issue, for the first time today I went along a road I use to get to work and gave it lots in third, the road has some really big undulations sort of going over a series of hump back bridges, well on the second "lump" st around 5000rpm the front came up and it then just sat there on the gas about 2 feet clear, man I felt like I was on AGO's leep at the IOM, first time in lots of years of riding I have done that, I am still smiling now 3 hours later, it just rode the midrange till I let it down again after about half a mile, Wow.

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http://stickerchick.com/images/AD455-th.jpg

FWIW, I think my TPS is mal-adjusted or bad. Maybe my huge hole in the midrange is because of that. I will update for sure.

Dealer has one in stock but I am going to test and adjust first.

This lack of mid-range power has me mystified. My Daytona pulls like a train right through the range.

My only feeling about the bike is that it's slightly over-geared for sports riding. A 17 tooth front would greatly improve matters.

Linz

Well I guess we'll never know. Now what ever happened to those models...

__________________
Never drink alone.
Never ride in a pack.
Always buy a drink for a woman wearing fishnet stockings.