uh oh, 675 gonna get some competition!!!

[markbvt]

Isn't the ER650 Euro-market only?

--mark

[BudGT]

My understanding is that it is just a different name for North America.

http://motorcycledaily.com/31august0..._ninja650r.htm

[WHAT]

From my understanding the ER6-N is the naked version and will not be sold in the U.S. The 650R is fully faired and will be sold stateside.

[WHAT]

Here is the Euro site for the ER6-N

ER6-N

[banda]

What exactly do you mean by "compete"?

I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that in American amateur road racing where the Triumph 675 and the Er-6 might be raced against one-another in the same classes, that more competitors field the Kawasakis and better results are had with them.

Do any of you Triumph owners realize how much easier it is to ride a SV650 fast on a race track than our 600 fours? Have you ever tried to source race plastic, hop-up parts or other racing consumables and necessities for a Triumph?

Our bikes are cool, and they win the "war of the spec sheet" with these lower priced bikes, but don't confuse that with racing potential.

Just my $.02

[BudGT]

I don't disagree that bikes perceived to be "lesser" than our 600s can be faster around the track. However, I don't think it is any harder or expensive to track a Triumph.
No hop up parts are needed for 99% or riders on the track. Race bodywork is available for TT600s and Daytonas farily easily. What else do you need?

I hope this kawi is very successful, we need more variety.

[ This message was edited by: BudGT on 2005-09-22 14:56 ]

[trumpyfan60]

Where the new Daytone 675 will really stomp its supposed competition is on the roads around your town, where the versatility of the triple will shine (see torque curves). After all, roughly 75% of sport bike buyers will never see a track; many will overestimate their ability and kill themselves on the highway instead, unfortunately. A good parallel twin like the new Ninja's can be sweet (see Bonneville), but for all-around performance and flexibility there's nothing like a triple.

[WANG]

However, I don't think it is any harder or expensive to track a Triumph

Triumphs are much more expensive to repair when (not if) you fall off the bike. One can bring a "totalled" SV650 back to life on the cheap using ebay as the primary parts source, and OEM discount wholesale places for things that aren't readily available used. That is simply not an option for any Triumph produced.

I think that the new Kawi is supposed to replace the EX500, as the EX500 is also a liquid cooled para-twin and getting pretty long in the tooth. Until the SV came out and made it nearly obsolete overnight, the EX500 ninja was a pretty popular racebike. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the 650 ninja enjoyed the same popularity.