Triumphrat

hot_rod29 · 04-23-2008

I'm looking to buy a daytona 675 or a thruxton for my next bike and I wanted to get some opinions from the daytona crowd. I'm a moderate experience rider, riding on holidays and whenever I was home from school for the last 5 years and almost every day for the last year. The thing is, my riding has all been on cruisers (current bike 750 shadow) dirt bikes and standard types (honda CB 750, dad's). I just wondered what advice you'd give to someone stepping over to the sport arena. Going to test drive in the next week or so but I'm predisposed to the daytona because the bike fits my body type better, long legs and arms and 6'1".

Will · 04-23-2008

If it fits, go for it. The bike will be much more than you are used to, but if you have been riding every day for a year and riding for five years, it isn't like you are just figuring out what the throttle and brakes to or what traffic is like. It will be a big adjustment, as my first sportbike was, but once you make the transition, you may find it very difficult to go back. Just take it easy until you are used to the bike and stay out of the upper rev range. If you buy a new bike, the break in period will help. Give yourself a thousand miles or so to get yourself trained in how the new bike works before doing anything too exciting.

A Thruxton would be a far easier transition, since it has semi-sportbike ergos and a crusier-like power band. It is a fun bike to ride, and I enjoy every chance I get to ride one, but they are completely different animals. A Daytona 675 is right on the edge of motorcycle performance, and it takes a lot of involvement from the rider to use its abilities. A Thruxton is a retro bike with modest performance and stable handling.

If you can test ride both, it might help your decision a whole lot more than anything we can say here. If you can't, then I hope our comments help.

mnotae · 04-24-2008

As an owner of both a Thruxton and a Daytona, the choice of what to ride each day is always difficult. I had my eye on a Thrux for years and finally pulled the trigger on one last fall. It's a really fun bike just to mod and on which to cruise around. I never have a bad ride on it. It's stable with pretty good power (after some toying with the engine)...so a really good ride. I also never take it out without someone stopping me to ask about the bike...if you care about that kind of crap. It's really a great bike. That said, I found myself wanting a bit more oomph when I was out on my Thrux, so I took the 'ol bonus check and bought a Daytona about 3 months ago. Funny thing is that I seem to find myself out on the Daytona much more. It's really so **** fun to ride that it's hard to let it sit in the garage. I live in Manhattan, so it's certainly not the bike on which to cruise around the city, but if I'm ever getting out of the city, I'm on the Daytona. I usually come home wired after a ride on it... and pretty exhausted. So, if you are a sport-minded cruiser...I'd get the Thrux. If you are a bit of an adrenaline junky...you gotta go with the Daytona. Either way, you'll end up with a great bike...

Brooksie · 04-24-2008

An experianced rider like you can handle it. I went from no bike to 790 Bonnie to 955i in less than two years and had no problem. Respect the new bike and follow break in RPM guidelines and you'll stay out of trouble. Go for it!

earl · 05-01-2008

i've got a thrux and a 675 in the garage. i agree that the thrux is no sports bike, but it'll get you attention wherever you go. even the harley guys'll strike up a conversation about their first triumph, or bsa, or whatever. the 675 is a different ride. it's difficult to stay off the throttle. it pulls hard and sounds like an angry monster. i love 'em both for different reasons, but if i had to pick one i'd go with the 675 simply because of the performance advantage. fortunately, for now, i can keep both. so i will.

hot_rod29 · 05-18-2008

well, I took a buddy's daytona for a longer test ride 2 weeks ago... and long story short decided it wasn't for me. So this past wednesday I went down to our local dealer and pulled the trigger on a thruxton. I fell in love with the bike the second day on the road, it's the most fun I've had on a bike ever!

TripleThreat · 05-18-2008

Congratultaions - a Thruxton is a really nice ride and that classic cafe look is pretty cool...

TripleThreat