TRIUMPH DAYTONA 675 R (2011 - 2012) Review

The Daytona 675R is a fantastic supersport bike, designed for one thing and one thing only - going fast. With a stunning engine and plush, predictable handling, the Triumph is a joy to ride when blasting along country lanes and would be the perfect machine for anyone venturing into the world of track day riding. However, the uncompromising nature of the 675R means it's cramped and uncomfortable for long trips, limiting its appeal.

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Ride quality is the same as the Daytona 675 and pure supersport. The seat’s high and has low-set clip-on bars but isn’t uncomfortable, just intimidating at first. The ride is exemplary on track thanks to the Ohlins fully adjustable front forks and TTX36 rear shock. Both systems make the gap between road and track use easier to cross by being fully adjustable. Because of its track-bias, the firm set up can cause the bars to occasionally waggle. While this is not a problem for the steering damper to take control, it would have been good if Triumph had kitted the 675R with a fully adjustable unit to make the ‘R’ transformation complete.

It is the same powerplant as the standard Daytona 675. Forget about peak power – although 115bhp at the wheel is not to be sneezed at – it’s the legendary flat but fat torque curve coupled with a midrange horsepower that makes the Daytona a breeze to ride day-in, day out without working up a sweat.
If you want to rip it up then the 675R will easily pump your adrenaline – especially on a trackday – simply by working the throttle harder. Something done very easily because the fitment of a plug and play quickshifter means it’s a case of simply opening and closing the throttle and foot tapping the gear lever.

Chassis components are no different to Japanese counterparts. This leaves the powertrain open to discussion, of which there are few web-based grumbles about the previous version (2006-2008), but nothing but good news has been said about the 2011 model. Racing has thrown up a few blown motors, but then this happens with Japanese and European bikes – it is the nature of the racing beast.

The 675 is a brilliant middleweight in standard guise. Add up the cost of the race-spec goodies and you are getting a good deal when buying the 675R.

The 675R comes loaded with with top-spec fully-adjustable suspension from Ohlins and brakes from Brembo which help set it apart from the standard 675. There's also a steering damper as standard. But at the end of the day it's a focused sportsbike, so don't expect gadgets-galore.