SHOW STOPPER
So I finally get to understand what all the buzz is about when it comes to Triumph motorcycles. Just 2 months ago I got to ride the Street Triple, and now I had the pleasure of swinging my leg over the Daytona Moto2 765 [#574 of 765 to be specific]. Sure every motorcycle owner claims that their machine is incredible, exciting and one of a kind, but Triumph owners have always had a deep and affectionate love for their machines… and now I see why. There’s something to be said about the precision in it’s feel. I was reluctant at first and very cautious of it’s manicured carbon fiber exterior; but quickly I felt the 765 begging me to thrash her about. It came on suddenly and sent an exhilarating spike through my body when I went through the gears to redline in race mode (lets pretend I did this in Mexico); she has personality and she spoke to my core…
So why is she so special? This is the first time we see a co-branded Dorna approved Moto2 motor being brought to the public. I don’t know about you but as a huge Moto2 fan this makes my heart excited. Only 765 have been released here in the US and another 765 spread over Europe. Let’s be honest, this is a trophy for the Triumph fanboys, and I mean that in the most sincere way! This is a special unit packed with upgraded goodies that I appreciated in it’s entirety.
photo courtesy of @Apex_of_Life
Let me preface this with the fact that I have not had the privilege of testing the Daytona 675. However from everything I’ve been told and seen, the 765 is fundamentally a beefed up 675 (if you’re dyslexic like me, read that again LOL!) As a HUGE fan of the 600cc middle weight class I can say that I adored the extra oomph the 3 cylinder 765cc motor has. It boasts 128HP at the crank and 59 lb/ft of torque. For me this is huge because I love to ride my motorcycles at high rpms, in which case this machine still allows me to have fun shifting through the gears while feeling exhilaration and torque.
Other goodies include a fully adjustable Öhlin suspension [NIX30 fork and TTX36 shock] which paired with the bike’s narrow form really lets you cut through corners like a knife through butter. Next important factor are the brakes: a stunning Brembo 19/21 MCS master cylinder coupled with steel braided lines and Brembo Stylema calipers. The feel was prefect for me, progressive with a stronger and stronger bite as you pull harder. Honestly for me those 2 things are the most important in motorcycle competence and I was pleasantly surprised at how exquisite they performed.
Added bonuses are a quick shifter/auto blipper and a full color TFT screen. Now I have installed a QS on my trackbike and I can tell you it’s probably the most fun modification you can put on a bike—especially if you plan on tracking it. But the auto blipper…ooof, that’s a whole different level of feels. I only got to test ride this machine on the street so I can’t say how it would perform under extreme circumstances on track, but for me the QS felt silky smooth.
The TFT screen is quite intuitive to figure out with overall 3 control buttons on the bars. You can choose between 5 rider modes: Rain, Road, Sport, Rider–a customizable setting and Race. In addition you can adjust the level of Traction Control and ABS, however you can NOT turn off the ABS sadly (which I will totally blame on regulation and safety standards). I mainly rode the Daytona in Race mode in the mountains which had a significant punch over the other modes but at the same time didn’t feel overly twitchy and jerky. I found the ride-by-wire throttle control to be very smooth as opposed to some of the other new bikes I’ve ridden. The one big component Triumph didn’t change is the chassis and swing arm; although I can’t say I would change anything that works perfectly well.
The 765 comes with a beautiful sleek race fit Arrow exhaust, however I was sad to see that it also has a cat and a DB killer within the pipe. It is pretty quiet and uninspiring but honestly I can’t blame anyone for that except Europe and it’s strict emission standards. Lucky for us I head there’s a mid pipe available for a really quick fix.
The only other thing I noticed that I would change are the pegs. While the ergonomics are excellent and so is the stock placement (at least for my 5’8” frame) I did find them rather slick when wet and overall not particularly grippy. One of the days I rode the 765 it was still wet and my boot slipped right off the peg mid corner sending my outer leg flying (pucker moment indeed!) Fortunately the Daytona is insanely nimble and maneuverable, so she had my back 100%. With that said I was pleasantly surprised how perfectly my knees locked into the tank. Overall the Daytona is very slim making it super easy to hug with my entire body. The bar location is set out much wider than most sportbikes which I absolutely love! This gives much better leverage and easy of control and also makes the bike feel spacious which prevents cramping. If you’re going to enjoy a sportbike on the street then this is your steed.
So, after going over all the technical bits I can finally get to her looks….and she’s quite the stunner. Dripping with carbon fiber almost everywhere except the tank and seat, she dazzles like an exotic model dripping in black sequins and diamonds, but without being haughty. She’s quite down to earth and approachable for as sultry as she appears…and for me that makes all the difference in the world! I can say wholeheartedly this bike inspires confidence and begs to be pushed hard through a corner.
She’s the perfect mix of fun, excitement, precision and prestige.
~Red
photo courtesy of @Tripplephoto
