Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

100 90 90 80 80 70 70 &,60 60 ~ CD ~ CD '" 0 ~ :I: 50 W Cl: 40 (/) 30 20 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 " 12 13 '415 RPM (x10001 TRIUMPH TTSOO More than any other in our distinguished group, the 2001 Triumph IT600 best represents the old axiom, "Be careful what you wish for." Last year, we were fairly impressed by Triumph's ability to produce a competent fuel-injected inJine four that, while styled more like something that you might have seen on a showroom floor a half-decade ago, made for a fantastic street bike as well as an enjoyable - though underpowered - mount for the occasional jaunt on the racetrack. The small British company's reluctance to spend the big-time bucks required to go racing and thus signal that they are too softly spring and underimprove its breed is understandable enough. Hey, damped for the track. For this reason, the IT also has careful marketing of a motorcycle that offers "some- the tendency to want to stand up while trail-braking. thing different" has kept other brands, such as Buell, Shifting is a bit notchy, though no one complained within the environs of public favor for several years. of missed gear selections - it's just another area that But unlike Buell, or even when looking within its own could have used some attention this year. Then again, ranks to such landmark rides as the Speed Triple or the IT turns around and surprises with its extremely Daytona, Triumph really doesn't have the luxury of good brakes. Really, though, that shouldn't be much turning a blind eye toward the progress that is being of a surprise, as Triumph has spec'd the IT with twin made by the Japanese Big Four if it ever hopes to sell 320mm Nissin rotors and four-piston calipers. Their the IT in any appreciable quantity. That said, what power and progressive feel rank them right in there chance do you think that a basically unchanged ver- with the best in the class. sion of the bike would have in a shootout such as Just like last year, the Triumph presented us with a ours? few minor irritations, such as when the fan continued Fact is, the is almost there in every aspect of its to run for days after the bike is shut off, or the fact that performance. The multi-point sequential fuel-injected this year the kickstand nearly fell off (last year's DOHC 16-valve motor makes good, useable power, machine leaked oil at the track). The engine light just not enough of it. Part of the problem may lie in the seems like it is always on. Guess that's true heritage EFI itself, which exhibits a horrible glitch right when for you, mate! the throttle is cracked, making low-speed modulation From an ergonomic standpoint, the Triumph's high a real chore. After that, the trouble goes away, only to bars and cushy saddle are well suited to riding on the return again in the form of a serious flat spot that lasts street, but some of our testers couldn't get used to from about 8000 rpm all the way to 11,000 rpm. The what they described as the "chopper-like" feel at the system itself probably isn't that bad, but the mapping bars when attempting to get aggressive on the track. is definitely off - so much, in fact, that we thought the Finally, one of the biggest knocks against the IT is mapping on last year's test unit was better. Then that its styling lacks chutzpah when compared to the again, with the crisper injection found in the new rest of the bikes in our comparo. It's a real headHonda CBR600F4i and Suzuki GSX-R600, maybe it's scratcher to think that the same company that gave us just more noticeable this year. Whatever the case, the the aggro Speed Triple and the dapper Trophy 900 Triumph makes fun power, just not seriously fun has given us a 600 with the visual appeal of an old power, when compared to the rest of the pack. Suzuki Katana. The IT's fit and finish lacks the polish Chassis-wise, the IT feels comfortable on the street of the others as well. In summation, the 2001 Triumph IT 600 has fallen and is surprisingly unflappable on the track as well. Several of our more hard-core race-type dudes giving from fab freshman to sophomore jinx. It's a nice bike the machine two thumbs up for its feeling of stability. that needs more power, more refinement and better When pushed at race speeds, though, we found that styling in order to maintain any type of presence in the the forks are a bit flawed, imparting a divey feel as the middleweight ranks, even if only on the street. :rr cue Triumph lT600 F~ATUIl9l~S Engine • Multi-point sequential electronic fuel injection w/ forcedair induction • Nitride crank • High-pressure die-cast cases • Cylinder bores coated w/ low-friction NikllsU Chassis • Four-celled extruded-aluminum beam perimeter frame • Cast alloy three-spoke wheels What's hot? • Storms on the street: Carves canyons with the class leaders • Great binders offer stopping power and feel • A hit with the rookies What's not? • Lacks on the track: Can't hang when the green flag drops • Fuel injection hick-ups like a hooligan on the piss • Identity crisis: It's a Triumph, so make it look like one not a four- year-old Honda Bottom Line The sophomore jinx: The IT represented a good first-year effort... in the 20th century. Triumph IT600 S[Fi'l~(bm~~CAT~[]NiBl LIST PRICE $8,299 DISPLACEMENT 599cc ENGINE TYPE Liquid-cooled, in-line four-cylinder BORE X STROKE 68 x 41.3mm COMPRESSION RATIO. " .. _ 12.5:1 CARBURETION ..........•....Electronic fuel injection IGNITION Digital inductive TRANSMISSION ..........•..............Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM Electric FUEL CAPACITY ......•.................. .4.8 gal. WHEELBASE ......••••....•............ .54.9 in. RAKE/TRAIL .24"/89.1mm SEAT HEIGHT 31.9 in. FRONT TIRE ..................•.......120/70-17 REAR TIRE 180/55-17 FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL .........•............N/A REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL ......•..•.............N/A FRONT BRAKE Dual disc REAR BRAKE ...........•......•.. , .. _ Disc FINAL DRIVE Chain CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT 374 Ibs. I e n ... _ so • JANUARY 24.2001 27

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