SHOOTOUT
P106
2013 MIDDLEWEIGHT SPORTBIKE SHOOTOUT PART II
afforded by the Triumph braking
package is the best of the Brembo monobloc units in this test.
Only the Kawasaki's surprising
Nissin setup rates higher – and,
again, by an almost imperceptible margin.
"Stopping power is immense
due to its Brembo hardware. Lever feel is progressive upon initial
pull, making for no-alarm braking," says Adey, with Massimo
agreeing: "Together with the Ohlins, I think it was the best combination – with effortless braking."
ABS comes standard aboard
the 675R, the only bike to do so.
The system is switchable, with
three settings: On, Off and Circuit. High-performance addicts
will appreciate the second setting, insisting on their superior
control and unhindered stoppie/
rear-slide shenanigans. The rest
of us mortals will enjoy the safety
cut-in, and Circuit mode allows
for a generous degree of tire slip.
Ergonomics on the Triumph
haven't been the highlight of the
Daytona in the past, particularly
for the street. It's still not as comfy as the 600s, but this year it did
seem improved in our tester's
opinions.
"Although they gave this bike
a full revamp it feels pretty similar to the old one behind the
windscreen," admits Adam. "It
still feels narrow, but it's less top
heavy and the ergonomics feel
more balanced and GSX-R like."
Adey likes the riding position
too, saying: "Ergos on the 675R
felt like a perfect balance be-
tween go fast now... chill later."
The Daytona's dash showcases all the necessary info in a
concise space. The prominent
right-side analog tach allows for
programmable shift lights – a
track-oriented feature to be sure,
but another indication of the
675R's race-bike build quality.
The Triumph hasn't always felt so
top-shelf.
"The Daytona 675R is a quality motorcycle, and the fit and finish appears on the same level of
the Japanese machines, which is
a big improvement for Triumph,"
says Adam. "I also LOVE the way
it looks in white."
In the appearance rankings,
only the F3 rates higher than the
Daytona. This result, along with
the MV stealing the Triumph's
