I nearly bought a TT600. Twice. When I was planning the demise of my first 'big' bike, a Suzuki GS500e, the UK press was abundant with artist's impressions, spy photos, and impressive sounding draft specifications. It was apparent the bike wouldn't be in showrooms for some time so I bough...
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I nearly bought a TT600. Twice. When I was planning the demise of my first 'big' bike, a Suzuki GS500e, the UK press was abundant with artist's impressions, spy photos, and impressive sounding draft specifications. It was apparent the bike wouldn't be in showrooms for some time so I bough the SV650 as a 'filler' before the TT was readily available in showrooms. Then it was launched, and bike jounalists the world over killed it stone dead, before it even reached the showrooms. Abyssmal fuel injection (who cares that Triumph was first?), dodgy paint schemes (who cares that Triumph dared to be different?), dated styling (who cares that Triumph went against the trend?) and that Y-Fronts headlamp (who cares that the headlamp was pants?). The public cared. The public wanted it to be a good bike and although many journalists hailed it as "The best handling production bike ever!" it was like the plain-Jane girlfriend that you didn't want to have to explain to your mates. I was gutted. On returning from a tour of Europe with friends all on 100 bhp plus bikes, I needed to upgrade from my 70 bhp SV to something will a little more stomp. I wanted the TT600 to be a contender, by now Triumph had improved (but not banished) that dodgy fuel injection glitch at low revs, but in my heart of hearts it wasn't enough. I bought a Triumph Sprint RS instead. The Sprint was a fine machine. Remarkably easy to ride for a 1000cc fuel-injected bike, and capable of continent crossing as well as track-day hoonery. That trippple cylinder engine makes gear choice almost redundant, in fact I'm convinced the only reason they fit gearboxes is to give the rider something to do. At any speed, any revs, there's gobs of creamy midrange power to stretch your arm joints. However, the 955i-engined Triumphs could never be described as lightweight, or middleweight. Heavyweight would be much more accurate in fact. Nearer lard than low fat spread, closer to creme caramel than natural yogurt. On fast A roads or autobahns, it rocked. On twisty country lanes or knotted race tracks, it rolled. 18 months of struggling to push it around my garage was enough, and now that I had a car again I could afford a 'less sensible' machine. "What's that, the Daytona 600 is actually released?". It's Test Ride time and there's a party in my credit card! You've all seen the pics by now, so I won't bore you with my views on the styling except to say "I love it!". Those horns on the tank, which looked so out of place to me at first, are very very clever. They not only stop your wedding tackle from being crushed under extreme braking, but they're a ledge to lock you leg under when doing your Xaus impression around Brands Hatch. But let me give you my first impressions. When I first climbed onboard the 'barely run-in' Daytona 600 demonstrator, my first impression was high seat, close handlebars, light weight. As I pulled away, I was expecting to have to goose that throttle to get moving, but it actually felt very torquey for a SuperSports 600. I since learned that the only bike in it's class with more torque is the Kawasaki - which has an extra 36cc's capacity (and increased insurance group to match). Nice one Triumph! I quickly bolted down the road (always two gears two high!) and out of the City into the relative freedom of the M25. Winding the bike open to almost legal speeds, the weight dissapeared from my wrists and the induction roar filled my senses. I headed south into Kent, my only problem was trying to keep the bike at least within sight of the speed limit. Bloody hell this thing is quick! Leaving the motorway for the joy of Kent's A & B roads was a revelation. On the motorway the bike was rock solid, comfy and quiet. But on 'proper roads' it showed it's true pedigree. To quote one UK bike magazine "Christ this bike handles". Throw it as hard as you dare into corners and it just looks up at you as if to say "Sorry, did you think that was fast?". On an unfamiliar bike I was riding my favourite corners 10mph than I do on my Sprint ... and it felt like 20mph slower. Effortless? Confidence inspiring? Razor sharp? - the English language lacks the platitudes to adequately describe the experience. And that engine - my oh my! Keep her below 5k and she's a relative pussy cat. Pulling better than almost all the competition, but not the nightmare you'd expect around town. SuperSports and SuperBikes are often either flat as a pancake at low revs - or snatchy and grabby as you wrestle around Mondeo-man at the traffic light Grand Prix. No so this puppy. It pully cleanly and evenly from tickover all the way until 6k - at which point she hitches up her skirts and dissapears over the horizon. Not an off-putting powerband like some Yamaha's I won't mention, just a predictable but progressive race to the redline. Intoxicating. The brakes exceed the now familiar high standard we've come to expect from Triumph. Due to the serious diet this bike has been on they seem to have acquired even more power and feel. Expect radials to be an upgrade for future models, but for now this must be the best 'normal' brakes set-up out there. Stoppies are almost mandetory! After a couple of hours with the Daytona 600 I reluctantly returned to the Dealer and was ready to place my deposit. However, part of me had to try the 2003 TT600. After all, could it really be that different from the Daytona? I managed to bag a ride 'around the block' before I signed on the dotted line. I wanted to buy the TT, again. But it was not to be. Well, apologies to all you TT owners out there, but the Daytona is not only a different kettle of fish, it's actually a different fish. If the TT is Cod's Roe, the Daytona is Caviar. Not that the TT is the box of spanners the press made it out to be, and Triumph are virtually giving away their stocks as the TT will shortly be discontinued. But compared to the Daytona the TT just missed the mark, in all areas. If I, on the Daytona went up against a merely 'good' rider on a TT, I'm sure he would eat me up and spit me out, but he'd have to try to ride fast. And I wouldn't. I bought the Daytona of course, and we build on our relationship on every ride. With a decent race can fitted (on the way back from the dealer!) she screams like a tortured race horse. I'm not sure what makes my senses swim more, the induction roar from the front or the scream from the rear, but I know I like it. A lot.
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