I’ve not posted much, but spend quite a bit of time browsing this site (helps me through the day at work!)
Anyway, I have a little dilemma, I have around 3k to spend on a 2nd bike. I’ve always fancied a Daytona 600, still think it’s one of the best looking bikes, and it’s also something a bit different. It’s either that or go safe and buy a CBR600 fs, which I should be able to buy within budget, but this would probably be 2/3 years older than a d600 as obviously Honda’s hold their value better.
Has anyone had any experience of them? I’m a bit worried about running costs, reliability, etc, etc. Although it’ll be a second bike, I’d still like to be able to commute on it during the summer months.
Do i buy with my heart or head? Any advice would be appreciated.
I have owned both (well the CBR was an F, but its basically the same bike) and I’m afraid to say but I would go with the CBR. Servicing of Triumph is expensive as the valve have to be lifted every 12000 miles also a lot of garages won’t touch Triumphs, especially garages in the greater London area, which means you are restricted to Triumph dealers and they charge a fortune. A 12000 mile service with a triumph dealer is about £500.
The Daytona is a very good bike with excellent handling but the engine is a little weak compared to the CBR with the CBR having a noticably greater amount of mid range power (something the D600 sorely lacks). Thankfully the D600 doesn’t have the oil guzzling habit that my two current Trumpets have, I put this down to the difference between Triples and IL4s.
The main plus point with the D600 really is the handling wich makes up for the engine and the quite frankly appalling gear box, both Triumph and Honda have reputations for not exactly brilliant gear boxes but the D600s takes the biscuit.(my Sprint and D675 have no problems with their gear boxes so feck knows what happened there).
One thing about owning a Trumpet is that you don’t get treated like public enemy No 1 and they generate a lot more interest than Jap bikes, altough this can be a pain when you want to get away.
I love my CBR600, FI light is a pain and think it needs a power commander since I fitted the scorpion as a bit fluffy at low revs now but it commutes well, handles and chucks great and with a 108bhp goes like a rocket.
I had a D600 . . . for 6 days before I wrote it off. It was OK, my first bike. Didn’t really get to know it but it’s nowhere near as fast as a modern 600. It is certainly the best looking of the older 600’s, brilliant looks.
If I was buying again I’d get the Honda CBR600F, having tried one it’s such a good all rounder and so easy to ride.
If you do get one I still have a new petrol tank for a D600 in red
