New Daytona

["barry.croft" <barry.croft@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hot off the press ...

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/news.asp?page=Latest+News&id=1464

By Ben Purvis

TRIUMPH is due to launch a heavily revised version of its 955i Daytona later
this month.

The updated Daytona is expected to use a reworked version of the existing
three-cylinder motor, even though the company is also known to be working on
a four-cylinder model based on technology from the TT600.

Triumph insiders claim the new Daytona is now complete, while the firm has
confirmed it plans to unveil a new sports bike at the end of this month.

Sources close to Triumph's German importer say the new bike's motor has been
seriously modified to boost power and make it compete with machines like
Honda's FireBlade, Yamaha's R1 and Suzuki's GSX-R1000.

No details of the mods have been made available, but if the motor is to
compete in that illustrious company, it's likely to need a capacity hike.

Sources in Germany and the UK both tell us the bike makes more than 140bhp -
with one Triumph insider quoting the figure at 147bhp. That is 19bhp more
than the current model.

Such power figures are well within reach. John Wilcox Competition Engines,
which works closely with Triumph on engine development and includes the
engineering of the current Daytona engine among its achievements, already
offers a kit that gives 142bhp from the motor without increasing capacity.

Several Wilcox staff left the firm last year to work for Triumph in its
engine development department - so some modifications on the new bike could
be similar to those carried out by Wilcox.

As well as the modified engine, the bike has been put on a serious diet.

Weight is down from the existing 198kg (435lb) to around 185kg (407lb) -
bringing it closer to the competition.

There's new suspension components, a modified frame and lightweight
bodywork, which have all helped cut weight.

Importantly, the current single-sided swingarm is expected to be swopped for
a lighter, stiffer double-sided design - reducing weight and improving
handling.

The revised chassis, which is expected to have a shorter wheelbase and
steeper steering head angle, should also give the bike sharper handling -
again with the aim of matching Japanese competition.

One area where Triumph will not be looking to Japan for inspiration is
styling.

No details of the final look have been revealed, but the bike is known to
have completely new bodywork.

MCN's German source said: "Early on, the new Daytona looked like a Japanese
superbike, but the disappointing reaction to the TT600's styling encouraged
Triumph to restyle it.

"The result is very distinctive and clearly European. It's an
aggressive-looking bike."

Triumph is remaining tight-lipped about its latest model.

The firm's Ross Clifford said: "It's true we will be launching a new sports
bike towards the end of the month. I can't tell you any more than that."

UK Triumph dealers are expected to be given a sneak preview of the bike
tomorrow (Thursday), and you will be able to see it at the London Motorcycle
and Scooter Show at Excel, Docklands, from February 21-25.

And this isn't the only launch Triumph has on the cards. Sources claim the
firm's planned 2000cc three-cylinder cruiser - revealed by MCN last year -
is coming closer to reality.

It went down well at a customer clinic in America - where the bike is
expected to sell in its greatest numbers - and the positive feedback
increases its chances of reaching production


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