2011 Triumph Daytona 675R

The 675R is born to be on a race track, whether at the hands of a racer or a keen trackday rider. A standard 675 won't disappoint on a circuit, but the 675R ups the game to race-bike levels of suspension composure once you start pushing harder. Where the standard 675 would start moving around and getting a little flighty, the R is as solid as a rock. The quickshifter works well too, even at low speeds cruising down pit lane, and makes short shifting up the gears before a bend or crest a doddle.

It's a big ask to improve on the Nissins that grace the standard 675 and, whilst the Brembo monoblocks don't perform any worse than the standard calipers, neither do they bring any improvements. But hey, they do look better and as they perform just as well, who am I to complain?

The 675R will cost you an extra £1400 over the standard issue 675 and that's ruddy good value; to convert a standard 675 to a similar spec, would cost over £4000.

If you're a superstock or supersport racer, buying a 675R is a no brainer – race ready suspension is a big saving at the beginning of a season and the quickshifter will be a handy advantage in the superstock class. For a handy trackday rider, the chassis on the 675R will give noticeably better performance than the standard bike, in addition to looking cooler in the paddock. For anyone else, the pearlescent white paint, red subframe and gold suspension make the 675R stunning to behold which, to a lot of people, is worth the extra cost alone.

2011 Triumph Daytona 675R
Price £9,799 OTR
Engine 675cc, 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC
Bore x stroke 74 mm × 52.3 mm
Front suspension Öhlins 43mm upside down NIX30 forks
Rear suspension Öhlins TTX36 twin tube monoshock
Front brakes 308mm floating discs, Brembo 4-piston radial mono-block calipers
Rear brake Single 220mm disc, Nissin single piston caliper
Seat height 830 mm
Fuel capacity 17.4 litres