If you’re crashing it’s 99% not the bike. It’s more likely over riding the capability, at worst, of what you have. If you buy a 20yr old bike and don’t upgrade the brakes, at least service the suspension, it will be a limiting factor. But you’ll only crash because you go beyond that. Get it set up right, braking working consistently (the gixer is woeful btw, junk the lot for something else!!) and decent tyres and it will be as fast as the rider can be. Plenty of ‘old junk’ with a good rider will be front of most fast groups for a TD
Lack of traction control is of the biggest reason to crash out on a damp day, which is plenty in the UK. To be fair, it's not the crashes that the biggest issue with old bikes, but mechanical. Not many out there keep them in the best shape.
I was going to say a 675, what a hoot they are to ride and great bike to build your confidence as a beginner (and the sound is sooo addictive).
Back in 2013 I struggled to get £3.5k for my mint K6 with 24k miles on it. Someone bought it for a track bike. I think it would be worth a couple of grand more today, so they aren't particularly cheap. As has been said sort the brakes, and the suspension. And they're definitely not crap.
I've had 4, and I've had mates that have had them, between us we have probably had 6-7 different daytona's and I've NEVER seen one blow up, infact we have never had any mechanical issues with them at all.... We did Jerez in Spain bike sharing on a D675 in 40 degree heat, it didn't miss a beat, we were pushing it way too hard really and should have been letting it cool down more. Well, it was great until my mate crashed it...
One. Technically not a blow up. But failed oil cooler chucking oil into coolant. Coolant overflow. Onto rear tyre. The end.
I had a 675 "Super III" blow up on me in the outside lane of the m25 in the dark and pissing rain which was nice. Had to hobble over to the inside lane and abandon ship. Written off as far as the insurance company were concerned. The other two (non "special" editions) 675's i had didn't miss a beat in over 50k miles, and cheap as chips to service and mod (compared with Ducati, obviously).
fair play mate must have been a good un, ive know 3 road bikes and 2 race bikes with rods thought the side of the engine.
Not horrible luckily. Fixed the bike ok and took it out at Mallory but I’d lost all confidence in it by then so sadly I had to let it go. Shame as I really loved it.
That's the thing mate, it's all about fair balance isn't it.. I know of an individual on here who bought a 675 ex race bike, and had a problem, so immediately was very vocal about how they are total garbage, so it's just about balance I think. Equally I totally get how a painful and expensive experience will colour peoples view Personally I think in terms of out the box track really, it's really all about getting somethin to tick as many boxes as possible as a totally standard package, so for example for £6k a Daytona will have decent handling, quickshifter, a slipper clutch (if a 2013 model) and makes good power, so bang for buck that's pretty much ready to go, a £6k fireblade might not have a slipper clutch, might not have a quick shift etc, so argually it isn't as ideal for track without spending money.
I would get another 675 for track but only a Gen 3 (2013 on). Prior to that the issue I had on my bike (2010) is well known. Cracking track bikes, fully agree.
Yep, heat exchanger failures, tbf it's a unit that a lot of manufacturers use and it's not really racebike sensible... We have the stock heat exchanger on the daytona we run and we are asking for trouble. My mates ordered a billet oil cooler to replace it when we put the engine back in.
@yev Back on thread - this just popped up in my notifications and may well be of interest to you.......
Lol I’m assuming this may be me Actually, great bikes and lots of spares at reasonable prices. You just need to appreciate they have a narrow window of maintenance operation: more so that most jap etc bikes. Sure lots do break, that’s fact, but many are tuned as they do tune easily for good power. And many, me included tbh, don’t (didnt) appreciate how critical the level of oil was to make sure of no starvation. People ask an opinion, I give one based on my own experience being around tracks for a few years when lots were using 675s and my own personal experience. Not sure what is wrong with that
