I wrapped some track fairings for my 848 last year but decided after a few outings that I couldn't risk chucking that down the road so got myself a Triumph Daytona as a track bike. Its a bit tatty but goes well and I don't have the fear of watching it dismantle itself as it pirouettes through a gravel trap. Loosing it would hurt but not as much as the 848! (Cue pictures) Having done a few days last year, I decided the winter would be a good time to tidy it up as its not being ridden. The list was long (ish) Sort forks - stock internals were OK but could be SO much better Sort tank - This was a strange matte finish and scoured with petrol marks - track bike chic but not pretty Sort fairings - Big chunks missing from the fibreglass in a few places, lowers didnt line up with the top and there were 3 holes for each Dzus fastener! Go Keyless - Saves travelling to the other end of the country with a bike on a trailer only to realise the keys are in the house. Quick action throttle - the stock has far too large a travel so its hard to get fully on the gas from closed. Assorted other things that came up as I found them on eBay or Daytona Forums! Oh and I'm trying to do it as cheaply as I can....apparently I 'spend enough on bikes' already
The forks. Having priced up all sorts of options (Replace with 2011 forks, replace with Ohlins, replace internals with KTech etc) I came across a forum member who was selling his Maxton internals. These were about £450 new and were spung for my weight. I Have Maxton stuff on my Speed Triple so know how good it is so I snapped them up for £180. Maxton take the stock internals and replace some parts, modify others and generally take them from being stock OEM ones to top notch stuff. These should stop the front feeling so vague at speed and lean. Not much to show but you can see the purple bump adjuster at the bottom of the fork leg.
The Tank Scoured and knarly (dude) but not what I was after. I decided to see if I could get a brushed metal finish on the bare tank so went to get it glass blasted. The used a nasty chemical to get the paint off before blasting it to get off the primer. I got a call a couple of days later to say they had done it but there was a big patch of filler on the top. Bugger.
Still onwards and upwards. I chipped out the old filler and redid it with a view to covering the area with wrap to cover the filler. I then used a green Scottish pad to give a brushed effect, did the wrapped areas and coated it with 4 coats of petrol resistant lacquer in my murder room (plastic sheets in the corner of the garage to reduce dust).
Fairings OK from 20 paces but got lots worse the closer you got. I'm not looking for perfect but if it needs repairing lets do it all anyway. First up, get them a bit stronger. They flexed a lot....I mean loads, so the gel coat on the fiberglass was crazed like mad. I know a guy who knows a guy who was able to reinforce them. He also filled all the holes whilst he was there so I could start again with the Dzus
Looking good. For the throttle look for a 2nd hand 1050 speed triple throttle tube, it goes straight on the bike and is faster action. You may find you want to go with a quicker action one after trying it but its a very cheap way of speeding up the throttle action
Next up was getting off the stickers and sanding them down as well as patching up the holes. (Thats not me by the way.......Im shorter, fatter and have less hair oh and we wore masks too...most of the time) After much filling and sanding they were then sprayed with high build primer Before spraying and sanding again to find any low spots. Filling and sanding again then primer and spray. To keep it simple (and cheap) I did them black with rattle cans. In retrospect, with the time it took, I'd probably pay for the painting next time.
Cheers Attila. I'd already got the 1050 throttle tube on it but it still took quite a cock of the wrist.....more on that later
On with the fairings. I got some carbon wrap to break up the sea of matte black. I started with the front mudguard with the intention of carrying through the union jack theme. Turned out nicely so on with the belly pan
Go Keyless This was the one I was worried about. Im not a natural with electronics so I enlisted the help of a friend. You know the one....he can look at a wiring diagram and it makes sense......like that bloke from The Matrix looking at code. Not only would I have a bike that didnt need a key, but it would allow me to move the relays from their position tucked into the fairings on the left (partial to being ripped off in a crash which leaves you buggered) to behind the airbox (where the Street Triple ones are) I managed to get a complete loom for £35 from fleabay and set about labeling every connector and wire from the wiring diagram so I knew what to remove. We then stripped off the old loom and tested the new one to make sure it was all OK....no point stripping it if it has a break somewhere. With a couple of evenings of soldering, stripping out needless wires (for lights, alarms and horns amongst other things) we got the new loom in place and soldered in extra wire to run the relays behind the airbox. Much neater and hopefully it should be safer there too!
Quick action throttle The tube from a Speed Triple is an improvement and is a very cheap mod for the Daytona. Its about £10 from Triumph and lots of owners do it and are happy but I was still struggling to get from about 85% to 100% throttle without taking a second grab at the throttle. I got one from Venhill with 3 different cam sizes to try. It was a pain to fit! Getting the cables into the cam by the throttle bodies took about an hour, 4 pints of swearing and some long nose pliers but the result is great. It now goes 0 to 100% in about 35 degrees whereas the 1050 tube was about 45. Doesnt sound like much but it feels completely different. The new cables also have a silky smooth action, rather like double cream. Maybe slightly heavier but miles more positive.
I still need to put the screen on and refit the airbox and tank properly (few bits of wire tidying to do under there still. I'll also be getting some stickers on there including 'Triumph' on the tank and a few others to break up the sea of black! I'm also thinking about getting a black rear wheel or maybe getting the gold one powder coated. She now looks like this : Assorted others. Captive spacers. - £25 front and back Replaced missing swing arm pivot adjuster (hadn't noticed it missing!) (List to be continued)
hello bud how do you find the 675 to the ducatis ive always had tuned 748s but ive fancied a daytona for a while how you rate it??
Easier to ride and very confidence inspiring. Plenty of go till you get overtaken by the 1000's at about 130 (top speed is about 145) but you catch them up on the corners....which is the fun bit after all ;-) Its small but for a track bike I reckon its great. I have a friend whos 6 foot and he doesnt struggle with 20/30 minute sessions although he thinks as a road bike it would be a bit small for him
ah cool yeah i have that problem with my 748 track bike down the straights but epic fun in the corners, was thinking a 675 for the road.
That looks great! And I bet its a riot on track too. I love the D675, it has a great chassis and a belting engine. The howl of that little triple is epic
