Dave Sonsky: Editor
Miles Ridden: 7200
Mods: Seat cowl
Triumph seat cowl
$249.99...
OK, so you've noticed by now that there aren't any spectacular mods to report on this month. Granted, I did finally get around to slapping on a seat cowl purely as an aesthetic upgrade (and it did the trick), but nothing nearly as juicy as last month's BST wheels and Metzeler M5 tire upgrades.
After spending a good amount of time living with the Daytona 675 I'm happy to report that there haven't been any major hiccups (nor should there be with only 7,000 miles and change on the dial). Instead of turning wrenches on the Triumph I had some time to actually ride and take a general inventory of how all the upgrades are holding up.
I've constantly done some "tuning" on the Two Brothers exhaust since day one. Nothing major, but I've had the sound suppressing bung in and out at least 10 times. Thankfully it's a quick and easy adjustment, yet it has dramatic results on how loud the bike is (according to the dyno the power difference is negligible). Depending on what helmet I'm wearing (some being louder than others) or where I'm riding to I'll either pop the bung in or remove it. With about 5000 miles on the pipe, the packing seems to be fine and the finish still looks new.
Say goodbye to misshifts,...
Say goodbye to misshifts, Once you live with a quickshifter you'll never look back. unfortunately our unit has been plagued by some frayed wires.
My favorite upgrade, the quickshifter, is struggling to survive. Due to a stubborn shift rod that refuses to stay tight, the wiring has spun several times and frayed away. Shifts have become noticeably clumsier than when the unit was new. The lesson learned is to periodically (weekly) check that the shift rod is tight and the wiring isn't deteriorating. Therefore, my next garage session won't be to add an upgrade but rather to fix one.
Some recent night rides highlighted the 675's need for better headlights. The high beam works like a dream, but they blind anyone coming he opposite direction. An HID kit would likely do the trick, so I'm scouring the Web for a kit.
After only 2000 miles the...
After only 2000 miles the grips look more worn than a paris hilton mug shot.
While the Renthal clip-ons have proven to be a great mod, the accompanying grips haven't worked out as well. With only 2000 miles the left grip has worn away to an unsightly mess. For under 20 bucks they were OK while they lasted, but next time I'd spend a little more for a trick billet/rubber set from Avon or Rizoma.
Surprisingly, I still glance over my shoulder after I park the bike. It simply looks that good. I'm happy.
Coming next month:
Some garage time