1996 Triumph DAYTONA 1200; A Complete Owner Review. A Future Classic Similar to the 900cc Super III

[@dk2428]

Like my Saab 900, an overbuilt exceptional quality piece of engineering instead of a heap of plastic thrown together cheaply, so the shareholders can enjoy some extra $$$. The 90's absolutely rocked. Character over bland uniformity. Thanks for the review!

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thanks for sharing. My host father in egrmany owned that Saab and I was also very impressed.

[@davidstiglitz4341]

Just had a great tour around San Diego with Nick with his Goldwing and sidecar. If you're in the area this is an unmissable trip. The bike and side car are terrific fun and really comfortable for two passengers. Nicks commentary is brilliant. Knowledgeably, good humoured and a great all around company. We had a two hour tour which sailed by. We covered so many places of interest that we would never have see on our own. Many thanks Nick. Great to meet you. Check him out guys....you will not regret it.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Great showing you around. Thank you very much for booking with me. I hope to see you again. Next. Nik

[@BenoîtLegrand-l9m]

Such a great review of this bike! I'm the very happy recent owner of a March-1997 T300D 1200 sunflower, and I've been watching your review many many times in the timing of my purchase, here in Europe, along with press and forums articles I could find out here and there. I can only agree with all comments made. This 1200 Dayto is such a great bike is many aspects. It's big, gives its pilot a lot of honour, it's absolutely beautiful, specially for me with the racing yellow one I own, it's eye catching for people on the way, it has an amazing quality and finish, looks really built like a tank but a positive way, pass years like a timeproof real piece of art and design. At its handle bars, it's really comfy, the clutch is smooth and absolutely top to use, so is the gearbox despite its robust/stiff feeling. The bike weight can be a bit frightening at the really beginning, specially for parking maneuvers, but a few uses and the apprenticeship is quick. It corners well even on small turny roads for me (also I am not a Valentino Rossi twin), it is extremely stable, can run on a gaz filet for touring as well as "pulls like a train" whenever necessary. The cockpit is all analogic, which I love. Perso, I really dislike modern cockpits despite the additional info they provide. I am not an extremist in things, but being 44, I have lived in the 90s and become adult in 1998, and I know what the feeling and smell of mechanics was at that time. The Dayto 1200 is a bike which lives and make you live. It's absolutely beautiful from every angle. It is a witness of Triumph and many other brands golden age. A minor minus is the HEAT on the right leg when it's above 25-27 celcius degrees outside. But I can live with it :-) It gives the bike an even more unique aspect, many feelings that only such historical top engineered bikes from that era can provide. I own my Dayto since 3 months+ only and I love it more each and every time I use it. Same as Freddy sang: I love to ride my bicycle, I love to ride it when I like :-) Thank you so much for this review/video, they are so rare, proportionally to the low number of those bikes produced. It´s also why this bike is for me unique and I feel a priviledge when on it. If you intend to do more videos of this bike, I'd be your first watcher! :-) Thank you Pegasus, great job! PS: I also like the gazoline smell in my garage when I come back. May the Force be with Carburetors :-)

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thanks so much for participating in the conversations. I appreciate you taking thetime and am glad you found your time in this revoew well invested. cheers. Nik

[@walterpinkerton7520]

I've got a 95 1200 and really liked the rounder styling, which first sold me on the bike. However, it's the amazing power delivery that's kept it in the fleet (I've had it now a bit over 20 years). Like the reviewer noted, it pulls like a locomotive and the power band starts way down low and never lets up. I highly recommend this bike if you can get one! Super sturdy, mechanically unbreakable, and the weight is nothing shocking if you've ridden anything older. As far as Sport Touring, I got a set of soft GIVI saddlebags and a Triumph tank/trunk bag combo that I can use if I'm going on a longer trip. But far and away the best thing about the bike is the power...I stepped the rear sprocket up just one tooth, and now its even more fun! I am no light-weight, but 145mph still comes up pretty quickly. This baby is basically a two wheel muscle car...its not going to keep up with focused sport bikes in the twisties, but I promise you'll love the off-the-rails pull...guaranteed to catch more than a few other liter bikes by surprise!

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Very cool that there are so many diehard fans out there. I haven't seen another one since.

[@I-Libertine]

I've had my Day 12 since new in 95. It still looks and rides as new. An amazing, overbuilt beast.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Great to hear. What's your mileage? Did you find the review accurate? Thanks for watching.

[@I-Libertine]

@@pegasusmotorcycletours yes, the review was quite accurate, I thought. The 1200 is hard to throw around in the corners because it has a spine over engine frame that is designed to emulate the 1980s Kawasaki z900 (the result of a visit of early Triumph engineers to Kawis plant in the design process.) It will buck in tight corners so treat it with respect at higher speeds. I've had mine unmodified to an indicated 140 -- then I got scared. The best review of the bike is by Mitch Bohem in a cycle world issue from 1995 when Triumph relaunched in the states. The Achilles heel was a clutch sprag issue that caused the battery not to charge at idle on the 95 models. This required splitting the engine to fix under warranty (I had mine done at South Bay Triumph after I almost got stranded in Tijuana.). Mine has 30k miles. An excellent interstate cruiser. Unparalleled cross country cruiser. Fast, heavy GT-- but don't mistake it for a sport bike, this is a fast GT, pure and simple. I will never let mine go and will hand down to my son.

[@motoboy6666]

Really beautiful, the design of this has really hold up good. Might have looked dull in the 90s when everything was screaming neon colors but looks great now 😊

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Well puts even though nowadays people are all over those highlighter colored bikes. Beautiful red never goes out of fashion though. Beautiful red is always immune to the trends. And really gets the blood going. The strip clubs understand that well with the importance of red getting the blood going. In the world world I think the Alfa Romeo 4C red is so gorgeous, reminds me of that perfect lipstick. They know what they're doing.

[@nigethesassenach3614]

I’ve got a 2002 Trophy 1200/4 tourer and also a Daytona 1200/4 which I’m rebuilding. It’s had the cylinder head ported and flowed and also skimmed for a little extra compression. Next will be exhaust and tuning. Should be interesting. Love these bikes. Great video. Keep up the good work.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thank you for watching and participating in the conversation. I am happy to hear that you found the review. Accurand thanks for the support.

[@Vonslik69]

A great post. The 1st gen Hinckley T300 series are still my favorite modern day Triumph motorcycles. The analog, over-engineered, build quality was and still superior to any other bikes in it's time? I own a 95' Diablo Black Speed Triple (T309) that I purchased from Rocket Motorcycles in the mid 90's so this video hits home for me. These were special bikes that are extremely rare today. The painting process on these bikes were a long and tedius 14 hour process, thats why the paint still looks great on these bikes some 20-25 years later? The 90's was a special time for Triumph Motorcycles....special time to be in San Diego....and a special time to ride Triumph motorcycles (T300's)👍🙏

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thanks so much for sharing. I'm glad you found the review valuable. The diablo black speed triple looks fantastic indeed. I was very please you surprised by the built quality of this triumph, having owned a few of the more modern ones. And I can only imagine what that era must have been like in SD without the crowds and the crazy cost of living. Thanks for sharing. Nik

[@Vonslik69]

@@pegasusmotorcycletours Thanks for the response Nik. It was the greatest time in SD in the 90's? You are absolutely right about the traffic and over populated cities in SD now. Back then in the 90's, you could ride forever without any traffic at all? What a great time.👍🙏

[@BoudewijnvanHouten]

Just reserved a black one also on the basis of your review. Next week I will make a test drive. So thanks!

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

That makes my day. Thanks for sharing.

[@elendshuraglump3620]

Agree 100 %. I own a 900 Daytona and a 900 Trophy. The Daytona is much more powerful than the Trophy and sounds also much better. Don´t know why, but enjoy it ... 🙂. Best regards from Germany

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Don't have any experience with the Daytona but thanks for sharing. Thanks for watching. Please check out my newest project and product www.ThePegasusPlanner.com

[@jaymorris3468]

Beautiful bike, stunning looking.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thank you. Agreed.

[@peterkoning21]

I've never ridden the Daytona 1200 but I am on my 3rd Sprint 1050 ST(I crashed the 1st two !)I have a 2005 St with the plastic tank(I stay in SA, hot)and I think they are brilliant motorcycles, best all rounder and perfect sports tourer. The only problem is with the rectifier/regulator. My bike has 83,000km and runs like a train ! Awesome motorcycle !

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thanks for watching. I've had three sprints myself and love the triple. Perfect balance of power and torque, and still gorgeous lines I've reviewed every bike in that single sided swing arm sport touring class if you are interested in comparing. Cheers. Nik

[@jtotherocpile2112]

Awesome bike awesome review thanks Nik!

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thank you for watching. Much appreciated.

[@spookychief]

My buddy has a 1999 Triumph Daytona 1200 SE. Its one of 250 bikes im nto exactly sure what number it is but someone should buy it so he can get a bike that runs and is reliable.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Oh that's a shame. These bikes have quite a following. Thanks for watching and sharing.

[@KlockworXMusic]

They came in four colours; Pimento Red, British Racing Yellow, Diablo Black, and Barracuda Blue which was only available in 1994. Also that 1200SE at 5:37 is #175, and is a really bad example of the 1200SE, not very original, and damaged. I have seen far nicer, more original ones sell in the US for less then that one. Also your bike someone has done ALOT of work to, it looks fairly stock, but it is not. There is the obvious stuff; the exhaust cans, turn signal delete, afertmarket mirrors, '1200' Decal removal, aftermarket passenger pegs, and heated grips, but there are also a bunch of smaller things I think most people wouldn't pick up on. You have a Super III swing arm on that bike, the rear caliper has been changed (would have been black instead of gold), that isn't the original seat, or its been recovered (looks well done though), front calipers are off I have no idea what but they would either be standard Nissin 4 pistons (1994), Triumph branded 4 pistons (For 1995 and 1996) or factory upgrade Triumph branded Alcon 6 pistons, you're missing the upper mud guard on the rear, windshield isn't original, aftermarket gas cap, fork protectors but not the Triumph ones. Someone has gone to town making that bike their own at one point in its life, I assume the original owner, and I bet there is a bunch of other stuff I can't spot in the video, but someone loved that bike.

[@geminiman7069]

You sir, are the master. If I send you photos of the 1200 yellow Daytona 1200 I'm about to buy would you look it over for me? I'm in the UK.

[@geminiman7069]

Yes, That back one is deffo all wrong. Decals are 675 I reckon. Gold wheels....

[@KlockworXMusic]

@geminiman7069 Yeah you can message me if you want.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Thanks so much for taking the time to list all of these details. I'm really grateful. That's the best part of this channels community.

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Excellent resource ey?!

[@markfarnsworth3306]

At 12:13 mins the bike with that triumph sprint, the orange bike what is that?

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

My Aprilia Futura. I reviewed it on this channel as well.

[@BoudewijnvanHouten]

Love to have one. Only how about a duo passenger?

[@pegasusmotorcycletours]

Yes, the rear passenger seat Cowl is removable and it exposes the rest of the saddle.