There is something about big Guzzis that set them apart. It’s not just one thing, either; it’s the overall package that sets the mind wandering. Italian, long legged good looks, wonderful booming V-twin sounds, some degree of exclusivity due to relative rarity, and a reputation for longevity and long ownership. Moto Guzzis evoke class, elegance,…
Faced with the onslaught of powerful, dead-reliable motorcycles from Japan, many of the storied British and European motorcycle brands folded and Triumph was among them, although the story of their eventual resurrection is suitably British. These days, they’re famous for their characterful performance machines, but it took them years to earn that enviable reputation. This…
Shaft drive has well-known advantages in terms of maintenance and reliability but is rarely seen in the sportbike world as it limits gearing choices and generally adds too much weight to a bike like this Moto Guzzi Daytona Racing. In a world where every ounce counts and bikes are pared to the bone, sacrificing durability…
The sagas of some of the most well-known European manufacturers can read like film scripts, full of action and intrigue. But if Ducati’s story is a bit like an Indiana Jones movie, with death-defying thrills and narrow escapes from doom, Triumph’s history is a bit like a zombie movie, since they were basically dead and…
2001 Triumph 955i in silver on Ebay USA When the Triumph motorcycle company was reborn back in 1991, the company’s initial lineup included a big-bore Daytona model powered by an inline 4 cylinder engine. The 1st generation Daytona editions showed that the reborn company could produce a well built bike and have actually become quite…
Earlier versions of the reborn Triumph’s Daytona didn’t bother trying to compete head-to-head with the Japanese sportbikes, which was probably a wise move: the early, spine-framed 900cc bike was well-built and made plenty of useable power, and the later T595 [actually a 955cc] added superlative handling to the mix, but both were far too heavy…
If pure speed, cutting-edge technology, or drive chains are your thing, then today’s Moto Guzzi Daytona 1000 probably isn’t the bike for you. But if race heritage, character, and v-twin torque are things you enjoy, you can’t go wrong with this big Guzzi. The Daytona is certainly not light weight, but it does handle: with…
After giving the LeMans token updates for several years, Moto Guzzi made some great modernizations in 1993 and named the result after another endurance racing classic – Daytona. With help from the brilliant gentleman racer Dr. John Wittner, Guzzi fielded the four-valve per cylinder 1000cc engine in their long stable chassis. Though built in low numbers and not…