Triumph Daytona is a smash hit
2006-08-14 12:19
Triumph will increase their production of the Triumph 675 Daytona three cylinder with a massive 17% in 2007, following the bike's runaway success internationally.
According to Trevor Barton from Triumph's Product Development, the Daytona 675 has been an instant success and is pretty much on back order world-wide.
Mike Hopkins' Triumph dealership in Cape Town confirmed that the local demand for this model has been equally big, with their dealership battling to keep up with the demand.
In 2007 riders can look forward to one or two new colours, like the Jet black pictured, but that's about the only change on the Daytona 675 Triple that we expect.
All current colour options will remain the same for next year and Triumph is currently deciding whether they will be adding some more to the selection.
The popularity of the graphite colour option has surprised the company. Triumph only planned 5% of the 675 production with this option, but it will be more readily available in the dealer network next year.
Other best-selling models in the Triumph stable have been the Sprint ST and Speed Triple. As a matter of fact the Speed Triple and the original 1997 595 Daytona are the only two other models to have made such a big initial impact on the market as the 675 Triple.
Triumph is expecting the 675 to exceed these in sales and make history for the Hinckley manufacturer.
Commercial Director, Tue Mantoni, mentioned in an interview last year that Triumph expected to build 38 000 motorcycles in 2007. This number has now, after the Daytona 675 and ahead of new 2007 model launches, been increased to 45 000. Sales were only expected to rise 25% each year.
"In terms of impact, it's hard to say which bike had the biggest impact when first launched - Daytona 595, Sprint ST, Rocket III, Speed Triple 1050, Daytona 675. They've all made a big impact, but we expect the 675 to be our biggest selling bike ever next year," says Simon Warburton, Triumph Product Manager.
"The Speed Triple won't be far behind, though," he said.
Triumph is in usual fashion not willing to comment on future models. But the signals we are getting from various sources tell us about a brand new Tiger and a faired touring version of the Rocket III.
An obvious new model will be the replacement of the Speed Four as Triumph no longer makes in-line four engines.
And you don't need to be 'in the know' to understand that the 675 Triple engines will form the base of a new middleweight naked to replace the Speed Four.