So last Thursday morning I grabbed my toolkit and rode straight to Mike’s Speed Shop. See, I’ve been itching to compare my 2015 Triumph Daytona 675 against the other 600s since forever. Begged Mike to lend me his buddy’s Yamaha R6 and that bright green Kawasaki ZX-6R he had sitting around.
Throwing a leg over
First up was my Daytona. Fired her up and wow – that triple cylinder growl still gives me chills. Rode it hard down the backroads near the old mill. What hits you is how this thing pulls from anywhere. Didn’t matter if I was crawling in second gear or screaming at 10k rpm – just twisted the throttle and it lunged forward like a pissed-off pitbull.
Next came the R6. Hopped on feeling all confident… and nearly stalled it twice pulling out of the parking lot! Thing’s like a light switch – absolutely nothing happening below 8 grand, then BAM! Felt like getting smacked with a shovel when the power hit. Weirdest sensation, honestly. Like waiting for a bus for ages then three come at once.
Corner showdown
Took both bikes to Miller’s Bend – that nasty tightening left-hander with the potholes. The R6 flicked quick like a scalpel – point it anywhere and whoosh you’re there. My Daytona? More like a well-balanced axe. Needs a good heave to tip in but once leaned? Glued. Didn’t twitch even when I clipped that damn pothole.
Then tried the Kawasaki. Immediately noticed how freaking uncomfortable that seat felt – like sitting on plywood after an hour. Power? Smoother than the Yamaha but kinda… boring? Like drinking flat soda. Brakes though – holy hell. Squeezed the lever at 70mph and nearly flew over the bars. No grace whatsoever.
The maintenance reality check
Back at Mike’s shop, we lifted all three bikes on stands. My Triumph’s exhaust headers? Rustier than my grandpa’s truck. Mike just shook his head saying “typical British”. Kawasaki’s radiator looked like it ate a bag of rocks – fins all bent to hell. But parts? Yamaha filters cost half what my Daytona’s did. Found Triumph OEM fairing bolts costing more than actual gold.
- Daytona pros: Raw power everywhere, sounds amazing, holds lines like train tracks
- Daytona cons: Rust magnet, wallet-melting parts, mirrors vibrate like maracas
- R6 pros: Razor handling, top-end rush makes you giggle like a kid
- R6 cons: Useless below 8k, seat harder than calculus exam
- ZX-6R pros: Brakes bite like sharks, reliable as sunrise
- ZX-6R cons: Soul-sucking engine character, dealer service costs arm+leg
So why’d I keep the Daytona?
Simple. Riding shouldn’t feel clinical. That triple howl echoes in my skull for hours after parking it. Watching tach needle sweep while pinning throttle makes me grin like an idiot every damn time. Yeah, the Suzuki GSXR might be cheaper to run. Sure, the Yamaha looks cooler in photos. But twisting that Triumph grip? Pure motorcycle crack. Unless you’ve felt it kick like a mule at 4,000rpm… you just won’t get it.
Left Mike’s shop dusty, sunburnt, and ten bucks poorer for coffee. Kissed my Daytona’s tank when I got home. Still the craziest relationship I’ve got – costs a fortune and breaks my back… but hell if I’m breaking up with her.
