Before the Tourist Trophy kicked off, MCN had a little ride around the Isle of Man to elect the sports bike of the year, 2009.
In a test ride, it compared the KTM RC8 R, the Yamaha YZF-R1, the Aprilia RSV4 and the Triumph Daytona 675 SE.
In a previous test, MCN had voted the Yamaha R1 above the Aprilia RSV4 for its road versatility, though there were questions about whether the Aprilia would come in ahead of the R1 for track use.
While the Aprilia RSV4 has been a successful bike so far (and it’s only at the beginning of its career), according to MCN, the Daytona 675 Special Edition can be voted best sports bike for its reduced price tag.
All the bikes have won something in MCN’s various tests so far, but the Triumph 675 victory may seem a little forced, unless you’re someone focusing on price.
And if you are, at nearly half the cost of Aprilia, the Triumph makes a good case for itself.
See the video for more.