1997 Triumph Daytona T595i Motorcycle

The renaissance of Triumph Motorcycles started in the late 1980s under the direction of property developer and self-made millionaire John Bloor. Setting up a new facility at Hinckley, just 15 miles from the former Meriden factory, Bloor's team set about designing and producing a range of modern high performance motorcycles and the first model was launched to great fanfare in 1990. However, it wasn't until the second-generation range of triples - dubbed the Five Series - was introduced in 1997 that Triumph really hit on a winning formula. Described as ?One of the Great Sportsters?, the new Daytona was arguably the first modern British bike able to match it with the best Japanese and Italian machines. The second generation triples were sold in two models, the 885cc 509 and the 955cc 595, and the more compact, newly fuel injected motors had less weight and more power. Combining a complex new twin-spar alloy frame and lightweight gearbox with stunning looks, the Daytona had excellent handling, brakes and power to burn. The 955cc triple developed 130 bhp (95.4 kW) and was built in a modern new facility at Hinckley, the Daytona also featured race-bred, fully adjustable suspension and four-piston brake calipers.