2006 Triumph Daytona 0.7L Petrol · CX06 DWG

The most recent MOT test on 6 August 2026 resulted in a pass, although the examiner issued an advisory noting that the exhaust was noisy. This isolated advisory follows a clean pass on 1 May 2026 and a clean pass in April 2024, suggesting the overall maintenance trend has been stable rather than deteriorating. However, the earlier history is not without concern, as an MOT on 5 April 2025 produced a fail with two dangerous defects relating to a non-functioning horn and an inoperative front stop lamp, alongside a dangerous drive chain that was so loose it risked failure, plus a major horn defect and advisories for a worn rear drive chain and a front tyre approaching the legal limit. The vehicle subsequently passed an MOT on the same date after remedial work, indicating the issues were addressed, but the recurrence of chain-related advisories in successive entries points to a component that requires ongoing attention on this particular motorcycle. With a recorded mileage of 22,828 miles over approximately twenty years, this Triumph has covered only around 1,141 miles annually, which is exceptionally low usage for a motorcycle of this vintage. Such limited annual mileage typically indicates extended standing rather than regular riding, and this has direct implications for the mechanical condition of the machine. Prolonged periods of inactivity tend to accelerate corrosion on brake discs, promote seizing or binding of brake calipers, degrade the 12V battery through repeated deep discharge cycles, dry and crack rubber components such as fork seals, suspension bushes and drive chain seals, and cause internal degradation of fuel, brake fluid and clutch fluid regardless of mileage. Although the recorded odometer reading is modest, calendar-based wear is highly relevant here, and any prospective buyer should treat the vehicle as effectively twenty years old in terms of consumable degradation rather than as a low-mileage machine in the conventional sense. Given the advisories relating to drive chain condition and a noisy exhaust, a test ride should include careful attention to drivetrain behaviour, listening for chain slap, watching for irregular chain tension fluctuations under acceleration, and checking for any visible slack or tight spots by rotating the rear wheel by hand. Inspect the front brake lever and foot brake pedal individually to confirm both illuminate the rear stop lamp, as the dangerous failure recorded in April 2025 specifically noted the front brake switch was inoperative, and verify the horn operates reliably. On the road, listen for any exhaust blowing or rattling that might suggest a perished mounting or failing internal baffle, and feel for any driveline snatch that could indicate a worn chain or sprocket set requiring imminent replacement along with the associated front tyre renewal flagged in the advisories. Beyond the recorded defects, the low annual mileage profile warrants a thorough physical inspection of items most affected by standing. Examine the brake discs for surface corrosion and rust pitting, particularly around the disc periphery, and confirm the calipers release fully without binding by rolling the motorcycle on a stand. Check the tyres closely for sidewall perishing, cracking and age-related dry rot, which can render a tyre unsafe even with legal tread depth, and verify the date codes on the sidewalls. Test the battery under load, as a unit of this age is almost certainly due for replacement, and inspect all fluid levels and colours, particularly brake fluid which absorbs moisture over time and should be flushed regardless of mileage. Finally, confirm the service history stamps and verify the last renewal of fork oil, coolant, brake fluid, spark plugs and air filter, as a twenty-year-old machine with minimal recorded use will require a comprehensive recommissioning rather than a simple routine service.