MONTH IN BIKES
Triumph’s icon returns as middleweight sportsbike battle hots up
STIFF COMPETITION
Triumph is stepping into one of the most hotly-contested segments of the modern motorcycle market with the Daytona. Although the only triple in the segment, other options include the new Suzuki GSX-8R, Aprilia RS660, Yamaha R7 and Honda CBR650R.
FAMILY FORTUNES
The Daytona 660 takes its foundations from the popular £7895 Trident 660 naked and £8945 Tiger Sport 660 adventure tourer. Power is boosted, with the Daytona becoming the sporty member of the family. It’s likely to remain usable for everyday riding though. A race kit for the National Sportbike Championship unlocks more poke.
£8595 OTR
TRIUMPH’S DAYTONA NAME
is back, with the iconic badge now appearing on a 660 sportsbike triple based on the popular Trident platform.
Teased officially by Triumph in mid-December 2023, the much ‐anticipated Daytona 660 uses an updated version of the company’s existing 660cc triple to sit alongside the Trident 660 naked.
Available to order now and set to hit dealers at the end of March, it’s yours for £8595 OTR – and features a number of internal engine revisions to provide an uptake in performance without removing the ability for A2 licence restriction.
Power sits at a claimed 94bhp at 11,250rpm, with 51lb·ft of torque arriving at 8250rpm. What’s more, 80% of this torque arrives at 3125rpm – making the bike more engaging at real-world speeds without the need to be thrashed.
This has been achieved thanks to a new crankshaft, camshaft and cam profile, cylinder head, pistons, and gudgeon pins. The valve gear is also new, as is the three ‐int o‐one exhaust set-up, and the compression ratio has been raised slightly to 12.05:1 (up from 11.95:1).
An up/down quickshifter is available as an optional extra, with three riding modes coming as standard. The engine also benefits from 10,000-mile service intervals and a two-year unlimited mileage warranty.
It’s not just the engine where things have changed either, with the tubular steel perimeter frame altered for greater agility. The footpegs are 10mm higher and 15mm further back than on the naked sibling, with the handlebars forward by 95mm and down by 110mm.
These bars are a pair of clip-ons that sit above the top yoke to create an engaging position without encouraging discomfort at slower speeds. There’s a standard seat height of 810mm, with suspension coming courtesy of a pair of 41mm Showa Big Piston forks, and a rear shock that offers preload adjustment.
Away from the mechanics, the new machine gets a contemporary look, and is available in three colour designs. You get LED lighting all round too, as well as a flashing hazard warning system
