TRIUMPH DAYTONA 660
CHASSIS TWEAKS
The Daytona 660 uses the Trident chassis as a base but it has a steeper rake (by 11% compared to the Trident) and reduced trail (down 25%), alongside a few other small changes to accommodate the engine changes, such as the airbox.
MORE POWER
Compared to the Trident 660, there’s a new crankshaft, pistons, cylinder head, high-lift cams, airbox, throttle bodies (there are now three instead of one), exhaust, gearbox ratios and intake ports all specific to the Daytona, as is a higher compression ratio.
THE FACTS
TRIUMPH DAYTONA 660
£8595 94bhp 51lb·ft
201kg 810mm seat Great looks, wonderful motor, keen value
Suspension and riding position aren’t ideal for super-fast riding
VERDICT Triumph’s softer take on a sportsbike is a good package for those who don’t take ‘sport’ too seriously – and it’s built to an impressive price point, too.
IT’S 2024, SO the supersport sector is dead, right? Wrong. A new era of middleweight sportsbikes are not only here with a vengeance, but better suited as road bikes than ever.
Gone are the days of back ‐breaking riding positions, single-minded screaming motors and rock-hard chassis – the new wave of sporty middles offer a softer, calmer and more rounded approach – and Triumph’s Daytona 660 is the latest addition to the class.
The engine and chassis are based on the Trident 660, but the motor has had some serious work done to it, and it shows. The capacity, bore and stroke are identical but the list of new and changed internals are substantial, resulting in 17% more power, 9% more torque and a 12,650rpm redline.
Triumph claims it accelerates faster than its rivals and it does feel energetic in its delivery, with a responsive throttle and peaky, exciting motor. For road riding it feels fast, singing its way to the top of the rev range accompanied by a glorious soundtrack through the reworked exhaust. It has the essence of a supersport engine, with an ample amount of power to have fun with. But it also makes 80% of its torque from 3000rpm to 11,750rpm, making it calm enough to sit at slower speeds and happy sitting at 70mph in top gear without feeling too buzzy. It’s so refreshing against the parallel twins, and one of the best motors in the segment - if not the best.
But Triumph hasn’t gone far enough in terms of handl
