Triumph has announced a new Daytona, with the latest machine to carry the legendary name being a street-focussed middleweight sports bike, and it’ll be here in March.
With 95hp (70kW) and 69Nm of torque, the Daytona 660 will comprehensively outperform its stablemates while taking it to the best in the new breed of street – rather than track – focussed middleweight sportsbikes like the Yamaha R7 and Aprilia RS660.
In Australia there will also be a LAMS-approved version, but also a race kit for track-day riders and racers.
The Supersport class was booming a couple of decades ago, but the bikes which came from the racing class were high-revving racers which are often hard to get the best out of and uncomfortable to ride on public streets – Triumph is promising ‘all day comfort’ from the new Daytona, although the riding position is considerably more aggressive than naked Trident.
The Daytona features clip-on bars mounted above the top triple clamp for a sporty but not too aggressive riding position. The footpegs are positioned for good cornering clearance yet the whole package has the ‘space and comfort necessary for long days in the saddle’.
Famous for its triples, Triumph has evolved its 660cc engine to produce 17 per cent more power and nine per cent more torque than the Trident without sacrificing bottom-end and mid-range, so it should be good to ride across different conditions (Triumph is even offering tank bag and tail pack luggage options).
Steve Sargent, Triumph’s Chief Product Officer said: “The 660 has all the attitude and agility you’d expect from the Daytona name, and brings with it the thrilling, useable, real-world performance and all-day comfort that riders today are looking for. We are excited by the impact the Daytona 660 is going to have on the growing middleweight sports world.”
Of course the triples have always sounded pretty unique and Triumph tells us the new Daytona, with a brand-new exhaust system, sounds great.
Power without control is pointless though, so Triumph has developed a new chassis and equipped it with Showa 41mm upside down Big Piston forks, and a Showa rear shock. Both ends have preload adjustment, the rear a remote adjuster for easy changes.
Triumph has aimed to make the new Daytona appeal to younger riders and maybe those with less experience (hence the LAMS version), so it’s built the bike with an approachable seat height (810mm, with a narrow taper so it’s easy to get feet down and there’s an accessory lower seat option, too) and kept the bike to just 201kg wet weight. Younger owners will appreciate the 16,000km/12 month service intervals, which means most owners will only have to take their bike to a dealer once a year. There’s a two-year warranty.
The brakes are four-piston radial calipers with big 310mm discs and braided lines, while the rubber is Michelin Power 6.
The tech is up there, too: ride by wire throttle, Sport, Road and Rain riding modes to give a different throttle response and alter the level of traction control intervention (and the traction control is switchable, too).
As with all Triumphs, there’s a comprehensive range of accessories available, including a colour-coded seat cowl, billet machined parts, the My Triumph Connectivity System, Shift Assist (quickshifter), heated grips, USB socket, and tyre pressure monitoring.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet.
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
Type Liquid cooled, inline 3-cylinder,12 valve, DOHC, 240° Firing order
Capacity 660cc
Bore 74.04mm
Stroke 51.1mm
Compression 12.05:1
Maximum Power 70kW (95PS) at 11,250rpm / LAMS: 41.9kW (57hp) at 6750rpm
Maximum Torque 69Nm at 8250rpm / LAMS: 62Nm at 6250rpm
Fuel System Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection with electronic throttle control
Exhaust Stainless steel 3-into-1 header system with low single sided stainless steel silencer
Final Drive X-ring chain
Clutch Wet, multi-plate, slip & assist
Gearbox 6 speed
CHASSIS
Frame Tubular steel perimeter frame
Swingarm Twin-sided, fabricated steel
Front Wheel Cast aluminium alloy 5 spoke, 17 x 3.5 in
Rear Wheel Cast aluminium alloy 5 spoke, 17 x 5.5 in
Front Tyre 120/70 ZR 17
Rear Tyre 180/55 ZR 17
Front Suspension Showa 41mm upside down separate function big piston (SFF-BP) forks, 110mm wheel travel
Rear Suspension Showa monoshock RSU, with preload adjustment, 130mm wheel travel
Front Brakes Twin 310mm floating discs, 4 piston radial callipers, ABS
Rear Brakes Single 220mm fixed disc, single piston sliding calliper, ABS
Instruments Multi-function instruments with colour TFT screen
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS
Length 2083.8mm
Width (Handlebars) 736mm
Height Without Mirrors 1145.2mm
Seat Height 810mm
Wheelbase 1425.6mm
Rake 23.8°
Trail 82.3mm
Wet weight 201kg (90% fuel volume)
Fuel Tank Capacity 14 litres
