The New Triumph Daytona 660 Is Here and I'm Ready for a Loan

I'm in the same position I was in five years ago with my car. My heart says: "Buy a Triumph Daytona 675i," but my mind advises otherwise. I fear the 675i will be overkill for public roads and will be uncomfortable. But I also know I'll always have a massive grin under my helmet. I've considered the Street Triple 675i to have that formidable three-cylinder engine, but I'm not a big fan of naked bikes.

The Honda VFR800 could be a good choice as it also has a special motor. And I've also considered the BMW K1200S, but I'm afraid of the maintenance costs. Just a few days ago, I spent several hours looking at all the brand-new bikes on the market. Until now, Aprilia's RS660 was the only model that made me consider this route. I still wanted a Triumph, but I knew a Speed Triple 1200 RR would push me to do silly things on public roads.

The British company has been making moves these past few years, but something needed to be added to the equation. Discontinuing the Daytona 675R left a void in the hearts of many sports bike enthusiasts, including myself. We've known for several months now that Triumph had something in the works, hidden away from public eyes. But it's no longer a mystery, as the new Daytona 660 has landed!

Triumph has used the Daytona name since the '60s, following Buddy Elmore's victory at the 1966 Daytona 200 race on a Tiger 100. While I'm stuck on the 675i, I'm sure other Triumph enthusiasts have their crush to talk about. The world met the new Trident 660 four years ago, using an engine that improved the old 675 design. The Tiger Sport 660 followed suit in 2021, and it was almost evident that something else was in the works, too.

Triumph sold over 40,000 units of the two models combined, and that was a strong incentive to follow up on the series with a dedicated sports bike. Almost 20 years after the 675i tackled the middleweight class competing against Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Honda, the British company is at it again. Times have changed, and modern sports bikes are not as savage as they used to be.

Cutting down on power is not without its benefits. Bikes like the CBR 650R, R7, Ninja 650, and RS 660 have thrived in the new world. I'm talking about a world where people want a sports bike eligible for an A2 license. In today's age and era, people want a sports bike to commute to and back from work or school. These bikes offer increased rideability and comfort at lower costs. As I've discovered with the CBR 650R, they're exciting but not terrifying.

Triumph's ambitious plan is for the Daytona 660 to become a class-leading bike, and a few arguments support that statement. The Triumph Triple Performance promises that 80% of peak torque will be available from 3,125 RPM to 11,750 RPM. You're looking at a maximum of 50.9 lb-ft (69 Nm) of torque at 8,250 rpm. That's slightly better than what you'll get from any of its four rivals. The 660cc inline three-cylinder engine has a maximum output of 93.6 hp at 12,650 rpm.

It's on the same level as the CBR 650R but slightly underpowered compared to the Aprilia. But it's also more affordable than any of the two, with a starting price of $9,155. The Honda is the only motorcycle on the list that could ever hope to sound as good as the Triumph, and we all know that the other twin-cylinder setups here aren't all that exciting. The British manufacturer will use the three-cylinder setup to its advantage.

These days, riders are less keen to handle maintenance independently, so they need a bike that will only force them to do it sometimes. It's here where Triumph will score extra points with its declared "class-leading service intervals" every 10,000 miles (16,000 km). Looking at the new Daytona 660 from a certain angle, I can understand why some people feel Triumph has drawn inspiration from the CBR 650R. But the side view will reveal a familiar shape to any Daytona enthusiast: it's a modern take on the 675R.

Admittedly, it looks like less of a crotch rocket and more of a commuter bike, but that's what people want. And perhaps some of us are too stubborn to admit that this is the right path for modern motorcycles. Triumph's latest news has given me hope for the future. And I'm sure this first story is just an appetizer for what's coming next. I'm at the point where I would consider taking a loan to buy this bike. But even if that doesn't happen in 2024, I'll take it for a test ride within the next few months. I hope the people in Hinckley will consider adding yellow to the list of available colors for 2025.