Triumph Daytona 660, the track test: strengths, limitations and lots of substance

After at least a dozen years of collapse in terms of sales, the sports motorcycles they are experiencing a slight renaissance. These are no longer the hyper-technological racing cars devoted exclusively to performance that dominated the scene at the beginning of the century, but rather much more balanced models, with displacements around 800 cc and powers in the order of 100 HP, designed for more road use and with decidedly more accessible prices. It is exactly in this context that the Triumph Daytona 660introduced on the market in 2024 and currently the only faired sports car in the British company’s range. We had already tested it on the road, putting it in direct comparison with one of its main rivals, the Aprilia Rs 660, but the recent appointment with the Triumph Triple Track Experience in Vallelunga finally allowed us to evaluate it between the curbs, where it revealed itself to be a motorcycle devoted to concreteness and capable of providing authentic sensations.

1Design

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The Daytona 660 comes with a fairing modern and streamlined, not too enveloping, which allows you to appreciate the lines of the three-cylinder engine and the tubular steel frame. The reservoir 14 liter capacity is carefully shaped to accommodate the knees and the tiny tail is already equipped with a seat for the passenger. The proportions they are compact and the style is pretty Britishwith the two-piece front group that vaguely recalls the look of Triumph’s recent Triples. The design of the motorbike, as a whole, denotes a clear sporting identity, however not accentuated, and conveys a sensation of lightness which is then partially confirmed on the scales, with 201kg Of weight declared in running order. The half-handlebars are mounted just above the upper steering plate and thesaddle height it is 810 mm, but a lowered seat is available as an accessory which reduces it to 785 mm.

2Motor

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The motor of the Daytona 660 is a three-cylinder in-line from 660 cc liquid-cooled, with 12 valves and double camshaft distribution. It is basically the same engine mounted on the naked Trident 660, a motorcycle with which the Daytona has a lot to share also in terms of chassis, but with substantial differences: the throttle bodies, for example, are separate rather than made up of a single element, the exhaust valves are larger and with cams that allow for greater lift and the combustion chamber has been revised, but the pistons and crankshaft are also different. The output values ​​also change as a result, with Triumph declaring 95 HP of power at 11,250 rpm and 69 Nm of torque at 8,250 rpm for the Daytona (therefore detunable for A2 license holders) against the 81 HP and 64 Nm of the joint without fairings. The change six-speed is combined with a slipper clutch and has a slightly shorter ratio while the quick shifter is available as an option.

3Cycling

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The Daytona 660 is structured around a chassis perimeter in steel tubes which are combined with a rear frame and a swingarm double arm in the same material. They are the same as the Trident, but some dimensions change, such as the reduced trail, to shift the rider’s weight more onto the front axle. As for the suspensionsat the front we find a Showa upside down fork “Big Piston” 41 mm non-adjustable with 110 mm travel; at the rear a preload-adjustable Showa monoblock with 130 mm of travel. The department brakessupplied by Nissin but branded Triumph, features two 310 mm floating discs with four-piston radial calipers at the front and a 220 mm disc with single-piston caliper at the rear.

4Equipment

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The electronic package of the Daytona 660 includes the accelerator ride-by-wireABS, traction control and the three classic driving modes “Road”, “Sport” and “Rain”. There instrumentation adopts a mixed solution that combines a display Color TFT to one LCD screen, perfectly capable of pairing with the My Triumph app to interact with your smartphones and also provide navigation turn-by-turn. In summary, the equipment is also consistent with the “sporty, but not extreme” nature of the model.

5How it goes on the track: first contact

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Riding the Daytona 660 you quickly realize that you are not dealing with a pure super sports car. There driving position it is sporty, but overall it is balanced, not exaggerated: the wrists must bear a certain weight, even if not at the level of motorbikes exclusively devoted to performance, and the platformswhich Triumph has positioned to ensure comfort and good ground clearance when leaning, are rather low for track use. However, once it has entered the track of Vallelunga with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa V3 tyres, it didn’t seem lost at all. The engine allows quick and lively acceleration and the bike always maintains a certain stability, which allows you to tackle corners with confidence from the first kilometers by quickly putting your knee to the ground.

6How it rides on the track: calibrated chassis

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The suspensions they do a good job in this regard, but in trying to get closer to the limit it turns out that the fears about the footpegs being too low were well founded, a penalizing factor for extreme bends and a sign that geometry and ergonomics were not designed for vigorous use on the track. The chassisFurthermore, not having the typical rigidity of super sports bikes, it shows some limits in terms of precision. Having said this, however, we must not lose sight of what theunderlying objective of this motorbike. The Daytona 660, in fact, presents itself as a versatile faired sports car, also usable on the road and extremely accessible, without seeking comparisons with the curb specialists. And from this perspective, the Vallelunga test confirmed that, despite the compromises it has consciously accepted, this bike knows how to entertain.

7As it does on the track: stress-free fun

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Stability in insertion it is among the strong points of the British fairing: the chassis works well overall and the suspensions, which still maintain road calibration, are supported just right, especially at the rear. In mileage It holds the rope well without getting upset. The always ready and full-bodied delivery of the three-cylinder engine, with lots of torque at medium speeds and a sound truly intoxicating, it allows aexit determined by the curves even without the need to frantically upshift. The traction control it is not invasive, but the lack of the quick-shifter, in any case, is felt. The engine has a lot of range and gives its best above 7 thousand rpm, even forgiving any errors in the choice of gear, and the bike manages to exceed the 200 km/h on the forehand without sacrificing composure. THE brakesdespite not being matrix-based racingcarry out their task with good diligence: the front radial calipers have good bite, enough to drive lively even on the track, without showing signs of fatigue even after several laps. With approximately two quintals of weight with all the liquids, the Daytona 660 is not among the lightest bikes in its segment, but it is so well balanced that it is not noticeable.

8Verdict and price

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Finished i turns on the trackthe feeling is that Triumph has basically hit its target with the Daytona 660. This bike was not born to destroy the clock between the curbs, but it offers a mix convincing of sportsmanship And versatility which allow it to be genuinely enjoyable first of all on the road, where it has proven to be more than valid, and possibly, but secondly, also in the occasional track day. It has some limits when it comes to pure performance, but for those looking for a motorbike capable of transmitting real riding pleasure in everyday use and having fun without stress on the track, this is certainly an attractive option. Also because, by accepting all those compromises, the Daytona 660 has maintained a basic price quite competitive than 9,795 euros. Upon closer inspection, it could also be an excellent choice for those who are just starting to approach the track, but if the intention is to go there often, the advice is to also spend the approximately 350 euros needed to equip it with quick shifter.

9Technical data sheet

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These are the main ones technical specifications of the Triumph Daytona 660 disclosed by the Hinckley manufacturer: