For those with a passion for sports bikes but a licence that limits you to A2 motorcycles, the de-tunable Daytona could be just the ticket, claims Andy Bell.
What is it?
Considering Triumph’s success as the sole supplier of Moto2 engines in the MotoGP paddock, with all the technical data they must have accumulated and with this road bike having full fairings plus carrying over the Daytona name from previous models, you would be forgiven for assuming this is a hardcore supersport machine. However, this bike is aimed at a new audience of sub-100bhp riders in the middleweight market, which has boomed in recent years. With other manufactures offerings in this sector predominantly being powered by twin motors, the Trumpet’s triple-cylinder engine is providing another exciting option to consider for those in the market of an A2 eligible, sporty offering.
Enjoy everything More Bikes by reading the MoreBikes monthly newspaper. Click here to subscribe, or Read FREE Online.
Talking the torque…
Arguably, the inline triple motor is the biggest attraction for the Daytona 660, combining the low-down torque and tractability of a twin with the free-revving top end performance of an inline four. As well as having a distinctive soundtrack, the engine produces 95bhp with the bulk of these ponies available from quite low within the rev range to provide a flexible yet exciting spread of power.
The engine is also complimented by a Slip and Assist clutch, which on a personal note, I am happy to see becoming more common on standard machines for a lighter lever feel and more confidence when decelerating hard through the gearbox.
Handling is taken care of by the Showa SFF-BP set up with 41mm USD front forks and monoshock rear. With the front end having no adjustability and only preload to play about with at the rear, this could be an issue for some riders that look to tailor their machine for different riding experiences.
Cracking on…
I have spent many miles on a Daytona 675R in previous years which I loved, and it was hard not to have the memory of that time in my head as I started out on this 660. As mentioned earlier, this is by no means a direct replacement for such a bike, and I had to view this model with different eyes.
The very first thing noticeable when climbing aboard is the more relaxed riding position with handlebars positioned above the top yoke and a comfortable seat, hinting at the possibility of being able to cover more distance between stops without the usual cramped set up from a dedicated supersport bike.
After firing the 660 into life and being rewarded by the characteristic sound from the triple, I found that heading out of the slower urban area was effortless, with the light clutch and low-pulling, grunty motor allowing me to be relatively lazy with the gear changes. Once out in the open and able to ask for more, the power delivery did not disappoint, with an energetic response every time I cracked open the throttle. Considering the other machines available within this corner of the market, this 660 felt like it would out-accelerate its rivals, but without the opportunity to back up this claim, I couldn’t give it the crown I felt it deserved.
The Showa suspension was doing a great job overall but when I was wanting to push on, the lack of adjustability did leave the set up feeling a little on the softer side, with the front compressing too easily under hard breaking before the weight shift to the rear, which also felt like it was sitting low mid corner and when accelerating out again. The rear does have preload adjustability, which did help in part, but the 660 would benefit greatly if there was more to offer by way of being able to tweak the compression and rebound damping. Having said that, it might appear that I wasn’t enjoying my experience but to be fair, this was only really apparent when riding harder and with this bike being aimed at a wide audience the compromise over set up and cost is actually in its favour.
I couldn’t really falter the brakes as the pair of 4-pot calipers, with Triumph branding up front, felt more than adequate for their task throughout the day, providing a good level of feeling from the initial bite.
The bike I was offered to test had the optional quickshifter fitted, which is a tad over £300 plus fitting. This is something I would definitely consider adding to the package if I was looking to buy a 660 for myself as it behaved impeccably and added to the sporty side of the bike’s nature.
Another big tick for me was the Michelin Power 6 tyres that come fitted as standard. I have ridden with these before on middleweight bikes and they perform excellently on the road, warming quickly and providing an abundant level of grip.
When it comes to tech, the TFT display didn’t really set my pulse racing as it felt a little basic compared to its rivals. Having said that, it does its job well, displaying everything clearly as you would expect from a modern bike. It does have the standard offering of rider modes (Sport, Road and Rain) with switchable levels of traction control.
As is the case with many bikes within the class, an A2 licence kit is available to limit the power for riders restricted to 35kW which can easily be reversed when a full A licence has been attained.
Worth a punt?…
As my day with the 660 was coming to an end, I had to admit that despite my concerns with the softer side of the set up, I was enjoying my time on it. Relaxing and letting the bike do its thing underneath me did in part ease some of the niggles I had, although I would look to address the suspension with upgrades if I was to ride it closer to its potential on a regular basis.
It was hard not to get addicted to the way this middleweight triple punched out of the corners, backed up by its throaty soundtrack. With that being said, it’s not all about the sporty riding; the 660 is also packaged with an all-day riding machine in mind, capable of covering distance in relative comfort… and all this for a starting price of £8595. Whichever way you want to look at it, you’re getting a lot of bike here for your money.
The stuff that matters…
Power: 95bhp @ 11,250rpm
Weight 201kg
Price: £8595.00
Contact: www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk
