The new Triumph Daytona 660 is the latest to make it to India shortly, taking on competition such as the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and the now-discontinued Honda CBR 650R. The name ‘Daytona’ brings back a lot of memories and has enthusiasts excited and let down at the same time. The reason is that the original Daytona was a committed super sport like the Ninja ZX-6R and the Honda CBR 600RR, while the new motorcycle is a sport tourer like the Ninja 650 and the CBR 650R.
However, these motorcycles also handle well and are quick, making it great for riders stepping up to the 600cc class, while offering more than adequate performance with sanity. Motorcycles in this class are also good daily commuters while being more than capable on long highway rides and are eager when shown some twisties.
So how does the new Triumph Daytona compare against the best-seller in the segment, the Kawasaki Ninja 650, and the discontinued Honda 650R? Here’s a detailed comparison.
Triumph Daytona vs competition: Kawasaki Ninja 650, Honda CBR 650R, and Aprilia RS 660
Triumph Daytona 660 vs Kawasaki Ninja 650
The Kawasaki Ninja 650 is the only motorcycle in the segment that’s on sale in India currently, which uses a parallel-twin setup, making 67bhp and 64Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The Ninja uses traditional telescopic forks, disc brakes at both ends, dual-channel ABS, 17-inch wheels, and a TFT dash, amongst others. As part of the most recent update, the Ninja gets a basic traction control system.
Triumph Daytona 660 vs Honda CBR 650R
The Honda CBR 650R is not on sale in India anymore, and the updated model is expected soon. However, there are plenty of them on sale in the used market. The CBR 650R uses an inline four-cylinder setup, making it the only motorcycle in the segment to do so. The creamy smooth engine churns out 86bhp and 56Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The motorcycle gets USD forks, a TFT dash, disc brakes at both ends and dual-channel ABS.
If the used market is not to your taste, then one has to wait as Honda will be launching the updated model in India soon, which looks sharper than ever, borrowing design cues from the larger CBR models. The new model gets a quickshifter, heated grips, and Honda Selectable Torque Control, however, what India will get remains a question as of now.
Triumph Daytona 660 vs Aprilia RS 660
If you don’t fancy Japanese motorcycles, then there’s an Italian choice — the Aprilia RS 660. Borrowing design language from the larger RSV4 and sharing some of it with the RS 457, the 660 uses an inline twin setup that makes 98bhp and 67Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The RS 660 gets all the bells and whistles such as adjustable USD forks, traction control, ABS, and a long list of electronic aids that none of the Japanese competition can match.
Triumph Daytona 660 vs competition – Engine specifications
All motorcycles use different engine setups, and the range consists of twin-cylinders, all the way up to four-pot motors. On the spec sheet, the Aprilia is the most powerful, while also costing the most. The Kawasaki Ninja is the most subtle, but don’t let the spec sheet deceive you.
| Specifications | Daytona | Ninja | CBR 650R | RS 660 |
| Displacement | 660 cc | 649 cc | 648 cc | 659 cc |
| No of Cylinders | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Power | 94 bhp | 67 bhp | 86 bhp | 99 bhp |
| Torque | 69 Nm | 64 Nm | 57 Nm | 67 Nm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed |
