Triumph’s Daytona Series: Riding Through Time

Triumph recently teased the unveiling of the Daytona 660, sparking curiosity about the legendary status it holds. To understand its journey, let's explore the brief history of the Daytona line within the Triumph family.

Triumph Tiger Daytona, 1967–1974

The Triumph Tiger Daytona (T100T) ran from 1967 to 1974, named after Buddy Elmore's 1966 Daytona 200 win. Born from the '66 Daytona races, it had upgrades like a special race profile, valve guides, and performance connecting rods. Visually, it had a simple design with features like a round headlight, dual exhausts, and wire-spoke wheels. The 1967 T100T had a 490 cc four-stroke parallel-twin air-cooled engine, delivering 41 bhp at 7,400 rpm. With a telescopic fork, drum brakes on the front, and side-mounted shock absorbers at the rear, it promised optimal suspension and stopping power. The T100R, a high-performance variant, featured upgrades like an alloy cylinder head, Amal monobloc carburettors, higher compression, and hotter cams. The Triumph Daytona 500, produced from 1967 to 1974, took its name from Elmore's Daytona 200 win.

Triumph Daytona 750 (1991–1994)

The Triumph Daytona 750 showcased a blend of power and design at the Hinckley plant. Available with a 749 cc three-cylinder or a 998 cc four-cylinder engine. Both models featured similar appearances, offering wind protection and a relaxed riding position. The 1991 model boasted standard features like a full fairing, dual headlights, a medium-sized windscreen, a one-piece seat, dual exhausts, and lightweight aluminium wheels. Its 749 cc three-cylinder liquid-cooled engine delivered 97 bhp at 8,750 rpm and 66 Nm torque at 8,500 rpm. The bike's suspension, with a 43 mm adjustable telescopic fork and rear shock absorber, ensured excellent handling. Braking power came from two 296 mm discs on the front and a 255 mm disc on the rear, both equipped with powerful callipers. In 1992, the Triumph Daytona 750 continued its success with the same specifications, maintaining its reputation for power, design, and performance.

Triumph Daytona 900 ( 1993–1996)

The Triumph Daytona 900 Super III marked a significant evolution in the Daytona series. The bike retained the proven chassis shared with other Triumph models and featured a robust 885 cc four-stroke liquid-cooled three-cylinder engine, delivering 114 bhp at 9,500 rpm and 87 Nm torque at 6,500 rpm. Its appearance maintained standard features like a full fairing, two round headlights, a medium-sized windscreen, a single seat with lumbar support, a passenger seat cover, a dual exhaust system, and lightweight aluminium wheels. The bike's backbone was a twin-spar aluminium frame with a 43 mm fully adjustable telescopic fork on the front and an adjustable shock absorber on the rear, ensuring excellent handling. Braking performance was reliable, thanks to two 310 mm discs with six-piston callipers on the front and a 255 mm disc with a dual-piston calliper on the rear. The Daytona 900 Super III continued the legacy of power, technical excellence, and visual appeal in the Daytona series.

Triumph Daytona T595 & 955i, (1997–2006)

In 1996, Triumph faced fierce competition in the sportsbike market. The Daytona T595, with its 128 bhp triple and agile handling, quickly became a sales success, but issues like frame snapping and a flat spot at 5000 rpm arose. The Triumph Daytona 955i, introduced in 1999 as the successor to the Daytona T595, found its distinctive charm in the character of its three-cylinder engine. Triumph addressed these problems with the 955i model in 1999, refining performance. While it faced tough competition from rivals like Yamaha R1 and Suzuki GSX-R1000, the Daytona 955i stood out for its road-friendly design, making it suitable for touring and adept at handling the challenges of UK roads. The model underwent significant updates in 2001, and in 2004, it received restyled headlights, fairing, tail section, and clocks. The 2006 version featured a single-sided swing arm, minor engine modifications, and smoother gear changes. Boasting a maximum power of 147 bhp, maximum torque of 100 Nm, and a top speed of 265 kmph, the Daytona 955i left an enduring mark before being discontinued at the end of 2006.

Triumph Daytona 1000, 1992–1993

Launched in 1992, the Triumph Daytona 1000 epitomised sports excellence. Powered by a 998 cc four-cylinder engine, it generated 120 bhp and 88 Nm torque. With standard features like a full fairing and dual exhaust, the bike boasted a top speed of 239 km/h. Weighing 235 kg, it featured a twin-spar steel frame, adjustable suspension, and potent braking with front discs and rear disc, showcasing a blend of power, performance, and design finesse.

Triumph Daytona 1200, 1993–1997

The Daytona featured a robust 1180 cc, 16-valve water-cooled engine derived from the Trophy 1200, tuned for Triumph claimed 147 bhp. Geared for around 160 mph, its focus was on acceleration through the 6-speed gearbox at normal road speeds, distinguishing itself from Japanese rivals. Utilising a steel spine frame, swing-arm, and wheels from Triumph's parts bin, it incorporated Nissin brakes and Kayaba suspension. Targeting bikes like the Kawasaki ZZ-R1100 and Yamaha FZR1000, the Daytona offered good handling, albeit was less nimble due to its height.

TT 600 (2000-2001)

In 2000, Triumph released the TT 600, their first sportbike. It faced initial issues with the fuel injection system, which were addressed in the 2001 model year. However, the TT 600 had a short-lived existence. The Triumph TT600, introduced in 2000 and produced until 2003, marked the company's entry into the American market's 600 cc segment. As their inaugural inline four-cylinder fuel-injected motorcycle, it faced initial challenges with throttle response and fuel mapping. Despite resolving issues in the 2001 model, a slight power reduction persisted. By 2002, additional Electronic Control Unit (ECU) programming rectified the power discrepancy. In 2003, the Triumph TT600 reached its pinnacle, featuring a 599 cc liquid-cooled four-cylinder engine with 110 hp at 12,750 rpm and 68 Nm torque at 11,000 rpm, concluding the series with enhanced performance.

Daytona 600 (2002-2005)

Introduced in 2002, the Triumph Daytona 600, a British sports bike, featured a 599 cc inline-four engine, targeting the Japanese 600 cc class. With a production span of three years, it eventually gave way to its successor in 2005. Sporting a liquid-cooled engine, the Daytona 600 generated 110 horsepower at 12,750 rpm and 69 Nm of torque at 11,000 rpm.

Daytona 650 (2005-2006)

In 2005, Triumph introduced the Daytona 650, featuring a one-year model run with some 2004 models equipped with a 646 cc inline-four engine. Despite visual similarities to the 600, the Daytona 650 underwent significant enhancements, including a bored-out engine, a new silencer and clutch, improved gear linkage, increased power and torque, and revised fuel injection. It boasted a top speed of 257 kmph, a max power of 110 bhp, max torque of 69 Nm, and a quarter-mile acceleration of 11.58 seconds. The model was discontinued after a year, making way for the Triumph Daytona 675 triple.

Daytona 675 (2006-2014)

In 2006, Triumph introduced the Daytona 675, a sportbike featuring a distinctive three-cylinder engine that quickly became a staple in the Triumph lineup. Known for its silky handling, potent engine power, and distinctive exhaust note, the Daytona 675 excelled on both road and track. While lacking a slipper clutch, it offered a factory race exhaust option with a matching engine remap kit. The model's classy instrument cluster added a touch of sophistication. The Daytona 675's three-cylinder engine, with a stacked gearbox and close-ratio gears, delivered a claimed 123 bhp, showcasing a broad power spread and an improved fueling system. With a top speed of 257 kmph and a quarter-mile acceleration of 11 seconds, the Daytona 675 maintained its prowess in the 600 sport bike category.

Daytona 675 R (2011-2014)

Triumph introduced the Daytona 675 R in 2011 as a high-performance variant of the Daytona 675, featuring premium elements such as Brembo brakes, upgraded suspension, and a quick shifter. The 675 R came loaded with top-spec fully-adjustable suspension from Ohlins and Brembo brakes, distinguishing it from the standard 675. It had a 675 cc triple engine producing 126 bhp at 12,500 rpm, with the 2011 Triumph Daytona 675 Triple delivering 124 bhp at 12,500 rpm and 72 Nm of torque at 11,700 rpm. The 2012 Triumph Daytona 675R achieves a top speed of 273 kmph

Daytona 675 (2013-2014)

In 2013, Triumph upgraded the Daytona 675, refining the engine and implementing visual changes, such as relocating the exhaust system. The improved model features enhanced ergonomics with a 10mm-lower seat and 5mm-higher clip-ons, minimising wrist strain, and adds a fuel gauge on the LCD panel. The KYB centre-fixed fork is 200g lighter, incorporating larger pistons and secondary damping valves for improved fluid control. With reliable performance on diverse surfaces, the bike uses Nissin monobloc callipers and thicker Brembo rotors for effective stopping power, alongside standard three-setting ABS. As the successor to the Daytona 650, the Triumph Daytona 675 is renowned for its lightweight, agile design and robust 128 bhp power output.

Daytona 675 (2014- 2016)

Continuing its legacy, the 2014 Daytona 675 saw the standardisation of ABS and the addition of a slipper clutch. Triumph has decided to phase out the Daytona 675 instead of updating it to comply with the new emission regulations in 2016.

Triumph Daytona Moto2 765, 2019-2022

After the 2016 phasing out, Triumph surprised enthusiasts in 2020 with the Daytona Moto2 765 Limited Edition. Resurrecting the Daytona, it featured a 'Moto2-derived' 765 cc triple, hitting 130 bhp at 12,250rpm, with enhancements like stronger pistons and a higher redline at 13,250rpm. The model boasts top-notch features, including a Moto2-inspired titanium exhaust, 'track-optimised' gearbox, Brembo Stylema brakes, Ohlins suspension, and a lighter anodized frame and swingarm. The full carbon fibre bodywork contributes to substantial weight savings. This special edition, born from consumer demand, marks a remarkable return for the Daytona series.

The recent teaser for the Daytona 660 has sparked optimism, indicating that Triumph recognises a shift in market preference toward bikes with supersport aesthetics that also offer practicality for everyday travel without extreme ergonomics. Which one is your favourite, and which would you like to have in your collector's garage?