The Middleweight Sport Bike Comparison

• 2024 Triumph Daytona 660

  The new-for-2024 Daytona 660 is Triumph’s first middleweight (sub-700cc) sport bike in seven long years. It joins the Trident and Tiger Sport in the 660cc family, serving as a sporty alternative to the other two. There’s plenty to like here, whether it’s the 675-like fascia or the spruced-up powerhouse. Speaking of which, this one has 93 horsepower and 51 pound-feet–17 percent up from the Trident. 

  Pros

  • Daytona 675-inspired fascia
  • Tractable 660cc engine
  • Strong MSRP

  Cons

  • Doesn’t live up to the Daytona name
  • Basic features

• 2024 Honda CBR650R

  Honda has overhauled the CBR650R for 2024. The motorcycle now produces more torque, weighs less, and looks sharper than before. You also get a new TFT instrument cluster, loaded with smartphone connectivity as standard. All this while, the likable tidbits all remain as is. We’re talking about the chassis, suspension, brakes, and the peaky 649cc mill. 

  Pros

  • Sharp design
  • Inline-four symphony
  • TFT dash

  Cons

  • Peaky power delivery
  • Barely any rider aids

Summary

• Honda and Triumph will be directly competing with each other in the middleweight sport bike segment in 2024.
• The Triumph Daytona 660 and the Honda CBR650R have distinct design differences, with the CBR650R having a sleeker and sportier look.
• The Daytona 660 offers low-end grunt and the CBR650R promises higher top-end power. Both bikes having similar fuel efficiency.

Be it the naked, adventure, or retro segment, Honda and Triumph have rarely competed against each other directly. But all hell is about to break loose in 2024. That’s because both companies have introduced their new middleweight sport bikes. While the Daytona 660 is an all-new creation from the British giant, the new CBR650R undergoes a much-needed overhaul to improve its prospects. Heck, many of you are even calling the new Daytona a Triumph-badged CBR650R–a reminiscence even we can’t shake off.

No matter how much the reminiscence, though, these are two totally different motorcycles from totally different brands with plenty of decisive differences in between. We’re set to discuss all these in our in-depth comparison here, so this is a good time to pick a team. The findings and conclusions are based on the specifications of each bike, since neither offering has reached dealerships yet.

In order to bring you the most up-to-date and accurate comparison possible, we’ve relied on information sourced straight from the manufacturers (Triumph and Honda). For information regarding our ranking and grading procedures, please refer to our methodology policy.

Design And Technology

The Daytona 660 takes heavy design inspiration from already-existing Triumph motorcycles. The chunky dual-pod headlights, triangular intake, and fairings all remind us of the OG Daytona 675, while the curvy tail end has hints of the Tiger Sport and Trident 660. Overall, the motorcycle qualifies as handsome, but there’s nothing to stand out here.

As for the CBR650R, it welcomes an all-new design for 2024. Gone are the old headlights, and in comes a set of sleeker, sportier LEDs. These sit inside a new headlight cowl and side fairings, both of which remind us of the 2018 CBR1000RR. Likewise, the tail end has become sportier with a new oval LED lamp. It’s safe to say the CBR comes across as the sharper-looking sport bike here. We also find its color options–Grand Prix Red and Matte Gunpowder Black–better than the Daytona’s relatively simple trio of liveries (Snowdonia White, Satin Granite, Carnival Red).

Next up, technology. The CBR650R has gained a full-TFT instrument cluster in 2024. It’s a five-inch color display that gives you access to smartphone connectivity and traction control. In contrast, the Daytona 660 borrows its LCD-cum-TFT cluster from the Tiger Sport 660. It has no smartphone connectivity (only available as an accessory), but includes three ride modes. The modes alter the ABS calibration, throttle map, and traction control settings. It all comes down to your personal preference here–whether you’ll prefer smartphone connectivity and a color dash or more rider aids but a simpler display.

Standard Equipment On The Triumph Daytona 660 And Honda CBR650R

Engine Performance And Fuel Efficiency

Triumph and Honda have both taken two different approaches here. In typical Triumph fashion, the Daytona comes loaded with a triple-cylinder engine. Meanwhile, the CBR650R has the more popular inline-four layout. As a result, there are some key differences, even though the output and cubic capacity appear identical from afar.

Powertrain Comparison

The Daytona employs a 660cc engine, also seen on the Trident 660. It’s a re-tuned version of the old Street Triple 675’s engine, producing 93 horsepower and 51 pound-feet on the new sport bike. Triumph claims about 80 percent of the torque comes in as low as 3,150 RPM. Whereas, the CBR650R has a 649cc, four-cylinder engine that churns out a comparable 94 horsepower output. Even with 11 cubic centimeters less and a lower compression ratio. What this means is different RPM ranges for the power and torque. The CBR’s juice comes in later in the RPM, while the ‘Tona manages to produce these lower down in the rev range. In fact, the former’s peak power kicks in just a few hundred RPMs shy of the Daytona’s redline.

We can make two key statements based on the above information. First, the Triumph will be the more tractable motorcycle of the two, because of its low-end grunt. And second, the Honda will promise a higher top speed, courtesy of its higher-revving mill. There’s nothing to separate the two in terms of fuel efficiency, as both companies claim ~47 miles per gallon. The CBR should offer more tank-to-tank range, though, with its bigger four-gallon tank.

Ride And Handling

Being middleweight sport bikes, the CBR650R and Daytona 660 have plenty of similarities here. A perimeter chassis, double front discs, 17-inch alloy wheels, and Showa SFF-BP USD forks are all common between the two, and so are the 120/180-section tires. But at the same time, there are decisive differences too, particularly in terms of dimensions.

For instance, the Daytona has a much sharper 23.8-degree rake angle than the CBR650R’s 25.5-degree figure. This also results in a smaller wheelbase for the former. Add to this the Daytona’s slightly lower heft, and it’s safe to say the Triumph will have sharper riding dynamics. It’s not a clean sweep for Britain, though. The CBR has a bigger rear disc between the two, along with a 10-step adjustment for the monoshock and more suspension travel up front. Other aspects are identical between the two, as you can see in the table.

Full Specifications

Pricing And Availability

Finally, let’s talk pricing. Triumph has truly knocked it out of the park here, as the new 660 undercuts the 2023 CBR650R by ~$700 in America. When the updated 2024 CBR650R arrives here, the Honda will only go up in price, which should further increase the price difference between the two. You also get twice the warranty tenure from the Hinckley brand–a nice safety net to have when getting a new motorcycle.

Add to this the advantages of the 660, and it’s a no-brainer the Daytona is better value for the money in the market. Not surprising, considering the British giant has nailed the pricing of its new products in recent times. That said, we’d still suggest you test ride both motorcycles back to back to see which one suits your riding style more. The 660 will reach American dealerships in the next couple of months, but there’s no such timeline for the updated CBR650R.

Pricing Comparison