Triumph Daytona 675R (2013-current)

A new 126bhp three-cylinder 675cc short-stroke engine only makes 2bhp more than before, but it revs harder and is ripe for tuning – Triumph has built this bike to go racing first and foremost. It has a new cylinder block, pistons, gudgeon pins, crankcase oil baffles, titanium inlet valves and gearbox. There are new twin-injector throttle bodies, ECU and a bigger central air intake running through the headstock. A new slipper clutch has a two-way ramp for extra slip and grip on and off the throttle and lighter clutch springs. The exhaust is repositioned up and under the engine to aid weight distribution. The motor is less breathless than before in the midrange and high revs, but still has buckets of torque. It flies off corners and crucifies straights. This motor was already one of the best in the business and now it’s even better.

By moving the exhaust Triumph has managed to make the Daytona 675R shorter, squatter and faster steering. Very few bikes handle as well as this out of the crate and even fewer are as easy to ride fast. Here’s a machine that makes its rider look very, very good. This R model’s Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes move the bike’s limit way above the average rider. Road holding is excellent, the ride quality plush and the bite from the brakes incredible. The ABS has a ‘circuit’ setting, which disables the rear ABS and lets you slide into corners.

Aside from the ABS and quickshifter, there aren’t any electronic rider aids, like traction control or variable power maps, but the Triumph is that easy to ride, it doesn’t need them. There’s a multi-function LCD dash, adjustable swingarm pivot as well as the Ohlins and Brembos. The 675R comes with carbon fibre goodies. There’s also a wide range of official accessories including a race kit, for the first time.