Honda CBR650R vs Triumph Daytona 660: Which Makes More Sense?

The 2025 Honda CBR650R is here in India, and the bookings for the bike have begun as well. The Japanese manufacturer launched the bike at a price of Rs 9,99,990 (ex-showroom). At this price point, the closest rival is the Triumph Daytona 660. But which one of these two sports tourers makes more sense?

Honda CBR650R

The Honda CBR650R is the Japanese manufacturer’s middleweight inline-four sport tourer. It features a fully-faired design, but stands out thanks to the aggressive styling and flashier graphics compared to the Daytona 660.

The bike is powered by a 649cc, liquid-cooled, inline-four engine, which outputs 95PS at 12,000rpm and 63Nm at 9,500rpm. Now, on paper, this might seem like the CBR650R has lesser power and torque when compared to the Daytona 660. But the nature of the engine makes a lot of difference.

The inline-four engine will be able to offer better refinement when compared to the Daytona’s inline three. This comes down to the extra cylinder which helps in balancing out the vibrations. Another thing to note is that the power and torque are being produced at a higher rev range, which will make the bike a lot more fun on the track and the twisties.

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

The Honda CBR650R also has a lot more features on offer. It gets a 5-inch colour TFT console, with smartphone connectivity via Honda RoadSync app. The app offers features such as turn-by-turn navigation, music controls and call/SMS alerts. Along with this, the bike also gets a traction control system as well.

Overall, the Honda CBR650R is a more sporty and enthusiast oriented bike and not everyone may like what it has to offer.

Triumph Daytona 660

The Triumph Daytona 660 is the brand’s new supersport based on the 660cc platform. The bike features a sharp and aggressive design and styling, which gives it that proper supersport look and feel. 

It is powered by a 660cc, liquid-cooled, three-cylinder engine which outputs 95PS at 11,250 rpm and 69Nm at 8,250 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox, with a slip-and-assist clutch. The three-cylinder engine offers a really refined riding experience, with a good bottom end and mid-range punch.

By their very nature, the inline-three motors are able to strike a good balance between twin-cylinder and inline-four engines. The engine manages to offer the compact size of a twin-cylinder while also offering good performance as an inline-four.

The Daytona is suspended on an 41mm showa inverted fork and a showa monoshock with preload adjustability. The bike rolls on 17-inch alloys at both ends, with braking duties being taken care of by twin 310mm discs at the front and a single 220mm disc at the rear. 

In terms of features, the Daytona 660 is quite simple and only offers a traction control system and 3 riding modes: Rain, Road and Sport. The bike overall is a simple sports tourer which offers good looks, performance and a decent set of features. 

Which One Makes More Sense?

When looking at the pricing, the Honda CBR650R is priced at Rs 9,99,990, whereas the Triumph Daytona 660 is priced at Rs  9,72,450, both ex-showroom. The difference is Rs 26,550 which is not that massive. 

But both bikes offer very different riding experiences and which one makes more sense depends on what you are looking for. 

The Daytona 660 is a relatively simpler, no-nonsense sports tourer which will be able to offer a good balance between sports touring and spirited riding. So if you’re someone who is looking for a simpler middleweight sports tourer which can handle the regular city commute while also being fun on the weekends then the Daytona 660 will make more sense for you.

But if you’re someone who wants a sportier bike, then the CBR650R will make more sense. It offers a rev-happy engine, which will be very fun to ride on the track and also on the twisties. The more aggressive styling and the more refined engine will also make a big difference overall.