2013–2017 · Supersport · Buyer's Guide
The Triple That Corners Hardest
The Daytona 675 R wraps a focused middleweight around Triumph's 675cc inline-three. The triple pulls hard through the midrange and screams to a 12,500-rpm peak of 126 hp, with a voice no four-cylinder can fake. Underneath sit a fully adjustable Öhlins NIX30 fork and TTX36 shock, Brembo brakes, and a short, sharp chassis built for one job: getting through a corner fast and finishing it early. The electronics stay deliberately lean. ABS is standard, but there's no traction control or rider modes here, so the bike asks you to bring your own throttle discipline rather than leaning on a safety net.
On the road it rewards a rider who likes to work. The position is committed, the seat sits at 32.3 in, and at 406 lb wet it changes direction with almost no effort. This is a canyon and track tool first and a commuter never; 31 mpg and a hunger for revs tell you exactly where it wants to live. It ages like a focused sportbike too. Watch for stretched Exup valve cables tripping the check-engine light, the odd weeping engine bolt or counter-shaft seal, and a clutch that can feel catchy. None of it is fatal, but budget for a little fussing.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 126 hp (94 kW) @ 12,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 55 lb-ft (74 Nm) @ 11,900 rpm |
| Displacement | 675 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| Wet weight | 406 lb (184 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.6 gal (17.4 L) |
| Fuel economy | 31 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
Thumb the starter and the triple settles into a hard, metallic idle that opens into a genuine howl once the needle climbs past 8,000 rpm. You feel the engine through the pegs and the tank more than the bars, a fine high-frequency buzz that tells you it wants to be revved. The bars are low and the pegs high, so at town speed your weight loads your wrists and you spend the first mile wishing for a green light. Get it onto a flowing road and the ergonomics suddenly make sense. You tuck in, the Öhlins fork reads the surface cleanly, and your hands get a constant running commentary from the front tire. The quickshifter keeps your left hand off the lever and your eyes up. Lean it hard and nothing touches down; the clearance is enormous. It feels light, alert, and a little impatient at anything below a brisk pace.
This isn't my own lap on the Daytona. It's what riders have told me over years of owner conversations, paddock talk, and the steady stream of messages that lands in my inbox. The pattern here is unusually consistent: a hard-edged middleweight that riders trust far more than its spec sheet suggests they should.
What comes up again and again is how approachable it feels for something this sharp. Riders describe a machine that flatters them rather than punishing mistakes, forgiving at the limit and quick to inspire confidence, which keeps it a favorite among track-day regulars and racers alike. The brakes draw steady praise too: owners talk about real stopping power paired with enough feel to lean on the lever hard. On the road, the suspension reads as plush and composed.
The gripes are few and they cluster. A recurring one is comfort: the committed stance that makes it so precise turns taxing on longer rides. The other surfaces mostly when the weather does. With no traction control or riding modes to fall back on, some riders find it intimidating in the wet, leaning entirely on mechanical grip and their own skill.
Öhlins rear shock absorber recall (2014–2015 R models)
A recall was issued due to potential cracking of the shock absorber body. Affected units were replaced free of charge.
Engine bolts backing out and oil seepage
Various engine cover bolts (clutch, alternator, oil pan) can loosen over time, causing minor oil weeps. Owners recommend applying threadlocker during services.
Transmission pivot plate premature wear
Aggressive high-rpm shifting can wear the shift detent wheel and pivot plate, causing a grinding feel through the gear lever. Upgraded kits are available.
Counter shaft seal oil leak
The seal behind the front sprocket can weep oil, leaving streaks on the engine case. Replacement with an upgraded industrial seal is a common fix.
Exup valve cable stretch triggers CEL
The exhaust valve cables stretch over time, causing the check engine light to illuminate. Often requires dealer adjustment or replacement; many owners fit a servo eliminator.
Wobbly mirrors
The stock mirrors can become loose and vibrate excessively, blurring rear vision. Dealers may replace under warranty, though the issue can return.
Catchy clutch pull
Some owners report a notchy or grabby clutch action, with no definitive factory fix. Aftermarket levers or adjustments may mitigate it.
Coolant leak from loose hose clamps
On early 2013 models, coolant hoses on the left side may be loose from the factory, leading to drips. A simple re-tightening resolves it.
Where this Triumph Daytona 675 R pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Daytona 675 R is actually built for.
This is your weapon for Angeles Crest. Light, razor-sharp, and endlessly leanable, it rewards precise canyon work. Just bring your own throttle restraint, because there's no traction control to catch you.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
On a closed track it shines: huge front feel, stock Öhlins and Brembo that handle real pace, and clearance to spare. With no electronic safety net, it asks for skill, and rewards it.
Made for Barber Motorsports Park · WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca · Circuit of the Americas
Made for Tail of the Dragon and the Blue Ridge. The quick-steering chassis and front-end feedback let you place it to the inch on tight technical corners, where finesse beats horsepower.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2009–2012
The Triple That Carves Clean
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Triumph Daytona 675 R. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
