Triumph Daytona 660 vs Kawasaki Ninja 650: Compared In Images

The Triumph Daytona 660 is a fresh contender in the middleweight sport tourer category India. Its biggest rival currently is the Kawasaki Ninja 650. Here’s how they differ from each other: 

Price

The new Triumph Daytona 660 is priced at Rs 9,72,450 while the Kawasaki Ninja 650 is priced at Rs 7,16,000. That’s a difference of a whopping two and a half lakh rupees, for basically just an extra cylinder in the engine and 11cc more. 

Design

Both the bikes in contention here, well, same same but different. By that I am of course referring to the twin-pod headlight setups that these bikes have. Infact, these bikes have similar dimensions too, with marginal differences. However, upon a longer gaze, the Daytona reveals its flatter bodywork, while the Ninja’s sharp angles and creases start glimmering. The Daytona looks comparatively understated with its solid colour looks while the Ninja has the distinctive Kawasaki green paint scheme with graphics.

Engine and Performance

The Daytona gets a 660cc inline-three engine that makes 95PS at 11,250rpm and 69Nm at 8,250rpm. The Kawi has a 649cc parallel-twin that makes 68PS at 8,000rpm and 64Nm at 6,700rpm. Well, now you clearly see where a part of that two and a half lakh rupees is going. Though the Ninja makes less peak power, it makes it earlier than the Daytona. This might make the Ninja easier to ride in the city, however that remains to be tested when we do a real-world comparo. Both the bikes have a 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch. However, the Daytona can be optioned with a bi-directional quickshifter. However, with more outright power, the Daytona should be a much faster bike than the Kawasaki Ninja 650. 

Underpinnings

Here’s where the pricing difference picture starts becoming even clearer. The Daytona gets a 41mm Showa inverted fork while the Ninja gets a 41mm conventional fork. The Ninja gets 300mm dual front discs while the Daytona has dual 310mm front discs which should result in a slightly better braking performance on the latter. Both the bikes get a 200mm rear disc, and dual channel ABS. The Ninja has a 790mm seat height as standard while the Daytona’s standard seat height is 810mm, which can be lowered to 795mm via an optional lower seat accessory. The Daytona has a 14-litre fuel tank while the Ninja has a slightly larger 15-litre fuel tank. Even then, the Ninja weighs in at 196kg while the Daytona at 201kg (both kerb). 

Features

Both the bikes in contention get a digital instrument console. While smartphone connectivity is standard on the Ninja, you will need to open your wallet wider with the Triumph for the same. The Ninja only gets two traction modes while the Daytona has three riding modes that modulate the throttle response and traction control system intervention. 

Which one should you buy

Well, the answer here is as clear as night and day. Both the bikes suit a different budget, but are essentially meant for the same thing. If you can afford the Daytona, by all means, go ahead if you want more power and more modern underpinnings. The Ninja here offers a more humble experience for a lower price. In terms of ownership costs, neither of the bikes would be “cheap to keep”.