Our first Speed Read of the 12 months has one thing for everybody. We kick off with information of the brand new Triumph Daytona 660, then profile a pointy Honda CB450 café racer from the US. A classic Triumph from Heiwa MC and a cheeky Yamaha TW200 from Deus take us residence.
Triumph Daytona 660 Fans of the sensible Triumph Daytona have been handled to excellent news this week, because the British marque introduced the return of the Daytona identify to its line-up… with one main caveat. Officially named the Triumph Daytona 660, the brand new middleweight sportbike is predicated on the Trident 660 roadster, and never the exceptional Street Triple 765.
To be honest, the Daytona 660 is rather more than only a Trident 660 with fairings. Triumph has improved the 660 cc triple-cylinder mill, pushing its energy output to 95 hp and torque to 69 Nm. It hits peak energy at 11,250 rpm, redlines at 12,650 rpm, and has over 80 % of its torque obtainable from 3,125 rpm.
The Daytona 660’s body is totally different from the Trident’s too, seemingly tweaked with classes realized from the event of Triumph’s Moto2 prototype. 41 mm big-piston Showa forks sit up entrance, with a preload-adjustable Showa mono-shock out again. The Daytona 660 borrows its 17” wheels from the Street Triple 765 RS, with two four-piston brake calipers up entrance and a single disc brake out again.
Visually, the brand new Daytona 660 strikes an excellent steadiness between the look of Triumph’s present crop of roadsters and the sporty however restrained vibe of the earlier Daytona. It will get a full fairing with fairing-mounted mirrors, clip-ons, rear-set pegs, and break up saddles with an 810 mm seat peak for the rider. It additionally will get a model new exhaust that appears an identical to the Trident 660’s exhaust, however is outwardly totally different.
The Daytona 660’s electronics package deal is normal Triumph fare. You get three switchable rider modes, traction management, and ABS, with a quick-shifter obtainable as an elective further. LED lighting and a novel TFT show spherical out the package deal.
What the Daytona 660 doesn’t have, is the engine, energy and torque figures, fully-adjustable Showa forks and Öhlins rear shock, and top-shelf Brembo brakes of the Street Triple 765 RS. Triumph is touting the brand new Daytona 660 as a “best in class” providing, however it’s laborious to not pine for the Street Triple’s efficiency. Because whereas the Trident 660 is a good bike, the Street Triple 765 RS is an distinctive bike.
While the 2024 TriumphDaytona 660 appears adequate on paper, it is perhaps too vanilla for die-hard followers of the Daytona. We sincerely hope {that a} Daytona 765 is ready within the wings—and whether it is, we’re questioning why it didn’t break cowl first. [Triumph Motorcycles]
Honda CB450 by Mile Zero Racers Based in Rochester, New York, Thomas Manno has solely constructed two bikes beneath the banner of Mile Zero Racers—however he’s already established a signature type. Both bikes are Honda CB café racers, and each seem like they have been constructed as a lot for pace as for type. But there’s additionally a deeper connection…
The first bike is a Honda CB750 that Thomas began engaged on two years in the past. During that venture, his brother purchased a Honda CB450 for Thomas to journey round on whereas the CB750 was on the bench. Once the CB750 was accomplished, Thomas labored his magic on the CB450—after which gave it again to his brother for his thirtieth birthday.
“The idea of this bike was to completely change the perspective of what is possible for the CB450 platform,” says Thomas. “I set the bar high with the previous CB750 build, so it was my mission to push the limits of my abilities and make the 450 build a complete challenge. Meaning pushing myself to complete the build with mostly everything made in-house, rather than purchased off the shelf.”
The CB450’s engine was wholesome for its age, so all it wanted was a brand new set of gaskets and an exterior refresh. It now inhales via a pair of velocity stacks with mesh covers and exhales through a custom-made exhaust system that snakes its manner via a hand-crafted stomach pan. Another native workshop, The Motoworks, provided the flip alerts, headlight, mirror, and rear-sets, plus a management unit to rewire the bike with.
The Motoworks additionally despatched over a {custom} entrance hub and new yokes, in order that Thomas might improve the front-end with a set of Suzuki GSX-R forks and brakes. Next, Thomas transformed the rear finish from a dual- to single-shock association. Both wheels have been re-laced with contemporary Warp 9 rims.
As for the bodywork, a Honda CB200 gasoline tank sits up prime, fettled to suit on the CB450’s body. Thomas modified the subframe for a tighter kicked-up impact, then constructed a carbon fiber tail bump, mixing traditional café racer type with fashionable supplies. Look carefully, and also you’ll spot that the headlight bucket can be carbon fiber.
The upholstery is especially trendy; a perforated design that continues up and over the gasoline tank. Raised clip-ons adorn the cockpit, together with contemporary grips, bar-end mirrors, and an aftermarket speedo. A wonderful wine-red livery provides the proper final touch. [Mile Zero Racers]
Triumph TR6 by Heiwa MC Tapered gasoline tanks, stepped tail cowls, slender handlebars—there’s an magnificence to Kengo Kimura’s signature classic Triumph builds that’s laborious to place into phrases. But when you look past the handcrafted bodywork and luscious paint, every bike has a wealth of distinctive particulars to absorb.
This 1970-model Triumph TR6 is a first-rate instance of the kind of work that put Kimura-san’s store, Heiwa MC, on the map.
Kengo’s hand is clear within the {custom} gasoline tank, tail cowl, and facet covers. But eager eyes will discover that the body can be bespoke, as is the mono-shock swingarm. (The shock is tough to identify as a result of it’s hidden away by a handcrafted oil tank).
The facet covers type a part of the air cleaner setup, directing air to the Mikuni VM32 carbs. High-mounted exhaust headers make noise through a pair of stacked reverse cone mufflers.
A set of Kayaba forks sit up entrance, stabilized by a custom-made fork brace. The TR6 rolls on 19F/18R wheels, with a Robinson twin main shoe drum brake hub up entrance. Kengo additionally fabricated the handlebars, controls, footpegs, headlight cowl, and taillight.
Take a peek across the left facet of the bike, and also you’ll spot its most unusual function. Kengo transformed the first drive to a belt system, protected by {a partially} open three-piece cowl.
Then there’s the paint job—a fascinating mixture of olive inexperienced metallic and darkish inexperienced metallic, separated by silver leaf striping. Executed by Shakin’ Speedgraphix, it’s a livery worthy of Kengo’s handiwork. [Heiwa MC | Images by Kazuo Matsumoto]
Yamaha TW200 by Deus ex Machina The TW200 and XT500 are two of probably the most cherished bikes that Yamaha ever produced. So what higher approach to have a good time their respective legacies, than by rolling all of their type into one feisty {custom} bike? Meet the Deus XTW200; a Yamaha TW200 that’s been personalized to seem like the fat-tired, beach-cruising little brother that the XT500 by no means had.
The XTW200 is the work of Jeremy Tagand at Deus ex Machina’s Sydney store. The venture began as a real barn discover—a uncared for TW200 with a thrashed engine, in dire want of affection. Deus put the engine via a full rebuild, then added a Keihin FCR carburetor and a custom-made exhaust with a Supertrapp muffler.
The body was tidied up too, after which powder-coated in satin black. Every final nut and bolt was both zinc coated or changed, and the beforehand lengthened swingarm was introduced again to a extra cheap size. A brand new set of YSS shocks prop up the rear, whereas the OEM entrance forks have been refurbished with contemporary internals.
Deus additionally rebuilt the wheels with new rims and spokes, ending them in ceramic-coated champagne gold as a nod to the XT500s of the late 70s and early 80s.
An alloy trackmaster-style gasoline tank sits up prime, completed within the iconic early-80s XT500 scheme. A classic motocross-style seat sits behind it, upholstered in gripper vinyl and Alcantara. Subtle touches embody the XT500-inspired ‘TW200’ tank logos, branding that’s been stitched into the seat, and a hidden rear splash guard.
The cockpit sports activities a set of large ProTaper flat monitor handlebars, fitted with Motogadget grips, and a throttle and switches from Messner Moto. The chunky bar pad has been modified to host a Motogadget speedo and LED warning mild strip. A Highsider headlight pokes out the entrance, with Kellermann flip alerts to maintain issues street-friendly.
A shortened seat was sourced from Japan after which re-foamed for a extra VMX form and adorned in gripper vinyl and Alcantara, accented by the pink stitching and branding within the rear. An alloy trackmaster-style tank sporting the notorious, early 80’s XT500 color scheme and graphics was perched atop the refurbed body.
In the cockpit, a set of Protaper EVO tracker bars maintain the Motogadget Motoscope Mini and Mo.signal recessed into the bar pad- Which can be handsomely dressed within the gripper materials from the seat. Messner Moto throttle and switches and Motogadget grips end off the bars completely.
Deus has at all times celebrated the intersection of motorcycling and browsing, so it’s solely becoming that this Yamaha TW200 has room for a surfboard. With a Supertrapp silencer slung beneath the bike, it needs to be simply rowdy sufficient to pique the curiosity of your native beachgoers as you trundle right down to the seaside. [Deus Customs | Images by Chris Grundy]
Source: www.bikeexif.com