Our first Velocity Learn 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 house.
Triumph Daytona 660 Followers of the sensible Triumph Daytona had 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. Formally named the Triumph Daytona 660, the brand new middleweight sportbike is predicated on the Trident 660 roadster, and never the exceptional Road Triple 765.
To be truthful, the Daytona 660 is way 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 accessible 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 Road 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 stability 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 cut up saddles with an 810 mm seat top for the rider. It additionally will get a model new exhaust that appears equivalent to the Trident 660’s exhaust, however is outwardly totally different.
The Daytona 660’s electronics package deal is customary Triumph fare. You get three switchable rider modes, traction management, and ABS, with a quick-shifter accessible as an non-obligatory further. LED lighting and a singular 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 Road Triple 765 RS. Triumph is touting the brand new Daytona 660 as a “finest in school” providing, nevertheless it’s arduous to not pine for the Road Triple’s efficiency. As a result of whereas the Trident 660 is a good motorbike, the Road Triple 765 RS is an distinctive motorbike.
Whereas the 2024 TriumphDaytona 660 seems ok on paper, it is likely to be 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 Primarily based in Rochester, New York, Thomas Manno has solely constructed two bikes underneath the banner of Mile Zero Racers—however he’s already established a signature model. Each bikes are Honda CB café racers, and each seem like they had been constructed as a lot for pace as for model. However there’s additionally a deeper connection…
The primary bike is a Honda CB750 that Thomas began engaged on two years in the past. Throughout that undertaking, his brother purchased a Honda CB450 for Thomas to journey round on whereas the CB750 was on the bench. As soon as the CB750 was achieved, Thomas labored his magic on the CB450—after which gave it again to his brother for his thirtieth birthday.
“The concept of this bike was to fully change the angle of what’s doable for the CB450 platform,” says Thomas. “I set the bar excessive with the earlier CB750 construct, so it was my mission to push the bounds of my talents and make the 450 construct a whole problem. That means pushing myself to finish the construct with principally every thing made in-house, quite than bought 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 by way of a pair of velocity stacks with mesh covers and exhales by way of a custom-made exhaust system that snakes its means by way of a hand-crafted stomach pan. One other native workshop, The Motoworks, equipped the flip indicators, 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 may improve the front-end with a set of Suzuki GSX-R forks and brakes. Subsequent, Thomas transformed the rear finish from a dual- to single-shock association. Each wheels had been re-laced with contemporary Warp 9 rims.
As for the bodywork, a Honda CB200 gas 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 basic café racer model with trendy supplies. Look intently, and also you’ll spot that the headlight bucket can also be carbon fiber.
The upholstery is especially trendy; a perforated design that continues up and over the gas tank. Raised clip-ons adorn the cockpit, together with contemporary grips, bar-end mirrors, and an aftermarket speedo. An excellent wine-red livery provides the right crowning glory. [Mile Zero Racers]
Triumph TR6 by Heiwa MC Tapered gas tanks, stepped tail cowls, slim handlebars—there’s an class to Kengo Kimura’s signature classic Triumph builds that’s arduous to place into phrases. However when you look past the handcrafted bodywork and luscious paint, every bike has a wealth of distinctive particulars to soak up.
This 1970-model Triumph TR6 is a major 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} gas tank, tail cowl, and facet covers. However eager eyes will discover that the body can also 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. Excessive-mounted exhaust headers make noise by way of 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 technique to rejoice their respective legacies, than by rolling all of their model into one feisty {custom} motorbike? Meet the Deus XTW200; a Yamaha TW200 that’s been custom-made 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 undertaking began as a real barn discover—a uncared for TW200 with a thrashed engine, in dire want of affection. Deus put the engine by way of 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. Each final nut and bolt was both zinc coated or changed, and the beforehand lengthened swingarm was introduced again to a extra affordable size. A brand new set of YSS shocks prop up the rear, whereas the OEM entrance forks had 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 gas 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. Refined 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 extensive 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 indicators 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 crimson 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.
Within the cockpit, a set of Protaper EVO tracker bars maintain the Motogadget Motoscope Mini and Mo.signal recessed into the bar pad- Which can also 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 all the time 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 underneath the bike, it ought to be simply rowdy sufficient to pique the curiosity of your native beachgoers as you trundle all the way down to the seashore. [Deus Customs | Images by Chris Grundy]
