Reviewing the Triumph Tiger Sport 660 | A budget-friendly sport-tourer?

Introduction

The Triumph Tiger Sport 660 is the latest addition to Triumph’s Tiger family and the most affordable one too. It shares the same 660cc triple-cylinder engine and chassis with the Trident 660 but adds a touring-friendly riding position and a new look. How does it stand out from its sibling and live up to the ‘Tiger’ name? We took it for a spin in the scenic Dehradun to find out.

Triumph Tiger Sport 660 design

• The Triumph Tiger Sport has a new fairing that gives it a sport tourer look. It has sleek LED headlights that offer good visibility at night.

• The bike has a tall windscreen that protects from the wind. The windscreen can be adjusted in height, but the mechanism is not very smooth or easy to use while riding.

• The bike has the same instrument cluster as the Trident but in a different housing.

• The bike has a bigger fuel tank that can hold 17.2 litres of fuel. Triumph claims that the bike can cover 380km on a full tank.

• The bike has a comfortable and spacious seat for the rider and the pillion. The seat is good for long rides, as it does not cause any discomfort.

• The bike has a new subframe that allows for mounting panniers and luggage. Triumph offers panniers and top boxes as accessories. The seat height is 835mm, but it is still manageable for shorter riders.

• The bike has the same taillight design as the Trident

Triumph Tiger Sport 660 chassis

• The Tiger Sport 660 has a similar chassis to the Trident 660 but with some modifications to make it more suitable for long-distance riding. The front Showa forks have 150mm of travel, which is 20mm more than the Trident. This helps the Tiger Sport 660 cope better with bigger bumps and potholes. The rear mono-shock has a remote preload adjuster that makes it easy to change the preload on the fly or when riding with a pillion or luggage. The ride quality is improved over the Trident 660, and the suspension is softer as well, which was a problem on the roadster. The Tiger Sport 660 absorbs smaller bumps well but can get unsettled by larger ones. The bike weighs 206kg (wet), which is 17kgs more than the roadster, but it manages its weight well.

• The bike has a more relaxed riding position than the Trident 660, with a taller and wider handlebar and a more comfortable footpeg placement. To keep the bike sporty in terms of handling, the rake has been slightly reduced. The bike retains most of the sporty handling characteristics of the Trident, while also being a comfortable tourer. The bike also has the same grippy Michelin Road 5 tyres that we enjoyed on the Trident 660. These tyres give you confidence when you encounter twisty roads. The extra suspension travel also allows the bike to handle some mild off-roading, so you don’t have to stop when the road gets rough. However, the bike has some drawbacks as well. The bike uses the same braking system as the Trident 660, which lacks feedback and feel. There is also a strange issue where the brakes feel very hard and unresponsive for a brief moment when you hit a bump while cornering, which needs to be fixed.

Triumph Tiger Sport 660 performance

• The Tiger Sport 660 has the same 660cc triple-cylinder engine as the Trident, with the same power and torque figures: 80bhp at 10,250rpm and 64Nm at 6,250rpm. The engine is very flexible and has plenty of low-end and mid-range punch, so you don’t have to shift gears often. The smooth six-speed gearbox helps as well. The engine doesn’t have a lot of top-end power, but that’s not a problem for a tourer. You can cruise at 120kmph easily without the engine straining or the wind bothering you, thanks to the windscreen and the fairing.

• The bike is slightly heavier than the Trident, but not noticeably slower. The only major issue is the basic traction control system, which is too intrusive and stays on for too long. You can switch it off if you want, but you have to be careful with your throttle control.

Triumph Tiger Sport 660 accessories

• The Tiger Sport 660 has a lot of official accessories to choose from, like other Triumph bikes. These include:

• Panniers, top boxes, and luggage solutions for touring.

• Various guards and crash protection accessories for safety.

• Performance-based accessories like a quick-shifter and tank grips for a better riding experience.

• Aesthetic accessories like scrolling LED indicators for style.

• The bike can also be equipped with other accessories, such as:

• Heated grips, a TPMS system, and the My Triumph connectivity module for convenience and comfort.

• Ports and sockets for charging devices on the go.
• For more details and prices of the accessories, you can visit the official website of Triumph Motorcycle.

Triumph Tiger Sport 660 verdict

• My verdict on the Tiger Sport 660 after riding it for a while is that it’s a good-looking bike that can do touring very well. It also has a lot of the sporty character that we liked on the Trident and it’s comfortable for daily riding and commuting. It can also tackle some mild off-roading..

• But when you compare it to its rivals, like the Kawasaki Versys 650 and the Suzuki V-Strom 650, it has more power, more features, and less weight, which makes it worth the extra money. So, if you want a sporty adventure tourer that doesn’t cost more than 9 lakhs, this is a great option to consider.