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ADV NewsHere’s What To Like About Triumph’s All-New Tiger Sport 660

Here’s What To Like About Triumph’s All-New Tiger Sport 660

A new entry-level, middleweight machine enters the Tiger family.

Published on 10.05.2021

Triumph has finally applied its signature triple-cylinder engine to the entry-level adventure sports market, and although the Tiger Sport 660 is heavily skewed toward street riding, we can all agree this is a step in the right direction for the Hinckley-based manufacturer. 

The first bullseye this brand-new bike hits is its true middleweight size. Can we just stop calling 900cc bikes “middleweights”? Besides, the world has been moving away from the bigger is better misnomer. It’s time for more practical weights – and price tags, especially in the touring and adventure bike world. Triumph says this bike will weigh in at 454 lbs wet, and cost $9,295 for black, $125 extra for Korosi Red or Luceren Blue. 

Triiumph-Tiger-660-adventure-sports

And what you get for that price tag is pretty impressive, including many first-in-class features, such as a suite of electronics that offers two riding modes and switchable traction control (which can be dialed all the way to off) all served up on a multi-function display with an integrated TFT screen. The display also provides access to My Triumph App connectivity, which enables turn-by-turn navigation, GoPro control and phone and music interaction. 


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Another thing to like about Triumph’s latest offering is the liquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC, inline 3-cylinder 660cc engine. This new mill, first launched in the naked sport Trident 660 last year, is the first triple in this class of smaller adventure-styled models, which includes bikes like Kawasaki’s Versys 650, Yamaha Tracer 7 and Honda NC750X, and it offers a class-leading 80 peak horsepower at 10,250 rpm and 47 ft lb of torque at 6250 rpm.

Triiumph-Tiger-660-adventure-sports

The first telltale feature that lets you know this new Triumph is pointed at on-road agility instead of off-road ability are its 5-spoke, 17-inch cast wheels shod with Michelin Road 5 tires. Triumph says the suspension, a 41mm Showa upside down cartridge fork and single rear shock, which is remotely adjustable for preload, was developed to deliver a sporty feel at the bar when solo riding, yet maintain enough cush for two-up touring. No mention of off-road capability, and besides, the travel is only 5.9 in front and rear. 

Triiumph-Tiger-660-adventure-sports

Stopping power will be provided by Nissin brakes : dual 310mm discs with two-piston sliding calipers up front and a single 255mm with single-piston sliding caliper on the rear wheel. Two rider modes, which control wheel spin in concert with throttle response, are slated as Road and Rain, the latter of which translates to “smooth” and is ideal for any sketchy situation, say low speed maneuvers on gravel.  

As for the bike’s styling, you’ve gotta love the sexy stainless 3-into-1 header pipeage up front, though the way it flows into the stubby low-slung silencer is certain to be polarizing. An approachable seat height of 32.8 inches only adds to the Tiger Sport 660’s potential as a practical all-arounder for those who want to stick to pavement. It could also be a good choice for the rider who’s moving up from a smaller ride. This Tiger is also being touted as tourable, with a 4.5 gallon tank, height-adjustable windscreen and integrated luggage mounts that receive Triumph’s hard panniers and 52-liter top case, all of which can be color matched to the bike.

Triiumph-Tiger-660-adventure-sports

While it’s important to note that the Tiger Sport 660’s competitors, bikes like Kawasaki’s Versys 650 and Honda’s NC750X are priced in the mid to upper $8000s, none deliver the flagship-level rider aids, the TFT display, or allow options, such as Shift Assist up and down quickshifter and on-dash phone app connectivity. And last but not least, Triumph’s fit-and-finish detail that consistently outshines that of its Japanese competition.

But without a doubt what adventure riders should like best about the new Tiger Sport 660 is the promise of the potential for new variations to follow. Triumph just loves having a “Range” for its models. What we’ll hopefully see next is something with an off-road oriented chassis like the current Rally and Rally Pro Tiger 900 options. A well-equipped machine to go head-to-head off-road with the Yamaha Tenere 700 or Aprilia Tuareg 660, with a wet weight around 460 pounds, a price tag in the $10,000 range and that unique triple engine. For now, those who like to keep their adventures on twisty asphalt have something to be excited about in the Tiger Sport 660.

Triiumph-Tiger-660-adventure-sports

Tiger Sport 660 Specs

Engine TypeLiquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC, inline 3-cylinder, 240° firing order
Capacity660 cc
Bore74.04 mm
Stroke51.1 mm
Compression11.95:1
Maximum Power80 HP (81 PS / 80 bhp) (59.6 kW) @ 10,250 rpm
Maximum Torque47 LB-FT (64 Nm) @ 6,250 rpm
Fuel SystemMultipoint sequential electronic fuel injection with electronic throttle control
ExhaustStainless steel 3 into 1 header system with low single sided stainless steel silencer
Final DriveX-ring chain
ClutchWet, multi-plate, slip & assist
Gearbox6 speed
FrameTubular steel perimeter frame
SwingarmTwin-sided, fabricated steel 
Front WheelCast aluminum, 17 x 3.5 in
Rear WheelCast aluminum, 17 x 5.5 in
Front Tyre120/70 ZR 17 (58W)
Rear Tyre180/55 ZR 17 (73W)
Front SuspensionShowa 41mm upside down separate function cartridge forks, 150mm wheel travel
Rear SuspensionShowa monoshock RSU, with remote hydraulic preload adjustment, 150mm wheel travel
Front BrakesNissin two-piston sliding calipers, twin 310mm discs, ABS
Rear BrakesNissin single-piston sliding caliper, single 255mm disc, ABS
InstrumentsMulti-function instruments with color TFT screen
Length81.5 in (2071 mm)
Width (Handlebars)32.8 in (834 mm)
Height Without Mirrors55 in / 51.7 inches (1398 mm / 1315mm) (high / low screen position)
Seat Height32.8 in (835 mm)
Wheelbase55.8 in (1418 mm)
Rake23.1º
Trail3.8 in (97.1 mm)
Wet weight454 lbs (206 kg)
Fuel Tank Capacity4.5 gal (17.2 liters)
Service interval10,000 miles (16,000km) /12 months
MSRP $USDUS: $9,295 USD Sapphire Black (Korosi Red / Luceren Blue = +$125 USD) ; Canada: $10,495 CAD Sapphire Black (Korosi Red / Luceren Blue = +$125 CAD) 
AvailabilityFebruary 2022 USA and Canada

Author: Jamie Elvidge

Jamie has been a motorcycle journalist for more than 30 years, testing the entire range of bikes for the major print magazines and specializing in adventure-travel related stories. To date she’s written and supplied photography for articles describing what it’s like to ride in all 50 states and 43 foreign countries, receiving two Lowell Thomas Society of American Travel Writer’s Awards along the way. Her most-challenging adventure yet has been riding in the 2018 GS Trophy in Mongolia as Team AusAmerica’s embedded journalist.

Author: Jamie Elvidge
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5 Comments
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Jeff
Jeff
October 5, 2021 9:40 am

Too little fuel capacity + no cruise control = no go for me 🙁

Joe John
Joe John
October 5, 2021 9:53 am

Reminds me of the old tiger 1050

Christopher Johnson
Christopher Johnson
October 5, 2021 11:17 am

Here’s hoping Triumph will release a variant to compete more with the Aprilia 660 Tuareg, though a triple may not be the way.

Patriot159
Patriot159
October 5, 2021 10:39 pm

Indeed, Rally version please. The triple would be a selling point that Triumph would exploit and plenty of buyers would be happy with it.

George Edwin Erasmus
George Edwin Erasmus
October 5, 2021 2:06 pm

Now if they did a 660 Rally I might have gotten excited just another blacktop biased mid sized adventure bike in a market flooded wit blacktop biased mid sized multi-cylinder adventure bikes. Versus, Vstrom,CB500X,X-cape and TRK 500X needless to say the Chinese variants, huge disappointment with the Tenere’s wheezy suspension. Only Aprilia got it right with the Toureg 660

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