Today we received an announcement from Triumph that they’ve been working on a new “Middleweight Adventure Sport” bike that is now in the “final stages” of road testing. According to the British-based manufacturer, the latest addition to the Tiger family will be powered by a 660cc Triple engine, which appears to be the same used in their Trident 660 Naked Bike. In fact, the entire chassis looks like it was borrowed from the Trident. The full bodywork and more upright ergos are the only clear differences we can see. 

Rated at 80 horsepower @ 10,250 rpm with 47 lb-ft of torque at 6,250, this is an engine that likes to be revved — which is to be expected with a small-displacement Triple. Yet Triumph has done magical things with their other Tigers in the past, taming them with a fat torque curve that never seems to quit. Perhaps they’ll give this new Tiger a different tune than its naked counterpart that will emphasize torque in the lower rpm range for sport touring duties.

While Triumph is stamping this model with the “Tiger” badge, which might imply it is an adventure bike, they are classifying it as an ‘Adventure Sports’ bike, signaling what is also visually obvious — this is a machine more suited for street touring than any dirt work.

“The Triumph team have been testing the final prototype of a new Tiger that is set to transform the middleweight adventure sports category and deliver a new benchmark in specification, capability, performance and style.” – Triumph Motorcycles

It appears poised to take on other 17″ cast-wheeled middleweight bikes like the Yamaha Tracer 700, Kawasaki Versys 650 or MV Agusta Turismo Veloce. Perhaps it will offer more versatility than the Trident with a taller, more-compliant suspension that extends its use when the pavement ends.

We can’t help but think about where this new platform might be going in the future though. With the popularity of the Yamaha Tenere 700, the impending release of the new Aprilia Tuareg 660, along with KTM’s plans for a 490 Adventure, it will be interesting to see if Triumph develops a spoked-wheel version of this bike with the off-road treatment of its “Tiger Rally” models.

The 500cc-700cc ADV segment now looks to be the new battleground for the next few years. It’s the one segment that perhaps has the most potential for growing the sport with bikes that are less intimidating off-road, comfortable for touring longer distances, and at a price point that is more approachable. 

We don’t have any pricing information of the new Tiger 660 Sport yet but with an MSRP of $8,195 USD for the Trident, we expect this new model to fall somewhere in the $9,000 to $10,000 range. Being that it’s in the final stages of testing, we anticipate an announcement for a 2022 model soon. We’ll report back with further details once we receive them. Stay tuned!

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.