Triumph’s 660 lineup is growing, with the new Tiger Sport 660 joining forces with the Trident naked bike that debuted in 2020.
The Tiger Sport 660 tackles the value-oriented adventure sports market head-on, with premium components that should offer high performance in a category that often puts penny-pinching ahead of speed and handling.
The 660 triple puts 80 hp at 10,250 rpm and 47 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm; Triumph says combines low-down torque with a strong mid-range and the most top-end power in this class (Triumph says the closest competition is the Kawasaki Versys 650 and the not-in-Canada Yamaha Tracer 700).
The motor comes with slip/assist clutch and six-speed gearbox, and an up/down quickshifter is available at extra cost. A ride-by-wire throttle means Triumph was able to engineer two ride modes (Rain and Road) into the bike, which control engine output and traction control (traction control can also be shut off independently, should you wish).
While definitely not up to the power level of the latest-generation flagship ADV bikes, the 80-horse output of this triple would have been considered more than adequate in the very recent past, whether you were touring, commuting, or going for weekend pleasure rides. These are the roles Triumph sees this bike working in, either for riders moving up from 300-400 cc entry-level bikes, or perhaps experienced riders looking for a do-it-all value-for-money motorcycle.
The chassis, like the engine, is similar to the Trident, with steel tube frame, and dual 310 mm disc brakes up front (with two-piston Nissin radial-mount calipers, and ABS). The front suspension is non-adjustable, with 41 mm separate-function forks by Showa. The rear shock has remote preload adjustment. The Tiger Sport has 150 mm of suspension travel in front and rear.
The bike’s rear frame section is slightly different from the Trident, as Triumph built luggage attachment points directly into the tail section, making it easy to attach/detach hard bags. It’s also beefed up to handle the weight of a passenger, because again, Triumph sees this bike as a good choice for the touring market.
Although it doesn’t come with hard bags as standard equipment, they’re available as an option, with 57-litre capacity between the two saddlebags, and a further 47-litre capacity in the topcase. There’s also an aluminum rack available as standard kit from Triumph, and accessory fog lamps. The bike comes pre-wired for heated grips, but you have to pay extra for those, too. The 17-litre fuel tank is supposed to be good for 340 km of range. Alas, there’s no centrestand or cruise control available, not even as an option, and Triumph didn’t indicate that either feature was coming in the near future.
LED lights come standard all-round, as well as a TFT screen (the only bike in this segment with a TFT). The windscreen is one-hand adjustable.
Although this machine has an adventure bike profile, it’s not intended for offroad use. Like the Trident, the Tiger Sport 660 comes with 17-inch cast wheels front and rear, shod in Michelin Road 5 tires. Perfect for city and country asphalt, but not for gravel or mud.
Pricing/Availability
Expect this bike for the 2022 riding season, coming in with a $10,495 MSRP in Canada. That’s already very reasonable when compared to the competition (The Kawasaki Versys 650 sells for $10,499). It gets even better when you consider the high-spec equipment on the Triumph, and the low cost of ownership.
Like the 660 Trident, Triumph says the Tiger Sport 660 was designed to keep long-term costs down, with low shop costs and long 16,000-kilometre maintenance intervals. That’s even more value for money, and in these cash-strapped days, no doubt buyers will like the sound of that.
