MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
- weeksy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23443
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
- Has thanked: 5457 times
- Been thanked: 13103 times
MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-rev ... port/2022/
We can’t start talking about Triumph’s new Tiger Sport 660 without first tipping our hat to its naked sibling: the Trident 660. One of the big success stories of 2021, not only is it a great value, top quality roadster with a cool badge slapped on the tank, but it’s also one that’s as appealing to newbies as the experienced, which is quite a trick.
Triumph have taken that winning formula to create the Tiger Sport 660 and it’s every bit as impressive. You could call it a tall rounder, or a sports adventure, but in many ways it’s the half-faired Street Triple we always wish they’d made, but never did.
It’s spacious, comfortable, agile and easy to manage, but can be genuinely sporty, too, with a front end that fills you with confidence, tyres that grip beautifully in all conditions and powerful brakes. That’s all on top of a tuneful three-cylinder engine that’s never short of grunt or excitement but still friendly when you need it to be.
It’s such a complete, well-built, affordable, creation that cruise control suddenly seems a glaring omission for a bike designed to do big miles, but it’s a small blip in a sea of brilliance.
New bars are wider, higher and closer to the rider than the Trident’s and the pegs are lower. It’s a deliciously comfy and spacious riding position that works perfectly for big-mile riding, despite the Tiger’s mid-sized layout. It’s slim, well balanced, easy to manage and taller riders will love the legroom.
Its seven way manually adjustable screen is easy to jiggle with one hand on the move and effective, but like all tall road bikes, windblast can be noisy at speed.
Steel rather than aluminium is used for the frame and (longer) swingarm to keep costs down, but no matter because the Tiger Sport 660 is still light and agile. Its 30mm longer-travel upside down Showa forks (with a 1.5-degree steeper rake and 10mm less trail) and shock are basic, but they’re perfectly set to give the best mix of ride quality, cornering control and stability.
The Triumph doesn’t just handle well for an affordable all-rounder, it flows through corners with the poise of some of the best out there, with a similar feel to one of the most unlikely of great handling road bikes: Honda’s CB500X.
It has huge grip, a tactile front end and despite having low, knee-friendly pegs, we never get them scraping. Twin piston Nissin calipers are basic, but like everything with the Tiger belie their simplicity. Strong and consistent, they’re packed with feel despite its ABS
It works so seamlessly as a sporty, easy to ride, all-rounder, you wonder why it’s taken them this long to make it…and just how great a Street or Speed Triple version would be.
The Tiger Sport’s 80bhp three-cylinder motor is identical to the Trident’s – itself a rework of their fantastic old Daytona 675 lump, with a shorter stroke and a bucket load of new components, including lower first to fourth gear ratios and higher fifth/sixth. Valve check intervals are at a generous 10,000 miles and a 46bhp A2 licence restriction kit is also available.
Its beating supersport heart and raspy soundtrack remains intact, so the Tiger is revvy, exciting and never short of grunt when you need it, almost regardless of the gear. It’s a sporty engine that’s livelier than its rivals, but crucially it’s also a friendly one, which has been the key to the Trident 660’s success.
Power is delivered smoothly low down, isn’t overwhelming or hard to control up top and the ride-by-wire throttle is light and accurate. At 70mph it purrs along at 6000rpm.
Fuel tank capacity is up from 14 to 17.2 litres. We get an indicated 51mpg during our spirited day’s riding at the Tiger’s world launch in the hills of southern Portugal (a theoretical full-to-dry range of 193 miles), with the reserve light coming on at 160 miles.
We can’t start talking about Triumph’s new Tiger Sport 660 without first tipping our hat to its naked sibling: the Trident 660. One of the big success stories of 2021, not only is it a great value, top quality roadster with a cool badge slapped on the tank, but it’s also one that’s as appealing to newbies as the experienced, which is quite a trick.
Triumph have taken that winning formula to create the Tiger Sport 660 and it’s every bit as impressive. You could call it a tall rounder, or a sports adventure, but in many ways it’s the half-faired Street Triple we always wish they’d made, but never did.
It’s spacious, comfortable, agile and easy to manage, but can be genuinely sporty, too, with a front end that fills you with confidence, tyres that grip beautifully in all conditions and powerful brakes. That’s all on top of a tuneful three-cylinder engine that’s never short of grunt or excitement but still friendly when you need it to be.
It’s such a complete, well-built, affordable, creation that cruise control suddenly seems a glaring omission for a bike designed to do big miles, but it’s a small blip in a sea of brilliance.
New bars are wider, higher and closer to the rider than the Trident’s and the pegs are lower. It’s a deliciously comfy and spacious riding position that works perfectly for big-mile riding, despite the Tiger’s mid-sized layout. It’s slim, well balanced, easy to manage and taller riders will love the legroom.
Its seven way manually adjustable screen is easy to jiggle with one hand on the move and effective, but like all tall road bikes, windblast can be noisy at speed.
Steel rather than aluminium is used for the frame and (longer) swingarm to keep costs down, but no matter because the Tiger Sport 660 is still light and agile. Its 30mm longer-travel upside down Showa forks (with a 1.5-degree steeper rake and 10mm less trail) and shock are basic, but they’re perfectly set to give the best mix of ride quality, cornering control and stability.
The Triumph doesn’t just handle well for an affordable all-rounder, it flows through corners with the poise of some of the best out there, with a similar feel to one of the most unlikely of great handling road bikes: Honda’s CB500X.
It has huge grip, a tactile front end and despite having low, knee-friendly pegs, we never get them scraping. Twin piston Nissin calipers are basic, but like everything with the Tiger belie their simplicity. Strong and consistent, they’re packed with feel despite its ABS
It works so seamlessly as a sporty, easy to ride, all-rounder, you wonder why it’s taken them this long to make it…and just how great a Street or Speed Triple version would be.
The Tiger Sport’s 80bhp three-cylinder motor is identical to the Trident’s – itself a rework of their fantastic old Daytona 675 lump, with a shorter stroke and a bucket load of new components, including lower first to fourth gear ratios and higher fifth/sixth. Valve check intervals are at a generous 10,000 miles and a 46bhp A2 licence restriction kit is also available.
Its beating supersport heart and raspy soundtrack remains intact, so the Tiger is revvy, exciting and never short of grunt when you need it, almost regardless of the gear. It’s a sporty engine that’s livelier than its rivals, but crucially it’s also a friendly one, which has been the key to the Trident 660’s success.
Power is delivered smoothly low down, isn’t overwhelming or hard to control up top and the ride-by-wire throttle is light and accurate. At 70mph it purrs along at 6000rpm.
Fuel tank capacity is up from 14 to 17.2 litres. We get an indicated 51mpg during our spirited day’s riding at the Tiger’s world launch in the hills of southern Portugal (a theoretical full-to-dry range of 193 miles), with the reserve light coming on at 160 miles.
- weeksy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23443
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
- Has thanked: 5457 times
- Been thanked: 13103 times
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
Dunno mate I've not read it... i just try and keep us on bike stuff... but i don't always read things i post
-
- Posts: 1801
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2020 8:52 pm
- Has thanked: 498 times
- Been thanked: 650 times
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
Looks like one of them Frazers.
To a kid looking up to me, life ain't nothing but bitches and money.
- Count Steer
- Posts: 11848
- Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
- Has thanked: 6383 times
- Been thanked: 4775 times
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
If it's as good as the review says, that's a rather nice package.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
-
- Posts: 4096
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
- Has thanked: 2636 times
- Been thanked: 1523 times
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
Looks even more like an XJ6.
How reliable is the motor? There were shed loads of 675s around at one time - they all seem to have vanished. My buddy's Tiger 800 was puffing oil smoke at 30k despite being serviced on the dot, so he chopped it.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
- G.P
- Posts: 1944
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 9:12 pm
- Location: Wiltshire
- Has thanked: 2029 times
- Been thanked: 1310 times
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
What's not to like and £8.5k seems pretty good. 80bhp is enough grunt and with a decent range it looks like a really good commuter / do it all.
I've got a 10 yrs old 800 Tiger with 53k miles on it that rides as nicely as when I first got it so don't have the need though
I've got a 10 yrs old 800 Tiger with 53k miles on it that rides as nicely as when I first got it so don't have the need though
-
- Posts: 11236
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
- Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
- Has thanked: 607 times
- Been thanked: 4127 times
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
It's okay, bit expensive at £8.5K (that'll end up at £9K with OTR costs), it'd be nicer if it were a bit sportier, ie; lower screen and loose the grey plastic round the radiator.
I seriously looked at buying a Trident this year, but I thought it was over priced for the spec of bike, but I think this is the case with all Triumphs.
I seriously looked at buying a Trident this year, but I thought it was over priced for the spec of bike, but I think this is the case with all Triumphs.
Honda Owner
-
- Posts: 5006
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:39 pm
- Has thanked: 4369 times
- Been thanked: 2856 times
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
Price will be key I think. Tracer 700's can be had for £7k so the Trumpet would have to be a fair bit better to be worth £1500+ more.Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 1:52 pm It's okay, bit expensive at £8.5K (that'll end up at £9K with OTR costs), it'd be nicer if it were a bit sportier, ie; lower screen and loose the grey plastic round the radiator.
I seriously looked at buying a Trident this year, but I thought it was over priced for the spec of bike, but I think this is the case with all Triumphs.
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
I'd suggest that the motor reliability is as good as you'll get from any manufacturer, and probably better than most.The Spin Doctor wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 1:16 pmLooks even more like an XJ6.
How reliable is the motor? There were shed loads of 675s around at one time - they all seem to have vanished. My buddy's Tiger 800 was puffing oil smoke at 30k despite being serviced on the dot, so he chopped it.
If you consider that it is already used in all of the street triples and Tigers with only minor variation of capacity and tune, and you don't hear of many failures. Mines on 60k and has routinely used a drop of oil which hasn't got worse since 20k miles (I keep a spreadsheet of all the oil I've put in it because I was worried it was getting worse).
The downside is probably the cost of servicing, triumphs are expensive at a dealer because triumph dictate the hourly rate (or they certainly did a few years ago)
If /when I get round to changing mine, I'll certainly have a look at these
-
- Posts: 11236
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
- Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
- Has thanked: 607 times
- Been thanked: 4127 times
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
I think my thinking was along those lines, that an MT07 is considerably cheaper than a Trident, in the end I didn't buy either as the GSXS I bought suits my taste better.Supermofo wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 2:51 pmPrice will be key I think. Tracer 700's can be had for £7k so the Trumpet would have to be a fair bit better to be worth £1500+ more.Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 1:52 pm It's okay, bit expensive at £8.5K (that'll end up at £9K with OTR costs), it'd be nicer if it were a bit sportier, ie; lower screen and loose the grey plastic round the radiator.
I seriously looked at buying a Trident this year, but I thought it was over priced for the spec of bike, but I think this is the case with all Triumphs.
Honda Owner
-
- Posts: 5006
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:39 pm
- Has thanked: 4369 times
- Been thanked: 2856 times
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
The GSXS is probably a class above from what I've seen/read. More MT09/Z9 than MT07/Trident. They have a significant advantage on weight but from tests the GSXS handles better, has more power and speed.Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 3:03 pm I think my thinking was along those lines, that an MT07 is considerably cheaper than a Trident, in the end I didn't buy either as the GSXS I bought suits my taste better.
-
- Posts: 11236
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
- Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
- Has thanked: 607 times
- Been thanked: 4127 times
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
My GSXS seems to be about as fast as an MT09, though I think I have to rev it more to get that power, which suits me. I think I'd find the MT07 a bit wheezy, the Trident would have been fine power wise, but it's too much money for it's spec, but the GSXS may have been under priced because Suzuki UK have dropped it for 2022, so they may no longer be able to sell it at £7-8K, and who would buy one at £9K?Supermofo wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 3:13 pmThe GSXS is probably a class above from what I've seen/read. More MT09/Z9 than MT07/Trident. They have a significant advantage on weight but from tests the GSXS handles better, has more power and speed.Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 3:03 pm I think my thinking was along those lines, that an MT07 is considerably cheaper than a Trident, in the end I didn't buy either as the GSXS I bought suits my taste better.
Honda Owner
Re: MCN Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (2022 - on) Review
I'd quite like to try it to see how it feels compared to my Trident. Prefer the rear plate hanger over the swingarm type on the Trident.
Yamaha MT09 SP