The covers have come off Triumphs latest sports tourer with the new Tiger Sport 660 set to add Triumph's iconic triple-cylinder soundtrack to the middleweight sports tourer segment.
Based around the same 660cc DOHC inline-3 as the Trident, the Tiger Sport 660 will also only be introduced into the New Zealand market as a LAMS spec bike. That means power figures of 56.3hp and 62Nm of torque rather than the 81hp and 64Nm of the full power machines overseas.
While pricing for the Tiger Sport 660 will be released closer to the time of launch, UK pricing is set at £8450 which would see the bike somewhere in the region of $15,000. For reference, the Trident 660 on which it is based rides off at $13,790.
That doesn't mean that the Tiger Sport 660 isn't an attractive package for experienced riders, however. Far from it in fact. With quality Nissin brakes, Showa suspension, a large 17-litre fuel tank with a claimed range of 380km plus the latest tech (with the option for a quick shifter built-in) the Tiger Sport 660 is a well-rounded option.
Triumph went as far as saying that they are targetting both the entry end of the market as well as those older riders who are downsizing to more manageable bikes to extend their riding careers. As such the Tiger Sport 660 caters to a wide range of potential riders with its well thought out base bike able to be loaded with practical accessories – including colour matched luggage.
The base bike tips the scales at 206kg wet and rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Road 5 tyres, features an adjustable windscreen, power modes (which for the NZ market have been specifically tuned for the LAMS spec bike) and phone connectivity to the TFT dash through Triumph's app. There's also built-in GoPro functionality like Triumph's other TFT equipped models.
Triumph has designed the Tiger Sport 660 to be an accomplished sports tourer from the get-go and as such it is capable of more than solo riding.
The suspension features USD Showa separate function forks up front, while the rear shock (also supplied by Showa) comes factory with a dual-rate spring and remote preload adjuster designed to maximise the bike's ability to flip between a solo jaunt or two-up touring.
Like the larger Tiger Sport, the 660 also features a one-piece twin-seat, with a shorty friendly height of 835mm.
Visually, the design of the Tiger 660 definitely slots between the two bikes Triumph is aiming to pinch sales from – those being the Kawasaki Versys 650 and the Yamaha Tracer 700 – though it does bear a family resemblance with the Tiger Sport 1050. Triumph wouldn't say whether the styling of the 660 Tiger is a sign of what we can expect from the next update to the 1050, but considering that bike's styling dates back to 2007 we wouldn't be surprised if the 1050 follows the 660's lead here.
When it comes to the ownership experience, Triumph claims that the Tiger Sport 660 is up to 30% more affordable than the Japanese bikes it's up against in terms of servicing costs. Oil changes, for example, are due at 16,000km or once a year, whichever comes first.
The Tiger Sport 660 will be available in three colour options when it arrives next year, with Lucerne Blue and Sapphire Black, Graphite and Saffire Black, and Korossi Red and Saffire Black being the options. Korossi Red will come at a slight premium according to Triumph.
While there are 40+ accessories listed for the Tiger Sport 660, an accessory exhaust pipe is not among them. Triumph says this is because the bike is tuned to achieve its best, but we are pretty sure that the lack of factory option pipe is also due to the tough Euro5 emissions the bike had to pass. There's also no centre stand which may come as a surprise for experienced tourers.