Triumph Motorcycles has unveiled a new Tiger model targetted at bringing the premium British brand into the hands of more riders, but the new Tiger 850 Sport won't be coming to New Zealand at this stage.
While Triumph Motorcycles has continued to show it is shifting focus to be a more accessible brand with additional models now becoming available in European A2 licence specification, Triumph Motorcycles New Zealand has confirmed that the latest bike to join this growing list, the Tiger 850 Sport, will not be making its way to our shores.
Announced overnight by Triumph Motorcycles UK, the Tiger 850 Sport will be offered in Europe in two specifications including a de-tuned A2 licence spec for learner riders.
Backed by the same comprehensive technology package as the Tiger 900 models, the Tiger 850 Sport will come with a 5-inch TFT display allowing the rider to easily navigate between the multiple rider modes and ABS and traction control settings.
Handling is taken care of thanks to high-spec Brembo Stylema brakes combined with Marzocchi upside-down cartridge forks and gas pressurised, preload-adjustable RSU.
However, Triumph Motorcycles NZ has no plans to bring the bike into the New Zealand market at this time. That is due to our licencing laws including a cubic capacity cap of 660cc, which even if in low power A2 spec the Tiger 850 fits under our 150kW per tonne limit the engine size of 888cc doesn't fit into our market.
It's an understandable move by Triumph Motorcycles NZ. We've previously seen other premium manufacturers bring in slightly de-tuned versions of popular offerings – such as the Indian Scout Sixty – only to see those models quickly removed from the market due to poor sales.
Instead of diluting their already strong offerings in the Triumph Tiger range with the less powerful 850 Sport, Triumph Motorcycles New Zealand offers the base Tiger 900 at a price of $19,990, the touring focussed Tiger 900 GT at $23,290, with the Tiger 900 range topping out with the off-road capable Tiger 900 Rally at $24,490.