Sport-touring bikes have always held a special place in my heart. They offer similar comfort as an adventure-touring motorcycle, oftentimes with the power of a roadster or even a sportbike. It’s somewhat like getting the best of both worlds.
The Tiger Sport 660 from British brand Triumph is one of those, and it’s a bike I’ve always had a liking for. It’s got the looks, the power (on paper), and that three-cylinder hum altogether in a not-too-expensive package. That’s why when I found out Triumph Motorcycles Philippines had a demo unit, I just had to try it out.
After riding the bike for a full weekend, here are my thoughts on it.
OTHER BIKE REVIEWS:
Review: 2024 BMW F900 XR
Review: 2024 Aprilia Tuono 660
Styling
Triumph has its retro design game on point, but that doesn’t mean retro is the only thing it’s good at—the Tiger Sport 660 is proof of that. What I like about it is that even if it sits outside of the classics department, it doesn’t have the hyper-aggressive look of the Speed Triple nor does it look as tame as the Trident. It does borrow the split-headlight execution, which is pretty neat.
Like the sport tourer that it is, its styling has that good balance of a sporty two-wheeler and a comfortable, road-focused big bike. It’s rather sleek, and it looks just sharp enough for my liking.
The saddle
The Tiger Sport 660 stands a bit tall, but the seat is friendlier than it looks. It’s at 835mm, and even if the seat itself is a bit wide, it’s no problem for a 5’5” guy like me to straddle. And that’s even when it weighs 206kg wet.
Having a wide seat has its perks, of course, such as plenty of cushioning for my wide behind. The material itself is soft as well. Had Triumph scrimped on this with cheaper material and a narrower design, I reckon it would’ve cost a lot in terms of comfort.
The pillion seat despite its slightly sportier stance feels comfy, too, and one might argue that it’s a bit better than the rider’s actual seat. It’s wider and features the same soft material, and that paired with the properly positioned rear footpegs makes for a very comfy ride.
Engine performance
Perhaps my favorite bit about the Tiger Sport 660 is its engine. That’s the 660cc liquid-cooled, three-cylinder petrol powerplant we’re talking about that puts out a screaming 80hp at 10,250rpm and 64Nm of torque at 6,250rpm. Even with the stock exhaust, the bike hums beautifully thanks to that triple.
The sad part about my test ride was that the unit I borrowed was very fresh out of the box with less than 100km on it and was still in its break-in period. The bike wants to live at high RPMs, but the settings kept asking me to shift very early in the rev range which was, I reckon, what the manual also suggested. After I got more kilometers in, that shift indicator adjusted, but it still wouldn’t let me go up to 10k rpm. Not only that, but I could also feel the harshness and the vibrations of the engine that I’m sure would’ve been gone after the first oil change. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed, but I’m cutting the bike some slack knowing the circumstances.
All that being said, I could still easily feel that it’s quite a lively engine. It may not have accelerated as smoothly as I had hoped it to, but I could feel all the raw power and torque in that mill. It’s performance you’d be hard-pressed to find in other similarly sized engines.
Fuel consumption was a bit worse than I expected, though, at just 19-20km/L combined. Again, I’m sure the first PMS would be a game-changer for the unit I tested.
Ride and handling
The Triumph Tiger Sport 660 is a bona fide sport tourer through and through. It feels nimble through corners and leans with ease. It’s actually more agile than it looks, so twisties are a joy to ride through.
Long, open stretches are also as comfortable as it gets. With an upright riding position, you won’t feel that much fatigue after hours on the Tiger Sport’s saddle. It also doesn’t feel like you’re on a 200kg steed at all when you’re on the road with this. And despite that weight, it still stops rather quickly, with much help from those large, dual-disc brakes up front and the single-disc brake at the back.
You will feel the weight when you’re stuck in Metro Manila traffic, though, especially if you’re slightly vertically challenged. As mentioned, it’s a bit high, so it can be a chore to keep it upright in the middle of standstill traffic. Also worth noting is that the clutch can be unforgiving, so you’d really want to avoid heavy traffic as much as possible.
Riding in the city, however, isn’t something I’d advise against. While I’d still rather use a scooter in the metro than a big bike (not to mention one with a stiff clutch lever), the Tiger Sport 660 has a decent ride that makes riding around the capital comfier than you’d think. You’d still have to avoid sizeable potholes, of course, but typical road imperfections are dealt with hassle-free. Pushing the bike around and parking it isn’t too much of a chore, either, so it could really work as a daily rider.
Extra features
Unlike some of Triumph’s classic bikes, the Tiger Sport 660 comes with a fully digital instrument cluster with all the information you’ll ever need on a ride. The rev gauge, speedometer, fuel consumption and range info, and gear indicator are all available through the highly visible screen.
The digital panel can also be navigated using buttons on the left-hand side of the handlebar. Here, you’ll also find the ride-mode selector and the passing light. Oddly enough, you don’t get an adjuster for the clutch lever but you do get one for the brake lever as standard. My clutch woes would’ve been slightly lessened had they opted to give both levers the same treatment. Dual-channel ABS comes as standard here, though, so that’s good.
The windshield up front comes as standard, The bike comes ready for side pannier and top box attachments for that full tourer build, but mounting kits are sold separately.
Verdict
The Tiger Sport 660 is easily the most affordable offering in the stable. It’s not exactly cheap at P566,000, but that’s still far more attainable than the classic and the bigger Triumphs that hover around the P1 million mark. But does being relatively affordable mean it’s worth all that money?
It’s a strong yes for me.If you gravitate towards big bikes with that comfy upright riding position but you want some sportiness to go along with it, then this might be the bike you’re looking for. It may not offer as much as what, say, a Tiger 1200 brings to the table, but it’s a well-balanced package that also isn’t too much for most riders. It’s not intimidating, it’s got decent power, and most important, it won’t break the bank.
SPECS: Triumph Tiger Sport 660 2024
Price: P566,000
Engine: 660cc oil-cooled, three-cylinder
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Power: 80hp @ 10,250rpm
Torque: 64Nm @ 6,250rpm
Wet weight: 206kg
Seat height: 835mm (32.8 inches)
Fuel-tank capacity: 17.2 liters
Score: 9/10
More photos of the Triumph Tiger Sport 660 2024:
