The Triumph Tiger Sport 660 is the brand’s new middleweight contender

The Tiger Sport 660 has clean, sporty lines that make you want to ride pronto. PHOTO FROM TRIUMPH

When Triumph unveiled its entry-level Trident 660 late last year—a machine that has been quickly eating up market share in the middleweight naked category—it was only a matter of time before its excellent 660cc motor would find its way into an “adventure” bike. Torquey and burbly at low to midrange rpm, and with a nice snarl as you revved it higher, it’s a unit that begs for longer trips than you’d be comfy with on the Trident.

The sculpted fairing and the large windscreen suggest a turbulence-free ride. PHOTOS FROM TRIUMPH

That new motorcycle is the Tiger Sport 660, a sport touring bike that looks to be clearly targeting popular middleweights like the Kawasaki Versys 650 and the Suzuki V-Strom 650. The Tiger Sport wears a sculpted half fairing with a sizable windscreen, raised handlebars, and a long, two-step seat—all hallmarks of a road muncher.

The engine is the same water-cooled three-cylinder 660cc mill that gives the Trident so much pep with 80hp and 63.7Nm. It’s paired to a six-speed transmission with a slipper clutch. The suspension is provided by Showa, with a non-adjustable inverted fork and a preload-adjustable rear shock.

We knew the 660cc triple was too good not to use in a touring bike. PHOTO FROM TRIUMPH

Seat height of 835mm should please most riders of average height, while the 17L tank (3L more than the Trident’s) gives it more usable range between fill-ups. The 17-inch tires on cast alloy wheels will keep Tiger Sport riders firmly on tarmac (save for the occasional dirt segments). The braking system from Nissin consists of a twin-disc front and single-disc rear setup with ABS. We wonder if a more off-road oriented “Rally” version is also in the plans.

The instrument display doesn't look as posh as the Tiger 900’s, but it’ll do. PHOTOS FROM TRIUMPH

The Tiger Sport’s windscreen is height-adjustable and can be varied while riding, while the engine has two ride maps (“Road” and “Rain”) as well as traction control. Further setting the Tiger Sport apart from the roadster is a larger TFT dash for the tachometer, speed, fuel level, gear indicator, and clock. An optional My Triumph connectivity system enables turn-by-turn navigation and phone/GoPro control. A wide range of accessories is also available, including top boxes and panniers. The curb weight of 206kg is well within the reasonable range for this category.

Triumph Motorcycles Philippines has priced the Tiger Sport 660 at P550,000, and the first units will arrive next January.