Triumph Tiger Sport 660 Unveiled, India Launch Next Year

The Tiger Sport 660 is Triumph’s smallest ADV, and it will compete with the Kawasaki Versys 650 and Honda CB500X

[Update: Triumph has launched the Tiger Sport 660 in India at Rs 8.95 lakh (ex-showroom pan India). Read our launch story for all the details.]

• The Triumph Tiger Sport 660 is based on the Trident 660 but features several changes, making it a proper road-biased ADV.
• Triumph will launch the bike in India early next year.
• It will likely command a premium of around Rs 1 lakh over the Trident 660.

Triumph has unveiled its smallest ADV, the Triumph Tiger Sport 660, globally. The motorcycle will be launched in the UK in January next year at GBP 8,450. Expect the British bike maker to introduce the bike in India in the following month, possibly at around Rs 8 lakh (ex-showroom), considering the delta between the UK-spec Triumph Trident 660 and the upcoming ADV is a shade over a lakh rupees.  

The Triumph Tiger Sport 660 has the same engine as the Trident 660, that too in the same state of tune (81PS at 10,250rpm, 64Nm at 6250rpm). It works in conjunction with a six-speed gearbox with an assist and slipper clutch. To keep the rubber side down, there are two riding modes: Road and Rain, switchable traction control, and dual-channel ABS -- all standard.

The engine sits inside the same tubular steel perimeter frame as the Trident 660, but the subframe is different, and the swingarm has been extended to handle the added weight and luggage. There are also some minor steering geometry changes to suit the mile-munching character of the motorcycle. 

• BREAKING: 2021 Triumph Speed Twin Launched In India
• Bajaj-Triumph Project Delayed Yet Again
• Triumph Bonneville Bobber: Photo Gallery

The bike is suspended on a 41mm Showa separate function cartridge inverted front fork with a decent 150mm of travel and a Showa rear monoshock with remote preload adjustment and 150mm wheel travel. Braking power is courtesy of the twin 310mm discs with Nissin sliding calipers up front and a 255mm disc with Nissin caliper at the rear. For optimum performance on the road, the 17-inch alloy wheels (at both ends) are shod with Michelin Road 5 rubber.  

The Triumph Tiger Sport 660 looks radically different from the Tiger 850 Sport or the Tiger 900 range. It isn’t a bad thing as this gives the Tiger Sport 660 its unique identity. The twin LED headlamps look pretty sleek, reminding us of the older-generation Daytona 675. Up top, you get a tool-less height adjustable windscreen, and the LED indicators flank the lower sides. The tank extensions accentuate the bike’s beefy demeanour. The rear looks more or less similar to the Trident 660, but gets a conventional number plate holder instead of the tyre-hugging unit in the naked. It also gets neatly integrated pannier mounts and large split-grab handles for added practicality. 

For optimum touring range, you get a massive 17.2-litre fuel tank, 3.2 litres bigger than the Trident 660. The wide, easy-to-reach single-piece handlebar (40mm wider than the Trident’s) is complemented by a 835mm (30mm taller) seat. There’s also a 25mm lower seat available as an option. To give you a perspective, the Royal Enfield Himalayan gets a 800mm tall seat. The motorcycle tips the scales at 206kg kerb, 17kg more than the Trident 660.

As expected from a Triumph motorcycle, the Tiger Sport 660 is loaded to the brim with practical, geeky features. There’s a TFT-LCD combo instrument cluster with an optional My Triumph connectivity system (enabling turn-by-turn navigation, among others), an immobiliser, and four-directional buttons on the left switchgear. 

All in all, the Tiger Sport 660 seems to be well-equipped for enthusiasts looking for a feature-packed entry-level middleweight ADV. The only other road-biased ADV alternative is the Kawasaki Versys 650. You also have the Honda CB500X in a slightly lower displacement segment. But if you’re looking for a proper adventure tourer that can handle rough terrain, then the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT is the one to go for.