When it comes to gendering, the motorcycle world has always been consistent.
Male, female - one is progressive in such matters, says, for example, not the tiger or the tigress, but the tiger.
Linguistically, all machines, even the most masculine, are feminized.
The Bandit, the Road King, beautiful tradition.
Therefore we state here in the correct usage: The little Tiger is new in the range of the English manufacturer Triumph.
Walter Wille
"Technology and Motor" editorial team
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Small tigers because Triumph also offers larger tigers up to the maxi travel enduro Tiger 1200, in a sense the king tiger.
The new version will be launched on the market in spring.
Until then, all the attention will be given to the Tiger Sport 660. It deserves it, the little one will make it big.
At least that's our impression after the first 220-kilometer lap.
With the Tiger Sport 660, Triumph is entering an area that is not squeamish.
The customers ask a lot and want to pay little.
The battle for market share is first and foremost about prices.
8700 euros plus additional costs are a scream.
So you can show up in the segment of mid-range SUV machines, for which the term adventure sports has become common.
The adventure begins with getting bread rolls and commuting. The short after-work lap, the weekend trip, the long haul on vacation are also part of the spectrum of demands that such multi-purpose vehicles have to meet. Transport capacities, an upright sitting posture with a good overview and generous suspension travel - in the case of the Tiger front and rear 150 millimeters - are features taken from the travel enduro segment, but off-road capabilities are not an issue. It's all about the road.
And just about the budget. Triumph as a newcomer between established offers such as Kawasaki Versys 650, Yamaha Tracer 7, Honda NC 750 X or Suzuki V-Strom 650 positions itself in a purposeful way. The British claim that the Tiger Sport 660 causes the lowest operating and workshop costs compared to its competitors, refer to its 16,000-kilometer service interval, a four-year guarantee and the standard consumption of 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers.
Fortunately, the Tiger Sport doesn't look like thrift at all. Triumph relies on a dashing, not too cheeky sight, trumps with a level of workmanship and equipment that stands out from the ordinary, apparently deliberately dispenses with margin with this model in order to be able to rank first in the pecking order. Manufacturing in Thailand should be helpful. In addition to the fine finish, there are many things on the motorcycle that go beyond what is taken for granted in this class: two available driving modes with effects on throttle response and traction control, practical strut adjustment via hydraulic handwheel, height-adjustable windshield with one-hand operation, pretty TFT screen without confusing fuss, smartphone connectivity, self-resetting turn signals with convenience function,Brackets inconspicuously integrated into the rear for optionally available side cases. One helmet each fits in there, and the top case, which is also available, even swallows two.
With a maximum output of 81 hp at 10,250 rpm, the new Tiger is right at the top of the class, delivering up to 64 Nm of torque and a thrust that increases with increasing speed from gentle to grumpy to loud, always even and predictable. The three-cylinder, identical to that of the also still young middle-class roadster Trident, is the only triple among all twins in this segment. In order to adapt to the A2 driving license, it can be throttled, which is less of an interest to the old hands than to the young beginners in the broad target group.
The one and the other, tall and short, male and female, find good conditions for quick acclimatization. We seldom met a motorcycle on which you immediately felt as comfortable as on this Triumph. From the moment the bottom of the pants touches the seat pad, a fusion of man and machine with elements of telepathy begins. The tiger seems to suspect what you want from her, does not resist anything, loves winding streets where she purrs like a kitty. Staying on course, coupling, shifting, braking - everything is characterized by lightness and unexcited suppleness. 206 kilos with a full 17 liter tank is a moderate figure. The suspension provides a lot of comfort without letting the ride slide into a rocky shape.
So everything is fine?
Well, the windshield creates turbulence and noise no matter how you adjust it.
The info screen is placed a bit too far below the field of vision and does not show the ambient temperature either.
Triumph cannot offer a main stand, nor a charging connection in the cockpit.
There is a USB socket under the seat for an additional charge, but this is not a satisfactory solution.
A heated grip is charged extra, as is a shift assistant.
However, this is the only way to realize such a competitive price.
"People will be happy to pay it," said Miles Perkins, Hinckley's marketing strategist.
Some will even add 100 euros for the color red as an alternative to black and blue.