One month with… Triumph Tiger Sport 660 (Verdict)

While its modern classics and sporty nakeds perhaps pluck the heartstrings a little harder Triumph’s sprawling Tiger range is arguably the bedrock on which the brand is built, and stretches all the way up to the R 1300 GS and Mutlistrada V4-rivalling 1200 in its various forms. This Tiger Sport 660 is the other end of the spectrum, with a price starting just under nine grand and option to run in restricted A2 licence for younger riders wanting a taste of the fun. Clue in the name but this Tiger Sport 660 and its new Tiger Sport 800 equivalent differ from the more adventure-focused 900 and 1200 by virtue of road-biased 17-inch wheels front and back and a sportier character equally applicable to commuting and touring as it is just getting out for a blast. Updated for 2025 with new rider tech like the Trident 660 on which it is based, this Tiger Sport 660 could be all the bike anyone really needs. A theory we’ll be testing over the course of a month and as many miles as we can cram in!
Skip to: Month 1 – Who you calling baby Tiger? Month 2 – Fit for purpose

Enthusiastic 40-something mid-life crisis rider new to motorcycles and keen to make up for lost time by riding as many as possible now I’ve got my full licence! Living up north means I’ve got great roads to enjoy them on, but I’ve also switched to a bike for commuting over the tops to Manchester for the savings in time and parking costs. Still trying to figure out what kind of motorcyclist I actually am!

Dan says: “The combination of long-travel suspension with the sportier wheel sizing also seems to be a best of both worlds mix”

My experience with the Triumph Tiger is a bit topsy turvy (literally) for the fact the first one I rode was the top of the range 1200 Rally Pro. Which I promptly fell off while trying to navigate a treacherous bit of waterlogged trail on the Triumph Adventure Experience. To be fair I wasn’t the only one, and neither bike nor rider were worse for it. I’m hoping for a slightly less dramatic start to this Tiger Sport 660 test, the fact it’s arrived just in time for the summer riding season meaning less risk of falling into any big puddles. All being well. Fair to say, while it shares the Tiger name the Sport isn’t an off-road like its big brother either, the fact they all use three-cylinder engines really the only common theme throughout the whole range. That and all-round versatility, the combination of a comfortable, relatively upright riding position, plenty of suspension travel and – as supplied –a three-piece luggage set meaning the Tiger is fit for pretty much anything. The latter adds £1,595 to the £8,995 price of the 660 as a package including the comfort seat, or you can buy them individually as required. I’m a bit of a tart and don’t like the look of top boxes so will see how I get on with just panniers for now, though they may be a limitation for filtering on the commute. Removal and fitting takes just seconds, though, the neat sockets on the rear bodywork meaning no ugly mountings when not in use. A pity they feel a bit cheap and plasticky but I’m sure they’ll prove useful. As detailed in our review, the 2025 Tiger Sport 660 gets a big upgrade to its electronics, with cornering ABS/traction control, cruise and a quickshifter all now included as standard. Which is as attractive for a noob rider like myself as it is more experienced ones looking to match the bike’s sense of versatility with modern conveniences. A decent 17-litre tank should mean plenty of distance between fill-ups as well. First impressions from a quick shakedown ride along the local moorland roads suggest the Tiger Sport 660 is a nice size, being big enough to feel grown-up but also easy to ride and less physically intimidating than the 1200 I rode previously. The combination of long-travel suspension with the sportier wheel sizing also seems to be a best of both worlds mix of adventure bike comfort with sharper handling, the brakes, throttle and suspension all calibrated with typical Triumph polish while the engine has a lovely mix of low-end grunt and top-end revviness. Time to get some miles in! Back to top

Dan says: “The Tiger Sport 660 feels chuckably low-slung without losing that comfort you want out of a dail”

Life and – whisper it – some slightly snazzier distractions meant I wasn’t able to put quite as many miles in with the 660 as I’d hoped. Something I’ll be more than making up for with its replacement. But more on that in due course. In workhorse capacity as a commuting tool and support vehicle for photoshoots with other bikes the Tiger Sport 660 has been absolutely in its element, though. Sensible as it would have been I couldn’t bring myself to put the topbox on it, though, for the fact it’s absolutely gigantic and hangs miles off the back of the bike. For the fact it would more than have swallowed my lock and emergency waterproofs for the commute and helmet and boots once parked up without compromising my ability to filter I should have just swallowed my pride. But I much preferred the clean configuration, and just stuck with the usual rucksack. The 660 was perfectly suited to my unusual commute, given it combines a bit of town riding, a quick but lovely blast over the moors on scenic but somewhat lumpy roads, a couple of junctions of motorway and then some low-speed wobbling through traffic. Sportier feeling and more nimble than an adventure bike like the Voge DS900X I was running previously, the Tiger Sport 660 feels chuckably low-slung without losing that comfort you want out of a daily. Relatively compact dimensions also make it confidence inspiring for someone still relatively new to bikes. Out on those moorland roads where there’s space to really rev the triple out the engine really shows its class as well, while the suspension travel has a little in reserve for the really nasty dips and compressions. There’s not a whole lot of adjustment but Triumph knows how to set a bike up and the balance between float and control felt bang-on to my uneducated backside! Any complaints? It’s not been a problem over the time I had the bike but a commuter-friendly machine like this should have heated grips as standard, I think. I’m not so fussy about such things but a few observers have mentioned the part-LCD, part TFT display is also a little old-fashioned compared to the bigger screens on many rivals. But, frankly, riding a bike for me is about an escape from screen time. So, the fact it’s basic feels like a plus, ditto that the controls and menus are simple to use on the move. If I’m being fussy I’d say even within the month I’ve had it I’ve realised the limitations of the 660cc motor, even when ridden solo with nothing more than a day bag on my back. The engine is great but if you’re going further, faster and with more kit (or people) aboard I can’t help thinking a little more go would be nice. Something the 660’s replacement will hopefully address. But that’s a whole different story! Back to top