Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1533137
P134 RIDE REVIEW I TRIUMPH TIGER SPORT 800 It's all too easy to assume the new Tiger Sport 800 is a Tiger 660 with a current engine plucked from stock and shoehorned into the smaller bike's chassis. It is, in fact, a new model and concept from Triumph with an entirely new 798cc triple, which I'm sure we will see in other models to come. The chassis is similar to the 660's and shares the same swingarm, but the frame has been modified to accommodate a larger airbox and three separate intakes rather than the single intake of the 660. Showa suspension specific to this model gets compression and rebound damp - ing adjusters on the front (in separate fork legs) and easy access preload and rebound adjustment on the rear. Yes, the brakes are shared with the new Speed Twin 1200, and I'm sure other cycle parts hail from other models, but the blend of a sporty 17-inch front rim, instead of the conventional 19-incher found on the 850 Sport and 900 GT Sport, and adventure styling and ergonomics gives the 800 a new and subtly sporting attitude. Where does it sit in the market? In my mind, it's probably picking a fight with the sporty and fun KTM 890 SMT and Yamaha's all-round Tracer 900 rather than more conventional adventure bikes like BMW's F900GS and Ducati's new Multistrada V2. Southern Portugal blessed us with some bright and sometimes warm weather, the per - fect conditions to give the new Tiger a thorough test. In the early morning sunlight, the new Tiger looks purposeful on those smaller rims, al- though the Cosmic Yellow paint will cost a little more. It's a good-looking bike and, even if you remove the badges, clearly a Triumph. You could argue that the TFT dash and switchgear are a little basic by 2025 stan- dards, especially when you look across to pricier competition from Ducati and their high- tech new Multistrada V2. And are three riding modes enough these days? My view is that the 800 may lack some electronic depth and sophistication but also that Triumph might just have delivered exactly what the electronically bamboozled customers want. With a leg thrown over the non-adjustable 32.7 -inch-high seat, the view is neat and simple (Right) Despite the adventure-bike looks, the Tiger Sport sits on road- focused 17-inch diameter wheels, which are the same as those on the Tiger Sport 660. (Below left) An all-new 798cc, liquid-cooled inline triple, as you would expect from Triumph. (Below middle) At the rear, there's a single shock with adjustable rebound damping and an easy access preload adjuster. (Below right) Showa controls the suspension at both ends: 41mm inverted forks with no preload adjustment but compression and rebound damping in separate fork legs are featured up front.