@@benkelly2190 You have a tenuous grasp on grammar for someone posting such comments. Hope you're enjoying the benefits of Brexit that you definitely voted for 😂
My wife and I did a 100-ish mile test ride on varied roads in Lincolnshire UK in October 23 and ordered one the next day. It arrived in March 24. Black with a few silver highlights, integrated panniers, rear rack, heated grips. It is a very easy bike to ride slowly, and I mean that in a good way: 10 mph to 30 mph in busy traffic, it just sits there and you don't have to hold it back or slip the clutch. Just a little bit snatchy in very slow traffic in 1st gear. For daily riding, 1st gear is very low, and the 6 gears are a bit close together. It will sit at 30 mph in 6th, which is the gear that takes you all the way up to the er.. legal limit. I have sometimes slowed down to 30 without changing gear, then lights have changed and I've had to do a quick 6,5,4,3,2,1, then accelerating away when the lights change, I need to fuss through the gears or rev it a bit more then do a double change up once I've hit my required speed. It's unintimidating to ride with or without pillion, but if you drop to 5th or even 4th you've got some exciting acceleration around 7,000 rpm. Otherwise, the bike is happy at anywhere from about 3,000 to 6,000 rpm. It's light and well balanced and steers easily. The screen is easily adjustable but I keep mine low or only 1 notch up, as any higher gives me too much wind noise. The rear shock is remote adjustable just by turning an easily accessible knob, so it's very easy to firm up if you take a pillion or heavy luggage. On the test ride, I found the digital display fussy, but once I had my own bike, I found the various options and now have a favourite display which is easy to read and uncluttered. Lights are very good for proper night riding on unlit country lanes. Nice touch is hazard lights and a parking light option. The heated grips are not as hot as Oxford grips, and the control button is small and is hard to operate with thick gloves, which is exactly when you are likely to need it! My only slight "disappointment" is the lack of engine noise. All my previous bikes have been singles or twins, my last two being Moto Guzzi V-twins. Compared to the friendly chug and grumble, and occasional "bad boy" bark of acceleration, of a twin, the Triumph triple has quite a bland engine note. However, the engine does its job with enthusiasm, and that's the main thing.
Great video Andy. I would have liked you to provide the regular service costs alongside the intervals, particularly the valve clearance service charge. For people on a budget this is very helpful to know 👍
Looks like a great addition to the range, good for people who find the larger Tiger or GS's too cumbersome. Great tourer for smaller people and new riders.
Picked up mine on Friday - added the quick shifter, hand guards and heated grips. So far (after only a weekend of riding) it’s very comfortable and just a great bike to ride. I’m really pleased with it. Will be used for commuting and touring. Another good video - thanks
Congrats on the new bike Mark. When you get a chance, can you advise what the real world mpg is. Important for us commuters especially with the rising fuel costs.
I absolutely love that bike! I don’t need one, but it looks very recommendable. As a Tiger 1050 owner it does indeed remind me of my bike. It funny whenever reviewers talk about its relative lack of power. When I first got in to motorcycles, back in the Seventies, the most powerful stock bike was a Kawasaki Z-1. The Tiger 660 has only two less horsepower and is only .4 of a second slower in the quarter mile.
Test rode the Tiger Sport 660 yesterday from the excellent Webbs of Lincoln and the Screen IS adjustable big plastic handgrip at bottom of screen pulls up or pushes down and you had it fully down position in your review, more about the screen in a minute. Agree with most of the review it’s a fantastic low speed handling bike, if I had ridden this for my mod 1 it would have been way easier weaving through cones doing U-turns etc. It’s amazingly manoeuvrable and feels astonishing light at low speed through town etc. the gearbox is a thing of joy snicking into gears with a beautiful precision and a light progressive clutch. It’s a soft ride which is fine for what this bikes aimed at but dives a lot with the front brake. Brakes are good but like the suspension I have test ridden better on 650s. Like you I did get the rear ABS to kick in despot riding on a dry sunny (but cold) day. I too though the rear brake was powerful which I think is why it kicked in. It was however subtle and didn’t upset the bike in any way. It’s a thoroughly good bike and it looks good too. There is a low seat option for Missenden ‘Short Arses’ which the bike I rode had on which is 820mm and felt quite hard but was comfy over a three hour ride. On the plus side the screen was easy to move up and down even on the move but on the minus side I was disappointed by the wind protection. Having ridden a CBR650R last week I thought the tiny race Style screen on the Honda, with a more forward body position granted, kept the wind off my body just as well and more importantly the air hitting me was a lot less turbulent and noisy. In fact the Hondas airflow was entirely smooth and as a result a lot quieter around the HJC helmet I currently have. I think I would find this fatiguing on a long ride. Atrociously raising the screen makes things much worse, the wind moves from hitting my shoulders and helmet (6ft tall) to hitting the helmet only but becomes even more turbulent. I can feel the screen shedding alternate vortices to left and right so it’s trying to wobble your head all the time and is even noisier around the Helmet! So an adjustable screen that has to spend its whole time down and doesn’t really do a great job of weather protection. I would look for something aftermarket (when available) to improve this which is disappointing as I would be buying a screen twice. A minor point it the plastic handle to move the screen looks pretty cheapo and I lol let’s the side down for a part that’s in your view the whole time your riding. While we’re on criticisms and this is a small one, I am not a fan of the soft touch indicators. Particularly in winter gloves I never knew if In hit it right and got the indicators on or off and always had to confirm on the dash which is a distraction you don’t need. What’s wrong with switchgear that clicks as it operates so you feel it work and don’t need to confirm by looking. I am sure i would get used to this fairly quickly and would be better in my leather summer gloves rather than bulkier winter waterproof ones so only a minor irritant there. Overall I enjoyed the bike a lot but I found it all a bit soft and slightly underwhelming. I know it’s a different type of bike (the reason i test rode them both to make up my mind) but the Triumph not only lacked the power of the Honda but failed to engage or excite me the way the Honda did. While it’s easy to ride especially at low speed and it’s good at high speeds i didn’t feel instantly at home and that I could feel exactly what was going on under me like I did on the Honda. Finally while the triple has a lovely rasp to the engine note low down I couldn’t hear it at all at motorway speeds due to wind noise and buffet and far from smooth there is a distinct vibration to the triple engine like but less thumping than a twin but nothing at all like the silky smooth CBR inline 4. The Triunphs ‘character’ might get wearing on a long ride. Low down the revs the Honda CBR650R was really muted but as it got into the higher revs where the big power lives the engine note gets better and better and the Honda is a way smoother unit at all speeds. All in all I like the triumph a lot and for those that want an easy to live with very easy to ride commuter it’s a great bike but for me the more intense and visceral Honda CBR650R will be getting my money. As an older first big bike on my European tour with my son this summer I may sometimes regret the odd aches and pains from the Hondas mildly sporty seating position but the smile it puts on my face will more than make up for it. My son (ex BSB racer) can also give me some instruction on track too where I am certain the Honda will be much more at ease than thenTiger Sport.
Been keeping an eye on this bike as a potential next option, and this sounds like a pretty glowing review for it, especially as a commuting option that can also do some fun weekend trips!
Definitely a rival to the wee strom, priced right in the middle of their range. I think Triumph are onto a winner with this, plus that engine is a sweetheart and has a bit more character to it than the dependable, but soul less linearity of the suzi. I think owning one of these for commuting on and for the odd weekend away would be a really easy decision to make.
Mine's on order, coming June (after umming and arring, went for the blue one) , with hand guards, USB charger and quick-shifter. Watched loads of positive reviews, and reassured to read that you have a high opinion of it!
I predict this will become Triumph’s best selling bike of the coming year. I was out in the snow and rain the other week on a Triumph Street Scrambler whilst my Tiger Explorer was in for it’s 10,000 mile service and MoT. I was grateful for the heated seat and grips on the way home. 🥶 Another great review Andy. Any chance of a slightly more in-depth review of the Daytona boots please. 😎
Good to hear your views, they sound really positive. I`ve got to book my Speed Twin in for a possible battery change, as it`s not been used all winter, and is now 3 years old, so when i do, i`l be taking one of these for a test ride. I tried it in the showroom when Destination Triumph did a launch evening for the all new Tiger 1200, and the 660 Sport arrived unexpectedly, so they put it together and had it on show, i could have tested it the following day, but had already made plans, so it will have to wait. I`m also looking forward to your long term test review too.
Thanks for the review! Get mine on the 25th March and really enjoyed the test ride. Been waiting for something like this to mainly use on longer days out and trips. Mine has low seat, belly pan, panniers with infills, Triumph Connect module, heated grips, handguards, quickshifter, fog lights ... thats about it I think. I think this would be a great bike for Canary Motorcycle Tours to have in their fleet as would be great for the variety of roads out there :)
Looks a great machine - I’ve mentioned before but I think all bikes should have cruise control and heated grips by default. Triumph could then standardise the controls across the trident and this. The cynic tells me triumph will add this in the “updates” next version..
Heated grips 🤣🤣 Real useful in most of Australia, Arizona, where I am now etc. I think all bikes should have a small fridge tucked under the seat to keep our drinks cool.
I really like that, I definitely think it's a nicer looking bike than the Trident. Those lights though, seems wrong to have the DRL's on at the same time as the low beam instead of one or the other. 🙂👍
A most excellent bike. Love the simplicity and lack of electronic devices and over complex switches. A real everyday bike. Another winner, I'm sure. A lot of my biking friends down in Portugal have this at the top of their wish list. Happy travels 👍 P.s Do it in the sun ,if offered! Schoolboy error,, and nothing to be ashamed of! Nice one
Andy, I left the real world for the life in the French Alps, 300 days of sunshine, local ski fields, endless twisty mountain roads ( no potholes) sometimes, riding on the right makes it easy to give a wave to other bikers. I do miss the rain but that won't get me back.
Sounds great Frank - I shall be there again soon for a ski trip (I was there 3 weeks ago for a week too) and next year I've rented a chalet for a month...can't wait - thinking of bringing a bike out too - where in the Alps are you???
Thanks for this. Your channel is one of the few places we can get one of these real-world reviews. I also love these do-it-all bikes. I started my road-bike career on one; we called them UJMs way back then. Thanks again.
Good review as always TMF. Nice to see someone telling us what it's like in 'Rain' mode. I'm collecting my Tiger Sport 660 tomorrow, I was a little worried about the rain mode being underpowered and intrusive, but not after watching you use it on the dual carriageway. Glad you like it. Take care, Adam
I wish Triumph would put their 1200 Speed Triple engine in a scaled up version of this. I like the Explorer but I’d like something that looks more road biased like this. Something like the S1000XR?
At least doing these reviews gets you out and about on the roads for that real world review. Always interesting, and yes, a nice little machine. All you need. 👍👍🏴🏴
Andy you’re making the decision of which Motorcycle to purchase as my first bike more difficult. This bike was not on my radar, but it is now . Great video Andy In challenging weather conditions.
Get mine next week Andy. Ordered it just after Christmas before any arrived in the country as I had a feeling it would be popular. Had a test ride a few weeks ago and wasn't disappointed. I opted for heated grips, connectivity, quick shifter and panniers. Dealer did a great deal and think it's great value for the dosh. Was going for a grey one but the dealer thought it was a matt finish. Turns out It's not, it's gloss. Didn't fancy matt so went for the same as this. The red is very striking with extra decals and has grey too so was a compromise but £100 more. The blue and grey bikes just have black lower bits. Thanks for posting.
Hey congrats mate - it's a fun machine, I went out on it yesterday in glorious weather and had a great time thrashing it around, light, agile, comfortable...great choice!
I noticed your comment about the Triumph Breitling bike on another channel. I know you make a point about not going to those press launches, respect to you sir !
I have a Speed Twin, which I love, but want a second bike for one-up touring so I’ve been looking at this Tiger Sport. I have watched all the reviews but yours has pretty much sold me. Your take on motorcycles is very similar to mine and I’ve found over the years that I agree with your assessments.
Bought mine last week to replace the tiger 900 gt pro…it’s way quicker on normal road conditions due to the 17” front wheel and smooth buzzy engine..quick shifter is an absolute must on this bike and transforms up shifting way better than the gt pro….have to say I also bought the lower seat not that I’m short at 5,11” just like the flatter feet and lower centre of gravity feel…also improves screen performance. Great all rounder and 60 mpg….gearing is a little short…easy pull always in second. Seemingly an easy bike to live with looking forward to a few more miles. 👍 good video cheers tmf.
Ouch - methinks 'our man in' just got a stiff email . . . shameful situation really, but considering how our home bike industry crumbled before Japanese efficiency half a century ago, it does have a somewhat delicious irony to it : )
@@soaruk3697 any actual facts? Strange that I have been riding them for over 20 years in Australia and the US with not one problem ever. Likewise a lot of my friends have done the same. What is extraordinary about your opinion is that whilst Harley, in particular, and lots of other manufacturers have seen the sales of their road bikes drop over the past decade Triumph continues to grow it's market. If you are correct, how is this happening? For example, I loved my Griso 1200 but it kept breaking down. I spent more fixing that bike than the total in repairs for every other bike I owned in over 40 years. I loved it, but would I buy another one. No way.
This is a great looking bike and an all year round 'do it all'. I'd be tempted by this so that my Street Triple stays in the garage for better weather. 😀
Always enjoy your honest and thorough posts. I was set on a Honda cb650r after watching your review of that but after seeing this one about the Tiger 660 sport and then researching it further my allegiance to the Honda is wavering.
Great video TMF, I hope we see many of these in the roads. I felt your pain when you were watching back the footage of explaining how good the dash is.... And you can't see it! The law of sod is alive and well! It is LCD by the way, you were right.
Great review, gives insights in daily riding, thinking of upgrading from my 2004 SV650N, as i love the look and style of this tiger 660, allround commuter and sporty riding all tick a box so will line up a test ride at the local dealer.. thx for great review even the trident whats it like to live with review gave me a good idea what the engine would be like
My profuse apologies I saw an over size banner, approx almost half the screen “courtesy” message (I almost wanted to spit) and I’m pretty sure that my memory is correct about this, it referred to the site in such a manner that instead of realising that it was a random TH-cam thing I mistakenly thought you had created it. Thanks very much for messaging me back, I realise now that as it hasn’t come up again and you obviously weren’t aware of it, that it was actually a heavy handed random product of the TH-cam pc thought police. I guess you can tell I haven’t watched Dr Who or the beeb in a while. Ps I forgot what I was going to say when I was originally going to comment, probably some old guy criticism about the mudguards, good on you for persevering on new tyres, brakes and bike in the wet.
I sat on the demonstrator at my local Triumph dealer (Hampshire), last Saturday of February, I think it was. He had one left on his books, in meh, sorry grey, until the next stock allocation in June. So that’s allocation, not even delivery. So yeah, a very apt review TMF - order one now in time for next winter! 😎 FWIW, I didn’t manage a test ride, but it did feel comfy, however, I can’t get past the cashpoint machine graphics around the dash warning lights 😆
Well done for choosing a real world situation to test the Tiger, though I’m missing your tour videos! Tiger looks and sounds nice with a very healthy power figure for the size. It could have ended up as a parts bin special but the design does look well thought out and as you say definitely echoes the old 1050 sport. I think the display is part negative LCD and part TFT, presumably for cost saving, but looked fine and again as you said, better than some recent Triumph TFT efforts! The only design feature I’m not quite sure about is the screen - to me the way it goes right down between the headlights looks a little odd, but it doesn’t make the bike unattractive. Finally, kudos to Triumph for supporting full luggage with integrated mounts - it reinforces its do-it-all image.
I've become a big fan of this & the Trident. The display with the phone connectivity & controls is very appealing as someone who likes practicality. My only wish is to have the Rear end of the Tiger with the Paniers & then the rest of the bike be the Trident to make the perfect Touring Naked bike minus a windsheld.
The windscreen should be adjustable -- you just pull it straight up (you can see the little track the bolt follows). There's lots to like. Great size and amount of power, love the integrated luggage rails, and looks great. Only wish it it had a bit better fuel mileage and more visible front lighting. We've been in need of more reasonable bikes and this hits a lot of marks and the price is right to boot. Having said that, I'm still getting the updated 500X for some light off-roading and much lower running costs. Only 2 weeks until riding season again here in Canada \o/
@@TheMissendenFlyer For me, it's usually when the roads are mostly clear of salt. Once it's consistently above 0C and there's been a good rain, good to go. Some people wait for the street sweepers to go round. Most riders here though only ride when it's a good +20C out and not raining. I'm always envious of your year-round riding, though that can be done in small parts of the west coast. Love the videos as always -- safe riding!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Oh that's just me looking at the 14-day forecast and it's looking like we'll be in good shape 😎 The weather predictions are never mistaken!
Thanks for a great "real world" review and your dedication to your trade. Good to see a review in the weather which we'll all have to ride in at times. Looks a great bike. I saw one in my local Triumph dealership recently and they look pretty good in the flesh. My only minor issue with the bike is that Triumph don't seem to offer a centre stand, even as an option in the extensive (and expensive) list of optional extras.
@@TheMissendenFlyer I think the issue is it sharing so much from the Trident (for cost reasons) the cat and exhaust sit exactly where the centre stand would go. Not sure why cruise control isn't an option. However note that out of the competition - Tracer 7 , Versys 650 and Vstrom 650 - none of them have cruise control option and only one has a centre strand option (the vstrom) the other two also have underslung cat/exhaust. Seems to be a feature of the budget end of adventuring EDIT - There are 3rd party centre stand offerings for the Tracer 7 and Versys from sw-motech and hepco&becker so maybe they will rustle something up?
I agree the optional extras are expensive and unlike cars the dealers have to fit them and charge you for the privilege. I asked how much per hour and was amazed to be told £120. I negotiated a good price for both the extras and the fitting fee. let's face it nothing but nothing is set in stone, and everything can be negotiated on otherwise I know where the door is and I'm certainly not too embarrassed to haggle.
Thanks for the review. Was looking for my first bike, wasn't sure what to go for. Your review made my mind up, put down a deposit today for one in June!
Nice review as always thanks. Very tempted. I'm with you on the single dipped headlight - the people who design these bikes must never have driven on a dark country road with a LED-lit SUV coming the other way. I'd also be looking for a fender extender for the front - won't look new for long otherwise.
I disagree. Having only one headlight on looks odd to motorists so it is likely to attract more attention, which is good. As for the LED lit SUV or in bumper driving lights for pseudo rally drivers, do you honestly think an extra light will make any difference? Unless it is a blue flashing one, of course.
Well dang! Y’all got the wet roads but still can ride. We just got a foot of snow and my bikes have been on their stands since October. Could be worse I reckon. Your channel helps my mental health, cheers!
That is Very True what you say about Service Schedules.. The yearly Service comes up Way before 10,000 miles For most People. My Kawasaki is Coming up for its 3rdService. In less than 7,000 miles..
And the fact i got my Kawasaki In 2020 and soon after we were all in Lockdown threw a spanner in my average milage...but its a crass thing To moan about when all this Terrible Stuff is happening in Ukraine ..🇺🇦
A value for money do it all Triumph 👍Think this is destined to be Triumph's best selling bike. I would love to see a more sporty version of this bike with the Street Triple 765 engine. Suspect my Carol would buy that bike.
Same here, currently touring Scotland on my Street Triple R. I'm tempted by this bike but just not quite sporty enough for me, hopefully there will be an Arrow can option?
At 6'2" it felt rather small for me and the screen just didn't work. I also asked the dealer what was special about red paint that made it £100 more, he couldn't answer so I guess they think more people go for red and pay a premium for it, no centre stand option is a not good either 🤔
Looks similar to the Versys 650 and here in the US, the Tiger and the Versys are identically priced. The Versys has a more comfortable seat and surprisingly, the twin cylinder Versys is less buzzy above 70 mph than the triple cylinder Tiger. But the Tiger has a better display and has 13 more horsepower than the Versys, which is noticeable. The two are so close to each other that anyone thinking about either one should go ride both before laying their money on the desk.
It seems that modern designers forget that some of us don’t ride permanently in sunshine! I’ve said it before, modern, so called mudguards, just aren’t fit for purpose! Full marks to Mr Flyer for using the bike how most of us will and showing us the reality 👍
That is a peeve of mine as well. It seems like only Royal Enfield has a clue about the purpose of fenders these days. I'm thinking that RE could start a lucrative side business designing/producing aftermarket fenders for all the Japanese & European bikes.
after trying out one of these at motorcycle live and after test riding the Yamaha tracer 7 gt I've gone for the tiger which I accidently found a 22 reg demo of when I went to ask a few questions of the dealer. Was originally looking for a new one but also fancied the 2023 version of the Tracer but unfortunately the dealer couldn't say when the new Tracers would be hitting the showrooms. Looking at your reviews on both I reckon you're a bit torn between the two as well. what really swung it for me was the absolutely brilliant deal I feel I've got with the Triumph after adding on the extras I wanted. It's in the red and already had the luggage rack, panniers, and hand guards fitted, so I've added on colour coded infills, heated grips, LED fog lights. frame protector kit, moulded belly pan, engine cover protector, usb charger and paddock stand bobbins. can't wait to pick it up. the reviews you do are very Indepth with the specs etc. brilliant.
The one sided headlight is a safety thing sir. Well, at least the initial idea was, maybe now it's something else. Cars that might be waiting to turn could see a single headlight and reasonably presume a motorcycle and then decide if there's enough time to turn. Two lights closer together give the appearance of a car further away and the same car would reasonably presume a car but far away and plenty of time to turn. It may look awkward or stupid but I appreciate the thought put into their reasoning behind it.
This is what people always tell me - why have two lights at all? What about when on full beam? How come only some bikes are like this? Whatever - I still don’t like it!!
Why don’t bike have proper rear mudguards anymore? It’s always just a tiny patch of plastic to minimally deflect debris and spray. But what about keeping the muck off the bike’s undersides? Give us a proper rear underguard.
Great review oc a nice looking bike Andy, you say tye airflow was clwan at speed but your mic tells a different story, spunds very buffety. Shame no center stand
The Triumph Tiger Sport looks good. I would go for triumph Bonneville Speedmaster Gold line just because the seat height is low. However looking forward to seeing more reviews Mr Flyer. Its a shame not one this motorbike. Jacket is amazing can’t wait for one of your fashion segments.
Greatings from Hemel!! Looking to buy my first bike and I am torn between the Trident and the Tiger. 6ft 2, 17 stone - so i guess the Tiger would likely be better as I dont want to look oversized on the Trident, but it just looks so damn good.
Have to agree with the emerging 10k service intervals comment. Cars can go 18k before an oil change / service but apparently bikes cant? Could agree with high spec sports bikes but for the lower performance end surely longing service intervals could be doable. I suppose they have to pay for the fancy showrooms somehow.
If you commute on your bike and are doing biggish mileage then it’s a big deal but for many / most doing 6 or 8K a year isn’t an issue so it will make little difference to the nunber of services done! While diesel cars often get extended service intervals most petrol cars are still in the 10,000 - 12,0000 service interval zone. But it’s still good to see bikes getting there too. Most bikes rev to distinctly higher RPM’s than cars and extract more power than cars per CC of engine which means they do stress oils more which probably has a lot to do with the often shorter service intervals. The Honda CBR650R I rode last week makes all oat two thirds of the power of my car from 650cc (94HP vs 150) from slightly over 1/3 of the capacity (650 vs 1500)
Love the look of this bike, I really hope Triumph bring out a larger litre version, that would perhaps persuade me off my trusty Tiger 1050. I have no doubt this bike will sell well, and certainly has its place, but a little small for me, and not too keen on the looks of the 1200. Thanks Andy 👍
I have the same issue with the Kawasaki Versys 650. I find it too lacking, but the thou too big. I suspect they would both do better with an 800/850cc model...
Hi from another 1050 Sport owner, they were a lovely bike but quite top heavy as you mentioned, couldn't believe the difference between that and the GS 1250 when I test rode it, so much easier to maneuver even with the extra weight :) You can actually see the styling cues from the 1050, it's a handsome bike which I'm sure will sell well ...
That was a really nice bike sounded good, seemed to ride well and from what you said was comfortable so all in all an excellent bike to start your motorcycling career on!
I have the Trident 660 but have outgrown it. Fickle I know. I had contemplated the Tiger 660 as you and others have gave it favourable reviews BUT have since opted for the Tiger 900 GT Pro. Fully loaded with gizmo’s it’s in my opinion a far superior touring machine. Deposit handed over and looking forward to collecting my new machine in June
Just test drove one today and the gearing felt very short - I was at 4500 rpm in 6th gear at 45mph. Going from 0-30 required quickly shifting 1st through 4th with the tach flashing the whole time. Loved the bike but felt like I’d constantly be shifting
Andy, that weather. OMG. We have just clouds here, thank goodness. A nearby dealer has a blue Triumph 660 Sport I have been looking at on my motorcycle replacement or addition shortlist. It is a shame Triumph has chosen the one light illumination on low beam. That annoys me too. On the upside, the price is competitive with the other motorcycles I am considering (7-9K USD). Nice fairing and shield. I really want a centerstand though. Based on the photographs I have seen thusfar there doesn't appear to be room for it with the exhaust tucked up under the frame like it is. Keep your head up, friend. Spring is nearly here. Cheers!
Bland. The automotive equivalent of a mock Georgian house. The sort of design that you don't turn back for a second glance at. Sorry for sitting on the fence! Excellent review as usual though👍
Lamb Chop has reviewed the 660 and I believe that it does have an adjustable screen, which is lifted up manually. Good review though - it will be interested to see it ridden in dry conditions.
Nice review. I test rode one a few weeks back and agree, nothing not to like… However much as I liked the ride I didn’t love the look of the bike. It’s definitely nicer than the competitors you mentioned but don’t think it would tempt me into the shed to polish it on a wet February afternoon. I think it’s the colours that don’t inspire me, Honda have don’t better with the new CB 500x. Great bike though just not for me… decided on a goldline street scrambler instead. Ride safe.
I'm trading my Tiger 800XR for one of these, as getting old and can't shift the bigger bike anymore. One thing that was a big let down for me is no cruise control - crazy for a touring bike! But I'm told they will have it available soon for a retrograde fit.
Hi Andy, great real life review as always. Firstly I think this bike looks excellent compared with most others nowadays. It also does seem like a great tourer / commuter and all rounder which can't be a bad thing. Seems to have plenty enough grunt for a 180kg bike with 80bhp, I would just hope not to become bored and want more power before long... How did it handle on the twisties in your opinion? And ignore the trolls in the comments who are just jealous they have nothing better to do than watch TH-cam videos without making any of their own!
I didn't notice any trolls!! I got to take this bike out again the next day and it was dry and sunny - it was such good fun - I really don't think you'll end up wanting more power if you're just a road rider....
The screen is adjustable! UsernameKate showed that in her film. The handle for doing that is just above the speedo. Thank you mr Flyer for yet another wellmade review. Look forward to your thoughts about your Rukka clothes. Better than the Oxfords? Are they stiff to wear? Michelin man? Bulky? I wear a Knox Pro-shirt under the jacket. That means I have the protection close to the body. And it stays there if I fall off! And that makes it feel lighter! Cheers!
Yes my bad - serves me right for not giving it a tug!! And yes the Rukka kit it way better than the Oxford, are a little bulky but these are in another league of protection....
Andy I am like you about the headlights, if they are two like eyes they should be both on. Looks like one light is burned out. 😆. Why is heated grips not standard on all bikes. Love the look of this street bike. 😍
Picked my 660 today. Pretty much tricked it out with $2k accessories….ouch! But that engine and ride is more than enough power and vey smooth. Planning x country US trip this summer. Think I will be delighted.
This is probably the only modern Triumph I could be persuaded to give garage room to . Looks good real world everyday utility machine with more than ample power for use in the real world conditions . The only things I would have improved are the passenger grab rail ,as it looks tacky ,the rear mudguard needs to be more substantial like the one on the Suzuki DL 250 Wee Strom & the front headlights need both sides to come on .at the same time .. If it turns out to be as reliable as the Suzuki 650 V Strom or the Honda CB 500 x ,& a grand knocked off list price ,it could turn out a good seller as it’s also light & nimble . The pull up windshield handle could even double as a farkle fixing point ,for nerds who feel the need to clutter their bikes with battery draining tech .. Good review Mr Flyer , I reckon with the rising cost of fuel ,the smaller capacity machines could end up king & lager bikes becoming next to worthless .
@@maskedavenger2578 Great bikes. Thunderbird sport. T595. High power Sprint RS, Tigers, 1700 Thunderbird. Great bikes. You pay more now for the Thunderbird Sport and Thunderbird 1600/1700 than when they were new.
@@leighmcqueeney9848 The modern Triumphs are only Triumphs in name only , They are priced well over the top ,& have issues . I couldn’t care if I can get more for a motorcycle than i paid for it or not . My motorcycles are not showroom queens or weekend toys ,they are to be used for what they are designed for . My bikes get used in all weathers 12 months of the year have to be ultra reliable ,home serviceable & easy to get parts & consumables for at short notice . In over 50 years of on the road motorcycling ,I have never had a Honda or Suzuki let me down mechanically only ever had the odd puncture or light bulb fail with age ..Every time I tried a different manufactures motorcycles I have had nothing but issues & delays or troubles getting parts.. If I was interested in owning a classic style Triumph to own & ride. I would acquire the genuine article .
@@maskedavenger2578 🤣🤣 they are definitely Triumphs made with British ingenuity and they are definitely not overpriced in Australia or the US where there is a 50% import duty to protect Harley Davidson. I have been riding for over 40 years ALL over the world not just miserable England and I am up to my 5th Triumph having covered over 250,000ks with no problems at all. The group I ride with has an increasing number of Triumphs and none of them have had a problem either. And I have always done my own services. Perhaps you should get out more, as evidenced by the notion of using a vintage bike as your daily ride.
Great review Andy, and handy info for me coz I'm the same height as you! Definitely going to test ride one of these soon, as I want a lighter bike to replace my KTM 790 Adventure at the end of its PCP term.
The Trident sport looks like a great commuter bike. I’d like to see you review a few middle weight nakeds like the Z900, MT09 or duke 890. There are so many to choose from.
I hesitate to use the word 'practical', as it has connotations of dullness, but the Tiger 660 shows that practical can be versatile and fun. BTW, I lived in Cascais in Portugal (where they do the launches) for 6 years. The roads around there are amazing. Definitely worth a visit, and even better if one of the manufacturers is footing the bill.
I got to ride this bike in the sunshine yesterday and had a blast on it - you really can ride this hard and chuck it around, I can assure you, although an "all rounder" it's far from dull!
@@TheMissendenFlyer are you going to do another video? I am really interested to see how spirited it can be on drier roads. The 80bhp is a bit more than its competition and the Trident had decent performance too. Street triple needed revs to come alive and so did Trident so wonder if the Tiger 660 would sing the same way at higher revs.
Hi Andy, great review of a lovely looking bike 👍saw one at a show and was well impressed with this model 👌 triumph sure know how to build a tripple and loved my old 900 sprint. Ride safe and soon be summer 👍🏍🏁
Non adjustable screen??? Andy try pulling on the obvious black handle lol. No centre stand option either.
Yes my bad! Sorry - should have tried pulling it!!
@@benkelly2190 Sorry buddy. Why don't we head downtown to catch a matinee at the theater? You'll feel awesome after. Yeehaw
@@benkelly2190 You have a tenuous grasp on grammar for someone posting such comments. Hope you're enjoying the benefits of Brexit that you definitely voted for 😂
@@benkelly2190 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴
@@benkelly2190 nothing against Americans, but eroding into Americans 🤔, is it ok 👌 f us eroded American still subscribe to this channel?
My wife and I did a 100-ish mile test ride on varied roads in Lincolnshire UK in October 23 and ordered one the next day. It arrived in March 24. Black with a few silver highlights, integrated panniers, rear rack, heated grips. It is a very easy bike to ride slowly, and I mean that in a good way: 10 mph to 30 mph in busy traffic, it just sits there and you don't have to hold it back or slip the clutch. Just a little bit snatchy in very slow traffic in 1st gear. For daily riding, 1st gear is very low, and the 6 gears are a bit close together. It will sit at 30 mph in 6th, which is the gear that takes you all the way up to the er.. legal limit. I have sometimes slowed down to 30 without changing gear, then lights have changed and I've had to do a quick 6,5,4,3,2,1, then accelerating away when the lights change, I need to fuss through the gears or rev it a bit more then do a double change up once I've hit my required speed. It's unintimidating to ride with or without pillion, but if you drop to 5th or even 4th you've got some exciting acceleration around 7,000 rpm. Otherwise, the bike is happy at anywhere from about 3,000 to 6,000 rpm. It's light and well balanced and steers easily. The screen is easily adjustable but I keep mine low or only 1 notch up, as any higher gives me too much wind noise. The rear shock is remote adjustable just by turning an easily accessible knob, so it's very easy to firm up if you take a pillion or heavy luggage. On the test ride, I found the digital display fussy, but once I had my own bike, I found the various options and now have a favourite display which is easy to read and uncluttered. Lights are very good for proper night riding on unlit country lanes. Nice touch is hazard lights and a parking light option. The heated grips are not as hot as Oxford grips, and the control button is small and is hard to operate with thick gloves, which is exactly when you are likely to need it! My only slight "disappointment" is the lack of engine noise. All my previous bikes have been singles or twins, my last two being Moto Guzzi V-twins. Compared to the friendly chug and grumble, and occasional "bad boy" bark of acceleration, of a twin, the Triumph triple has quite a bland engine note. However, the engine does its job with enthusiasm, and that's the main thing.
Great video Andy. I would have liked you to provide the regular service costs alongside the intervals, particularly the valve clearance service charge. For people on a budget this is very helpful to know 👍
Looks like a great addition to the range, good for people who find the larger Tiger or GS's too cumbersome. Great tourer for smaller people and new riders.
Picked up mine on Friday - added the quick shifter, hand guards and heated grips. So far (after only a weekend of riding) it’s very comfortable and just a great bike to ride. I’m really pleased with it. Will be used for commuting and touring. Another good video - thanks
Great additions. You'll have fun. I made three mistake on my first big bike. Didn't think I needed heated grips. My biggest regret.
@@expatbiker6598
Heated grips are definitely a must. I even had them on my vespa.
Congrats on the new bike Mark. When you get a chance, can you advise what the real world mpg is. Important for us commuters especially with the rising fuel costs.
Did you put the quick shifter on from new recently got a mt07 and they said wait till I get to 1000 miles for a quick shifter.
@@socialising6037 it was fitted from new
I absolutely love that bike! I don’t need one, but it looks very recommendable. As a Tiger 1050 owner it does indeed remind me of my bike. It funny whenever reviewers talk about its relative lack of power. When I first got in to motorcycles, back in the Seventies, the most powerful stock bike was a Kawasaki Z-1. The Tiger 660 has only two less horsepower and is only .4 of a second slower in the quarter mile.
With tyres three times as wide...lol
Finally the world seems to offering some excellent middle weights again, just in time for new and riders heading towards the barn.
to be honest ive never thought about buying a triumph before... but this 660 is ticking many boxes...
Test rode the Tiger Sport 660 yesterday from the excellent Webbs of Lincoln and the Screen IS adjustable big plastic handgrip at bottom of screen pulls up or pushes down and you had it fully down position in your review, more about the screen in a minute.
Agree with most of the review it’s a fantastic low speed handling bike, if I had ridden this for my mod 1 it would have been way easier weaving through cones doing U-turns etc. It’s amazingly manoeuvrable and feels astonishing light at low speed through town etc. the gearbox is a thing of joy snicking into gears with a beautiful precision and a light progressive clutch.
It’s a soft ride which is fine for what this bikes aimed at but dives a lot with the front brake.
Brakes are good but like the suspension I have test ridden better on 650s. Like you I did get the rear ABS to kick in despot riding on a dry sunny (but cold) day. I too though the rear brake was powerful which I think is why it kicked in. It was however subtle and didn’t upset the bike in any way.
It’s a thoroughly good bike and it looks good too.
There is a low seat option for Missenden ‘Short Arses’ which the bike I rode had on which is 820mm and felt quite hard but was comfy over a three hour ride.
On the plus side the screen was easy to move up and down even on the move but on the minus side I was disappointed by the wind protection. Having ridden a CBR650R last week I thought the tiny race Style screen on the Honda, with a more forward body position granted, kept the wind off my body just as well and more importantly the air hitting me was a lot less turbulent and noisy. In fact the Hondas airflow was entirely smooth and as a result a lot quieter around the HJC helmet I currently have.
I think I would find this fatiguing on a long ride. Atrociously raising the screen makes things much worse, the wind moves from hitting my shoulders and helmet (6ft tall) to hitting the helmet only but becomes even more turbulent. I can feel the screen shedding alternate vortices to left and right so it’s trying to wobble your head all the time and is even noisier around the Helmet!
So an adjustable screen that has to spend its whole time down and doesn’t really do a great job of weather protection. I would look for something aftermarket (when available) to improve this which is disappointing as I would be buying a screen twice. A minor point it the plastic handle to move the screen looks pretty cheapo and I lol let’s the side down for a part that’s in your view the whole time your riding.
While we’re on criticisms and this is a small one, I am not a fan of the soft touch indicators. Particularly in winter gloves I never knew if In hit it right and got the indicators on or off and always had to confirm on the dash which is a distraction you don’t need. What’s wrong with switchgear that clicks as it operates so you feel it work and don’t need to confirm by looking.
I am sure i would get used to this fairly quickly and would be better in my leather summer gloves rather than bulkier winter waterproof ones so only a minor irritant there.
Overall I enjoyed the bike a lot but I found it all a bit soft and slightly underwhelming. I know it’s a different type of bike (the reason i test rode them both to make up my mind) but the Triumph not only lacked the power of the Honda but failed to engage or excite me the way the Honda did. While it’s easy to ride especially at low speed and it’s good at high speeds i didn’t feel instantly at home and that I could feel exactly what was going on under me like I did on the Honda.
Finally while the triple has a lovely rasp to the engine note low down I couldn’t hear it at all at motorway speeds due to wind noise and buffet and far from smooth there is a distinct vibration to the triple engine like but less thumping than a twin but nothing at all like the silky smooth CBR inline 4. The Triunphs ‘character’ might get wearing on a long ride. Low down the revs the Honda CBR650R was really muted but as it got into the higher revs where the big power lives the engine note gets better and better and the Honda is a way smoother unit at all speeds.
All in all I like the triumph a lot and for those that want an easy to live with very easy to ride commuter it’s a great bike but for me the more intense and visceral Honda CBR650R will be getting my money. As an older first big bike on my European tour with my son this summer I may sometimes regret the odd aches and pains from the Hondas mildly sporty seating position but the smile it puts on my face will more than make up for it. My son (ex BSB racer) can also give me some instruction on track too where I am certain the Honda will be much more at ease than thenTiger Sport.
Wow - thanks for the comment!! Prize to you for the longest this month!
Hadn’t realised I waffled on for so long but it was all fresh in my mind from yesterday lol
Been keeping an eye on this bike as a potential next option, and this sounds like a pretty glowing review for it, especially as a commuting option that can also do some fun weekend trips!
Definitely a rival to the wee strom, priced right in the middle of their range. I think Triumph are onto a winner with this, plus that engine is a sweetheart and has a bit more character to it than the dependable, but soul less linearity of the suzi. I think owning one of these for commuting on and for the odd weekend away would be a really easy decision to make.
Just tested this bike, I think this is it for me, I was quite surprised with how it handled, top selection in my opinion.
Yes it rides better than it looks doesn’t it…
Mine's on order, coming June (after umming and arring, went for the blue one) , with hand guards, USB charger and quick-shifter. Watched loads of positive reviews, and reassured to read that you have a high opinion of it!
Yes it's a corker - you'll love it.
I predict this will become Triumph’s best selling bike of the coming year. I was out in the snow and rain the other week on a Triumph Street Scrambler whilst my Tiger Explorer was in for it’s 10,000 mile service and MoT. I was grateful for the heated seat and grips on the way home. 🥶 Another great review Andy. Any chance of a slightly more in-depth review of the Daytona boots please. 😎
Yes maybe in due course, need to get a full season out of the first....
Just got one, off to Scotland Monday… forecast is rain! Excited!
It wouldn’t be a uk bike trip without a bit of wet!
The triumph dealer local to me has already sold their entire allocation for 2022. Must be doing something right!
Good to hear your views, they sound really positive. I`ve got to book my Speed Twin in for a possible battery change, as it`s not been used all winter, and is now 3 years old, so when i do, i`l be taking one of these for a test ride. I tried it in the showroom when Destination Triumph did a launch evening for the all new Tiger 1200, and the 660 Sport arrived unexpectedly, so they put it together and had it on show, i could have tested it the following day, but had already made plans, so it will have to wait. I`m also looking forward to your long term test review too.
Thanks for the review! Get mine on the 25th March and really enjoyed the test ride. Been waiting for something like this to mainly use on longer days out and trips. Mine has low seat, belly pan, panniers with infills, Triumph Connect module, heated grips, handguards, quickshifter, fog lights ... thats about it I think. I think this would be a great bike for Canary Motorcycle Tours to have in their fleet as would be great for the variety of roads out there :)
Yes I agree!
Looks a great machine - I’ve mentioned before but I think all bikes should have cruise control and heated grips by default. Triumph could then standardise the controls across the trident and this. The cynic tells me triumph will add this in the “updates” next version..
Heated grips 🤣🤣 Real useful in most of Australia, Arizona, where I am now etc. I think all bikes should have a small fridge tucked under the seat to keep our drinks cool.
I really like that, I definitely think it's a nicer looking bike than the Trident. Those lights though, seems wrong to have the DRL's on at the same time as the low beam instead of one or the other. 🙂👍
A most excellent bike.
Love the simplicity and lack of electronic devices and over complex switches.
A real everyday bike.
Another winner, I'm sure. A lot of my biking friends down in Portugal have this at the top of their wish list.
Happy travels 👍
P.s Do it in the sun ,if offered! Schoolboy error,, and nothing to be ashamed of!
Nice one
It is an excellent bike this - and I’m sure would be a blast in Portugal! But those launches where everyone gets wined and dined, no thanks….
Andy, I left the real world for the life in the French Alps, 300 days of sunshine, local ski fields, endless twisty mountain roads ( no potholes) sometimes, riding on the right makes it easy to give a wave to other bikers. I do miss the rain but that won't get me back.
Sounds great Frank - I shall be there again soon for a ski trip (I was there 3 weeks ago for a week too) and next year I've rented a chalet for a month...can't wait - thinking of bringing a bike out too - where in the Alps are you???
Thanks for this. Your channel is one of the few places we can get one of these real-world reviews. I also love these do-it-all bikes. I started my road-bike career on one; we called them UJMs way back then. Thanks again.
Thank you as ever Marco!
Can't afford a new one. Will have to wait for secondhand, at 70 years old I think it would suite me well. Time to move up from Kawasaki 300 Ninja.
Yes an excellent bike, fun and easy to live with…
This bike is for those who hate the looks of the Trident (i'm one!) but like the engine. This bike is a sure winner as an affordable all rounder
Good review as always TMF.
Nice to see someone telling us what it's like in 'Rain' mode.
I'm collecting my Tiger Sport 660 tomorrow, I was a little worried about the rain mode being underpowered and intrusive, but not after watching you use it on the dual carriageway.
Glad you like it.
Take care,
Adam
Congratulations - I since rode this in the dry yesterday - great fun bike.....
I wish Triumph would put their 1200 Speed Triple engine in a scaled up version of this. I like the Explorer but I’d like something that looks more road biased like this. Something like the S1000XR?
At least doing these reviews gets you out and about on the roads for that real world review. Always interesting, and yes, a nice little machine. All you need. 👍👍🏴🏴
Real world cold and miserable review. Others live in the sun. Greetings from Arizona.
Andy you’re making the decision of which Motorcycle to purchase as my first bike more difficult. This bike was not on my radar, but it is now . Great video Andy In challenging weather conditions.
This would be a great choice as a first big bike.....
Get mine next week Andy. Ordered it just after Christmas before any arrived in the country as I had a feeling it would be popular. Had a test ride a few weeks ago and wasn't disappointed. I opted for heated grips, connectivity, quick shifter and panniers. Dealer did a great deal and think it's great value for the dosh. Was going for a grey one but the dealer thought it was a matt finish. Turns out It's not, it's gloss. Didn't fancy matt so went for the same as this. The red is very striking with extra decals and has grey too so was a compromise but £100 more. The blue and grey bikes just have black lower bits. Thanks for posting.
Hey congrats mate - it's a fun machine, I went out on it yesterday in glorious weather and had a great time thrashing it around, light, agile, comfortable...great choice!
I noticed your comment about the Triumph Breitling bike on another channel. I know you make a point about not going to those press launches, respect to you sir !
Thank you!
Just bought this one in Red yesterday, so far can't agree more. First bike for me, will ride it all winter long in Phoenix
Good choice!
I have a Speed Twin, which I love, but want a second bike for one-up touring so I’ve been looking at this Tiger Sport. I have watched all the reviews but yours has pretty much sold me. Your take on motorcycles is very similar to mine and I’ve found over the years that I agree with your assessments.
Glad we concur John!
Bought mine last week to replace the tiger 900 gt pro…it’s way quicker on normal road conditions due to the 17” front wheel and smooth buzzy engine..quick shifter is an absolute must on this bike and transforms up shifting way better than the gt pro….have to say I also bought the lower seat not that I’m short at 5,11” just like the flatter feet and lower centre of gravity feel…also improves screen performance. Great all rounder and 60 mpg….gearing is a little short…easy pull always in second. Seemingly an easy bike to live with looking forward to a few more miles. 👍 good video cheers tmf.
Congratulations!
60 mog is 4,7 l / 100 km not so bad. Is it contains commuting on big city traffic?
I’d love to give one of these a go, right up my alley. Unfortunately Triumph doesn’t have a good track record for service/support etc here in Japan
Ouch - methinks 'our man in' just got a stiff email . . . shameful situation really, but considering how our home bike industry crumbled before Japanese efficiency half a century ago, it does have a somewhat delicious irony to it : )
I am on my 5th one now. Done over 250,000ks between them with never even the most minor problem. Can't see being in Japan would make any difference.
@@soaruk3697 any actual facts? Strange that I have been riding them for over 20 years in Australia and the US with not one problem ever. Likewise a lot of my friends have done the same. What is extraordinary about your opinion is that whilst Harley, in particular, and lots of other manufacturers have seen the sales of their road bikes drop over the past decade Triumph continues to grow it's market. If you are correct, how is this happening? For example, I loved my Griso 1200 but it kept breaking down. I spent more fixing that bike than the total in repairs for every other bike I owned in over 40 years. I loved it, but would I buy another one. No way.
This is a great looking bike and an all year round 'do it all'. I'd be tempted by this so that my Street Triple stays in the garage for better weather. 😀
Can't understand why motorcycle manufacturers can't put decent mudguards on bikes. It doesn't cost that much surely.
Always enjoy your honest and thorough posts. I was set on a Honda cb650r after watching your review of that but after seeing this one about the Tiger 660 sport and then researching it further my allegiance to the Honda is wavering.
@@stevegordon2032 I'm on the same page has you Steven cb650r with e-clutch, but I might get the triumph, gonna try it next Saturday
I did buy the Triumph 660 Tiger in June. Got just under 1000 miles chalked up upon it already. It’s a fabulous machine. I blooming love it.🐯🐯🐯
Great video TMF, I hope we see many of these in the roads. I felt your pain when you were watching back the footage of explaining how good the dash is.... And you can't see it! The law of sod is alive and well! It is LCD by the way, you were right.
Great review, gives insights in daily riding, thinking of upgrading from my 2004 SV650N, as i love the look and style of this tiger 660, allround commuter and sporty riding all tick a box so will line up a test ride at the local dealer.. thx for great review even the trident whats it like to live with review gave me a good idea what the engine would be like
This is weirdly so much nicer to ride than the Trident (and that wasn’t bad!)….
Great review Andy, top marks for going out in the rain. Ride safe.
My profuse apologies I saw an over size banner, approx almost half the screen “courtesy” message (I almost wanted to spit) and I’m pretty sure that my memory is correct about this, it referred to the site in such a manner that instead of realising that it was a random TH-cam thing I mistakenly thought you had created it. Thanks very much for messaging me back, I realise now that as it hasn’t come up again and you obviously weren’t aware of it, that it was actually a heavy handed random product of the TH-cam pc thought police.
I guess you can tell I haven’t watched Dr Who or the beeb in a while.
Ps I forgot what I was going to say when I was originally going to comment, probably some old guy criticism about the mudguards, good on you for persevering on new tyres, brakes and bike in the wet.
I sat on the demonstrator at my local Triumph dealer (Hampshire), last Saturday of February, I think it was. He had one left on his books, in meh, sorry grey, until the next stock allocation in June. So that’s allocation, not even delivery. So yeah, a very apt review TMF - order one now in time for next winter! 😎
FWIW, I didn’t manage a test ride, but it did feel comfy, however, I can’t get past the cashpoint machine graphics around the dash warning lights 😆
Well done for choosing a real world situation to test the Tiger, though I’m missing your tour videos! Tiger looks and sounds nice with a very healthy power figure for the size. It could have ended up as a parts bin special but the design does look well thought out and as you say definitely echoes the old 1050 sport. I think the display is part negative LCD and part TFT, presumably for cost saving, but looked fine and again as you said, better than some recent Triumph TFT efforts! The only design feature I’m not quite sure about is the screen - to me the way it goes right down between the headlights looks a little odd, but it doesn’t make the bike unattractive. Finally, kudos to Triumph for supporting full luggage with integrated mounts - it reinforces its do-it-all image.
I agree - tghat mounting system is excellent...
Could you please do "real world" testing on lovely sunny days for those of us who don't live in cold, miserable England.
I've become a big fan of this & the Trident. The display with the phone connectivity & controls is very appealing as someone who likes practicality. My only wish is to have the Rear end of the Tiger with the Paniers & then the rest of the bike be the Trident to make the perfect Touring Naked bike minus a windsheld.
The windscreen should be adjustable -- you just pull it straight up (you can see the little track the bolt follows).
There's lots to like. Great size and amount of power, love the integrated luggage rails, and looks great. Only wish it it had a bit better fuel mileage and more visible front lighting. We've been in need of more reasonable bikes and this hits a lot of marks and the price is right to boot. Having said that, I'm still getting the updated 500X for some light off-roading and much lower running costs. Only 2 weeks until riding season again here in Canada \o/
So what determines the start of the riding season for you?
@@TheMissendenFlyer For me, it's usually when the roads are mostly clear of salt. Once it's consistently above 0C and there's been a good rain, good to go. Some people wait for the street sweepers to go round. Most riders here though only ride when it's a good +20C out and not raining. I'm always envious of your year-round riding, though that can be done in small parts of the west coast. Love the videos as always -- safe riding!
@@Thirsty_Fox Makes sense - I wondered how you could be so precise and say "only 2 weeks until riding season" as if there was a start date!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Oh that's just me looking at the 14-day forecast and it's looking like we'll be in good shape 😎 The weather predictions are never mistaken!
Screen is adjustable, test ride yesterday you can easily adjust it on the move too though you will want it down the whole time 👍
Thanks for a great "real world" review and your dedication to your trade. Good to see a review in the weather which we'll all have to ride in at times. Looks a great bike. I saw one in my local Triumph dealership recently and they look pretty good in the flesh. My only minor issue with the bike is that Triumph don't seem to offer a centre stand, even as an option in the extensive (and expensive) list of optional extras.
Odd that! Thanks for watching as ever Gareth....
@@TheMissendenFlyer I think the issue is it sharing so much from the Trident (for cost reasons) the cat and exhaust sit exactly where the centre stand would go. Not sure why cruise control isn't an option. However note that out of the competition - Tracer 7 , Versys 650 and Vstrom 650 - none of them have cruise control option and only one has a centre strand option (the vstrom) the other two also have underslung cat/exhaust. Seems to be a feature of the budget end of adventuring
EDIT - There are 3rd party centre stand offerings for the Tracer 7 and Versys from sw-motech and hepco&becker so maybe they will rustle something up?
I agree the optional extras are expensive and unlike cars the dealers have to fit them and charge you for the privilege. I asked how much per hour and was amazed to be told £120. I negotiated a good price for both the extras and the fitting fee. let's face it nothing but nothing is set in stone, and everything can be negotiated on otherwise I know where the door is and I'm certainly not too embarrassed to haggle.
Thanks for the review. Was looking for my first bike, wasn't sure what to go for. Your review made my mind up, put down a deposit today for one in June!
Congratulations!
Nice review as always thanks. Very tempted. I'm with you on the single dipped headlight - the people who design these bikes must never have driven on a dark country road with a LED-lit SUV coming the other way. I'd also be looking for a fender extender for the front - won't look new for long otherwise.
I disagree. Having only one headlight on looks odd to motorists so it is likely to attract more attention, which is good. As for the LED lit SUV or in bumper driving lights for pseudo rally drivers, do you honestly think an extra light will make any difference? Unless it is a blue flashing one, of course.
Well dang! Y’all got the wet roads but still can ride. We just got a foot of snow and my bikes have been on their stands since October. Could be worse I reckon. Your channel helps my mental health, cheers!
Oh dear sorry to hear that….
That is Very True what you say about
Service Schedules..
The yearly Service comes up
Way before 10,000 miles
For most People.
My Kawasaki is Coming up for its
3rdService. In less than 7,000 miles..
And the fact i got my Kawasaki
In 2020 and soon after we were all in
Lockdown threw a spanner in my average milage...but its a crass thing
To moan about when all this Terrible
Stuff is happening in Ukraine ..🇺🇦
A value for money do it all Triumph 👍Think this is destined to be Triumph's best selling bike. I would love to see a more sporty version of this bike with the Street Triple 765 engine. Suspect my Carol would buy that bike.
Same here, currently touring Scotland on my Street Triple R. I'm tempted by this bike but just not quite sporty enough for me, hopefully there will be an Arrow can option?
At 6'2" it felt rather small for me and the screen just didn't work. I also asked the dealer what was special about red paint that made it £100 more, he couldn't answer so I guess they think more people go for red and pay a premium for it, no centre stand option is a not good either 🤔
Agreed - odd that
Hey, everyone knows that red cars (and bikes) are faster, right? ;-)
Looks similar to the Versys 650 and here in the US, the Tiger and the Versys are identically priced. The Versys has a more comfortable seat and surprisingly, the twin cylinder Versys is less buzzy above 70 mph than the triple cylinder Tiger. But the Tiger has a better display and has 13 more horsepower than the Versys, which is noticeable. The two are so close to each other that anyone thinking about either one should go ride both before laying their money on the desk.
Great looking bike. But, the mudguard is useless. All the muck from the tyre will cake the front of the engine and pipes.
It seems that modern designers forget that some of us don’t ride permanently in sunshine! I’ve said it before, modern, so called mudguards, just aren’t fit for purpose! Full marks to Mr Flyer for using the bike how most of us will and showing us the reality 👍
That is a peeve of mine as well. It seems like only Royal Enfield has a clue about the purpose of fenders these days. I'm thinking that RE could start a lucrative side business designing/producing aftermarket fenders for all the Japanese & European bikes.
after trying out one of these at motorcycle live and after test riding the Yamaha tracer 7 gt I've gone for the tiger which I accidently found a 22 reg demo of when I went to ask a few questions of the dealer.
Was originally looking for a new one but also fancied the 2023 version of the Tracer but unfortunately the dealer couldn't say when the new Tracers would be hitting the showrooms.
Looking at your reviews on both I reckon you're a bit torn between the two as well.
what really swung it for me was the absolutely brilliant deal I feel I've got with the Triumph after adding on the extras I wanted. It's in the red and already had the luggage rack, panniers, and hand guards fitted, so I've added on colour coded infills, heated grips, LED fog lights. frame protector kit, moulded belly pan, engine cover protector, usb charger and paddock stand bobbins. can't wait to pick it up.
the reviews you do are very Indepth with the specs etc. brilliant.
Thank you, I’m glad you like the bike.
The one sided headlight is a safety thing sir. Well, at least the initial idea was, maybe now it's something else.
Cars that might be waiting to turn could see a single headlight and reasonably presume a motorcycle and then decide if there's enough time to turn. Two lights closer together give the appearance of a car further away and the same car would reasonably presume a car but far away and plenty of time to turn.
It may look awkward or stupid but I appreciate the thought put into their reasoning behind it.
This is what people always tell me - why have two lights at all? What about when on full beam? How come only some bikes are like this? Whatever - I still don’t like it!!
Why don’t bike have proper rear mudguards anymore? It’s always just a tiny patch of plastic to minimally deflect debris and spray. But what about keeping the muck off the bike’s undersides? Give us a proper rear underguard.
As usual Andy, another great review of another great bike. Thanks for braving the weather to give us a flavour of it.
No worries!
Great review oc a nice looking bike Andy, you say tye airflow was clwan at speed but your mic tells a different story, spunds very buffety. Shame no center stand
I want a TMF sticker for my van to go along with my TT one. Brilliant as always chief 👍
The Triumph Tiger Sport looks good. I would go for triumph Bonneville Speedmaster Gold line just because the seat height is low. However looking forward to seeing more reviews Mr Flyer. Its a shame not one this motorbike. Jacket is amazing can’t wait for one of your fashion segments.
Greatings from Hemel!!
Looking to buy my first bike and I am torn between the Trident and the Tiger.
6ft 2, 17 stone - so i guess the Tiger would likely be better as I dont want to look oversized on the Trident, but it just looks so damn good.
Have to agree with the emerging 10k service intervals comment. Cars can go 18k before an oil change / service but apparently bikes cant? Could agree with high spec sports bikes but for the lower performance end surely longing service intervals could be doable. I suppose they have to pay for the fancy showrooms somehow.
If you commute on your bike and are doing biggish mileage then it’s a big deal but for many / most doing 6 or 8K a year isn’t an issue so it will make little difference to the nunber of services done!
While diesel cars often get extended service intervals most petrol cars are still in the 10,000 - 12,0000 service interval zone. But it’s still good to see bikes getting there too.
Most bikes rev to distinctly higher RPM’s than cars and extract more power than cars per CC of engine which means they do stress oils more which probably has a lot to do with the often shorter service intervals.
The Honda CBR650R I rode last week makes all oat two thirds of the power of my car from 650cc (94HP vs 150) from slightly over 1/3 of the capacity (650 vs 1500)
Good review TMF I think triumph have knocked it out the park with the tiger 660. I think triumph will sell loads.
Love the look of this bike, I really hope Triumph bring out a larger litre version, that would perhaps persuade me off my trusty Tiger 1050. I have no doubt this bike will sell well, and certainly has its place, but a little small for me, and not too keen on the looks of the 1200.
Thanks Andy 👍
I have the same issue with the Kawasaki Versys 650. I find it too lacking, but the thou too big. I suspect they would both do better with an 800/850cc model...
Hi from another 1050 Sport owner, they were a lovely bike but quite top heavy as you mentioned, couldn't believe the difference between that and the GS 1250 when I test rode it, so much easier to maneuver even with the extra weight :) You can actually see the styling cues from the 1050, it's a handsome bike which I'm sure will sell well ...
Totally agree
That was a really nice bike sounded good, seemed to ride well and from what you said was comfortable so all in all an excellent bike to start your motorcycling career on!
Agreed - great first big bike
I have the Trident 660 but have outgrown it. Fickle I know. I had contemplated the Tiger 660 as you and others have gave it favourable reviews BUT have since opted for the Tiger 900 GT Pro. Fully loaded with gizmo’s it’s in my opinion a far superior touring machine. Deposit handed over and looking forward to collecting my new machine in June
Congratulations - great choice!
Just test drove one today and the gearing felt very short - I was at 4500 rpm in 6th gear at 45mph. Going from 0-30 required quickly shifting 1st through 4th with the tach flashing the whole time. Loved the bike but felt like I’d constantly be shifting
Gotta ask what your rev count is at 60mph
I'm changing the front sprocket to lengthen the gears. mine 5000rpm at 60mph, it simply too high.
Andy, that weather. OMG. We have just clouds here, thank goodness.
A nearby dealer has a blue Triumph 660 Sport I have been looking at on my motorcycle replacement or addition shortlist. It is a shame Triumph has chosen the one light illumination on low beam. That annoys me too. On the upside, the price is competitive with the other motorcycles I am considering (7-9K USD). Nice fairing and shield. I really want a centerstand though. Based on the photographs I have seen thusfar there doesn't appear to be room for it with the exhaust tucked up under the frame like it is.
Keep your head up, friend. Spring is nearly here. Cheers!
Can't come quick enough! As an aside the weather has been beautiful here for the last 3 days.....sunny and dry!
Bland. The automotive equivalent of a mock Georgian house. The sort of design that you don't turn back for a second glance at. Sorry for sitting on the fence! Excellent review as usual though👍
Fair enough!
Lamb Chop has reviewed the 660 and I believe that it does have an adjustable screen, which is lifted up manually.
Good review though - it will be interested to see it ridden in dry conditions.
Yes - see my pinned comment!
I think Triumph will sell boat loads of these, just hope they can keep up with the demand! Great video mate!
Cheers Pete!
Nice review. I test rode one a few weeks back and agree, nothing not to like…
However much as I liked the ride I didn’t love the look of the bike. It’s definitely nicer than the competitors you mentioned but don’t think it would tempt me into the shed to polish it on a wet February afternoon. I think it’s the colours that don’t inspire me, Honda have don’t better with the new CB 500x. Great bike though just not for me… decided on a goldline street scrambler instead. Ride safe.
Yes I do like those gold lines.....
Thanks Andy you do these reviews while I sit in the warm with a cuppa :>/
Good review, could be my first big bike once I get round to passing my test, certainly on a shortlist 😀👍🏼
Good choice!
@@TheMissendenFlyer I popped into dealer and there’s 4 folks in front of me awaiting bikes 😕 me thinks it’ll be April/May before I see wee 125 😢
Nice review Mr TMF, I rode it on the wet grimy Uk roads too sir, good on you.
I'm trading my Tiger 800XR for one of these, as getting old and can't shift the bigger bike anymore. One thing that was a big let down for me is no cruise control - crazy for a touring bike! But I'm told they will have it available soon for a retrograde fit.
Seems like a super versatile all-round bike... must admit, looking at that weather im so glad i moved abroad for the sunny Med!
Yes there's a lot of good things to be said for living in England, but the weather sure aint one of them!
Wish they had cruise control. For long distance riding one needs three things: Heated grips (check), good windscreen (check), cruise control (nada!)
Totally agree....
They should offer this bike with full kit even if it costs more money, a shame.
Been thinking of getting a new bike, Will definitely have to test ride this one. Great video!!!
Thanks for watching!
Hi Andy, great real life review as always.
Firstly I think this bike looks excellent compared with most others nowadays.
It also does seem like a great tourer / commuter and all rounder which can't be a bad thing. Seems to have plenty enough grunt for a 180kg bike with 80bhp, I would just hope not to become bored and want more power before long...
How did it handle on the twisties in your opinion?
And ignore the trolls in the comments who are just jealous they have nothing better to do than watch TH-cam videos without making any of their own!
I didn't notice any trolls!! I got to take this bike out again the next day and it was dry and sunny - it was such good fun - I really don't think you'll end up wanting more power if you're just a road rider....
Only a minor gripe! Wouldn’t fancy being a passenger … the seat ends abruptly! On the other hand, the design is perfect…looks a sharp and fresh bike.
Yes the back end is very similar to the Trident and I made the same point about that - not really a 2 up bike....
The screen is adjustable! UsernameKate showed that in her film. The handle for doing that is just above the speedo. Thank you mr Flyer for yet another wellmade review.
Look forward to your thoughts about your Rukka clothes. Better than the Oxfords?
Are they stiff to wear? Michelin man? Bulky?
I wear a Knox Pro-shirt under the jacket. That means I have the protection close to the body. And it stays there if I fall off! And that makes it feel lighter!
Cheers!
Yes my bad - serves me right for not giving it a tug!! And yes the Rukka kit it way better than the Oxford, are a little bulky but these are in another league of protection....
@@TheMissendenFlyer Thanks mate!
Andy I am like you about the headlights, if they are two like eyes they should be both on. Looks like one light is burned out. 😆. Why is heated grips not standard on all bikes. Love the look of this street bike. 😍
Picked my 660 today. Pretty much tricked it out with $2k accessories….ouch! But that engine and ride is more than enough power and vey smooth. Planning x country US trip this summer. Think I will be delighted.
Cool! Enjoy…
Fantastic review Andy, looks a cracking bit of kit 😉👍👍👍
This is probably the only modern Triumph I could be persuaded to give garage room to . Looks good real world everyday utility machine with more than ample power for use in the real world conditions . The only things I would have improved are the passenger grab rail ,as it looks tacky ,the rear mudguard needs to be more substantial like the one on the Suzuki DL 250 Wee Strom & the front headlights need both sides to come on .at the same time .. If it turns out to be as reliable as the Suzuki 650 V Strom or the Honda CB 500 x ,& a grand knocked off list price ,it could turn out a good seller as it’s also light & nimble . The pull up windshield handle could even double as a farkle fixing point ,for nerds who feel the need to clutter their bikes with battery draining tech .. Good review Mr Flyer , I reckon with the rising cost of fuel ,the smaller capacity machines could end up king & lager bikes becoming next to worthless .
You have really missed out!
@@leighmcqueeney9848 Missed out on what ?
@@maskedavenger2578 Great bikes. Thunderbird sport. T595. High power Sprint RS, Tigers, 1700 Thunderbird. Great bikes. You pay more now for the Thunderbird Sport and Thunderbird 1600/1700 than when they were new.
@@leighmcqueeney9848 The modern Triumphs are only Triumphs in name only , They are priced well over the top ,& have issues . I couldn’t care if I can get more for a motorcycle than i paid for it or not . My motorcycles are not showroom queens or weekend toys ,they are to be used for what they are designed for . My bikes get used in all weathers 12 months of the year have to be ultra reliable ,home serviceable & easy to get parts & consumables for at short notice . In over 50 years of on the road motorcycling ,I have never had a Honda or Suzuki let me down mechanically only ever had the odd puncture or light bulb fail with age ..Every time I tried a different manufactures motorcycles I have had nothing but issues & delays or troubles getting parts.. If I was interested in owning a classic style Triumph to own & ride. I would acquire the genuine article .
@@maskedavenger2578 🤣🤣 they are definitely Triumphs made with British ingenuity and they are definitely not overpriced in Australia or the US where there is a 50% import duty to protect Harley Davidson. I have been riding for over 40 years ALL over the world not just miserable England and I am up to my 5th Triumph having covered over 250,000ks with no problems at all. The group I ride with has an increasing number of Triumphs and none of them have had a problem either. And I have always done my own services. Perhaps you should get out more, as evidenced by the notion of using a vintage bike as your daily ride.
Good looking bike. Props to you TMF for heading out in that weather.
Looks a great bike Andy, BTW the screen is adjustable, just pull push the bar. Another cracking bike by Triumph 👍
Yes my bad, I should have given it a tug.....
🤞🏻I’ll be testing the 660 on Friday looking forward to it
Enjoy....
Great review Andy, and handy info for me coz I'm the same height as you! Definitely going to test ride one of these soon, as I want a lighter bike to replace my KTM 790 Adventure at the end of its PCP term.
The Trident sport looks like a great commuter bike. I’d like to see you review a few middle weight nakeds like the Z900, MT09 or duke 890. There are so many to choose from.
That's what they should have called this - or Trident Tour.....
Still waiting for it to be released here in Australia - really want a test ride on one!
I hesitate to use the word 'practical', as it has connotations of dullness, but the Tiger 660 shows that practical can be versatile and fun. BTW, I lived in Cascais in Portugal (where they do the launches) for 6 years. The roads around there are amazing. Definitely worth a visit, and even better if one of the manufacturers is footing the bill.
I got to ride this bike in the sunshine yesterday and had a blast on it - you really can ride this hard and chuck it around, I can assure you, although an "all rounder" it's far from dull!
@@TheMissendenFlyer are you going to do another video? I am really interested to see how spirited it can be on drier roads. The 80bhp is a bit more than its competition and the Trident had decent performance too. Street triple needed revs to come alive and so did Trident so wonder if the Tiger 660 would sing the same way at higher revs.
Nice bike without the over the top electronic suite or ridiculous power outputs and a sensible weight. A very usable machine.
It sure is Nigel, great bike this….
Hi Andy, great review of a lovely looking bike 👍saw one at a show and was well impressed with this model 👌 triumph sure know how to build a tripple and loved my old 900 sprint. Ride safe and soon be summer 👍🏍🏁
Hurrah!
Good solid review despite the weather. Ride safe bud. T😊
Thanks, you too!
Great video TMF I have always been a triumph fan and I’m looking for a touring bike this may be on the cards, thanks for the review 👍
My pleasure!