Triumph has launched a new entry-point to its popular Tiger adventure bike line-up, with the barebones, yet highly capable, Tiger 850 Sport checking in from just $15,990 plus on-road costs.
Ahead of INFO MOTO‘s full review, we’ve published a video of our first ride on the all-new model. See it here:
Triumph Tiger 850 Sport rivals BMW F 750 GS
The new Tiger 850 Sport serves as a base version of the Tiger 900 range that launched last year priced from $20,950 rideaway for the base GT, up to $24,750 for the range-topping 900 Rally Pro.
The new Tiger 850 Sport makes use of a similar T-plane crank engine as the latest generation Tiger 900 range, but Triumph has given the powerplant a unique tune.
It’s billed as a more manageable and user-friendly version of the Tiger range, for those looking for a more road-focussed option.
New is the engine’s 1-3-2 firing order which Triumph reckons delivers the across-the-frame three-cylinder improved tractability at low rpm.
Performance numbers see peak power come in at 62kW at 8500 rpm and peak torque is 82Nm at 6500 rpm. This is notably lower in the rev range than the 900’s 8750rpm and 7250rpm, respectively.
The bike gets an array of high-end components, including Brembo Stylema brakes, non-adjustable 45mm Marzocchi forks, and a preload adjustable Marzocchi monoshock at the stern, adjustable screen, clever electronics package, with a 5.0-inch TFT instrument cluster, all LED lighting, two riding modes (Road and Rain), ABS, a slipper clutch and switchable traction control.
Triumph is making no bones about the fact that it has BMW’s F 750 GS squarely in its sights, and is positioning the bike aggressively against adventure bike rivals like the Yamaha Tenere 700.
Spencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
