2026 Triumph Tiger Sport 660 Review: More Power, More Appeal

• 17% more power transforms top-end performance
• Excellent comfort, touring ability and everyday usability
• Suspension and brakes show their limits when pushed hard

Triumph has given its middleweight sports-tourer a major performance boost for 2026. Adam Child heads to Spain to find out whether the extra horsepower makes an already capable all-rounder even better. By Adam Child / Photography by Triumph Motorcycles

Triumph has given its Tiger Sport 660 a significant shot in the arm for 2026. More power, more revs, a larger fuel tank and sharper styling transform what was already one of the most capable middleweight all-rounders into an even more convincing sports-touring package.

Following swiftly on from the Trident 660, the Tiger Sport receives the same substantial engine upgrade. Power climbs by 17% to 95bhp, while the rev ceiling jumps by 20% to 12,650rpm. Peak torque rises to 68Nm, with 80% of that available from just 3000rpm.

In practical terms, the Tiger Sport now produces almost exactly the same power as many middleweight sports bikes of only a few years ago. The jump from 81bhp to 95bhp is substantial and fundamentally changes how hard the Tiger accelerates at the top end.

The Sport’s tubular steel perimeter frame has been tweaked to accommodate the switch from a single throttle body to triple throttle bodies. Fresh bodywork, inspired by the Tiger Sport 800, gives the bike a more substantial appearance, while fuel capacity increases from 17.2 litres to 18.6 litres. Suspension, brakes, riding modes, lean-sensitive ABS and traction control are all carried over from the outgoing model.

Performance, versatility and comfort have always been at the heart of the Tiger Sport concept. Triumph invited us to southern Spain to discover whether the extra performance has made a good motorcycle even better.

The Ride

Over winter, southern Spain has been unusually cold and wet, but this time we were blessed with perfect riding conditions and some outstanding, near-empty roads. In the early morning sunshine, the updated Tiger Sport looked striking in its new colours, particularly the dramatically named Interstellar Blue and Mineral Grey.

Its styling now mirrors the larger Tiger Sport 800 and, at first glance, few would describe it as an entry-level motorcycle.

On board, the similarities continue. The colour dash remains clear and easy to navigate, with Bluetooth connectivity included as standard. The 835mm seat height matches the Tiger Sport 800 and, at 211kg wet, the 660 is only 3kg lighter than its bigger brother. That comparison is surprising, but the weight is carried low and never feels intimidating.

At 5ft 7in I could comfortably get both feet on the ground, if not quite flat-footed.

Despite its adventure-inspired styling, the Tiger Sport remains very much a road bike. The 17-inch front wheel immediately gives that away. You sit in the motorcycle rather than perched on top of it, which helps make the bike feel approachable and unintimidating.

Neat touches abound. The span-adjustable brake lever will suit smaller hands, while Triumph’s excellent Shift Assist quick-shifter is now standard equipment.

Like the dash, the rider aids are refreshingly straightforward. Three riding modes – Rain, Road and Sport – alter throttle response and traction control intervention. You can’t independently adjust traction control, and there are no engine braking strategies, but the overall package remains simple and easy to understand. Cruise control comes standard, while heated grips remain an optional extra.

Against rivals such as Yamaha’s Tracer 7 and Kawasaki’s Versys 650, the Tiger’s triple-cylinder engine remains its ace card. Combined with a high level of standard equipment and a retail price of just under $16,000, the overall package feels impressively competitive.

Touring Credentials Intact

The Tiger Sport has always been renowned for its versatility, but sports touring remains its true calling.

The adjustable screen can be moved with one hand through an 85mm range and makes a meaningful difference to rider comfort. The riding modes are equally easy to switch between on the move, and there is a noticeable difference between the soft-edged Rain mode and the more responsive Sport setting.

At relaxed cruising speeds, the triple’s soundtrack is a highlight. A deep burble accompanies the bike through its broad midrange, while fuelling remains precise and smooth. The quick-shifter works flawlessly whether commuting through town or attacking a mountain pass.

The upright riding position delivers excellent visibility in traffic, while the softly sprung suspension with 150mm of travel at both ends absorbs urban road imperfections with ease.

Although classified as a middleweight, the Tiger never feels particularly light. However, wide handlebars and excellent balance make low-speed manoeuvring effortless. It strikes me as an ideal motorcycle for serious commuters who need comfort, practicality and enough performance to make every ride enjoyable.

The Extra Power Changes Everything

As the roads opened up and the pace increased, the benefits of the revised engine became increasingly obvious.

The Tiger Sport flows beautifully through fast, sweeping roads. It encourages smoothness rather than aggression, carrying corner speed naturally and rewarding a flowing riding style.

As the revs rise, the three-cylinder engine becomes increasingly addictive. That mellow burble evolves into a trademark Triumph howl, and it takes considerable restraint not to keep chasing the rev limiter.

The additional 14bhp makes overtaking noticeably easier. More importantly, it makes overtaking safer because there is now significantly more performance in reserve.

The previous model’s 81bhp never felt underpowered, but once you added luggage, a pillion passenger or both, it could start to feel stretched. The new bike feels far more relaxed in those situations and has the performance to deal with high-speed overtakes without hesitation.

The larger fuel tank helps too. Despite the increased performance, Triumph claims a range of approximately 200 miles before the fuel warning light illuminates and more than 230 miles before empty.

Where The Limits Appear

The downside to the additional performance is that it exposes weaknesses that were less obvious on the previous model.

Ride the Tiger Sport at sports bike pace and the compliant suspension starts to feel underdamped. There is no damping adjustment available and while the remote rear preload adjuster is useful, there is only so much it can achieve.

The front brakes also begin to reveal their limitations when pushed hard. The twin-piston Nissin calipers and 310mm discs are perfectly adequate for everyday riding and touring duties, but riders regularly exploiting the new performance will find themselves reaching the limits of the braking package sooner than the engine’s.

That said, most owners will rarely encounter these issues.

Back in the real world, the Tiger Sport excels. The comfortable riding position, improved wind protection, larger fuel tank and stronger engine combine to create a genuinely capable long-distance machine.

Colour-matched panniers and a top box are available as factory accessories and make perfect sense given the bike’s touring ambitions.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have a lengthy motorway stint to assess high-speed vibration levels or fully evaluate the cruise control, but everything points towards a motorcycle capable of covering serious distances with ease.

Verdict

The Tiger Sport 660 has gone from being a sensible choice to a genuinely exciting one.

The 17% increase in power transforms the riding experience, adding urgency and flexibility without sacrificing any of the bike’s original strengths. It remains comfortable, practical and easy to ride, but now has the performance to genuinely entertain experienced riders.

The extra horsepower has also elevated its touring credentials. Whether carrying luggage, a passenger or both, the Tiger feels far more capable than before.

Yes, the suspension and brakes now feel slightly outgunned when ridden aggressively, but for the vast majority of riders these will be minor criticisms rather than genuine shortcomings.

For the money, the Tiger Sport 660 remains one of the best all-round motorcycles on the market. It can commute, tour, entertain on a Sunday morning blast and tackle a long-distance holiday without breaking a sweat.

And thanks to that upgraded engine, it does all of those things better than ever.

For more, check out your local Triumph dealer or head to Triumph NZ.

International Tester

Adam Child

Adam Child is an award-winning international freelance motorcycle journalist. Starting life at Fast Bikes Magazine before moving to Motorcycle News, 'Chad' made the move to freelance and has never looked back. With invites to virtually all the new model launches around the globe, Adam is one of the hardest working and most respected motorcycle testers in the industry. And he's also bloody quick, with lots of racing on his CV including the Isle of Man TT and national championships in the UK.