Triumph Tiger Sport 800 Review: Road-Ready Refinement

All-new 798cc triple with 115hp and 84Nm — smooth, torquey and character-packed.
17-inch wheels & Showa suspension give sharp, road-focused handling.
Adventure comfort meets sportbike agility — the ideal Kiwi all-rounder.

Adventure styling, an engaging three-cylinder powerplant, plenty of tech and sporty manners. The new Triumph Tiger 800 Sport blends the lines to make a bike that’s almost like it’s made for NZ’s roads.

Time passes, trends shift, and motorcycles evolve to match the changing needs of riders. Once upon a time, an adventure bike meant tall suspension, 19- or 21-inch front wheels, and at least a passing interest in gravel. These days, things have taken a distinctly asphalt-focused turn.

Manufacturers have caught on that most riders want the comfort and versatility of an adventure bike — without ever leaving the tarmac. So now we’re seeing a wave of “crossover” machines rolling out of Europe with 17-inch wheels front and rear. BMW did it with the S 1000 XR, then doubled down with the M 1000 XR. Ducati followed suit with the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak and the ferocious V4 RS. The message is clear: adventure styling, sportsbike soul.

Enter Triumph’s all-new Tiger Sport 800 — a bike that looks every bit the part of a globe-trotter but is built from the ground up for life on the road. It’s an evolution of the Tiger nameplate that keeps the upright stance, long-range comfort and quality finish we expect, while adding a sharper sporting edge.

Adventure comfort and sportsbike handling — that’s the promise. Triumph calls it “a seamless blend of high-performance sportiness and exceptional touring capability”. And with 17-inch wheels, grippy road rubber, and no hint of an off-road mode anywhere in its electronics, this Tiger makes its intentions clear. It’s here for the asphalt — not the outback.

While the frame and styling share DNA with the Tiger Sport 660, everything else has been turned up a notch. The new 798 cc DOHC triple is an all-new design that will likely form the heart of several upcoming Triumph models. It’s a sweet-revving, torque-rich engine producing 115PS (113hp) at 10,750rpm and 84Nm of torque at 8,500 rpm — roughly 30PS up on the 888cc triple found in the Tiger Sport 850. Service intervals are now stretched to a generous 16,000km, too.

The Ride

The shift from a 19-inch to a 17-inch front wheel might sound small, but it completely changes the Tiger’s personality. Where the Tiger 850 Sport felt friendly and forgiving, the new 800 feels tighter, sportier and more alive. If the 850 Sport was an all-rounder, this one’s a proper backroad scratcher — more comparable to KTM’s 890 SMT or Yamaha’s Tracer 9 GT than BMW’s F 900 GS or Ducati’s Multistrada V2.

Our test ride kicked off in the Portuguese hills under cool morning light, and from the moment I swung a leg over, the Tiger’s finish impressed. The 835mm seat feels low once you’re aboard, giving that “in the bike” sensation that breeds confidence. At 170cm tall, I could comfortably get both feet on the ground — something not all adventure-styled bikes can claim.

“With 17-inch wheels, grippy road rubber, and no hint of an off-road mode anywhere in its electronics, this Tiger makes its intentions clear. It’s here for the asphalt — not the outback.”

The ergonomics are spot-on for long days in the saddle: upright but relaxed, with bars set closer and narrower than a true adventure bike to suit its sportier intentions. The five-inch TFT display is clean, bright and easy to use, and while the switchgear isn’t flashy, it’s intuitive and tactile.

Triumph’s fuelling remains among the best in the business. The Ride-by-Wire throttle is perfectly judged — smooth in Road mode, gentler in Rain, and snappier in Sport. The quickshifter works beautifully both up and down the box, even at low speeds, while the clutch action is light and precise.

Despite the damp early-morning roads, the Tiger’s Michelin Road 5s found plenty of grip. I started in Rain mode but quickly switched to Road, and the traction control barely had to intervene. The chassis feels light and balanced, steering with an ease and accuracy that instantly inspires trust. You can flick it from corner to corner without effort, and unlike some taller adventure models, there’s none of that vague, top-heavy feeling.

As the roads dried and the pace quickened, the Tiger Sport 800 really came alive. The triple engine emits a wonderful growl at low revs that builds into a raspy howl as you climb toward 10,000rpm. The soundtrack alone encourages you to ride harder.

Power delivery is linear but enthusiastic — there’s strong drive from 4,000rpm upward, and the midrange torque makes overtakes effortless. If you hold a gear and chase the redline, it pulls all the way to its 11,500rpm limiter with proper urgency, but the sweet spot is between 6,000 and 9,000rpm, where the triple is punchy and responsive without ever feeling frantic.

In Sport mode, throttle response sharpens noticeably. Traction control takes a step back, allowing small, controllable wheelies over crests, and the front-end feel through that 17-inch wheel is outstanding. There’s no twitchiness, just feedback and stability.

Triumph_Tiger_Sport_800_action road review — *Triumph brakes are good enough to scrub decent speed*

The suspension setup deserves praise. The Showa 41mm forks offer separate damping adjustment and feel perfectly tuned — supple on bumpy roads yet supportive when braking hard. The rear shock’s remote preload adjuster is a welcome feature and easy to tweak for passengers or luggage. With 150mm of travel at both ends, Triumph’s struck a fine balance: enough movement for comfort without excessive dive or wallow.

The radial-mount calipers aren’t Brembos, but they’re powerful, progressive, and easy to modulate. The cornering ABS occasionally cuts in early under really hard braking, but otherwise remains unobtrusive. Together, the brakes and suspension make for a planted, predictable ride that invites confidence.

Out on faster, open roads, the Tiger settles into an easy rhythm. The triple hums smoothly at highway speeds, and the adjustable screen does a decent job of deflecting wind from your chest and helmet. Optional heated grips — fitted on our test bike — kept hands toasty during Portugal’s chilly morning temperatures, and the seat remained comfortable for hours.

It’s on flowing, technical tarmac where this bike really shines. The light steering and neutral balance make it ridiculously easy to hustle through tight turns, and the 214kg wet weight feels much lighter once on the move. Compared with the 660, the 800 feels more refined and composed, with higher build quality and a more premium feel overall.

Even after a full day’s spirited riding, the Tiger impressed with its efficiency. I averaged around 5.5 L/100km, not far off Triumph’s official 4.7 L/100km claim. With its 18.6-litre tank, you’re looking at over 300km between fill-ups, which makes it a capable tourer as well as a weekend blaster.

Luggage options are available straight from Triumph — the same panniers and mounts as the 660 — so you can set it up for touring or commuting with ease. The combination of flexibility, performance and comfort makes this one of the most versatile middleweights on the market right now.

Verdict

The Tiger Sport 800 might look like an adventure bike, but its heart beats firmly on the road. If you’re chasing gravel trails, look elsewhere — this one’s about carving tarmac, eating kilometres, and doing it all in comfort.

Think of it as three bikes in one: a weekday commuter, a weekend sports tourer, and an effortless long-distance machine. Attach luggage and it’ll tour like a pro; ditch the bags and it’ll chase sportbikes through the Coromandel.

It’s comfortable, beautifully built, packed with real-world performance, and loaded with just enough tech to keep you safe without overcomplicating things. The triple engine is the star — smooth, torquey, and alive with that classic Triumph character.

The 800’s combination of chassis poise, power delivery, and premium finish gives it an edge in the midweight sport-touring class. And with a price that sits well under the major rivals here in NZ (Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ $28,349, BMW F 900 XR $26,790, Honda Transalp $19,495, Suzuki V-Strom 800DE $18,990), Triumph might just have nailed the formula for riders who want a proper all-rounder.

The adventure-bike look might fool you, but spend five minutes on the Tiger Sport 800 and you’ll know — this cat’s all about the road.

BRM Verdict

⭐️ 9/10 Triumph’s Tiger Sport 800 blends triple-engine excitement with real-world comfort and control — the perfect crossover for Kiwi riders who live for the road.

Review: Adam Child | Photography: Chippy Wood, Gareth Hartford