I
If you love the adventure bike look with its confident riding position, practicality, wide handlebars and touches of glamour, but spend most of your time on tarmac, Triumph’s 850 Tiger Sport could be a find.
It’s easy to overlook in the company’s vast range as it sits below the more well-known Tiger 900, but it offers loads of fun, style and quality, all at a lower price point.
Despite that 850 badging, it actually has the same engine size as the 900, although the 888cc three-cylinder engine is trimmed to produce 84 hp and 60 ft/lbs, compared to the 93.9 hp and 64.2 ft/lbs of the more expensive bike .
Sure, the equipment is not as generous as with the 900, but many drivers do not need a wealth of driving modes, chic, finely adjustable suspension, connectable TFT screens or even a main stand – and are happy about a no-frills package. Especially if they are on a tighter budget.
So what do you get if you decide against the £11,500 900, keep £2,100 in your pocket and opt for the well-priced £9,400 850 Sport instead?
For starters, it’s a gorgeous looking bike with plenty of attitude thanks to its goofy stance, attractive color schemes, sharp graphics, sharply styled front end, long forks, raised exhaust, great looking LED lighting and slick adjustable screen.
In the blue and gray color of the press bike, it looked really delicious, ready to take on the world.
Simple rider
However, it’s the bike’s easy handling that will captivate potential buyers who come for a spin in the Triumph showrooms. Because the 850 feels wonderfully balanced right from the start, perfectly balanced, agile and light – even in the swirling London traffic.
The connection between the throttle and the motor is nice and linear, the motor is super smooth, the suspension is good and mushy over bumps and bumps but firmer than a “full” off-roader, and the seating position is nice and roomy, the wide bars making tight maneuvers child’s play.
handouts
The engine’s low-midrange power is well-suited for road work, including around town and on faster roads, while the light, friction-free clutch and transmission make this bike a real pleasure to ride.
After a quicker ride on open roads – where wind protection was adequate thanks to this easily adjustable screen – I particularly enjoyed exploring quiet East London back streets. The bike is easy to crawl and turn around, has a relatively tight turning circle, and is also light. It weighs only 192 kg and thanks to its good balance it is easy to push around or into a tight parking space.
trust
This Tiger also handles well at higher speeds, the 19″ cast aluminum front wheel gives plenty of feedback and confidence (it’s a 17″ wheel at the rear). True, you won’t take this very far off the road – not least since it sits on road-oriented tires – but it would be fine for a little light green laning if that’s your thing. Or to bump over a curb or ramp, perhaps to get to your parking space.
There’s no adjustability on the front suspension and only preload to change the rear suspension, while there are only two riding modes – Rain or Road. There’s also no cruise control or heated grips, and while there’s ABS and traction control, it’s not angle-sensitive.
handouts
However, you do get a decent 5-inch TFT screen that’s configurable, a 12V outlet and a two-stage adjustable seat, while there’s an assist/slipper clutch too. And – if you’re ready to dive into those savings – the list of optional extras is pretty extensive.
If you fancy more challenging lumps, bumps and mud then you’d better skip that £2,100 (and a bit more) and opt for the 900 instead, perhaps the £12,100 Rally with its larger 21-inch spoked front wheel and additional ride modes .
However, for most drivers – including many in London – the 850 hits the spot; not too pricey, not too many fancy extras you don’t need, while it’s great in traffic, fun on a longer drive and doesn’t look out of place when you fancy the occasional trudge on gravel roads.
The facts
Triumph Tiger 850
Costs: £9,400
Engine: 888cc liquid-cooled in-line three-cylinder
Maximum Power: 84 hp
Maximum Torque: 60 foot pounds
Fuel Capacity: 20 liters
seat height: 830mm – 810mm
Weight: 192kg
Comments are closed.