All-new 800 triple powers larger entry-level road adventure machine
There’s a lot of new bikes out for 2025 – but not many have a completely, all-new engine. But that’s what we have here in this all-new Triumph Tiger Sport 800, which extends the ‘Tiger Sport’ model range up from the entry-level novice-friendly 660 model currently on sale.
Triumph’s not gone back to the older 800 triple which it sold up to a few years ago, rather it’s used the outer parts of the 660 engine – cases, covers, head – and squeezed a new 800cc capacity powerplant inside the same space, which is a neat trick. The result is a compact, lightweight unit, but one which makes a decent 114bhp with 83Nm of torque. There’s a bigger bore (78mm) and longer stroke (55.7mm) over 660, and the 800 has the same bore and piston size as the firm’s 765 Street Triple but with a slightly longer stroke (up 2.3mm from 54.3mm), to give that 798cc capacity.
Triumph also given the new powerplant proper high-performance triple throttle bodies instead of the single body used on the lower output triples, a high compression ratio of 13.2:1 and ride by wire Bosch engine management. But it’s not got the T-plane crank seen on bigger bikes, sticking with a more conventional triple firing order: Triumph says the T-plane crank’s uneven firing order is better for off-road use.
Away from the engine, there’s the same basic steel tube perimeter type frame as on the 660, but the running gear has been upgraded. You get new Showa 41mm upside down separate function cartridge forks with rebound and compression damping adjustment, plus a Showa monoshock with rebound damping adjustment and a remote hydraulic preload adjuster that allows the spring preload to be easily optimised when carrying luggage and a pillion.
Up front there’s Triumph branded radial-mounted, four-piston brake calipers and twin 310mm discs, paired with a single piston sliding caliper and 255mm disc at the rear: standard enough fare in this sector. Road-sized 17” cast aluminium wheels front and rear wear Michelin’s Road 5 sports touring tyres, in 120/70 front and 180/55 rear sizes.
Triumph says it’s worked hard on comfort too, and reckons the new Tiger Sport 800 has a roomy, upright riding position and an ergonomically designed seat, with generous padding that supports both the rider and pillion, together with integrated grab handles for added passenger security.
The 835mm seat height and the slim stand-over width are decent for shorties – though there will be optional lowering add-ons from the accessory catalogue for sure. There’s a new manual-adjustable windscreen with single hand operation, and the integrated wind deflectors combine to enhance rider comfort at high speeds. An 18.6 litre fuel tank is nice to see as well, and is one in the eye for all those ‘14-litre tank’ bike designers out there.
Triumph’s no slouch when it comes to technology these days, and the Tiger Sport 800 gets ample kit to help you get the most from the bike in all conditions. There are three rider modes: Sport, Road, and Rain, with suitable levels of power, throttle response and traction control intervention. Triumph’s ‘Optimised Cornering’ ABS and traction control give more peace of mind in tricky conditions – this technology calculates the bike’s lean angle from a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) and automatically adjusts the level of intervention to deliver the optimum performance and control.
For longer journeys, there’s cruise control to make life easier, and a clean, compact multifunction display with LCD upper section above an integrated colour TFT screen, is easy to read at just a glance, and easy to use with its convenient switch cube. The My Triumph Connectivity System is fitted as standard, facilitating turn-by-turn navigation, phone and music information, all controlled via Bluetooth. All-LED lighting with distinctive Daytime Running Lights (DRL), ensures excellent visibility and a definite Triumph look.
So – a new upper-middleweight adventure tourer from Hinckley, with a solid road bias. The idea is to provide a new step up in the adventure class for the not-so-novice riders, while still keeping the things that have made the 660 Tiger Sport a hit. That means easy handling, reasonable weight (214kg wet) and decent tech levels, without breaking the bank (it’s priced just under £11k).
Triumph staff mutter that the competitors they were aiming for are the Yamaha Tracer 900 and BMW F900 XR, and they claim this bike outperforms them in roll-on and outright performance. We’ll see when it hits the shops next year.
Available from £10,995 the new 800 Tiger Sport comes in four colours, including Sapphire Black, or the premium options; Graphite, Cosmic Yellow, and Caspian Blue, all with contrasting Sapphire Black elements. Bikes will be arriving in dealerships from March 2025. More info: www.triumphmotorcycles.com
| ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION | |
| Type | Liquid-cooled, 3 cylinders, 12 valves, DOHC |
| Capacity | 798 cc |
| Bore | 78.0 mm |
| Stroke | 55.7 mm |
| Compression | 13.2:1 |
| Maximum Power | 115 PS / 113 bhp (84.6 kW) @ 10,750 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | 84 Nm @ 8,500 rpm |
| Fuel System | Bosch Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection with electronic throttle control. 3 rider modes (Rain, Road, Sport) |
| Exhaust | Stainless steel 3 into 1 header system with sided mounted stainless steel silencer |
| Final Drive | X ring chain |
| Clutch | Wet, multi-plate, slip & assist |
| Gearbox | 6 speed, Triumph Shift Assist |