The One-Year-Old Motorcycle That Balances Comfort And Everyday Rideability
Finding a motorcycle that genuinely does it all — commute, weekend blast, light touring — used to mean serious compromise. Not anymore. The middleweight adventure and touring segment has matured into one of the most competitive corners of the market, and buried within it is a bike that deserves far more attention than it typically gets: the 2025 Triumph Tiger Sport 660.
In a segment dominated by motorcycles that are almost practical to a fault, it is Triumph who offers a motorcycle that adds some spice to go along with its pragmatism. The Tiger 660’s triple stands out as a major point of difference. Triumph also recently added a selection of great features to the platform without disturbing its attractive price tag. The 2026 Tiger 660 received major updates, but if you’re fine getting a new-ish used one, then the 2025 model should be on your shopping list.
The 2025 Triumph Tiger 660 Balances Comfort And Everyday Rideability
Triumph might have actually gotten away with increasing the price a little, but by holding the line after its most recent update, the value proposition has only strengthened. It was one of the best motorcycles under $10k when new, and now even more so as a used buy. Yet, even with that hugely competitive price tag, it still gets overlooked. That is more a reflection of how fiercely contested this end of the market is — and its main competitor happens to be a fan favorite.
The Kawasaki Versys 650 has served as the lightweight tourer of choice for a long time, and for good reason. It is able to balance long-distance comfort, agile handling, and long-term reliability like few other motorcycles on the market. It is about as proven as a motorcycle can be. The LT version carries a premium, but you do get all the extras, including hard cases.
The Honda NX750X is another viable alternative. On paper it looks a little underpowered, but thanks to its maxi-scooter-derived platform, it carries its weight low and delivers a notably flat torque curve. Its DCT is also a major point of difference on a tourer. If you are willing to wait a little, Suzuki will launch an SV650-based tourer in 2026. While there will be those who would prefer to see an all-new model, by repurposing an established platform, the SV-7GX should come in at under $10k.
The Tiger Sport 660 Has A Reworked Sports Bike Engine
Power: 81 Horsepower
The Daytona 675 was a supersport legend. It took the fight to the dominant inline-four Japanese bikes all the way through the 2000s, and at the peak of its powers was making as much as 128 horsepower. Triumph took that gem of an engine and reworked it to optimize midrange performance, reliability, and durability. The end result may not be as awe-inspiring as the old Daytona, but it injects just the right amount of excitement into an otherwise pragmatic motorcycle.
Triples Are Inherently Unbalanced Engines
Triumph is the one manufacturer that has really persisted with the triple configuration. Other manufacturers have dabbled with it, but don’t tend to use it as extensively as the British brand. The positives are easy to see, as it balances the top-end performance associated with inline-fours with the low-end grunt associated with twins.
Unfortunately, every engine configuration has a weak point, and for the triple it lies in its inherently unbalanced firing order. No matter what you do with a triple, there will always be some vibrations higher up in the rev range. For most riders it is hardly noticeable, but if you do feel it and it annoys you, it can be a dealbreaker — especially on a touring bike.
The Tiger Sport 660 Is A Competent Sport-Tourer
Out of all the 600-class adventure and touring bikes currently on the market, the Tiger Sport 660 is actually one of the lightest at 456 pounds. While the rudimentary steel frame is nothing to write home about, and its Showa suspension is not exactly top-shelf, the two work well in harmony. With only 80 horsepower to manage, it is more than competent enough on a nice twisty road. It also has a remote rear preload adjuster, making it easy to dial in the rear suspension before a long trip with added luggage or a passenger.
More Bang For Your Buck
We would go as far as saying that this really is the best way to spend $10k on a motorcycle if you are after an all-rounder of sorts. With it being so light and comfortable, it is easy to use as a daily commuter. While it is not a bike you would want to take off-road, it will handle the odd fire road without much fuss. In the past, the Tiger Sport 660 was criticized for omitting cruise control — a baffling decision given that it already had a ride-by-wire throttle. That oversight has since been corrected.
It also has cornering ABS, traction control, and a genuinely surprising addition in the form of a quickshifter, something not often found on budget-minded bikes like this. One thing you don’t get is a large TFT display. Instead, you get a rather small one nestled in a conventional dash. We love it and think it looks great, but we also need to acknowledge that some riders will expect a more sophisticated instrument cluster from a modern motorcycle, and it simply doesn’t have that. Even so, at this price point it remains an impressive package — one that makes some of the competition look overpriced and a little boring by comparison.
Sources: Triumph
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