THE Triumph Tiger 850 Sport caught the attention of many adventure bike enthusiasts when it arrived in Malaysia.
The motorcycle, which features a 888cc three-cylinder engine, has good performance and robust quality like other Triumph Tiger models along with value for money price point compared with its segment rivals.
The bike weighs 217kg (wet weight) and the fuel capacity is 20 litres.
The sitting position of this bike is upright and the reach to the handlebars is relaxed.
There is no stress on the shoulders and arms.
The bike also comes with an adjustable seat height from 31.9 to 32.7 inch.
One thing I must admit, after four hours of riding the bike with one hour break in between, the ride was comfortable.
The saddle was firm and comfy, ideal for long rides.
The bike comes with a windscreen which could be adjusted easily while on the move.
I could ride the bike way beyond above the legal speed limit without my head bobbing around aimlessly, made possible when the windshield is at tallest setting.
In fact, during a heavy downpour, the windshield also protected me from the rain.
During my long ride or while waiting at the traffic lights, I did not feel any heat around my legs.
Although the heat disbursement was excellent, some journalists did complain about it.
From the time I thumbed the starter in the morning and after a five-hour of ride and back home late afternoon, I was mindful of the engine’s character.
The bike accelerates with very little effort, and it was easy for the engine to hit the 5,000rpm easily.
The hand clutch, gear and the throttle worked in unison offering the ultimate biking experience.
I only needed three fingers to pull in the clutch lever and the Tiger Sports 850 is at ease be it on the highways or the city traffic.
The engine is friendly and has no surprises. Every time I twisted the throttle, the power delivery is smooth with no sudden surge of power.
It is a pleasant experience that will put any new rider at ease as the engine offers a combination of wide band of power with good torque that is ideal for a middleweight adventure bike of this sort.
The Tiger 850 Sport comes with a smaller five-inch display screen unlike the Tiger 900 GT and Rally variants that get a seven-inch screen.
What I like about the screen is that it comes with four different graphic layouts.
The info on the screen is legible even on sunny days but I would have preferred for the info readout fonts to be a bit bigger.
Coming with Rain and Road riding modes, Rain reduces the throttle response but Road gave me the desired throttle response with no lag in power delivery.
The Tiger 850 Sport does not comes with the "bells and whistles" of more expensive bikes but gets at least riders’ aids such as traction control and anti-lock braking system.
You can disable the traction control but the ABS stays on permanently.
This bike tackles any corner with confidence and I did not have to work hard as it leans in naturally.
On a few tight twisties, I was quite impressed that I was able to maneuver confidently around 90kph.
The front comes with a Marzocchi fork which is non-adjustable but is set well and designed to remain in between soft and firm while tackling uneven roads.
Meanwhile, the Marzocchi rear shock, is preload-adjustable, which did well in all the corners and twisties while riding up to the Frasers Hill.
The Tiger 850 Sport is fitted with two Brembo Stylema four-piston calipers biting 320mm discs at the front and a single-piston caliper with a 255mm disc in the rear.
Feedback from the front calipers is better than the back, delivering good stopping power.
Kudos to the front forks where the braking is handled with care with a bit of dive.
The Tiger 850 Sports is an ideal adventure bike for any newbie as its power is easily controlled and basic features are sufficient to make its a value-for-money buy.
This RM59,900 bike is perfect for the daily commute and also as a touring bike for long trips.
SPECIFICATIONS
Triumph Tiger 850 Sport
Engine: 888cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled inline three-cylinder, 12 valves
Maximum power: 84hp at 8,500rpm
Maximum torque: 82Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed
Suspension: Front Marzocchi 45mm inverted fork; rear Marzocchi monoshock, preload adjustable
Braking system: Front Brembo Stylema four-piston calipers, dual 320mm floating discs with ABS; rear Brembo single piston sliding caliper, 255mm disc with ABS
Fuel capacity: 20 litres
Wet weight: 217kg
Price: RM59,900 (without registration, road tax and insurance)
