New cat on the block

Triumph lift the lid on their all-new Tiger Sport 800

2025 NEW MODEL

835mm seat and 17in wheels

HIGHLIGHTS

• Priced at £10,995
• All-new three-cylinder engine
• Replaces the Tiger Sport 850

Triumph are upping the ante in the middleweight sports-touring class with the arrival of the all-new Tiger Sport 800. Set to hit showrooms in March 2025 priced £10,995, this new model plugs the gap in Triumph’s range left by the outgoing Tiger 850 Sport, slotting in between the hugely popular Tiger Sport 660 and the Tiger 900 range.

The Tiger Sport 800 promises to combine the best of both worlds, delivering more power and torque than the adventure-style 850, with near-identical power output to the old 1050 (which was discontinued in 2021), but in a more compact, agile package that more closely mirrors the rider-friendly dimensions of the 660.

Heart of the Tiger

At the core of the new 800 is a flat-plane 798cc triple-cylinder engine, pumping out a healthy 113bhp and 62lb.ft of torque.

Triumph’s focus here isn’t just on headline numbers, though – it’s all about real-world performance, with 90% of peak torque available throughout the midrange.

These numbers put it directly in the firing line of Yamaha’s Tracer 9 and BMW’s F900XR – which both share similar outputs.

Interestingly, Triumph say the new powerplant shares ‘some’ limited hardware with their 765cc motor, including the same 78mm bore. That said, with a longer 55.7mm stroke and various other differences, the 800 triple is far from simply being a bored-out Street Triple engine.

Same frame, more grunt

Despite the extra muscle, Triumph have managed to shoehorn the 800 triple into the same tried and tested chassis as the Tiger Sport 660, with overall engine dimensions being almost the same. This means the familiar 835mm seat height and the nimble, easy-to-manage nature of the smaller machine have been retained, keeping the 800 accessible for a wide range of riders.

While the frame and swingarm are shared, the new Tiger rides on more premium suspension. The Showa setup provides 150mm of travel front and rear, with fully adjustable 41mm upside-down forks and a Showa monoshock at the rear, complete with rebound damping adjustment and a remote hydraulic preload adjuster to easily accommodate a pillion or luggage.

Braking is handled by radial-mounted four-piston front calipers gripping 310mm twin discs, complemented by a single-piston rear caliper with a 255mm disc. All this keeps the Tiger’s 214kg weight in check.

Triumph have comfy two-up touring in mind

Touring potential

Triumph are pitching the Tiger Sport 800 as a dedicated road-focused sports-tourer, designed for long days in the saddle for both rider and pillion. There’s no off-road pretensions here unlike the Tiger 900 and 1200, and the 800 runs on 17in wheels wrapped in Michelin Road 5 tyres.

Comfort is front and centre with upright, spacious ergos and a large windscreen (that can be adjusted using one hand on-the-fly), and standard-fit air deflectors to shield you from the elements.

Thanks to a claimed fuel economy figure just north of 60mpg, the Tiger’s 18.6-litre tank should squeeze just shy of 250 miles.

For riders wanting more, there are over 40 accessories to choose from, including an Akrapovic slip-on exhaust, heated grips, and a full luggage system, with panniers that connect seamlessly with integrated mounting hardware, and a topbox which should be big enough for two full-face helmets.

Rider-focused tech

Thanks to a six axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), the 800 comes with cornering optimised ABS and traction control. There are also three riding modes to toggle between – namely ‘Road’, ‘Rain’, and ‘Sport’ – which are equipped to dull or advance throttle response and electronic intervention relative to conditions.

Cruise control and a bidirectional quickshifter come as standard, and the TFT dash includes phone pairing via the My Triumph Connectivity System, enabling turn-by-turn navigation, phone calls, and music control.

All that comes at a price just shy of £11,000 for the bike in Sapphire Black, or for an additional cost you can choose between Graphite, Cosmic Yellow, and Caspian Blue. You will be able to see the bike for yourself at Motorcycle Live in Birmingham next month.

Big midrange for real road fun

THAT TIGER DNA BURNS BRIGHT

850 was more dual-purpose

Triumph have a long lineage of upright and long-travel touring machines. Although the first Triumph to bear the Tiger badge appeared in 1937, it wasn’t until the 1993 885cc Tiger 900 that the adventure-touring DNA we recognise today emerged.

The 955i ushered in a new evolution, then the 1050, launched in 2006, changed the game again, gaining a dedicated following before its 2021 retirement.

In the same year, the Hinckley marque introduced the Tiger 850 Sport – a cheaper alternative to their Tiger 900 range, but with it too set to get the axe, the new 800 will now fill its place.

There are key differences between the two machines, however. Where the 850 was a watered-down adventure bike, shod with a 19 in front wheel and a chassis intended to lap up life both on and off the tarmac, the new Tiger Sport 800, despite its rugged looks, is born for a different hunting ground.

It packs a far more powerful motor, with nearly 30bhp extra on tap. Service intervals are much improved too, with the new 800 only requiring a visit to the dealership only after 10,000 miles.

Chassis components, including wheels and suspension are also more suited to the tarmac, with 17in hoops at both ends and a shorter travel set of forks and rear shock.