Triumph Motorcycles offers road-oriented adventure riders added value with the release of its 2021 Tiger 850 Sport ($11,995). The new Tiger pairs down some of the 900’s features to arrive at a more favorable price point. It’s a worthy option for those new to the midsize ADV segment.
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Triumph does a heck of a job making motorcycles that are easy to ride, and the Tiger 850 Sport is no different. The ergonomics are thoughtful and work well for a wide range of riders, both short and tall. Not only are the rider and passenger saddles wide and supportive, the height of the main seat can be adjusted. Six-foot-tall riders will appreciate the higher position. The bend of the handlebar is great for road use, and the toolless adjustable-height windscreen is nice and tall. Our only knock in an otherwise excellent ergos package is the smallish footpegs. Large passenger grab handles that double as tie-down points for luggage are another nice touch.
Filled with fuel, the Tiger weighs more than 470 pounds but it feels more agile than its spec sheet implies. The Triumph steers easily and is an exceptionally maneuverable bike for its size. The Marzocchi suspension components deliver pleasing ride quality over a range of road surfaces. The suspension has just enough support to make spirited riding fun too. Aside from shock preload adjustment you’re stuck with the Sport 850′s handling character.
Premium triple-disc hydraulic brakes, with fixed always-on ABS deliver responsive stopping power. While we appreciate their sharp performance, the front Brembo hardware is overkill for the fork setup to a certain degree. Still, aside from not being able to manually disable ABS, we can’t knock their function, nor the beautifully machined Stylema calipers.
The 850 Sport rolls on a set of cast alloy hoops (19-inch front, 17-inch rear) that offer a good compromise between road and off-road segments. To be fair though, tire manufacturers offer grippy shoe assortment for 21/18-inch wheel combos these days making the 19/17-inch-diameter wheels nearly obsolete.
Plenty of manufacturers offer inline-three engines, but none sound like a Triumph. We’re big fans of the Tiger’s meaty powerband and throaty tone. Although the 888cc engine has been detuned, it still has plenty of grunt to excite and keep a smile on your face. Power is doled out smoothly, however some degree of engine vibration is present in top gear at freeway speeds. It isn’t excessive though.
Two combined engine power and throttle maps are offered (Road and Rain) as well as on/off-adjustable traction control. The settings are manipulated via handlebar-mounted switch gear and a 5-inch color TFT display. The screen is bright and sharp and, in modern Triumph form, allows the rider to choose different themes and display settings.
The manual cable-actuated clutch offers a pleasing response with light lever pull. It also includes a back-torque function to mitigate instability if you downshift in too low of a gear for vehicle speed. We also like the positive engagement feel of the transmission when rowing through its six cogs. Fuel mileage-wise we recorded 42.4 mpg average which nets a range of more than 200 miles based on the generous capacity of the 5.3-gallon fuel tank.
When riding in cooler winter weather, you’ll likely appreciate the engine heat emitted by the radiators, however when the mercury is above 70 degrees, engine heat makes the cockpit downright unbearable.
Aside from a few squawks, the Tiger 850 Sport is an adept road-going adventure bike. It’s friendly to ride with a fun character. Engine heat aside, we appreciate its above-average levels of comfort and ride quality.
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