Triumph Motorcycles India recently launched an entry-level sports tourer, the Triumph Tiger Sport 660, based on the Triumph Trident 660, with a sight to take on the Kawasaki Versys 650 and Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT in the country. Launched at an introductory price of ₹ 8.95 lakh (Ex-showroom), the Triumph Tiger Sport 660 is the most affordable product in the Triumph Tiger range, targeted at a new but young audience. Triumph says the new Tiger Sport 660 is a versatile machine, offering long-distance touring, as well as being a capable daily rider. But how does it stack against the other entry-level sports tourer in the segment? We find out.

The Triumph Tiger Sport 660 gets a half-fairing with LED headlamps, a tall windscreen, and a revised subframe

First up, are the Triumph Tiger Sport 660 and the Kawasaki Versys 650. Out of the two, the Kawasaki Versys 650 is the more affordable offering, with a single variant available at ₹ 7.15 lakh (ex-showroom), making it the most affordable in the segment as well, that too by quite a margin. Kawasaki had updated the Versys 650 last year, with a BS6, 649 cc twin-cylinder engine, that develops 65 bhp @ 8,500 rpm and 61 Nm of peak torque available @ 7,000 rpm, paired to a 6-speed gearbox.

The Kawasaki Versys 650 is priced at ₹ 7.15 lakh

In terms of features, the Kawasaki Versys 650 comes with a 21-litre fuel tank, 41 mm USD adjustable front forks with 150 mm of travel and an offset laydown adjustable monoshock at the rear with 145 mm of travel. Braking performance comes from 300 mm petal discs up front and dual-piston calipers, while the rear gets a 250 mm petal disc brake with a single-piston caliper. The bike rides on 17-inch alloy wheels. In comparison, the Triumph Tiger Sport 660 features a 17.2-litre fuel tank and has a height-adjustable windshield mounted on the half-fairing. It has a seat height of 835 mm, while fuel consumption is claimed at 22.2 kmpl.

The Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT is a mid-size adventure touring motorcycle, priced at ₹ 8.84 lakh (ex-showroom, India), making it affordable by almost ₹ 1.1 lakh to the Triumph Tiger Sport 660's ex-showroom price. The Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT comes with a revised engine that meets Euro5 and BS6 emission norms. The 645 cc 90-degree, V-Twin engine produces 70 bhp @ 8,800 rpm and 62 Nm of peak torque @ 6,500 rpm, paired with a 6-speed gearbox.

The Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT rides on a 19-inch unit at the front and a 17-inch wheel at the rear, wrapped in Bridgestone Battlax Adventure A40 tyres. Suspension duties are handled by 43 mm telescopic front forks and a monoshock at the rear, while braking performance is handled by twin 320 mm discs at the front with two-piston calipers and a 260 mm single disc at the rear with a single-piston caliper. The bike has a kerb weight of 216 kg. The Tiger Sport 660 is also offered in Korosi Red/Graphite colour option, at an extra ₹ 13,000, taking the price of the motorcycle to ₹ 9.08 lakh (ex-showroom, India). 

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