The motorcycle that balances comfort and everyday driving characteristics

Nowadays we are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to versatile motorcycles. The most versatile of these are middleweight adventure and touring bikes. When it comes to comfort, adventure bikes are somewhat limited in what they can realistically offer, but there are a great selection of lightweight touring bikes that tick that particular box.

In a segment dominated by motorcycles that are almost practical, it is Triumph that offers a motorcycle that adds some spice to match its pragmatism. The Tiger 660’s triple stands out as an important point of difference. Triumph has also recently added a selection of great features to the platform without disrupting the attractive price tag.

In order to provide you with the most current and accurate information, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Triumph. While the opinions are ours.

The 2025 Triumph Tiger 660 balances between comfort and everyday driving characteristics

MSRP: $9,695

Triumph may have gotten away with raising the price a bit, but by not increasing the price after the most recent update, the value proposition has increased. It’s one of the best motorcycles under $10,000, but even with that wildly competitive price tag, it’s still overlooked. This has more to do with how competitive this part of the market is, and its main competitor is a fan favorite.

The Kawasaki Versys 650 has long been the lightweight touring car of choice, and for good reason. It’s able to strike a balance between long-distance comfort, agile handling and long-term reliability like few other motorcycles on the market. It’s about as proven as a motorcycle can be. These days the LT version is a bit pricey, but you do get all the toppings, including hard cases.

The Honda NX750X is another viable alternative. On paper it looks a bit underpowered, but thanks to the fact that it rides on a maxi-scooter platform, it carries light weight and has a fairly flat torque curve. The DCT is also an important point of difference on a touring car. If you’re willing to wait a little longer, Suzuki will launch an SV650-based tourer in 2026. While there will be those who would prefer to see an all-new model, by reusing an older platform the SV-7GX should come in at under $10,000.

The Tiger Sport 660 has a reworked sports bike engine

Power: 81 hp

The Daytona 675 was a super sports legend. It spent the entire 2000s battling the dominant inline-four Japanese motorcycles, and at the height of its powers it made a whopping 128 horsepower. Triumph has reworked that gem of an engine to optimize performance, reliability and durability in the mid-range segment. The end result may not be as awe-inspiring as the old Daytona, but it adds just the right amount of spice to an otherwise pragmatic motorcycle.

Triples are inherently unbalanced engines

Triumph is the only manufacturer that has really stuck with the triple configuration. Other manufacturers have worked with it, but don’t use it as extensively as the British brand. The positives are easy to see, as it balances the top performance of inline-fours with the low-end grunt associated with twins.

Unfortunately, every engine configuration has a weak point, and for the triple this lies in its unbalanced nature. No matter what you do with a triple, there will always be vibrations higher in the rev range. For most riders it’s barely noticeable, but if you do feel it and it irritates you, it can be a deal breaker. Especially on a touring bike.

The Tiger Sport 660 is a competent Sport Tourer

Of all the 600-class adventure and touring bikes on the market today, 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 the Showa suspension isn’t exactly top-notch, they work well in harmony. With only 80 hp, it is more than capable on a nice winding stretch of road. It also has a remote rear preload adjuster, so it’s quite easy to set up the rear suspension for a long trip with extra luggage or a passenger.

More value for your money

We’d go as far as to say that this really is the best way to spend £10,000 on a motorcycle, if you’re looking for some sort of all-rounder. Because it’s so light and comfortable, it’s easy to use as a daily commuter. While it won’t be a bike you’d want to take off-road, it can tackle the odd fire road without much fuss. In the past this has been criticized for the omission of cruise control, a somewhat baffling omission considering it already had a ride-by-wire throttle. This has now been resolved.

It also features cornering ABS, traction control and a truly surprising addition in the form of a quickshifter, something not often found on budget-oriented bikes like this. One thing you don’t get is a large TFT screen. Instead you get a fairly small one, nestled in a conventional dashboard. We love it and think it looks great, but we also have to recognize that there will be riders who expect a more refined dashboard from a modern motorcycle, and the bike simply doesn’t have that. Still, it’s still an impressive package at this price, making some of the competition look overpriced and a bit boring by comparison.