2022 Triumph Tiger 660 Sport vs Kawasaki Versys 650 vs Suzuki V Strom 650 XT

Triumph just released the cat out of the bag, the Tiger 660 Sport, as its next offering in its illustrious lineup of adventure tourers. Now, don’t let the ‘Tiger’ in its name make you believe as an authentic adventure tourer like the bigger 850cc and 900cc Tigers, as it is a semi-faired version of the Trident 660 Roadster with a few minor mechanical changes. However, despite that, the Triumph Tiger 660 Sport promises to be a great companion for long-distance highway tourers.

Here, we compare the Triumph Tiger 660 Sport with the other two semi-faired adventure tourers from the middleweight category – Kawasaki Versys 650 and Suzuki V-Strom 650. Both these Japanese motorcycles have been in India for quite a long time now. So, let’s check out what newness has the Triumph Tiger 660 Sport brought to the segment: 

Price

Compared to the twin-cylinder Kawasaki Versys 650 and Suzuki V-Strom 650, which are priced at Rs 7.15 lakh and Rs 8.84 lakh, the triple-cylinder Triumph Tiger 660 Sport is priced at Rs 8.95 lakh, thus making it the most expensive motorcycle among the trio.

(Both prices mentioned above are ex-showroom, pan India)

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Engine and Chassis

Compared to the two-cylinder engines in the Japanese motorcycles here – 649cc parallel-twin in the Kawasaki Versys 650 and 645cc 90-degree V-twin in the Suzuki V-Strom 650, the Triumph Tiger 660 Sport has the biggest 660cc inline-three engine. With the maximum power and torque outputs rated at 80 bhp and 64 Nm respectively, it is the most powerful and advanced engine in the trio.

The Triumph Tiger 660 Sport also has the most advanced suspension setup at both front and rear, both of which are premium units sourced from Showa. While the Triumph Tiger 660 Sport has the biggest front and rear tyres, the Suzuki V-Strom 650 has the biggest and best-in-feel front and rear braking setup. The suspension of the Suzuki V-Strom 650 offers the longest travel at both front and rear, and with spoke wheels, it is the best motorcycle here for rougher roads.

Dimension

When it comes to dimensions, while the Triumph Tiger 660 Sport is the smallest motorcycle here, the Suzuki V-Strom 650 is the biggest, with the Kawasaki Versys 650 finding a middle ground between the two motorcycles. The Versys 650 has the tallest seat height and has the biggest fuel tank while weighing the most too.

Design and Features

All the three motorcycles here have distinctive personalities of their own. While the Versys 650 and V-Strom 650 look like scaled-down versions of their big-capacity siblings, the Versys 1000 and V-Strom 1050, the Tiger 660 Sport looks completely different from the big-capacity Tiger 900.

When it comes to modern features, it is the Triumph Tiger 660 Sport that’s leagues ahead of the other two motorcycles. There is a host of features that are available only in the Tiger 660 Sport, and not in the other two motorcycles, such as LED headlamps, daytime running LEDs, LED turn indicators, LED tail lamp, two riding modes (rain and road), ride-by-wire, a fully-digital two-part instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity and navigation. The Versys 650 and V-Strom 650 look a bit dated in comparison, with a halogen setup for all lights and old-school part-digital instruments.

All these three motorcycles come equipped with integrated pannier holders and dual-channel ABS, while the Versys 650 is the only motorcycle here that misses out on switchable traction control.

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 Verdict

While all the three motorcycles here cater to the middleweight adventure tourer segment, they have differing personalities targeted toward different sets of buyers.

The Suzuki V-Strom 650 feels the oldest in the lot, which it feels too in the way it looks and is equipped. However, if you are someone who is more of a seasoned rider and wants to explore the unexplored more often, it is the perfect motorcycle among this trio. The bigger size, taller seat height, spoke wheels and long-travel suspension make for perfect ingredients for out-and-out off-road riding. However, for its high asking price, it could have come equipped with more modern features.

The Kawasaki Versys 650 too is as old as the Suzuki V-Strom 650, and while the newly revised graphics try to hide its age, the lack of modern-day features do highlight that shortcoming. It even misses out on a couple of features that are there in the V-Strom 650, such as switchable traction control and a trip computer. However, for someone new to riding a middleweight motorcycle, the Versys 650 comes across as a friendly-to-ride motorcycle with enough power and easy handling. It is also the most affordable of the lot by a substantial margin.

However, despite the higher asking price, it is the Triumph Tiger 660 Sport that takes the crown. It feels the most modern with the longest list of features, the compact size allows newer riders to take control over it much more easily, its engine is the most powerful and refined and it has got the most sophisticated chassis. It feels like the most complete package and offers a decent amount of off-road ride-ability, if not as good as the Suzuki V-Strom 650.

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