Back in February Triumph unveiled a new version of the Tiger Sport featuring the 1050cc engine that Canadian riders will remember graced the last sporty Tiger available in Canada then simply named the Tiger 1050. That Tiger filled a void between the old adventure themed Tiger that existed up until 2004 and the new adventure themed Tiger Explorer that appeared on our shores as a 2011 model. The Tiger 1050 had no offroad aspirations but was rather a upright sport machine with an incredibly enjoyable big triple motor. It is true that Triumph did feel the pressure to join the upswell in adventure touring bikes lead by BMW and KTM and followed by Moto Guzzi. Ducati remained with two feet in the sport segment but a few toes dangling across the adventure line with the Multistrada until the arrival this year of the Multistrada Enduro (a bike that goes so far to feature a bash plate) so you can assume that other foot has moved into the adventure segment. But there is that other niche – “sport-adventure-pavement” in which all the other Multistradas along with KTM’s fierce Super Duke GT reside and where in some markets the Tiger Sport has still existed. It is a growing segment and one that follows the demographics of older riders wanting the sport bike handling without the sport bike ergonomics. The bike gets all the tech goodies that riders often expect including riding modes, traction control, ABS, slip assist clutch and cruise control but it is the revised 1050 motor also found in the Speed Triple that makes this sporty Tiger special. For we Canadians the inclusion of the Tiger Sport in the Canadian line-up depends on the US also wanting the bike but a good thing is a good thing so perhaps that is a likely scenario.
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