In the run-up to EICMA, many companies are teasing us with glimpses of new models and technologies. One such teaser comes from Triumph, which shows us the 800 badge on a motorcycle’s fuel tank, leaving us to speculate about what this new bike could be.
- Tank shape looks sporty, so this is not a neo-retro model
- Engine could be derived from Street Triple or Tiger motors
Apart from this, the teaser reveals just one more detail: the new bike’s debut date – October 22. Until then, let us list out the possibilities of what this new model could possibly be.
Let’s start by examining the engine possibilities. Triumph’s Indian website confirms that this is going to be an 800cc bike, with the closest model being the Street Triple 765. The first possibility is that Triumph could bore out the Striple’s 765cc motor.
Another possibility is that Triumph could downsize the 888cc triple engine found in the middleweight Tiger models for this bike. It could be in a different state of tune and have a new ECU to boot.
Now, let’s take a look at the limited design details that are visible. The tank with the 800 badge appears sharp, chiseled, and sporty. Triumph’s sporty models include three families: Street Triple, Daytona, and Tiger Sport. Since the Street Triple 765 was updated less than two years ago, the possibility of a new 800cc model seems slim.
Currently, the Daytona is only offereed as a 660, and Triumph could be looking to re-ignite its presence in the serious middleweight supersport category with the Daytona 800. However, this also seems unlikely, as today’s motorcycle buying market has decidedly shifted towards ADVs and naked models.
And that leaves us with the Tiger Sport lineup, which currently comprises the 660 and 850 models. The former is a budget-friendly tall tourer based on the Trident, while the 850 is a simpler, less powerful version of the Tiger 900. However, a Tiger Sport 800 with 17-inch wheels and a sporty engine from either the Street Triple or the 850/900 Tiger models could be a tangible possibility.
Bikes like the BMW F 900 XR, Yamaha Tracer 9, KTM 890 SMT, Versys 1100, and Ducati Multistrada V2 (despite its 19-inch front, it is plenty capable) prove that buyers want the comfort and mile-munching ability of an ADV with the sporting capability of a 17-inch front wheel.
All of these are just shots in the dark and educated guesses at best. We’d like to hear from you – the reader – about what this new Triumph 800 model could be. Feel free to use the comments section below to share your thoughts.