Nothing wrong with bikes that are so called basic spec. All those bells and whistles are just more electronics to go wrong. And I think we have enough to do on our bikes when riding without fiddling with switches and settings.
Exactly what I think. I like that my bikes are basic. If something goes wrong with it you just take it apart replace the parts and put everything back together. With modern bikes anything that needs doing you have to go back to a dealer same with modern cars
My thoughts exactly ! - Should manufacturers really be advocating taking our eyes off the road ahead to p*ss about scrolling through unnecessary rider modes ?.. I think not..
Ordered mine launch week! Spec’d with hand guards, the most delightful quick shifter, and heated grips. Unbelievable bike. Just get on and ride it, just the way they should be.
Ha! As it happens, I just drove one of these home today! This far, immensely pleased! All you’ve said re keeping it simple rings thoroughly true with me. I’ve found over the years that all that fancy adjustable gets used perhaps 3 times as you’re dialing in. After that you sort of forget it’s there, making the 850 Sport the logical choice. Also discovered that it’s not such a beast after all. Big and to be respected for sure, but shockingly easy to handle on the road. I’ve drawn much inspiration from your trips! This bike will devour miles like nobody’s business! Happiest holidays to you from California!
Lovely bit of March weather!! I'm with you on the 850 Sport, looks a little less fussy than the 900. I much prefer this basic version. Well done Triumph. Nice comprehensive review, as ever.
Exactly why I like my 790 duke, very basic and simple, fast and fun too. The Triumph is prettier than the Duke! No tail tidy needed on the Triumph also. Nice!
Own one, in the same blue colour. Love it so far, currently just a little under 3000km. Like that is basic, do not need more then 2 riders modes (or any at all). Added heated grips, bobbinset, engine guard bar, evotech performance gps mount. Looking into luggage options at the moment. Only negative i have is vibrations in the handlebars when it goes over 5500 rpm.
I've got to admit that this is one of the bikes I'm looking at when i decide to downsize from my 1250GS. The only negatives for me is no centre stand as standard-No heated grips as standard and chain drive (I'm used to shafting) but i can live with them. But does it beat my other choice, the Guzzi 850TT Travel...Time will tell.
After riding the Tiger 1200 for a year I really like the little joy stick control. Still find the heated grips button a fiddle as does my partner who owns the Tiger 850 sport
Looking forward to the long term review for this. Seems it would make an ideal commuter as well, I have an 80km round trip each day, this is definitely a front runner as my next bike.
Ha! I love the fact that your natural pace moving around the bike made it look like you were planning around to follow the white van! Ace! Another great vid, cheers TMF 👏
I’ve had mine for a month now and it’s brilliant. I’ve already done 2,000km and it’s very comfortable. Screen is excellent compared with my old NC 750 and the quick shifter is better than riding a DCT manually. Occasionally I miss the pure automatic aspect of DCT but that’s probably just laziness. Brakes are great, and engine braking is far better than anything I got on the Honda. It’s my first manual bike after 4 years on two wheels and I wish I’d switched earlier. Final point is the red is far better than the blue. Not only is it quicker but it’s far more popular with the ladies 😜
A competent machine that does what it says on the tin without shouting about it!! Just a quick point Andy, I don't know about anyone else but I miss the little out takes which have been ousted by the fashion show. Bring back the out takes and the seperate gear reviews I say!!
That was another very thorough test. Great work. I look forward to hearing more about this bike. Glad they have limited the technology and kept the cost down.
I have one, and love it. 2017 V-Strom replaced by a 2017BMW F800GS, which was replaced very quickly by the 2021 Tiger 850. The Tiger is the best balanced bike of them all, and has the best suspension and brakes, even in the basic spec. Balance is superb, the clutch and gearbox are the best I've ever had, and it is fun on the road, and adequately capable on moderate off-road routes as well. The Rally is brill, but tall. I do not like the TFT dash layout, but I'm adapting to that.
@@903lew hi, no problem being a year late. You’re right on time. I think the biggest differences are the components generally, and the weight balance. Brakes, suspension, are all better on the Triumph. I think it is, unbalance, better, off-road, and better as a touring bike. I think the V Strom has a lot to recommend it, and is an extremely solid choice. I think the tiger 850, in essence, Is a similar bike, but upgraded in almost every way. The one exception is the screen: the instruments on the V Strom, from 2017 on, or more legible and more informative than on the new tigers. I’m on a trip on my tiger now, and I’m going to try to post some RUclips videos soon.
I agree, Without doubt there's a lot to be said about basic bikes, so this should appeal. Calling it an 850 though is typical marketing mentality.. Imagine the voice of Lloyd grossman saying "hey guys I've got a great idea, let's call it an 850"
G'day TMF. A good video . I could live with this bike, it's got all the gizmo's i would want. I loved the quote, ' It should be called an 850 Clever" Nice one.
Hi Andy - looking forward to the rest of the series on this bike. I would have the 900 GT by now had it not been for CoVid; so perhaps a good thing to come out of the pandemic for me is a potential significant cash saving! You and white vans! Come here to the Western Pennines on your next tour - very few on the roads I use, plus the beauty of the hills!! Yours aye, Alan
Andy... Aww you could have entertained us some more by standing up on the bike as you exited the car park..... I wanted to see what the available "headroom" was...😁😉
Good review as always.. I have a 900 rally pro. Its a great bike but what I dislike about it is the engines unsmouthness at low speeds (20 m/hr). Guessing its the same with the 850... What I would miss the most if I had bought the 850 instead is probably cruise control.
Re: Vibration You didn't quite go fast enough. At an indicated 80 and a bit more it does vibrate but as I've clocked up a few more miles it has got smoother. Incidentally the speedo is very optimistic so if you stick to what it says you will be holding up a lot of traffic on main roads. I'm very happy with mine and my only dislike is the fussy screen layout and impossible to read rev counter. Thanks for another good review.
It's definitely on my short list when I replace my 850GS. The price and service intervals cannot be ignored. Shame you can't spec cruise control with out going for the pricey GT pro ect. Look forward to your long term review 👌
The stripped back version is much more appealing to me (could be an age thing 😉). Attractive with a lovely finish. Difficult to tell on the first listen but the Yamaha Tracer 9 pips it in the soulful sound category. Will keep my ears on…….🔊
You can install heated gips for $50 US. I think a triumph heated seat is around $250 US. You just saved $5K . I was thinking about going full pro spec but then I looked and the bikes side by side. Vanilla plain Jane besides a gorgeous blue/silver or red/silver with nice layout. Even the red gt pro is plain plain plain
Nice Review Mr Flyer, as always. I have the old Tiger 800, which is great, this machine looks like a worthy successor! Love the White (Van ) Shark alert! Just when you thought it was safe to go back onto the roads....
Lovely bike and nice review, TMF. I would be a bit cramped on this one due to the low seat height - my Versys is 850 mm and even that's not comfortable on my knees over time.
@@TheMissendenFlyer It just occurred to me that you have of course tested the Versys a few years back. Do you remember if the Versys was more comfortable in terms of knee angle than the Tiger?
Nice bike, but creature comforts such as cruise control, heated grips, quick shifter & handguards are extra. Standard on its competitors so starts to look expensive. Great review as always 👍
I had a ride on the GT Pro last weekend whilst mine was in for service - Tiger 1200. What a lovely bike, weighs nothing (compared with mine), handles lovely and sounds wonderful, like a twin. For me though, riding 2 up most of the time, the big 1200 is a better touring proposition. That said if I was on my Tod I’d get the 850 sport with some heated grips and stick a better screen on it and maybe some hand guards. Bargain quality bike and plenty enough real world grunt. Great review TMF
Good review as always TMF! Rode the 900 GT Pro and was totally smitten. Only lack of funds prevented me. Soon I shall be in a position to get a new bike and this one seems to tick all the boxes. Booking a test ride this afternoon!
Looks to be all the bike a rider really needs. I'm finding all these multi level settings for this aide and that aide and 170 hp over the top and not to mention the prices. $$$$$. Look forward to the rest of your assessments on this appealing machine.
@12:45 you need to add some kilos for oil, cooling liquid, brake liquid and so on. Probably arround 212-215 kilos would be a realistic value. But it's still a good number, for today modern bikes. Although the AT basic is 226 so ... yeah. I wish there was a channel that would take a bike fully fueled and throw it on some scales, so people could actually know the real figures.
I'm considering this as my trade up after my Versys X300 starter bike. Looking at the Tiger 660 sport, and new Honda Transalp, too. However, after wringing out my 296cc engine, the torque on this bike seems very appealing. Plus, it's a Triumph!
Another great review and enjoyed it. I’m not a fan of the dual purpose bikes. It being that type of bike you’d think there’d be a engine protector plate for off road. Not keen on the big exhaust I appreciate it’s to do with emissions etc. Thanks for the review Andy, very much appreciated. ✌️
Been waiting for your review of this bike as it would probably be my choice if I return to motorcycling. Sounds like it would be perfect for me. Cheers Andy!
Thank you for this video! Does this bike make you feel more alive than the 660 sport? Because I picked up a new 660 last week and it is quite boring to be honest.
I have a suspicion 🤔 not only based on your input on lower spec and cheaper is better, but that a detuned version gets rid of the vib issue we have heard so much about. What do we think ?
Great bike I have the Tiger 800 and love it. Only thing that's puzzling me is there are no leaves on the trees for this time of year? Love your reviews.
When you do the engine vibration tests, it would be helpful to check the 4500 rpm range where most engines have fueling and vibration issues. It would be helpful to check the bike over a range between 3500 and 5500 rpms, to see if there is a patch of bad vibration at a specific RPM. Even inline 4 cylinder engines, have a band of buzzy vibration, that can't be counterbalanced out, usually around 4,500 rpms.
If you want to own a bike long term then basic electronics are a better bet for reliability as well as being cost effective. Looks a great bike, got a key and a bit of colour on a Triumph! Always fun guessing when your vids are filmed, looks late Feb early March on this one.
I really like these bikes. Very nice looking, and specs are great as well. Question.... would you take this over a Tenere 700? Seems like they are very close on the spec sheet.
I don’t get the hype around the 850 sport. Triumph actually released a base model with less trch with the full power of the tiger 900 as the “Tiger 900” no gt or rally on the end. They then discontinued it, turned down the power and called it the 850 sport. The 850 sport is only £400 cheaper than the Tiger 900 base model was. Everything else is the same even down to the smaller tft, brakes etc.
@@TheMissendenFlyer yeah it’s genuinely impressive. They had a bike that didn’t sell so they detuned it gave it some new paint and launched it as a new bike. Whoever had that brain wave genuinely deserves a bonus 😂😂
Nice bike and have one coming next week, sometimes you don’t need all the gizmos and just the basics. Are we going too much tech on a lot of bikes? Looks like a really good bike in that sector. Thanks for the review TMF 👍
What you NEED on a bike, and not much more. Triumph better make a load of these, as they’ll sell like hot-cakes. Clever piece of marketing. Fair play on triumph, smart thinking. 👍👍👍
Been looking forward to this, there's too much reliance on "the bells and whistles" which push the price up but have no real benefit for most people most of the time. Hurrah for Triumph :-)
Thank you for posting. I wonder how good it would look if instead of a traditional TFT screen, they used a screen/control panel similar to the rally like screen of the Tenere? A color screen with plenty of real estate should be able to display all the important stuff (i.e. location of closest pub) in a very clear easy to read manner. The issue with the tenere is that it is a black and white lcd and folks have been complaining about the sun blocking it out. Also, it could be touch screen or button driven.
With heated grips and a quick shifter it would be just about perfect for me. Tiger 888 Sport would have been a better name. Putting your helmet on the mirror is not a great idea. Doesn't do the liner any good.
@@djwarren5081 That must have been something on an MT10! Maybe I'm too chicken for fullbore quickshift acceleration. Clutchless upshifts on that gearbox are urgent enough for me and properly executed almost as fast as a quickshifter.
@@paulbrook2459 is it ? Ive added up the extras and just cant see why they would be worth 4k for most riders. I think its more to do with getting the top of the range if you can afford it. And thats fine also
I traded in my GS1250 for one of these,got it on the 1st may and had quickshifter and center stand fitted,love it and enjoying riding again,more fun.less weight( got so used to the gs weight that when i put this on main stand for the first time it could of gone past the stopping point lol),half the price of the GS but not half the bike as far as im concerned,i feel so much more relaxed and confident on this in every situation and will be traveling to europe on it soon i hope,i had triumphs for 10 years and tigers and the explorer before having a Gs in 2017,good to be back ;)
Nice review & machine. I wonder if more manufacturers will start offering "basic" (normal) versions as an alternative to the excessively tech laden & expensive ones? I for one certainly hope so as the price & required computing degree is really turning me off. I totally understand some bikes do need it, but most really don't! I'd much prefer if there were standard base models with decent brakes & suspension & then a comprehensive options list so you can pick & choose what you add.
@@TheMissendenFlyer Yes I think you're right although the manufacturers would probably make more money if BMW are anything to go by with their extensive options lists. Oh well.
I test rode this and the GT Pro. Loved both and I would have opted for the 850 Sport as its a great price for the spec. The Pro has lots of expensive tech I don't need. Very disappointed when my local Triumph said there's a delay nationally for this model (and the mid-range GT) and I'd be waiting until 2022. So to avoid a long wait I had to spend more than I wanted to and get the GT Pro, which they had in abundance in the showroom. Not regretting it though. Both amazing bikes.
Also on the list for a new bike; far in the future, I I find/win the money 😔. Lean angle traction control would be nice but you can do without; just drive with care in corners. What more do you need as abs? Heated grips are necessary. Riding modes; maybe a rain mode but not really needed. Brakes on when standing on a slope (hill control?) would be nice. A real key I find almost necessary. Cruise control would be nice for longer motorway parts.
Another great video, looking forward to more on this bike. Couple of points: when walking around the bike, why not leave the ignition on so that viewers can see the DRLs / rear lights switched on while you talk about them. Aesthetics are important to some, so could be useful. Also, I agree this bike is relatively good value, but would your opinion of this model being the one you’d have be different if you didn’t have access to your stable of lovely machinery? What I’m trying to say is if like me (GT pro owner), you only have access to one bike that has to do it all, that you own for 3 years, and that has to keep you engaged, would you still go for the 850 sport? The GT pro does all this for me, and still represents good value for money. Just my thoughts…
What's wrong with keyless ignition? I wouldn't do without it in my car, and on a bike it makes even more sense because fiddling around with a key when dressed in biking gear and thick gloves is a bit of a pain..
Did you ride the Yamaha Tracer 7,if you did how does it compare to that?I used to own a tiger 800 and bought myself a new tracer 7,I regret not buying Triumph again a little bit.Don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with the tracer 7 but Triumph build quality is so much higher,or am I seeing that the wrong way?😅
Does the 850 really not vibrate? I waited for so long for the 900 to come out, imagine my extreme disappointment when after just 1 hour of test riding, I had taken it back because the vibrations had made both my hands go so numb I couldn't feel anything. The dealer was quite taken back by this, but I have since found out many others have had the same problem! Now is it bike specific? Some do some don't vibrate? Or is it more to do with physics? As you quite rightly said lots of bike vibrate, and from that perspective all mine do too, but all are liveable, so is it to do with the way it vibrates something like it's resonance? Which is a sweet spot for some, but a complete annoyance to others? Anyway after your great review, you have now inspired me to try the 850 - Thanks!
You can put a triumph quick shifter on it and have those buttery smooth shifts like the higher spec 900. I would miss a cruise control, may be another add on. I'll have to check that too. I din't know if this is the ideal long tour platform though. Not like a 1200 GS or other beasties.
I really like the tiger GT pro, but it’s pretty pricey, it’s nice to have all the luxury add ons , heated grips is a must for me, so this with them could be the answer!
I was just out on the Street Triple R today on some B roads and it was very bumpy and hard work. I think this bike will sort that out. As much as I like the R I also like to explore new route via the Calimoto app and most of the time its B and some A roads. This one will soak up the bumps and be much more comfortable. Think I need to do a little test ride at Bulldog. Thanks for sharing.
Hey TMF! I thank goodness Triumph have finally listened to you! What a great bike. A real looker in that blue scheme. Sounds like a bargain and is defo on my wishlist. Cheers!
Great review. And timely as well as i was just the other day thinking about if i should trade my 2021 DL 650 vstrom for this. Really like the Strom as well though. What do you reckon? Is the difference that big between the two?
@@TheMissendenFlyer Appreciate the response. It's a bit of a tossup between a 2018 AT DCT with 24k km on the clock and a 850 sport. Been in love with the AT for ages, but it does have a fair few miles on it. Thank you again sir
Nice bike with less electronics always good and a proper key Triumph have done well .Gotta get myself to the Sports Bike shop there is a lot of stuff I want to try on to buy good one : )
I haven't tried the 850, but I just test rode the GT and Rally back to back and to me the GT needed a lot of muscling to get around the corners at speed where the Rally just tipped in really nicely, plus loads of leg room, really made my CB500x feel small when I left 😄, I could take or leave the electronic suspension as well 🤷🏻♂️
Good morning, Andy. Any ideas as to why Triumph reverted to the previous model of mirrors? The ones on this model as well as the new 900s are the same as the ones on my 2016 XRX. Cheers from Brazil.
Great video! Considering one of these as like you say the simplicity appeals more to me, I’m to indecisive for too many options 😂 would you recommend this bike over the older 800 xrx? Just thinking with it being slightly down on power than the older model (I understand the power band may be better suited for the road on the 850 however) many thanks!
@@TheMissendenFlyer lovey, appreciate that and I did kind of gather triumph wouldn’t take a step backwards! Really appreciate this review, Been a massive triumph fan for years had the street triple but the tigers a itch I need to scratch this one seems perfect for me. Thanks again! Keep um coming! 👍
Great presentation as always. The bike looks better than the 900s and for an every day all purpose bike it's excellent. No nonsense at all. But strangely enough it's not available in most European countries like Germany, Austria, France Italy, Spain and so on. Triumph wants us to buy the 900. 🤷
@@TheMissendenFlyer Well, I surely could get it from Poland, Czech Republic or Slovenia or even the Netherlands, it's all EU, but not very convenient though.
Nothing wrong with bikes that are so called basic spec. All those bells and whistles are just more electronics to go wrong. And I think we have enough to do on our bikes when riding without fiddling with switches and settings.
Exactly what I think. I like that my bikes are basic. If something goes wrong with it you just take it apart replace the parts and put everything back together. With modern bikes anything that needs doing you have to go back to a dealer same with modern cars
How badly do you need spoked wheels for light off road?
@@danielaspden2663 you don’t need them to be honest unless you’re doing extreme offroading
My thoughts exactly ! - Should manufacturers really be advocating taking our eyes off the road ahead to p*ss about scrolling through unnecessary rider modes ?.. I think not..
Ordered mine launch week! Spec’d with hand guards, the most delightful quick shifter, and heated grips. Unbelievable bike. Just get on and ride it, just the way they should be.
It would have to be good to be as smooth as a t120 Bonnie! Equipped with a set of Pirelli phantoms!
Looks like a great bike for sure. I'm riding a 650 vstrom and I love it. This has got me thinking of upgrading.
Bought one of these about a month ago. I absolutely love it! Such a joy to ride.
Good to hear 👍
Ha! As it happens, I just drove one of these home today! This far, immensely pleased! All you’ve said re keeping it simple rings thoroughly true with me. I’ve found over the years that all that fancy adjustable gets used perhaps 3 times as you’re dialing in. After that you sort of forget it’s there, making the 850 Sport the logical choice. Also discovered that it’s not such a beast after all. Big and to be respected for sure, but shockingly easy to handle on the road. I’ve drawn much inspiration from your trips! This bike will devour miles like nobody’s business! Happiest holidays to you from California!
Congratulations on the new bike Scotty!
I am very interested in this bike! Will be good to see your long term review
Stay tuned John!
Lovely bit of March weather!!
I'm with you on the 850 Sport, looks a little less fussy than the 900. I much prefer this basic version. Well done Triumph.
Nice comprehensive review, as ever.
Yea I reckon that would be my pick too, just enough tech to be safe and a great price too. 🙂👍
Exactly why I like my 790 duke, very basic and simple, fast and fun too. The Triumph is prettier than the Duke! No tail tidy needed on the Triumph also. Nice!
Own one, in the same blue colour. Love it so far, currently just a little under 3000km. Like that is basic, do not need more then 2 riders modes (or any at all). Added heated grips, bobbinset, engine guard bar, evotech performance gps mount. Looking into luggage options at the moment. Only negative i have is vibrations in the handlebars when it goes over 5500 rpm.
I've got to admit that this is one of the bikes I'm looking at when i decide to downsize from my 1250GS. The only negatives for me is no centre stand as standard-No heated grips as standard and chain drive (I'm used to shafting) but i can live with them. But does it beat my other choice, the Guzzi 850TT Travel...Time will tell.
After riding the Tiger 1200 for a year I really like the little joy stick control. Still find the heated grips button a fiddle as does my partner who owns the Tiger 850 sport
Agree about the heated grips. The 900 is the same.
Looking forward to the long term review for this. Seems it would make an ideal commuter as well, I have an 80km round trip each day, this is definitely a front runner as my next bike.
Got one. Pleased as Punch. Got an RE Int too. The wife is fed up of my permanent grin.....😁
Nice collection coming on!
Ha! I love the fact that your natural pace moving around the bike made it look like you were planning around to follow the white van! Ace! Another great vid, cheers TMF 👏
Yea whats up with that??
I’ve had mine for a month now and it’s brilliant. I’ve already done 2,000km and it’s very comfortable. Screen is excellent compared with my old NC 750 and the quick shifter is better than riding a DCT manually. Occasionally I miss the pure automatic aspect of DCT but that’s probably just laziness. Brakes are great, and engine braking is far better than anything I got on the Honda. It’s my first manual bike after 4 years on two wheels and I wish I’d switched earlier.
Final point is the red is far better than the blue. Not only is it quicker but it’s far more popular with the ladies 😜
….as if I’d be concerned about such things…
A competent machine that does what it says on the tin without shouting about it!! Just a quick point Andy, I don't know about anyone else but I miss the little out takes which have been ousted by the fashion show. Bring back the out takes and the seperate gear reviews I say!!
If I have out takes I will include them - don’t always have them…
@@TheMissendenFlyer Then you are obviously getting too good at making the video's LOL
That was another very thorough test. Great work. I look forward to hearing more about this bike. Glad they have limited the technology and kept the cost down.
I have one, and love it. 2017 V-Strom replaced by a 2017BMW F800GS, which was replaced very quickly by the 2021 Tiger 850. The Tiger is the best balanced bike of them all, and has the best suspension and brakes, even in the basic spec. Balance is superb, the clutch and gearbox are the best I've ever had, and it is fun on the road, and adequately capable on moderate off-road routes as well. The Rally is brill, but tall. I do not like the TFT dash layout, but I'm adapting to that.
Cool - glad you’re getting on well with the bike.
A year late but what would you say was the biggest difference from the V-Strom? Currently deciding between the two.
@@903lew hi, no problem being a year late. You’re right on time. I think the biggest differences are the components generally, and the weight balance. Brakes, suspension, are all better on the Triumph. I think it is, unbalance, better, off-road, and better as a touring bike. I think the V Strom has a lot to recommend it, and is an extremely solid choice. I think the tiger 850, in essence, Is a similar bike, but upgraded in almost every way. The one exception is the screen: the instruments on the V Strom, from 2017 on, or more legible and more informative than on the new tigers.
I’m on a trip on my tiger now, and I’m going to try to post some RUclips videos soon.
@damonoriente736 Much obliged. I’ll just have to test them both. Ride safe.
Keep up the good work TMF, always enjoy your vlogs. You have inspired me to get back into biking after a long hiatus. Thankyou
Great to hear John!
Nicely summarised TMF. It's an excellent bike, and in the best colour too! Although I may be ever so slightly biased!
I agree, Without doubt there's a lot to be said about basic bikes, so this should appeal. Calling it an 850 though is typical marketing mentality.. Imagine the voice of Lloyd grossman saying "hey guys I've got a great idea, let's call it an 850"
Loving the toned down version of the bike. It's better to save 4k pounds and get heated grips, quick shifter, top box and panniers.
Fair play to triumph for making this bike. I'm seriously interested. I had the xrx 800, back in 2015.
G'day TMF. A good video . I could live with this bike, it's got all the gizmo's i would want. I loved
the quote, ' It should be called an 850 Clever" Nice one.
Nice. Was waiting for the TMF review since the bike was unveiled in Nov'2020. Great bike ,all things covered.
Hi Andy - looking forward to the rest of the series on this bike. I would have the 900 GT by now had it not been for CoVid; so perhaps a good thing to come out of the pandemic for me is a potential significant cash saving! You and white vans! Come here to the Western Pennines on your next tour - very few on the roads I use, plus the beauty of the hills!! Yours aye, Alan
Love my Tiger 800xrx. Great all round bike and comfortable as the day is long.
I reckon I'll buy one of these right after my new white van 😉
Aaaarrrgghhh!!!!!
Andy...
Aww you could have entertained us some more by standing up on the bike as you exited the car park.....
I wanted to see what the available "headroom" was...😁😉
Good review as always.. I have a 900 rally pro. Its a great bike but what I dislike about it is the engines unsmouthness at low speeds (20 m/hr). Guessing its the same with the 850... What I would miss the most if I had bought the 850 instead is probably cruise control.
Great value for what you get! Fantastic review!
Re: Vibration
You didn't quite go fast enough. At an indicated 80 and a bit more it does vibrate but as I've clocked up a few more miles it has got smoother. Incidentally the speedo is very optimistic so if you stick to what it says you will be holding up a lot of traffic on main roads. I'm very happy with mine and my only dislike is the fussy screen layout and impossible to read rev counter.
Thanks for another good review.
My pleasure acer - and thanks for the feedback...
Another great video Andy. The Psycho white van snippet made me jump 😂. This is a good looking bike. Look forward to the in depth review.
Stay tuned!
Can’t agree with you more about horse power on bikes 👍 a good rider will keep up with most on this bike . Great honest review 😎
Thanks Paul - glad you liked it!
It's definitely on my short list when I replace my 850GS. The price and service intervals cannot be ignored. Shame you can't spec cruise control with out going for the pricey GT pro ect. Look forward to your long term review 👌
Stay tuned James!
Who are you kidding, you wore that helmet and jacket because it matched the paint job on the bike!
Rumbled!
The KISS principle is as valid on motorcycles as anything else. Excellent review as usual TMF .
Happy travels
Thanks! 👍
The stripped back version is much more appealing to me (could be an age thing 😉). Attractive with a lovely finish.
Difficult to tell on the first listen but the Yamaha Tracer 9 pips it in the soulful sound category.
Will keep my ears on…….🔊
Doesn’t look or ride as nicely though IMO….
@@TheMissendenFlyer do you mean the tracer is not as nice as the tiger, or the other way around? 🤔😀
You can install heated gips for $50 US. I think a triumph heated seat is around $250 US. You just saved $5K . I was thinking about going full pro spec but then I looked and the bikes side by side. Vanilla plain Jane besides a gorgeous blue/silver or red/silver with nice layout. Even the red gt pro is plain plain plain
I could see a wider and bit taller windshield.
Great to meet you both last week on the beach in Polzeath 😊
You too Nige! We’re on our way home as I type….hope you had a good break??
Nice Review Mr Flyer, as always. I have the old Tiger 800, which is great, this machine looks like a worthy successor! Love the White (Van ) Shark alert! Just when you thought it was safe to go back onto the roads....
😁
Great info and review thanks for your input and time helped me make a decision on this bike👍
My pleasure…
Lovely bike and nice review, TMF. I would be a bit cramped on this one due to the low seat height - my Versys is 850 mm and even that's not comfortable on my knees over time.
Fair enough!
@@TheMissendenFlyer It just occurred to me that you have of course tested the Versys a few years back. Do you remember if the Versys was more comfortable in terms of knee angle than the Tiger?
Nice bike, but creature comforts such as cruise control, heated grips, quick shifter & handguards are extra. Standard on its competitors so starts to look expensive. Great review as always 👍
I had a ride on the GT Pro last weekend whilst mine was in for service - Tiger 1200. What a lovely bike, weighs nothing (compared with mine), handles lovely and sounds wonderful, like a twin. For me though, riding 2 up most of the time, the big 1200 is a better touring proposition. That said if I was on my Tod I’d get the 850 sport with some heated grips and stick a better screen on it and maybe some hand guards. Bargain quality bike and plenty enough real world grunt. Great review TMF
Thanks for sharing!
Good review as always TMF! Rode the 900 GT Pro and was totally smitten. Only lack of funds prevented me. Soon I shall be in a position to get a new bike and this one seems to tick all the boxes. Booking a test ride this afternoon!
Enjoy!
Looks to be all the bike a rider really needs. I'm finding all these multi level settings for this aide and that aide and 170 hp over the top and not to mention the prices. $$$$$. Look forward to the rest of your assessments on this appealing machine.
Stay tuned!
Thanks for the video Andy, I quite agree with you here!
Glad we concur Rutger!
@12:45 you need to add some kilos for oil, cooling liquid, brake liquid and so on. Probably arround 212-215 kilos would be a realistic value. But it's still a good number, for today modern bikes. Although the AT basic is 226 so ... yeah. I wish there was a channel that would take a bike fully fueled and throw it on some scales, so people could actually know the real figures.
I'm considering this as my trade up after my Versys X300 starter bike. Looking at the Tiger 660 sport, and new Honda Transalp, too. However, after wringing out my 296cc engine, the torque on this bike seems very appealing. Plus, it's a Triumph!
Good choice!
I just traded in my x300 for an 850. Won’t have it for a few months but pretty confident I’ll be happy. I was also considering the 750gs.
Nice review. As a 'road focused' version, this should have the quickshifter rather than on a full off-road version.
Another great review and enjoyed it. I’m not a fan of the dual purpose bikes. It being that type of bike you’d think there’d be a engine protector plate for off road. Not keen on the big exhaust I appreciate it’s to do with emissions etc. Thanks for the review Andy, very much appreciated. ✌️
My pleasure as always James
Been waiting for your review of this bike as it would probably be my choice if I return to motorcycling. Sounds like it would be perfect for me. Cheers Andy!
It’s a great bike Jeff - under rated I think
I’m right with you on this TMF, simpler is better. Its got all you need. Good honest great value bike👍🏼
Glad we concur!
Thank you for this video!
Does this bike make you feel more alive than the 660 sport? Because I picked up a new 660 last week and it is quite boring to be honest.
I wouldn't say it's more exciting necessarily no......
I have a suspicion 🤔 not only based on your input on lower spec and cheaper is better, but that a detuned version gets rid of the vib issue we have heard so much about. What do we think ?
Great looking bike, plenty of power for anyone. Brilliant review 👍👍👍
Thank you!
Great bike I have the Tiger 800 and love it. Only thing that's puzzling me is there are no leaves on the trees for this time of year? Love your reviews.
...well that will be becuase I recorded this back in Feb/March.....
When you do the engine vibration tests, it would be helpful to check the 4500 rpm range where most engines have fueling and vibration issues. It would be helpful to check the bike over a range between 3500 and 5500 rpms, to see if there is a patch of bad vibration at a specific RPM. Even inline 4 cylinder engines, have a band of buzzy vibration, that can't be counterbalanced out, usually around 4,500 rpms.
Its better to do vibration tests at road speeds that correspond with normal riding.
If you want to own a bike long term then basic electronics are a better bet for reliability as well as being cost effective. Looks a great bike, got a key and a bit of colour on a Triumph!
Always fun guessing when your vids are filmed, looks late Feb early March on this one.
Sounds about right Richard!
How comfy is the pillion going to be, and how does it perform 2 up, enough Nm?
Basic is good and makes the motorcycle cheaper. Only thing i ever want on a motorcycle is heated grips and a fuel gauge, and im all good :)
Much the same as me - though I do like ABS too…
I really like these bikes. Very nice looking, and specs are great as well. Question.... would you take this over a Tenere 700? Seems like they are very close on the spec sheet.
I don’t get the hype around the 850 sport. Triumph actually released a base model with less trch with the full power of the tiger 900 as the “Tiger 900” no gt or rally on the end. They then discontinued it, turned down the power and called it the 850 sport. The 850 sport is only £400 cheaper than the Tiger 900 base model was. Everything else is the same even down to the smaller tft, brakes etc.
Marketing eh?!
@@TheMissendenFlyer yeah it’s genuinely impressive. They had a bike that didn’t sell so they detuned it gave it some new paint and launched it as a new bike. Whoever had that brain wave genuinely deserves a bonus 😂😂
Very nice the paning shot of the white van!
Another top vid. Will be interesting to watch the sequel on the loaner.
Thanks Kevin - stay tuned!
Nice bike and have one coming next week, sometimes you don’t need all the gizmos and just the basics. Are we going too much tech on a lot of bikes? Looks like a really good bike in that sector. Thanks for the review TMF 👍
No worries - enjoy your new bike!
No it’s coming as a loaner from triumph - it’s not my new bike 😂😂 I will enjoy though thanks 🙏
What you NEED on a bike, and not much more. Triumph better make a load of these, as they’ll sell like hot-cakes. Clever piece of marketing. Fair play on triumph, smart thinking. 👍👍👍
I think so - will be fascinated to see how they sell…
Been looking forward to this, there's too much reliance on "the bells and whistles" which push the price up but have no real benefit for most people most of the time. Hurrah for Triumph :-)
I agree Dave….
Thank you for posting. I wonder how good it would look if instead of a traditional TFT screen, they used a screen/control panel similar to the rally like screen of the Tenere? A color screen with plenty of real estate should be able to display all the important stuff (i.e. location of closest pub) in a very clear easy to read manner. The issue with the tenere is that it is a black and white lcd and folks have been complaining about the sun blocking it out. Also, it could be touch screen or button driven.
With heated grips and a quick shifter it would be just about perfect for me. Tiger 888 Sport would have been a better name. Putting your helmet on the mirror is not a great idea. Doesn't do the liner any good.
Don't need a quickshifter for the up changes. Just roll off the throttle and engage the next gear.
@@Gorbyrev why roll off the throttle when you can have a quick shifter and keep it pinned open. Had one on my MT10 and thought it was great.
@@djwarren5081 That must have been something on an MT10! Maybe I'm too chicken for fullbore quickshift acceleration. Clutchless upshifts on that gearbox are urgent enough for me and properly executed almost as fast as a quickshifter.
The get GT pro , it’s worth the extra money for all the toys - it is a good travel bike after all 👍
@@paulbrook2459 is it ? Ive added up the extras and just cant see why they would be worth 4k for most riders. I think its more to do with getting the top of the range if you can afford it. And thats fine also
No preload front suspension? I am thinking that someone will make adjustable caps for the forks if it needs them.
Only thing i would change ! Rear footrest/hanger why are they not black?
I traded in my GS1250 for one of these,got it on the 1st may and had quickshifter and center stand fitted,love it and enjoying riding again,more fun.less weight( got so used to the gs weight that when i put this on main stand for the first time it could of gone past the stopping point lol),half the price of the GS but not half the bike as far as im concerned,i feel so much more relaxed and confident on this in every situation and will be traveling to europe on it soon i hope,i had triumphs for 10 years and tigers and the explorer before having a Gs in 2017,good to be back ;)
Yes I completely get that Andy - as you know I'm a huge GS fan, but difficult to justify twice the price as you say....
Nice review & machine. I wonder if more manufacturers will start offering "basic" (normal) versions as an alternative to the excessively tech laden & expensive ones? I for one certainly hope so as the price & required computing degree is really turning me off. I totally understand some bikes do need it, but most really don't! I'd much prefer if there were standard base models with decent brakes & suspension & then a comprehensive options list so you can pick & choose what you add.
I agree 100% - something tells me this won’t happen though….
@@TheMissendenFlyer Yes I think you're right although the manufacturers would probably make more money if BMW are anything to go by with their extensive options lists. Oh well.
Excellent timing, Im liking the look of the 850 sport I have a test ride booked for Thursday, I’d like a £1 for every time I’ve put my foot down lol
Have fun!
I test rode this and the GT Pro. Loved both and I would have opted for the 850 Sport as its a great price for the spec. The Pro has lots of expensive tech I don't need. Very disappointed when my local Triumph said there's a delay nationally for this model (and the mid-range GT) and I'd be waiting until 2022. So to avoid a long wait I had to spend more than I wanted to and get the GT Pro, which they had in abundance in the showroom. Not regretting it though. Both amazing bikes.
OMG that’s quite a wait!
Also on the list for a new bike; far in the future, I I find/win the money 😔.
Lean angle traction control would be nice but you can do without; just drive with care in corners.
What more do you need as abs? Heated grips are necessary. Riding modes; maybe a rain mode but not really needed.
Brakes on when standing on a slope (hill control?) would be nice.
A real key I find almost necessary.
Cruise control would be nice for longer motorway parts.
Another great video, looking forward to more on this bike.
Couple of points: when walking around the bike, why not leave the ignition on so that viewers can see the DRLs / rear lights switched on while you talk about them. Aesthetics are important to some, so could be useful.
Also, I agree this bike is relatively good value, but would your opinion of this model being the one you’d have be different if you didn’t have access to your stable of lovely machinery? What I’m trying to say is if like me (GT pro owner), you only have access to one bike that has to do it all, that you own for 3 years, and that has to keep you engaged, would you still go for the 850 sport?
The GT pro does all this for me, and still represents good value for money. Just my thoughts…
Yes I think the 850 is a great do it all bike….
The blue accents look great, really sharp looking bike. I think they heard you about the boring paint schemes TMF.
Yes funny that the “cheap” version gets better paint colours!
What's wrong with keyless ignition? I wouldn't do without it in my car, and on a bike it makes even more sense because fiddling around with a key when dressed in biking gear and thick gloves is a bit of a pain..
Just one more thing to go wrong......
hi,coolbike and review,your money tracer 9 basic or 850 sport? thanks
Personally i prefer the 850 - rides beautifully, sounds good and looks nicer in my view....
Did you ride the Yamaha Tracer 7,if you did how does it compare to that?I used to own a tiger 800 and bought myself a new tracer 7,I regret not buying Triumph again a little bit.Don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with the tracer 7 but Triumph build quality is so much higher,or am I seeing that the wrong way?😅
No I agree with you….
Does the 850 really not vibrate? I waited for so long for the 900 to come out, imagine my extreme disappointment when after just 1 hour of test riding, I had taken it back because the vibrations had made both my hands go so numb I couldn't feel anything. The dealer was quite taken back by this, but I have since found out many others have had the same problem! Now is it bike specific? Some do some don't vibrate? Or is it more to do with physics? As you quite rightly said lots of bike vibrate, and from that perspective all mine do too, but all are liveable, so is it to do with the way it vibrates something like it's resonance? Which is a sweet spot for some, but a complete annoyance to others? Anyway after your great review, you have now inspired me to try the 850 - Thanks!
Yes I have heard a lot of people complain about it on this bike - weirdly I’ve never found it to be a problem!
You can put a triumph quick shifter on it and have those buttery smooth shifts like the higher spec 900. I would miss a cruise control, may be another add on. I'll have to check that too. I din't know if this is the ideal long tour platform though. Not like a 1200 GS or other beasties.
Oh I think it is - stick some panniers on and it would be perfect!
Lack of cruise control was a deal breaker for me. Purchased the new Tracer 9 GT.
I really like the tiger GT pro, but it’s pretty pricey, it’s nice to have all the luxury add ons , heated grips is a must for me, so this with them could be the answer!
I’ve been reading my way through John le Carre’s works. Armed with my new worldview, those white vans seem particularly sketchy.
I was just out on the Street Triple R today on some B roads and it was very bumpy and hard work. I think this bike will sort that out. As much as I like the R I also like to explore new route via the Calimoto app and most of the time its B and some A roads. This one will soak up the bumps and be much more comfortable. Think I need to do a little test ride at Bulldog. Thanks for sharing.
Hey TMF! I thank goodness Triumph have finally listened to you! What a great bike. A real looker in that blue scheme. Sounds like a bargain and is defo on my wishlist. Cheers!
Not sure they listened to me but thanks for thinking that!
Great review. And timely as well as i was just the other day thinking about if i should trade my 2021 DL 650 vstrom for this. Really like the Strom as well though.
What do you reckon? Is the difference that big between the two?
Well I’ve not ridden the latest vstrom but compared to the old one this is eons ahead….good swap I reckon!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Appreciate the response. It's a bit of a tossup between a 2018 AT DCT with 24k km on the clock and a 850 sport. Been in love with the AT for ages, but it does have a fair few miles on it.
Thank you again sir
Lookout for speed traps from overbridges on the Wendover bypass!
Nice bike with less electronics always good and a proper key Triumph have done well .Gotta get myself to the Sports Bike shop there is a lot of stuff I want to try on to buy good one : )
I haven't tried the 850, but I just test rode the GT and Rally back to back and to me the GT needed a lot of muscling to get around the corners at speed where the Rally just tipped in really nicely, plus loads of leg room, really made my CB500x feel small when I left 😄, I could take or leave the electronic suspension as well 🤷🏻♂️
Good morning, Andy. Any ideas as to why Triumph reverted to the previous model of mirrors? The ones on this model as well as the new 900s are the same as the ones on my 2016 XRX. Cheers from Brazil.
No idea - cost is my guess!
Yeah, my guess was efficiency, but with the pandemic and all, they probably had to attack the spare parts bins.
0:57 look at the headers, that's how they should've done the exhaust on the triumph trident because the headers actually look like a trident.
Great video! Considering one of these as like you say the simplicity appeals more to me, I’m to indecisive for too many options 😂 would you recommend this bike over the older 800 xrx? Just thinking with it being slightly down on power than the older model (I understand the power band may be better suited for the road on the 850 however) many thanks!
Oh this is much nicer than the 800 and feels more powerful even though it isn’t
@@TheMissendenFlyer lovey, appreciate that and I did kind of gather triumph wouldn’t take a step backwards! Really appreciate this review, Been a massive triumph fan for years had the street triple but the tigers a itch I need to scratch this one seems perfect for me. Thanks again! Keep um coming! 👍
Great presentation as always. The bike looks better than the 900s and for an every day all purpose bike it's excellent. No nonsense at all.
But strangely enough it's not available in most European countries like Germany, Austria, France Italy, Spain and so on. Triumph wants us to buy the 900. 🤷
How odd? I didn’t know that…
@@TheMissendenFlyer Well, I surely could get it from Poland, Czech Republic or Slovenia or even the Netherlands, it's all EU, but not very convenient though.