I’ve always been a Honda guy and reliability is huge to me. I took a chance buying the Tuareg due to raving reviews and I couldn’t be happier. 5k miles with zero issues and it’s the best bike I’ve ever owned. On the forums many have far more miles with zero issues it’s a winner deserving more consideration from those who are brand loyal to others.
Reliability was also a primary concern for me, despite positive reviews. The lack of supporting aprillia dealerships and reported slow parts availability (for many brands poat covid) made me hesitant.
15k kms since February, literally zero issues, and something that I realized the hard way: this bike is a tough motherfucker and hard to break. I had some good drops in the dirt, and other than some scratches and a broken mirror, it always starts immediately. Outstanding handling and performance, so couldn't be happier with a bike of it's size. Keep up the amazing work guys.
I've dropped mine countless times, even the mirrors have held up and not broken. Only thing is i've bent the handlebar from the bushings, they get soft when dropped alot. Handlebar risers definitely have an effect on that as well. I'm a lightweight guy, under 70kg-s and I can handle it a-okay. Though there of course are situations when I have to drop it on purpose to drag it over obstacles / get it to a better angle for lifting.
I bought one of the very first ones of these bikes available in 2022. "Takes a kicking and keeps on ticking" It has been reliable and has given outstanding performance since new. I've kept it cleaned regularly and serviced as per the manual. No worries in my ownership. I fitted a full set of GIVI luggage rear rack and side rails on mine and fit whatever luggage I need for however many days I'm away from base.
You guys do great reviews, I'm not knocking your video this is just my observations as a guy who really considered a Tuareg 660. The reason for poor sales is the lack of dealerships and poor rating for Aprilia's customer service. There have been reports of failures by owners that actually ride them hard over long miles for long periods of time, year- year and a half. I'm not saying that it is higher than usual failures across manufacturers but there have been reported failures. In the end that was why I went with the T7, plenty of dealerships. My clutch/gearbox weren't 100% and Yamaha is replacing it under warranty right now. KTM and Aprilia would have fought me on it, regarding KTM I can speak from experience. A company can have the best bike on the planet but it comes down to the manufacturer and dealer support that make a true winner.
My nearest Canadian dealer is 1334 km away My nearest dealer is in the USA is 730 km away. Its been 10 yrs since we had a dealer in Winnipeg. As an astounding coincidence, one day before this video was released, a RSV Mille V- twin passed me by. First time seeing one in ages. As a T7 owner, the Tuareg ticks all the boxes of what I would want from a T7 upgrade, namely suspension and cruise control
Your 100 percent correct, I live in Winnipeg as well and I love the tuareg but with no dealer network around us there is not much point in owning one. I'm in bc right now and I ran into a guy with one. They are beautiful bikes in person. I'll stick with my 701 enduro adv build/te 300 combo as it checks all the boxes for me.
I have to be honest: I think that the reviewers are partly to blame for the "the bike is awesome, but overlooked" phenomenon. Yes, every single RUclips channel was praising the Tuareg in their first reviews in '22... but then over the next few months they stopped talking about it. What I mean is: when the Transalp and the Vstrom800 came out and were reviewed, did anyone say "compared to the Tuareg, the suspension is worse / the electronic package is missing features / the bike is heavier"? No.. it was just back to the old common comparisons to the T7 and 890KTM while the Tuareg just disappeared from the vocabulary of renowned Journalists. So it never really had a chance to make its way into the minds of the community.
Dude I completely agree. There are so many comparison videos from whatever bike vs. the T7. But if they were to throw in the Tuareg, it would murder both on stats. But yep, no mention of it.
They often do this. The KTM 790 Adventure received the highest praise almost everywhere. Then when middle-weight comparisons started coming out later, the KTM was often excluded and sometimes not even mentioned. Instead the comparisons focused on the T700, Transalp, the Tuareg, and later the DE800. UK and US reviews in particular were bad for this. Odd as in the UK the 790 was cheaper or similar price to most of them.
And think about the failing camshafts FB page of the 790/890 and still nobody talked about the Touareg. I haven't ridden one but the 15.000 km problem free is not such a big bragging point. My KTM 950 did that and they didn't call them Keeps Talking Money in vain. I guess people are reluctant because it's Italian.
Great video production ... having the separate microphones for both guys linked to the left & right stereo output on my laptop sounded like they were on either side of me on the couch!
This bike has been on my radar...sold my T7 after 2.5 years- great bike but just too top heavy. After watching your review and seeing how the fuel sits lower than the T7 I think it's my next bike. (to sit alongside my 2017 690). We're lucky to have multiple Aprilia dealers here in Denver.
Hey thanks Dave for this updated post. I've had the Tuareg for 8K miles now, can't say a bad word for it - except finding Neutral is an ongoing battle still, lol. Still having loads of fun on it. Yes, dealer/parts availability as EVERYONE has mentioned, and not having control over turning off the Engine Wrench warning light, are concerns, but my bike is running fine so far, and that's really the crap shoot of all bikes anyway right? Thanks so much for the great follow up on the Tuareg. We needed the love......
@@WyomingFamilyAdventures Thanks for your reply and advice. I've adjusted the clutch cable quite a # of times in the beginning. I found a sweet spot, but when I had the Quick Shifter installed, these adjustments didn't make a difference any longer, and can't see that QS has any meaningful adjustment to make a difference (I could be mistaken). The oil has been changed 3 times now, to no effect. I just live w/ it, finding neutral on the roll to a stop, or rocking the bike a little forward w/ clutch in in first gear, things like that. Frankly, if this is the biggest problem I have to deal w/, I'll take it, lol. Happy riding!
The practicalities & usability of adv bikes with low fuel weight like the Tuareg is such an advantage in proper off road conditions I don’t know why more manufacturers don’t do it…I ride a older adv bike with low fuel weight under the seat when off road it’s so planted, so stable, feels so light I don’t think I’ll ever want a bike with a traditional high set tank as long a I’m riding off road. Tuareg has been on top of my wish list for a while now. Always appreciate your reviews gents 👌🏼
Hello, I just bought the Tuareg new to go with my Tenere Extreme 2024. I can only confirm that almost everything is better on the Tuareg, such as the handling, lower center of gravity, more maneuverable due to the shorter wheelbase. The brakes are better with the more stable brake discs, the front fork also has better triple clamps than the Tenere. The Tuareg's gearbox almost shifts by itself, almost as smooth as butter, and the quickshifter is just awesome. If it weren't for the emotional CP2 engine on my Tenere, I would have sold it a long time ago. 😛
Last year I was in the market for a new bike, Honda Transalp, T7, 800DE or the Tuareg. After almost a year of research I decided to go with the Tuareg and could not be happier.
Well I am a little late to this review but wanted to say I have 15,000 miles on my Tuareg 660 just under a year and half. I'm in Southern California within 50 to 100 miles from any of the off-road most famous places to ride such as Glamis(famous for endless sand dunes), Ocotillo Wells(Off road dirt bike heaven), Borrego Springs desert also the high desert and Death Valley. My bike spend countless hours riding in harsh deep, deep sand all day long at times with full packed camp gear. I also do all the Mountain trails in Big Bear mountain, Idylwild mountain. I also did 2,500 mile round trip from SoCal to do the Utah BDR. I have street riding friend who ride BMW 1000 XR, GS, Suzuki GSXR GT and we do 200-450 mile ride every Sunday if Im not going on offroad trips. We Did 2000 mile road trip Monterey CA to watch the GP races at Laguna Secca. The bike runs just over 6k RPM at 80 mph on the highway for hours at a time. I thought for sure I wanted to get a second street bike to ride with my street riding buddy's because I have Motaz Rallz knobies on mine but the more I ride it it amazes me how versatile this bike is. I say all this to say this bike has been 100% TROUBLE FREE.. Not a single issue.The engine is completely stock no aftermarket exhaust but I do have a Uni filter. I run Mosko Moto 80s on it all the time-they never come off. One tip I learned by luck is I bought a plastic AXP bash plate and it cut the heat from the engine down at least 50%. There's no metal around the catalytic converter. I'm 6,2" tall and I changed the windscreen with Puig touring screen, Barkbuster hand guards, SW-Motech crash bars that's it. For those of you on the fence for this bike this has been my experience and the more I ride it more I am in love with it.
i bought one brand new in Dakar Podium Colours in march while it was on offer for £9400 and i like it so much ive already spent another £1600 or $3100 Australian on outbackmotortek crash bars and bash plate in white and full arrow exhaust system which im still waiting for and a Sprint air filter designed for heavy offroad, and im not going to stop there, its nimble, light cheap to run with a big tank, excellent suspension, quick shifter is silky smooth as is the gearbox, and it inspires so much confidence in the rough stuff, i love it, probably the most comprihensive electronics package for the price in its class, most certainly overlooked.
5k miles only issue has been a fuel sending unit. Absolutely love this bike. And hey, my 22 KLR had to have a sending unit so don't start that! 7 bikes and the Tuareg is my favorite to pull out for a day of anything goes riding.
Had a chance to buy one here in the Pacific Northwest of the USA; it truly ticks many of the middleweight adventure boxes but it was the “unknowns” that gave me pause and I passed.
I think the key thing really is the dealer network unfortunately or at least I'd like to see them take steps to supplement the lack of dealer. For example, my closest aprillia dealer is 3.5hrs away. I do all my own maintenance so it's not a huge deal. I'd hope they'd maybe give me a copy of the service manual, which they might do but I doubt it. I'll be charitable and assume that I won't have to worry about parts and I can order them. But one thing that bugs me is that only dealers can clear service lights, including the oil change light. It's my understanding that's still the case and I just feel like that's a bit silly. I should be able to do that myself.
Thanks as always for the great vids and info. Killer bike if it holds up. I'll be interested in the longer-term reliability. Here in Canada, if your Taureg goes down mechanically, you are potentially in for a very long wait for parts. It goes without saying that reliability is still the key requirement for any bike ridden hard in the backcountry.
I bought mine 3 months ago and love it. I think the dealer network in Australia is the only issue with this bike. Not the amount of Dealers but who the Dealers are. They need to pick up the game.
Great bike all around, I just got the Aprilia hard pannier racks system for the back so i can fit the hard panniers from my Guzzi on it. This bike can be an American open roads traveler as well as an adventure do it all. I can put on soft saddle bags on or the hard ones if I want and then unload it so I can go have fun on the trails. That said..I just came back from a 400 miles + ride in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan today and; I took my Honda 300CRF Rally for it. There’s a lot of sand up there and we were not camping so the CRF was the better choice. At this time of the year (in the U P) they get ready for the upcoming winter so the snowmobiling season is the next thing to get ready for on the trails. So, the graders are outhere loosening everything up and getting rid of washboard etc. So, you never know what you will encounter as you ride; hence a light bike is the better choice when you have to duck paddle for a half mile here and there. R
Ive been looking at motorcycles, a Tuareg wasn't even on my radar, as ot doesn't really come up many uk reviews, but it was the only bike that gave me the wow factor when i first saw it. When you look into the bike there is lots to like about, as you say its very underated, ive always loved underated motorcycles. I'm sure there are lots of aftermarket accessories. ( not overpriced factory stuff) Thete os a dealer within 20miles, i have heard parts can be hard to get, something to look into.
Biggest concern was hit early on. Dealer network. Atleast in the US, even when it’s a bike you work on yourself, the majority of folks either don’t want to travel 3 hours to get to a dealer, or don’t want the bike breaking down beyond user repair only to have to trailer it to a dealer way out of the way. I’ve never heard anything negative about the bike other than “the cat makes the exhaust hot on my leg” and “dealer network” For the first year bike I did hear weird fueling which was ecu fixed over warranty and one person with a base gasket issue (which makes sense since it was probably built in the middle of Covid material shortages) I’m very interested in this bike, sat on one that was ridden from Canada to Washington state for touratech and was immediately sold. Can’t justify selling my DR650 but it’s very much on my short list to park next to it.
Another great video! I currently ride a 2017 KTM 1090R for easy off-road and fast pavement rides, but currently looking for a fully equipped 2013 KTM 990 Adventure. If a new bike was on the table, the Aprilia Tuareg would be my choice.
Nice review, again! So, you covered the T7, F900GS, KTM and Aprilia. Now, do you dare to take venture outside of the main brands? Like Kove. 450 Rally is selling like Vegemite in Australia. What about Kove 800X? From what I see reviews are in general focused on weight, HP, suspension and brakes. Seems like positioning of the weight, or CG, is quite overlooked although it makes or rather creates the character of the bike and HOW it carries its weight. Like Touareg, 800X also shares the same design of the petrol tank - under the seat which makes the bike handle quite differently especially of the top heavy T7. I would love to see your view on the matter in one of the following videos.
Why I have a hard time pulling the trigger for the Toureg is as follows. 1. Requires high test gas. 2. Have to go to dealer to turn off service light. 3. Heat coming off Catalytic Converter. Otherwise, the Toureg is superb.
Prices are a strange thing. Here in Switzerland, the Tuareg costs exactly (on the dime) the same as the Transalp, the VStrom and the Tenere (all 11.995 CHF). While in Aussie-Land it seems to be quite a bit more expensive than those.
I think because of our small market size manufacturers experiment with pricing. That said just about all twin adventure bike currently have huge discounts like up to $5000 in some cases
I love mine, I’ve done a shitload of research on reliability and the only comments I’m getting are from people who haven’t ridden one. Mine came with a unifilter., there is heat on the right leg but it’s not too bad.
I unloaded a flawed Desert-X and picked up one of these to finish up the season. Other than the engine heat and speed above 150km/hr, there is nothing about the Desert-X that was as good as this Tuareg.
The specs and reviews have always been great for this bike. Unfortunately, I couldn't get one for a test ride from any of the dealer in Sydney. The dealers rely on preorders from riders that were buying them based on online reviews and specs, not a ride.
That's terrible isn't it. I would never buy a bike without riding one first. I can spend all day telling you how good it is, but you ultimately have to see and feel for yourself. I once bought a bike from the hype, an XR250 Prolink. We never got on and it soon left the garage. The only consolation, you wouldn't have that problem with the Tuareg, it's a cracking bike.
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV Absolutely. That is one aspect of buying/ownership that is seldom overlooked. I am pretty sure Aprilia is a solid option, in my case BMW was the only manufacturer that treated me as if they wanted my business. Yamaha dealer couldn't provide a World Raid for test ride. I put my deposit down for the BMW as that was the only motorcycle I could test ride.
I've had this bike on the radar for some time to buy, one of the factors that has held me back are the on going issues with dealers. You've only pay attention to every second post and it puts the dealers (or lack of) in the gun.
I was surprised to see one for each year they've been imported at a dealer in the city. They were at a multi-marque dealer with KTM, Yamaha, Honda and CF Moto. There are a lot of Italians in Montreal, but even the Ducati dealer in the Italian Quarter is not a large volume. I don't see many ADV in urbania. I've seen one of: 650GS, 800GS, 850GS, BigGS, T7, Tuareg, DR650.
Their is a US rider that has done “ 16,000 miles “ long term review , he has had a few issues, but predominantly let down by Aprilla dealers - have also heard this from some Australia 660 owners as well . I think a fantastic bike that seems to be let down by dealers and lack of dealers in Australia. BUT I would buy one ☝️ over a CFMOTO 450 , would rather support Europeans than Chinese. Yes twice the money I know . But twice the power , better suspension and travel PLUS cruise control - only mid range ADV with it .
Primary issue is price. Like you guys touched on, a company who plays in road bikes and isn't sporting a huge support network. If someone could convince them to run at 800DE prices for a limited time, they'd have a real stock numbers issues. They're priced along side Tiger 900's & T7 World raids etc. Make it to good to deny and they'll sell.
The Aprilia is a brilliant bike no doubt, a guy I know has one and rides the wheels off it. I’ve also had a test ride and found it to be very good, apart from the engine heat on the tight leg. The biggest problem for me was I just couldn’t trust it, not like a T7 or an AT. There have been so many small ish issues reported with it on line you just don’t know if you will be lucky and get a good one or if you will be one of the unlucky ones who have a bike full problems, most small but I’ve seen a few issues with cams and suspension now. The lack of parts is also an issue many are having, waiting weeks and weeks for simple stuff. It’s a big investment for most people so buying something that is tried and tested as well as trusted makes a difference. Only my option like so don’t hate me 👍😁🏴
-The biggest problem for me was I just couldn’t trust it, not like a T7 or an AT.- I got the option for a T7, T7 WR and the Tuareg in 2022. T7 WR was too high and the two fuel opening do not catch me too. The datasheet and the price for the Tuareg was impressive. I noticed that well. And I think twice about the Tuareg. Reliability was the one for me. So the circle closed to your lend words. So the Award (my Money) go to (Opening music of Star Wars please) Yamaha Tenere 700.
I have a few bikes and the light dual sports beat you up fast on the freeway ,that thing I could tour in comfort on and still get it offroad to a degree,but nowadays people take those big bikes in places you can believe and hoss those around on single track trails.
In my opinion the Tuareg is the best mid size ADV bike, full stop. Unfortunately in Australia we have too many middle men taking their cut, and it is simply too expensive compared to the competition
Hi Dave, Clubby, good engine mate, Power delivery good but the air intakes get me, they have the air scoops for the filters from the front of the bike ye I think, prone for scooping water and dust into it ye. 👋🤠👍
Every air filter scoops dust lol. Isn't it it's job? The easy access at the top makes maintenance a breeze. Try that on a Ducati 😅. Honestly mine never sucked water, even under heavy rain
We pay too much for the Tuareg in Australia compared to what they cost in other regions. Tuareg is $12k in USA - in Australia it's $US16k - then add on the lack of authorised service and parts available in Australia and it's just not a sensible choice for many. If I lived in the USA I'd take the risk - but not in Australia. We pay far too much for the Yamaha Tenere 700 in Australia as well - but at least service and parts are readily available.
Im in the market and haven't heard about the bike. Ill go and check it out but to be honest, its too expensive for a 660 and seems like a niche brand like Guzzi. All good when new and everything is working but can go really bad when things go wrong. We need to have channels that review bikes after x amount of years or KM.
I did test ride the Tuareg 2 weeks ago. Great bike in many respects, but the big problem in my opinion is the engine characteristics.. no punch down low and in the middle, which is not what I expect from an ADV bike. Maybe this turns off many potential buyers
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV I guess it comes down to personal taste.. for me the Tuareg with the engine of the Suzuki Vstrom 800 DE would be perfect
I own one and I will say one reason for people who are paying attention to the service intervals is valve adjustments. Also due to the engine design, specialized tools needed (there are some ways around this), and both cams needing to come out if adjustment is needed this is a VERY expensive service (around $2200 - $2500 US). This service also happens nearly twice as often as some modern motors which do not require valve adjustment until you reach 20K or more miles. It is a fun bike to ride though, particularly for the size. The front suspension needs a bit of sorting out. A lot of owners are reporting fork shims bent or smashed to bits (in my case) for those that have been opened up even with only a few hundred miles of moderate riding on the clock. I was not entirely happy with the front suspension feel in general, but it is similar to what is used on the base DesertX so there is a bit more info on tuning it now as that bike is rather popular. The rear shock is bog standard and easy to tune (I did the K-Tech adventure piston for the Tenere since these are shared parts). I did eventually go to a full Ohlins setup which I am in the process of getting tuned now. On the other side of the pond we are also seeing some fine dust make it past the stock setup so the Uni or the pre that Uni makes (or both) are probably a good idea. A drop on the left side commonly leads to the shifter bolt being snapped off in a way that you will need an easy-out to remove it. I know about half a dozen folks (myself included) that have experienced that issue. I did both the aftermarket steel shifter and a titanium replacement bolt. The right side brake pedal also uses the same bolt, but it does not stick out as far so it seems to be less of a problem. I did the aftermarket steel brake pedal and titanium replacement bolt for the right side as well to hedge my bets.
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV maybe people are worried about support? Not many dealers or mechanical repair shops that work on them, not sure, but road bikes had that issue years ago, parts support and finding someone to repair them was an issue, not sure that's an issue nowadays.
Excellent William thanks for this information from a users perspective. As we always say, we ride this bikes during their new honeymoon period. You still like so that's a good sign.
7k miles on, more than half done on UK TET in 8 moths and no issues. But there may be out of factory problem with forks compression and rebound (valve upside down/shims crushed) as posts on forums and videos start to emerge. I didn't open forks on mine yet. Seems that even new 2024 have this issue. Dave any chance you could find out if that's is the case with one you've ridden ? and help to address the issue with Aprilia if there's one. I could provide a link to video and the post if that would of any help.
Great Tuareg. We have a motorcycle stereo that can connect to 2 helmets, with a compass and barometer, which would be perfect for you. Looking forward to working with you. How can I contact you?🏍
As to why it's not more popular, from what I have read (in the US) it is largely due to concerns for reliability and parts availability (lack of dealers across the US).
Loved the sound when full noise just happens, but first of anything is a no-go. also I didn't get one the as the dealer net work is good enough in the city, but out in the bush !!! 660 for 23+k bit rich. F900 at 25+k better option... (no I don't have one)
Actually, the blame is not on the consumers for overlooking the Aprilia. The issue is their poor dealership representation. Here in South Africa the distributer folded and now all the Tuareg owners are stranded without support and nobody wants to purchase their previously owned bikes.
I am not saying that you are wrong. Such a bad (nonexisting) dealer support is of course a huge problem. The strange thing is: where I live, there a lots and lots of Aprilia dealers... probably more than Honda or Yamaha. And still: over the last 2 years I have seen only 2 Tuaregs on the road (or off the road for that matter).
I actually bought one of those very bikes recently here in Cape Town... 2022 model, 2500kms on the clock, not a single dealer in the country, was quite worried about the potential risk and costs, but watching this video now at this point I feel very pleased with myself. Hou duim vas vir my ;)
Hi thanks for a great video guys. Us Scottish bikers know a banging bike when we see it and a bargain buy. Been riding one on and off for last 2 yrs and just bought myself a new Dakar Podium version. It's on my Channel. Sweet see ya guys.
Very good question. My heart keeps the T700 in the garage. Once you sit on this, and realise what comes standard your head starts to rule. That's why I don't sit on it for too long. :)
In a world where run out Africa twins sell for $20K, the Tuareg and my favourite , the AJP PR7 are too expensive. The Chinese and Indian models coming in at half the price are selling well.
I love the bike but the price by the time you add the necessary protection bits and pieces like a proper bash plate, heated grips made it expensive and uncompetitive. Now the F900 is out, I'd say it'll be a harder stretch to go with it
Good points... but to add, last year, the Tuareg won the 13 stage Africa Eco Race (the old Dakar) w/ 0 issues, and beat Tarres/T7 that had 2 issues. Too bad that story has yet to be carried. Your point about marketing - so true. So many great bikes!
Aprilia is to blame for it being overlooked. The bike is phenomenal in almost all areas. I would agree it is almost the unicorn. There are too few dealers in the U.S. coupled with too many stories about the wait times for replacement parts. Then it gets lost in the shuffle when you have the Honda Transalp, the Suzuki Vstrom, and now the KTM 790. All those bikes offer more bang for the buck depending on what your preferences are. People trust these other brands more and arguably are more reliable and generally more well known. With more HP and more Dakar titles under their belts. Now CFMoto is dropping their ibex 450 MT, which is 6500, and it is a lighter, cheaper version of the T7, which many regard as the gold standard. and highly reviewed. Plus, they are releasing their ibex 800 pro, which is a ktm 790/890 knock-off. To wrap this up, the Aprilia Taureg 660 may well be unicorn territory it is lost in the sea of competing bikes who have more venerable reputations for being great manufacturers. Aprilia has an uphill climb against the competition.
It comes down to support. Aprillia/Moto guzzi dealerships are as scarce as hens teeth. The closet dealer to me is 300 miles away. Most people want a place to turn to for repair and service. Great bikes mostly, horrible network.
I considered it. It looks great, but I struggled with the value. It's 90% of the money of a Tiger 900 and compared to that, there's a laundry list of features the Aprilia doesn't have.
The Tuareg could've done so well here in India but they decided to price it the same as the Tiger 900 Rally Pro and Ducati Desert X. No one would pay that for a 660cc when they'll get more bang for the buck from the bigger bikes and better service network. Bringing it via the CBU route was an epic mistake. Can't imagine who at Aprilia India approved this strategy. The 600cc ADV segment is not existent except for the Versys 650 and Tiger 660 Sport, both which are not true ADVs.
It is neither underrated nor overlooked, because every fooker and his dog keeps telling you how great it is. And great it may be, but you hear about silly problems all the time and as a result it gets ignored, maybe more than it should.
Couldn't agree more. I have tested it. Great bike. But even my test bike which was brand new already revealed major quality issues. That's the reason why people do not buy it. End of story. It's about consistency. AT and T7 for the win.
Gee that felt like the shopping channel. Was that a paid advertisement? From an owner - yes it's a great bike. Best real adv bike on the market. Parts availability from dealers in useless. Best to have a spare bike if you plan to have too much fun and break it occasionally. Do not buy one if you plan to commute in summer. Even with a cat delete this is one seriously hot bike. Great in winter and the colder months though.
@@volvogt21 all these guys “reviews” are like that, they never really say anything too bad about a bike. Don’t wanna jeopardise those long term test bikes or release junkets I guess.
@mj_aussie_coaster_travels8310 yes I'd have to agree. It's a bit like the days of advertising in mags. Their products were always great when tested. Plus the junkets and freebies these guys get is unbelievable. Have you seen the free gear they get!!!!! My mate has a channel which I won't name and loves all the gear he gets sent by klim etc even though he re tons their gear is crap. Wears it a couple of times then sells it. Lol.
I know these bikes aren't that old but I read the comments here and I will say do you know how stupid it looks when people write 7k or 10k and no problem.. seriously that's it's first service. Come back at 50 or 100k and tell me.
Exactly. I have ridden more than 500.000 km on Japanese bikes without a single issue. That's a track record. Almost new bikes shouldn't have issues at all.
Yes I'm one of the ppl who put a comment 7k in 8moths, but I owned Honda AT and at this milage I it was burning 500ml oil every 1k miles. Had it from new and I did do engine braking as recomended by Honda. Another example V Strom 650 xt 19 model throtle bodies issues. Let's be honest if bike was made in 1990 - 2000 maybe bit later on I will agree with your statement but all the new bikes a bit of hit and miss. Another thing is that how many ppl keeps bikes until 50k yet 100k ? in Uk if you bike has that many miles regardles of brand is dificult to sell. I keep bikes 3-4 years as I want to ride as many bikes as I can during my life time. All my bikes before were Japanese and I don't regret buying Tuareg even if I have to fit new engine in it. Fun factor out of the box and overall package is - for me at least - almost twice as good as it is on T7.
@@gregs7194 I don't care if your Honda fell apart as the dealer wheeled it out. This has nothing to do with the stupid comments about I have ridden this bike 7k miles and had no issues. You say this like people should be impressed. I find it laughable.
So far, biggest mileage I have seen on this bike was 70k km (~43k miles) in two years, issue free. One guy posted info on FB that he is swapping his unit and taking also Tuareg 660, but new, from 2024. That's how much he liked it. On other forums and groups there are people showing their bikes that have 50-60 thousand kms (30 - 40 thousand miles) without any problems. So it looks decent I would say. And still, this bike is available for just two years, people simply hadn't enough time to put bigger mileage on theirs.
The headlight is what does it. So many people cannot get over the ugliness of the headlight to even try riding it to see how good of a bike it really is.
2024 Atreides Black ordered as a crew bike this week, you are so right, very overlooked for such a great bike.
Excellent. After sitting on the bike Clubby had the other day, I thought this could be a T7 replacement.
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV spoilt for choices, yet again. What a great time for new and seasoned riders alike.
@@ride360au So true. One day we will look back on this time as the golden years.
@@ride360au There isn't really good data to back that up too much is there?
@@krulidn data to back what up?
I’ve always been a Honda guy and reliability is huge to me. I took a chance buying the Tuareg due to raving reviews and I couldn’t be happier. 5k miles with zero issues and it’s the best bike I’ve ever owned. On the forums many have far more miles with zero issues it’s a winner deserving more consideration from those who are brand loyal to others.
Bro, great experience you have had. 5k on any motorcycle these days is barely broken in! Glad it’s had no problems
Great to hear.
Reliability was also a primary concern for me, despite positive reviews. The lack of supporting aprillia dealerships and reported slow parts availability (for many brands poat covid) made me hesitant.
@@brettw1518ne ho una con 58.000 km e va meglio ora rispetto a quando era nuova.
@@brettw1518 Only 5km, I was thinking same! Unless he was doing dakar, erzberg or Baja 1000.
15k kms since February, literally zero issues, and something that I realized the hard way: this bike is a tough motherfucker and hard to break. I had some good drops in the dirt, and other than some scratches and a broken mirror, it always starts immediately. Outstanding handling and performance, so couldn't be happier with a bike of it's size. Keep up the amazing work guys.
Great to hear
I've dropped mine countless times, even the mirrors have held up and not broken. Only thing is i've bent the handlebar from the bushings, they get soft when dropped alot. Handlebar risers definitely have an effect on that as well. I'm a lightweight guy, under 70kg-s and I can handle it a-okay. Though there of course are situations when I have to drop it on purpose to drag it over obstacles / get it to a better angle for lifting.
@@j0rss totally agree mate.. it was meant to be a Tenere killer, so it had to be tough and hard to break, and it seems it really is
I do agree, what a great bike, Best bike ever, I bought my Tuareg because of your 2022 review. Thank you guys, love your work!
I'm glad you did bought it.
I bought one of the very first ones of these bikes available in 2022. "Takes a kicking and keeps on ticking" It has been reliable and has given outstanding performance since new. I've kept it cleaned regularly and serviced as per the manual. No worries in my ownership. I fitted a full set of GIVI luggage rear rack and side rails on mine and fit whatever luggage I need for however many days I'm away from base.
Good to hear. It's a good bike.
You guys do great reviews, I'm not knocking your video this is just my observations as a guy who really considered a Tuareg 660.
The reason for poor sales is the lack of dealerships and poor rating for Aprilia's customer service. There have been reports of failures by owners that actually ride them hard over long miles for long periods of time, year- year and a half. I'm not saying that it is higher than usual failures across manufacturers but there have been reported failures.
In the end that was why I went with the T7, plenty of dealerships. My clutch/gearbox weren't 100% and Yamaha is replacing it under warranty right now. KTM and Aprilia would have fought me on it, regarding KTM I can speak from experience.
A company can have the best bike on the planet but it comes down to the manufacturer and dealer support that make a true winner.
Agree with dealer support comment
My nearest Canadian dealer is 1334 km away
My nearest dealer is in the USA is 730 km away.
Its been 10 yrs since we had a dealer in Winnipeg.
As an astounding coincidence, one day before this video was released, a RSV Mille V- twin passed me by. First time seeing one in ages.
As a T7 owner, the Tuareg ticks all the boxes of what I would want from a T7 upgrade, namely suspension and cruise control
Good points.
Your 100 percent correct, I live in Winnipeg as well and I love the tuareg but with no dealer network around us there is not much point in owning one. I'm in bc right now and I ran into a guy with one. They are beautiful bikes in person. I'll stick with my 701 enduro adv build/te 300 combo as it checks all the boxes for me.
Mc cruise if you want cruise control
These are the most aussie blokes i have ever heard. Brilliant stuff. About to buy the Toureg and these two lads cemented my decision 👍
Great they are a brilliant bike
I am bringing my '22 Tuareg to the first 'big' service @20k km tomorrow.
Couldn't be happier with the bike and would buy it again without hesitation!
Great to hear
I have to be honest: I think that the reviewers are partly to blame for the "the bike is awesome, but overlooked" phenomenon. Yes, every single RUclips channel was praising the Tuareg in their first reviews in '22... but then over the next few months they stopped talking about it. What I mean is: when the Transalp and the Vstrom800 came out and were reviewed, did anyone say "compared to the Tuareg, the suspension is worse / the electronic package is missing features / the bike is heavier"? No.. it was just back to the old common comparisons to the T7 and 890KTM while the Tuareg just disappeared from the vocabulary of renowned Journalists. So it never really had a chance to make its way into the minds of the community.
Dude I completely agree. There are so many comparison videos from whatever bike vs. the T7. But if they were to throw in the Tuareg, it would murder both on stats. But yep, no mention of it.
They often do this. The KTM 790 Adventure received the highest praise almost everywhere. Then when middle-weight comparisons started coming out later, the KTM was often excluded and sometimes not even mentioned. Instead the comparisons focused on the T700, Transalp, the Tuareg, and later the DE800. UK and US reviews in particular were bad for this. Odd as in the UK the 790 was cheaper or similar price to most of them.
Good point
Interesting
And think about the failing camshafts FB page of the 790/890 and still nobody talked about the Touareg. I haven't ridden one but the 15.000 km problem free is not such a big bragging point. My KTM 950 did that and they didn't call them Keeps Talking Money in vain. I guess people are reluctant because it's Italian.
I've had mine since spring of 2022, absolutely love it, coming from an Enduro background it really has the goods
It is a great bike.
Great video production ... having the separate microphones for both guys linked to the left & right stereo output on my laptop sounded like they were on either side of me on the couch!
Good. My first compliment for sound ever
This bike has been on my radar...sold my T7 after 2.5 years- great bike but just too top heavy. After watching your review and seeing how the fuel sits lower than the T7 I think it's my next bike. (to sit alongside my 2017 690). We're lucky to have multiple Aprilia dealers here in Denver.
It feels soo much lighter than a T7. The weight is low
Yes, Yamaha needs to modify the design to have a lower centre of gravity.
I have a 2022 Tuareg and it’s a fantastic bike.
Great to hear.
how many Km < ??
Hey thanks Dave for this updated post. I've had the Tuareg for 8K miles now, can't say a bad word for it - except finding Neutral is an ongoing battle still, lol. Still having loads of fun on it. Yes, dealer/parts availability as EVERYONE has mentioned, and not having control over turning off the Engine Wrench warning light, are concerns, but my bike is running fine so far, and that's really the crap shoot of all bikes anyway right? Thanks so much for the great follow up on the Tuareg. We needed the love......
Thanks for telling us of your experience
Oil change and clutch cable adjustment made finding neutral much easier. We've got a few other tips on our channel.
@@WyomingFamilyAdventures Thanks for your reply and advice. I've adjusted the clutch cable quite a # of times in the beginning. I found a sweet spot, but when I had the Quick Shifter installed, these adjustments didn't make a difference any longer, and can't see that QS has any meaningful adjustment to make a difference (I could be mistaken). The oil has been changed 3 times now, to no effect. I just live w/ it, finding neutral on the roll to a stop, or rocking the bike a little forward w/ clutch in in first gear, things like that. Frankly, if this is the biggest problem I have to deal w/, I'll take it, lol. Happy riding!
The practicalities & usability of adv bikes with low fuel weight like the Tuareg is such an advantage in proper off road conditions I don’t know why more manufacturers don’t do it…I ride a older adv bike with low fuel weight under the seat when off road it’s so planted, so stable, feels so light I don’t think I’ll ever want a bike with a traditional high set tank as long a I’m riding off road. Tuareg has been on top of my wish list for a while now. Always appreciate your reviews gents 👌🏼
So true! And thanks for the support
Looks fantastic in the black and red.
That subframe looks pretty cool too 👍
It bangs.
Hello,
I just bought the Tuareg new to go with my Tenere Extreme 2024. I can only confirm that almost everything is better on the Tuareg, such as the handling, lower center of gravity, more maneuverable due to the shorter wheelbase. The brakes are better with the more stable brake discs, the front fork also has better triple clamps than the Tenere. The Tuareg's gearbox almost shifts by itself, almost as smooth as butter, and the quickshifter is just awesome.
If it weren't for the emotional CP2 engine on my Tenere, I would have sold it a long time ago. 😛
You are preaching to the converted.
Last year I was in the market for a new bike, Honda Transalp, T7, 800DE or the Tuareg. After almost a year of research I decided to go with the Tuareg and could not be happier.
Excellent. I would have predicted that.
Well I am a little late to this review but wanted to say I have 15,000 miles on my Tuareg 660 just under a year and half. I'm in Southern California within 50 to 100 miles from any of the off-road most famous places to ride such as Glamis(famous for endless sand dunes), Ocotillo Wells(Off road dirt bike heaven), Borrego Springs desert also the high desert and Death Valley. My bike spend countless hours riding in harsh deep, deep sand all day long at times with full packed camp gear. I also do all the Mountain trails in Big Bear mountain, Idylwild mountain. I also did 2,500 mile round trip from SoCal to do the Utah BDR. I have street riding friend who ride BMW 1000 XR, GS, Suzuki GSXR GT and we do 200-450 mile ride every Sunday if Im not going on offroad trips. We Did 2000 mile road trip Monterey CA to watch the GP races at Laguna Secca. The bike runs just over 6k RPM at 80 mph on the highway for hours at a time. I thought for sure I wanted to get a second street bike to ride with my street riding buddy's because I have Motaz Rallz knobies on mine but the more I ride it it amazes me how versatile this bike is. I say all this to say this bike has been 100% TROUBLE FREE.. Not a single issue.The engine is completely stock no aftermarket exhaust but I do have a Uni filter. I run Mosko Moto 80s on it all the time-they never come off. One tip I learned by luck is I bought a plastic AXP bash plate and it cut the heat from the engine down at least 50%. There's no metal around the catalytic converter. I'm 6,2" tall and I changed the windscreen with Puig touring screen, Barkbuster hand guards, SW-Motech crash bars that's it. For those of you on the fence for this bike this has been my experience and the more I ride it more I am in love with it.
That's awesome to hear you've had such a great experience with your Tuareg. I love hearing about all the places you've ridden!
we should hang out.
i bought one brand new in Dakar Podium Colours in march while it was on offer for £9400 and i like it so much ive already spent another £1600 or $3100 Australian on outbackmotortek crash bars and bash plate in white and full arrow exhaust system which im still waiting for and a Sprint air filter designed for heavy offroad, and im not going to stop there, its nimble, light cheap to run with a big tank, excellent suspension, quick shifter is silky smooth as is the gearbox, and it inspires so much confidence in the rough stuff, i love it, probably the most comprihensive electronics package for the price in its class, most certainly overlooked.
Thanks for sharing
5k miles only issue has been a fuel sending unit. Absolutely love this bike. And hey, my 22 KLR had to have a sending unit so don't start that! 7 bikes and the Tuareg is my favorite to pull out for a day of anything goes riding.
Thanks for sharing
Had a chance to buy one here in the Pacific Northwest of the USA; it truly ticks many of the middleweight adventure boxes but it was the “unknowns” that gave me pause and I passed.
That's interesting because it is such a sweet package.
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV Agree, not as bold as I once was :)
Great review as always!
I appreciate that
I think the key thing really is the dealer network unfortunately or at least I'd like to see them take steps to supplement the lack of dealer. For example, my closest aprillia dealer is 3.5hrs away. I do all my own maintenance so it's not a huge deal. I'd hope they'd maybe give me a copy of the service manual, which they might do but I doubt it. I'll be charitable and assume that I won't have to worry about parts and I can order them. But one thing that bugs me is that only dealers can clear service lights, including the oil change light. It's my understanding that's still the case and I just feel like that's a bit silly. I should be able to do that myself.
Good point
Thanks as always for the great vids and info. Killer bike if it holds up. I'll be interested in the longer-term reliability. Here in Canada, if your Taureg goes down mechanically, you are potentially in for a very long wait for parts. It goes without saying that reliability is still the key requirement for any bike ridden hard in the backcountry.
Thank you
I bought mine 3 months ago and love it. I think the dealer network in Australia is the only issue with this bike. Not the amount of Dealers but who the Dealers are. They need to pick up the game.
Agree
Great bike all around, I just got the Aprilia hard pannier racks system for the back so i can fit the hard panniers from my Guzzi on it. This bike can be an American open roads traveler as well as an adventure do it all. I can put on soft saddle bags on or the hard ones if I want and then unload it so I can go have fun on the trails.
That said..I just came back from a 400 miles + ride in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan today and; I took my Honda 300CRF Rally for it. There’s a lot of sand up there and we were not camping so the CRF was the better choice.
At this time of the year (in the U P) they get ready for the upcoming winter so the snowmobiling season is the next thing to get ready for on the trails. So, the graders are outhere loosening everything up and getting rid of washboard etc. So, you never know what you will encounter as you ride; hence a light bike is the better choice when you have to duck paddle for a half mile here and there.
R
Thanks
Another great video lads! 🤗
Thanks again!
Ive been looking at motorcycles, a Tuareg wasn't even on my radar, as ot doesn't really come up many uk reviews, but it was the only bike that gave me the wow factor when i first saw it. When you look into the bike there is lots to like about, as you say its very underated, ive always loved underated motorcycles. I'm sure there are lots of aftermarket accessories. ( not overpriced factory stuff) Thete os a dealer within 20miles, i have heard parts can be hard to get, something to look into.
Thank you
i try it before 2 years and .....
i choose the T7 !
cheers from Greece !!
OK
26000 km on my 2022 AT660, one thing broken - clutch switch. Replaced under warranty. Cams after 25k km like new. Great, fun bike.
Thanks for sharing
how much was the valve adjustment job? quite pricey?
Any findings at the big service ? How much $ was it ?
@@danielkoster8510 two valve shims corrected, price depends on region
Biggest concern was hit early on. Dealer network. Atleast in the US, even when it’s a bike you work on yourself, the majority of folks either don’t want to travel 3 hours to get to a dealer, or don’t want the bike breaking down beyond user repair only to have to trailer it to a dealer way out of the way.
I’ve never heard anything negative about the bike other than “the cat makes the exhaust hot on my leg” and “dealer network”
For the first year bike I did hear weird fueling which was ecu fixed over warranty and one person with a base gasket issue (which makes sense since it was probably built in the middle of Covid material shortages)
I’m very interested in this bike, sat on one that was ridden from Canada to Washington state for touratech and was immediately sold. Can’t justify selling my DR650 but it’s very much on my short list to park next to it.
Agree
Another great video! I currently ride a 2017 KTM 1090R for easy off-road and fast pavement rides, but currently looking for a fully equipped 2013 KTM 990 Adventure. If a new bike was on the table, the Aprilia Tuareg would be my choice.
Yep I’m with you on that
Well guys you've convinced me. I definitely will be getting one of these. It's the perfect step up from the Honda CB500X 👌
You’re welcome. Glad it helped.
Nice review, again! So, you covered the T7, F900GS, KTM and Aprilia. Now, do you dare to take venture outside of the main brands? Like Kove. 450 Rally is selling like Vegemite in Australia. What about Kove 800X? From what I see reviews are in general focused on weight, HP, suspension and brakes. Seems like positioning of the weight, or CG, is quite overlooked although it makes or rather creates the character of the bike and HOW it carries its weight. Like Touareg, 800X also shares the same design of the petrol tank - under the seat which makes the bike handle quite differently especially of the top heavy T7. I would love to see your view on the matter in one of the following videos.
We don’t have the Kove in Australia unfortunately
Why I have a hard time pulling the trigger for the Toureg is as follows.
1. Requires high test gas.
2. Have to go to dealer to turn off service light.
3. Heat coming off Catalytic Converter.
Otherwise, the Toureg is superb.
I love it.
a year on, 12.000km and zero issues, only smiles.
Great to hear
Prices are a strange thing.
Here in Switzerland, the Tuareg costs exactly (on the dime) the same as the Transalp, the VStrom and the Tenere (all 11.995 CHF).
While in Aussie-Land it seems to be quite a bit more expensive than those.
I think because of our small market size manufacturers experiment with pricing. That said just about all twin adventure bike currently have huge discounts like up to $5000 in some cases
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV Also, the fact that Italy and Switzerland are neighboring countries and not 15.000km apart may play a part as well. 😅
Have my heart set of this bike, but have heard stories about heat from engine. Is it as bad as people say? Mainly riding in Qld and Northern NSW.
I didn't notice it.
Thanks good to know. Is It ok for long black top stints please
A lot of reviewers complain about the heat.
I love mine, I’ve done a shitload of research on reliability and the only comments I’m getting are from people who haven’t ridden one.
Mine came with a unifilter., there is heat on the right leg but it’s not too bad.
Thanks. There are a long list of people that love their bike.
I unloaded a flawed Desert-X and picked up one of these to finish up the season. Other than the engine heat and speed above 150km/hr, there is nothing about the Desert-X that was as good as this Tuareg.
Thank you
The specs and reviews have always been great for this bike. Unfortunately, I couldn't get one for a test ride from any of the dealer in Sydney. The dealers rely on preorders from riders that were buying them based on online reviews and specs, not a ride.
That's terrible isn't it. I would never buy a bike without riding one first. I can spend all day telling you how good it is, but you ultimately have to see and feel for yourself. I once bought a bike from the hype, an XR250 Prolink. We never got on and it soon left the garage. The only consolation, you wouldn't have that problem with the Tuareg, it's a cracking bike.
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV Absolutely. That is one aspect of buying/ownership that is seldom overlooked. I am pretty sure Aprilia is a solid option, in my case BMW was the only manufacturer that treated me as if they wanted my business. Yamaha dealer couldn't provide a World Raid for test ride. I put my deposit down for the BMW as that was the only motorcycle I could test ride.
I've had this bike on the radar for some time to buy, one of the factors that has held me back are the on going issues with dealers. You've only pay attention to every second post and it puts the dealers (or lack of) in the gun.
Thanks
Buy it at a decent dealer then 😅
Perun moto is the tail rack to get for the Tuareg. I have it on mine.
Thank you
Same here!
I was surprised to see one for each year they've been imported at a dealer in the city. They were at a multi-marque dealer with KTM, Yamaha, Honda and CF Moto. There are a lot of Italians in Montreal, but even the Ducati dealer in the Italian Quarter is not a large volume.
I don't see many ADV in urbania. I've seen one of: 650GS, 800GS, 850GS, BigGS, T7, Tuareg, DR650.
Maybe to urban where you are
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV yes, there's definitely more where they also sell snowmobiles
I let my KTM 950 go because I ride between 2k to 9k feet altitude and wanted fuel injection. This bike has been outstanding.
Sounds like you made the right choice.
I love this bike and for me is the Tuareg one of the best or the best!
It is a well designed capable bike.
Their is a US rider that has done “ 16,000 miles “ long term review , he has had a few issues, but predominantly let down by Aprilla dealers - have also heard this from some Australia 660 owners as well . I think a fantastic bike that seems to be let down by dealers and lack of dealers in Australia. BUT I would buy one ☝️ over a CFMOTO 450 , would rather support Europeans than Chinese. Yes twice the money I know . But twice the power , better suspension and travel PLUS cruise control - only mid range ADV with it .
Interesting points.
Primary issue is price.
Like you guys touched on, a company who plays in road bikes and isn't sporting a huge support network.
If someone could convince them to run at 800DE prices for a limited time, they'd have a real stock numbers issues.
They're priced along side Tiger 900's & T7 World raids etc. Make it to good to deny and they'll sell.
Good point.
The Aprilia is a brilliant bike no doubt, a guy I know has one and rides the wheels off it.
I’ve also had a test ride and found it to be very good, apart from the engine heat on the tight leg.
The biggest problem for me was I just couldn’t trust it, not like a T7 or an AT.
There have been so many small ish issues reported with it on line you just don’t know if you will be lucky and get a good one or if you will be one of the unlucky ones who have a bike full problems, most small but I’ve seen a few issues with cams and suspension now. The lack of parts is also an issue many are having, waiting weeks and weeks for simple stuff.
It’s a big investment for most people so buying something that is tried and tested as well as trusted makes a difference. Only my option like so don’t hate me 👍😁🏴
Thanks for your thoughts
-The biggest problem for me was I just couldn’t trust it, not like a T7 or an AT.-
I got the option for a T7, T7 WR and the Tuareg in 2022.
T7 WR was too high and the two fuel opening do not catch me too.
The datasheet and the price for the Tuareg was impressive. I noticed that well. And I think twice about the Tuareg.
Reliability was the one for me. So the circle closed to your lend words.
So the Award (my Money) go to (Opening music of Star Wars please) Yamaha Tenere 700.
32000km in Norway without a issue. Perfect motorcycle 😊.
Great to hear
Powerful machine ,not too heavy for light off road.
Yes, it’s quite light for its size.
I have a few bikes and the light dual sports beat you up fast on the freeway ,that thing I could tour in comfort on and still get it offroad to a degree,but nowadays people take those big bikes in places you can believe and hoss those around on single track trails.
In my opinion the Tuareg is the best mid size ADV bike, full stop. Unfortunately in Australia we have too many middle men taking their cut, and it is simply too expensive compared to the competition
I think the resistance is scarcity of service centres.
Hi Dave, Clubby, good engine mate, Power delivery good but the air intakes get me, they have the air scoops for the filters from the front of the bike ye I think, prone for scooping water and dust into it ye. 👋🤠👍
I haven't heard of that being an issue.
Every air filter scoops dust lol. Isn't it it's job? The easy access at the top makes maintenance a breeze. Try that on a Ducati 😅. Honestly mine never sucked water, even under heavy rain
We pay too much for the Tuareg in Australia compared to what they cost in other regions. Tuareg is $12k in USA - in Australia it's $US16k - then add on the lack of authorised service and parts available in Australia and it's just not a sensible choice for many. If I lived in the USA I'd take the risk - but not in Australia. We pay far too much for the Yamaha Tenere 700 in Australia as well - but at least service and parts are readily available.
Thanks for your thoughts
Im in the market and haven't heard about the bike. Ill go and check it out but to be honest, its too expensive for a 660 and seems like a niche brand like Guzzi. All good when new and everything is working but can go really bad when things go wrong.
We need to have channels that review bikes after x amount of years or KM.
Agree. Its difficult though. We have commenced on this channel with the Himalayan and 450 CFMOTO
I did test ride the Tuareg 2 weeks ago. Great bike in many respects, but the big problem in my opinion is the engine characteristics.. no punch down low and in the middle, which is not what I expect from an ADV bike. Maybe this turns off many potential buyers
I thought power delivery was good. It's not an 890.
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV I guess it comes down to personal taste.. for me the Tuareg with the engine of the Suzuki Vstrom 800 DE would be perfect
This will be a great test, they look and sound like an impressive bike. Not sure why more are not on the road.
I can't understand it.
I own one and I will say one reason for people who are paying attention to the service intervals is valve adjustments. Also due to the engine design, specialized tools needed (there are some ways around this), and both cams needing to come out if adjustment is needed this is a VERY expensive service (around $2200 - $2500 US). This service also happens nearly twice as often as some modern motors which do not require valve adjustment until you reach 20K or more miles. It is a fun bike to ride though, particularly for the size.
The front suspension needs a bit of sorting out. A lot of owners are reporting fork shims bent or smashed to bits (in my case) for those that have been opened up even with only a few hundred miles of moderate riding on the clock. I was not entirely happy with the front suspension feel in general, but it is similar to what is used on the base DesertX so there is a bit more info on tuning it now as that bike is rather popular. The rear shock is bog standard and easy to tune (I did the K-Tech adventure piston for the Tenere since these are shared parts). I did eventually go to a full Ohlins setup which I am in the process of getting tuned now.
On the other side of the pond we are also seeing some fine dust make it past the stock setup so the Uni or the pre that Uni makes (or both) are probably a good idea.
A drop on the left side commonly leads to the shifter bolt being snapped off in a way that you will need an easy-out to remove it. I know about half a dozen folks (myself included) that have experienced that issue. I did both the aftermarket steel shifter and a titanium replacement bolt. The right side brake pedal also uses the same bolt, but it does not stick out as far so it seems to be less of a problem. I did the aftermarket steel brake pedal and titanium replacement bolt for the right side as well to hedge my bets.
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV maybe people are worried about support? Not many dealers or mechanical repair shops that work on them, not sure, but road bikes had that issue years ago, parts support and finding someone to repair them was an issue, not sure that's an issue nowadays.
Excellent William thanks for this information from a users perspective. As we always say, we ride this bikes during their new honeymoon period. You still like so that's a good sign.
Thanks Scott
If i ever update from my 650 Dakar, the Tuareg would be my first choice
You can’t go wrong with that choice!
Hi there.
Ive seen allot of videos of people that bougth then and they report many issues with the bike after some months.
Wath do you think?
I haven't heard of anyone having problems.
Just love mine :D
Easy to love.
Can confirm, the bike is awesome.
Great to hear
Im amazed there is a lams version too. I wonder why yamaha doesnt do a lams t7? They do a lams mt07, so they have the motor for it.
Yep
Tuareg is a fantastic bike, only reason I went to a ktm 890 was the Tuareg is working way to hard at highway speeds.
Interesting decision.
7k miles on, more than half done on UK TET in 8 moths and no issues. But there may be out of factory problem with forks compression and rebound (valve upside down/shims crushed) as posts on forums and videos start to emerge. I didn't open forks on mine yet. Seems that even new 2024 have this issue. Dave any chance you could find out if that's is the case with one you've ridden ? and help to address the issue with Aprilia if there's one. I could provide a link to video and the post if that would of any help.
I’m onto the next story
Great bike, only reason I can see for sales not booming is its not 120hp, 70 of which isn't needed especially off road or if you want to keep licence.
Good point
I wish they made a scrambler version of it.
Great Tuareg. We have a motorcycle stereo that can connect to 2 helmets, with a compass and barometer, which would be perfect for you. Looking forward to working with you. How can I contact you?🏍
As to why it's not more popular, from what I have read (in the US) it is largely due to concerns for reliability and parts availability (lack of dealers across the US).
There seems to be a theme there.
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV It is unfortunate. I know a guy who has one and he really likes it.
Loved the sound when full noise just happens, but first of anything is a no-go. also I didn't get one the as the dealer net work is good enough in the city, but out in the bush !!! 660 for 23+k bit rich. F900 at 25+k better option... (no I don't have one)
Thanks for sharing yeah Beemer 900 is a consideration
However Chinese engine in the f900
Actually, the blame is not on the consumers for overlooking the Aprilia. The issue is their poor dealership representation. Here in South Africa the distributer folded and now all the Tuareg owners are stranded without support and nobody wants to purchase their previously owned bikes.
That's sad, when you've got such a good bike.
I am not saying that you are wrong. Such a bad (nonexisting) dealer support is of course a huge problem. The strange thing is: where I live, there a lots and lots of Aprilia dealers... probably more than Honda or Yamaha. And still: over the last 2 years I have seen only 2 Tuaregs on the road (or off the road for that matter).
I actually bought one of those very bikes recently here in Cape Town... 2022 model, 2500kms on the clock, not a single dealer in the country, was quite worried about the potential risk and costs, but watching this video now at this point I feel very pleased with myself. Hou duim vas vir my ;)
Hi thanks for a great video guys.
Us Scottish bikers know a banging bike when we see it and a bargain buy.
Been riding one on and off for last 2 yrs and just bought myself a new Dakar Podium version. It's on my Channel. Sweet see ya guys.
Sounds great!
Looks like a nice ship!! I wonder if the saying that "All Italian machines are assembled after a 2-hour liquid lunch holds true?? lol...
I don’t know
Dave, would you trade in your tenere for one?
Very good question. My heart keeps the T700 in the garage. Once you sit on this, and realise what comes standard your head starts to rule. That's why I don't sit on it for too long. :)
In a world where run out Africa twins sell for $20K, the Tuareg and my favourite , the AJP PR7 are too expensive. The Chinese and Indian models coming in at half the price are selling well.
Interesting times
Looks the goods but there is only one dealer in West Oz and it's over a 2 hour drive to get there for me .
10,000 km service interval, so a ride every now and again.
Can't say I've ever heard of it till this vid, it's just not a well marketed bike. Would like to give it a go myself.
Great specs and an excellent ride
Have they fixed the suspension issues? Something with components being installed wrong.
Don’t know
No local dealers would be my guess. My nearest dealer is over 300 km away and in another state.
There’s a theme there
I love the bike but the price by the time you add the necessary protection bits and pieces like a proper bash plate, heated grips made it expensive and uncompetitive. Now the F900 is out, I'd say it'll be a harder stretch to go with it
Thanks for your thoughts
The better marketing sold both the T7 & the 790/890, T7 - Pol Tarres, ARiemann1 and 790/890 - Chris Birch. Need I say more?
Good point. Adam Reiman is supported by Yamaha so you’re showing your age.
Good points... but to add, last year, the Tuareg won the 13 stage Africa Eco Race (the old Dakar) w/ 0 issues, and beat Tarres/T7 that had 2 issues. Too bad that story has yet to be carried. Your point about marketing - so true. So many great bikes!
Aprilia is to blame for it being overlooked. The bike is phenomenal in almost all areas. I would agree it is almost the unicorn. There are too few dealers in the U.S. coupled with too many stories about the wait times for replacement parts. Then it gets lost in the shuffle when you have the Honda Transalp, the Suzuki Vstrom, and now the KTM 790. All those bikes offer more bang for the buck depending on what your preferences are. People trust these other brands more and arguably are more reliable and generally more well known. With more HP and more Dakar titles under their belts. Now CFMoto is dropping their ibex 450 MT, which is 6500, and it is a lighter, cheaper version of the T7, which many regard as the gold standard. and highly reviewed. Plus, they are releasing their ibex 800 pro, which is a ktm 790/890 knock-off. To wrap this up, the Aprilia Taureg 660 may well be unicorn territory it is lost in the sea of competing bikes who have more venerable reputations for being great manufacturers. Aprilia has an uphill climb against the competition.
Thanks for your comment.
It comes down to support. Aprillia/Moto guzzi dealerships are as scarce as hens teeth. The closet dealer to me is 300 miles away. Most people want a place to turn to for repair and service. Great bikes mostly, horrible network.
Any Piaggio dealer?
A consistent theme on these posts
Does anyone know if there is a shop that sells these on the Gold Coast or up to Brisbane?
Look up the Aprillia site.
I considered it. It looks great, but I struggled with the value. It's 90% of the money of a Tiger 900 and compared to that, there's a laundry list of features the Aprilia doesn't have.
I felt they were competitive
Like what features? Extra weight and boring the engine?
24k on road and only one dealer in South Australia (a dealer with a bad rep). Never seen one on the road here
Thanks
The Tuareg could've done so well here in India but they decided to price it the same as the Tiger 900 Rally Pro and Ducati Desert X. No one would pay that for a 660cc when they'll get more bang for the buck from the bigger bikes and better service network. Bringing it via the CBU route was an epic mistake. Can't imagine who at Aprilia India approved this strategy. The 600cc ADV segment is not existent except for the Versys 650 and Tiger 660 Sport, both which are not true ADVs.
Thank you for your perspective
It is neither underrated nor overlooked, because every fooker and his dog keeps telling you how great it is. And great it may be, but you hear about silly problems all the time and as a result it gets ignored, maybe more than it should.
100% agree
Couldn't agree more. I have tested it. Great bike. But even my test bike which was brand new already revealed major quality issues. That's the reason why people do not buy it. End of story. It's about consistency. AT and T7 for the win.
Thanks
👍👍👍👍
Thanks
Hey Dave hymalain 450 scrambler out soon
Yeah...
There’s a Kriega OS base for this bike - no rack required
Thank you
Unifilter is standard from the dealer now.
Great to hear
Gee that felt like the shopping channel. Was that a paid advertisement? From an owner - yes it's a great bike. Best real adv bike on the market. Parts availability from dealers in useless. Best to have a spare bike if you plan to have too much fun and break it occasionally. Do not buy one if you plan to commute in summer. Even with a cat delete this is one seriously hot bike. Great in winter and the colder months though.
@@volvogt21 all these guys “reviews” are like that, they never really say anything too bad about a bike. Don’t wanna jeopardise those long term test bikes or release junkets I guess.
We always loved it. Great to hear the views from an owner
@mj_aussie_coaster_travels8310 yes I'd have to agree. It's a bit like the days of advertising in mags. Their products were always great when tested. Plus the junkets and freebies these guys get is unbelievable. Have you seen the free gear they get!!!!! My mate has a channel which I won't name and loves all the gear he gets sent by klim etc even though he re tons their gear is crap. Wears it a couple of times then sells it. Lol.
I know these bikes aren't that old but I read the comments here and I will say do you know how stupid it looks when people write 7k or 10k and no problem.. seriously that's it's first service. Come back at 50 or 100k and tell me.
Exactly. I have ridden more than 500.000 km on Japanese bikes without a single issue. That's a track record. Almost new bikes shouldn't have issues at all.
The bike has been out a couple of years now. Time for gremlins to emerge. It hearing much.
Yes I'm one of the ppl who put a comment 7k in 8moths, but I owned Honda AT and at this milage I it was burning 500ml oil every 1k miles. Had it from new and I did do engine braking as recomended by Honda. Another example V Strom 650 xt 19 model throtle bodies issues. Let's be honest if bike was made in 1990 - 2000 maybe bit later on I will agree with your statement but all the new bikes a bit of hit and miss. Another thing is that how many ppl keeps bikes until 50k yet 100k ? in Uk if you bike has that many miles regardles of brand is dificult to sell. I keep bikes 3-4 years as I want to ride as many bikes as I can during my life time. All my bikes before were Japanese and I don't regret buying Tuareg even if I have to fit new engine in it. Fun factor out of the box and overall package is - for me at least - almost twice as good as it is on T7.
@@gregs7194 I don't care if your Honda fell apart as the dealer wheeled it out. This has nothing to do with the stupid comments about I have ridden this bike 7k miles and had no issues. You say this like people should be impressed. I find it laughable.
So far, biggest mileage I have seen on this bike was 70k km (~43k miles) in two years, issue free. One guy posted info on FB that he is swapping his unit and taking also Tuareg 660, but new, from 2024. That's how much he liked it.
On other forums and groups there are people showing their bikes that have 50-60 thousand kms (30 - 40 thousand miles) without any problems. So it looks decent I would say.
And still, this bike is available for just two years, people simply hadn't enough time to put bigger mileage on theirs.
The headlight is what does it. So many people cannot get over the ugliness of the headlight to even try riding it to see how good of a bike it really is.
Not sure about that.
You just want to take these guys straight to the pub
ha ha!
Great bike especially for the money, 8000 miles zero issues. So glad I didn't buy the T7
Good choice!
Love the look, but for me, the T7 still wins my money
Fair enough
I want one bad
I can understand that.