@@luisacosta4714 My wife has the 390 adventure… I put a De-cat header pipe on it and a piggyback ECU from Best Dual Sport Bikes. I raced a DR650 and beat him 😂 It doesn’t wheelie as easily as a DR650 though. I installed a proper skid plate, heated grips, a windshield extension and MotoZ Rallz tires. I also lowered it 1 inch. Only have 2,600 miles on it so far so I can’t say much about reliability yet. The suspension feels pretty good for off-road. However we rented a CB500X for her to ride the PCH and she fell in love with it. Now she wants one. We rode seven hours a day and her butt never got sore. We can’t say that for the Ktm. The wind protection is better on the 500 also. She also said it feels like you sit down in the bike rather than on top like the KTM. This makes her feel like she can handle the bike much better doing U-turns and slow speed maneuvers. Both bikes handle 75 mph highway speeds fairly well. The 500 feels and sounds like better quality. Best dual sport bikes has a RUclips channel and he has done a lot with the 390
SO...this video played a huge role in my deciding to purchase my very own tuareg 660. I traded my 2021 Kawasaki ZX6r for it. I've owned it about 5 months now and I have about 3000 miles on mine, which I purchased as a 2023 red and grey model. First thing I want to add, is that throttle by wire concern....has been corrected. Aprilia released an update for the ECU and makes the throttle response more direct, no studdering, and a good bit even more grunt down low. The highway manners are absolutely excellent for me. I've done a few multi-hundred mile trips on highway around 75mph and it just ate it up. It LOVES twisty roads, despite the knobby tires. Pirelli did a fantastic job tuning the road manners of the scorpion ralleye tires, however tire life isn't the best for a touring bike. the front of my knobs are well rounded by now after doing a decent amount of mild to medium offroad on loose dirt and hardpack. The sound even with the stock pipe is the best I've ever owned (besides my RC8R). The torque and getup is fantastic.. The more archaich aspects like the cable clutch and such provided no issues for me. the spoke wheels are a pain to clean, but that's spokes for you. I very much appreciate the electronics, the suspension is extremely well tuned for everything I've done. I havn't had to touch the settings at all. Especially since the Tenere 700 got a significant price hike, to me it was no contest. The fact that it's only 450lb makes a massive difference in how it handles in the driveway. It's stress-free and easy. The steering lock is second to none, providing an unmatched turning radius, and its front end is hecka light so it's super flickable. All in all, it's my favorite bike I've ever owned by a long way. I give it a 93/100. Bikes I've owned: 125cc dualsport Ninja 300 KTM RC8R Yamaha FZ6R Ninja ZX6R and now the tuareg. I hope this was helpful!
Not exactly. Suspension is only for ofroad; dives terribly when u aply brake. On the road you have NO wind protection and there's no "accessory windscreen" - u just seat to high. The amount of heat you get from catalic converter and engine turns your leg in roasted chicken. No place for panniers because this exhaust pointing the sky. And others...
I'm almost a year into ownership on my 22 Tuareg and it's a joy to ride. The suspension, the cruise control, and being able to switch ride modes on the fly sets the bar for midsize motorcycles. The Tuareg is a competitor!
To be completely fair the t7 in the world rally coloration is 12k, the Tuareg offers way more for its price (suspension, TFT, quickshifter, tubeless tyres etc...). PERSONAL OPINION I really don't like the Tuareg design tho (and please stop complaining about reliability, if it's not made in Japan it doesn't mean it's going to explode)
@@aethelwulfwarlord1475 i work in a multi brand dealership, bikes broke equally, mostly because of poor maintaince. (And yes i owned aprilia, ducati, honda and kawasaki)
@@aethelwulfwarlord1475 interesting. I've owned just about every major brand motorcycle and the KTM's and Aprilia's along with Kawasaki have been excellent. Yamaha and Honda have been nightmares for me and I don't see myself ever buying either of them again based on my personal experiences.
Hey Zac, I and many other travel to work before sunrise or even after sunset. A quick spiel on headlight performance in the dark would be a great addition to these great vids and most appreciated by us!
Good call. I work 12 hour shifts and as we progress into fall and winter I will be riding both to and from work in the dark. The first few months of ownership of my ride were 100% daytime riding. The first time I rode at night and took a nice long medium speed sweeping turn was a shocking experience. I was absolutely blind going through the turn once I was leaned into it. Thinking of getting a replacement headlight like the JW Speaker a adaptive headlight.
I have been binge watching all of the daily rides and have to say THANK YOU! Zack, your reviews just keep getting better. This one was so fun and genuine it's a pleasure to watch.
I picked mine up last week from Denver and love it! It’s a really spicy version of a T7 and adds a lot of things to make it a little more suited for ADV riders!
Do you like it? How reliable is Aprilia? There is one up for sale in my local dealer shop and I'm really thinking to get it! Gas tan is bigger, tubeless tires, great size, not to heavy and also the price range is only couple thousand more then T7 (which not available for sale till next year summer) and way less cheaper then Africa Twin. Mid size, sweet spot in between, really really looking into this. Do you enjoy it?
@@marksabota4056 I have been blown away by the bike! In town, daily commute, and off road it has been a treat. The multiple rider modes make a noticeable difference and can be switched in milliseconds. The lower seat hight is was really pushed me towards this over the T7, it is much easier to get the the ground when needed and I’m confident in slow speed stuff around town. For reliability looking at the past 3 years of this engine in 3 other bikes, they have had very minor issues that have all been ironed out. This engine also has a much lower compression ratio then its sport bike cousins, so less work that it has to do. In forums online some riders have already put more then 7k miles on it with no issues. I did a video on my channel about more thoughts if you want to take a look! Just click my name!
Thank the powers that be! I've been waiting for this for so long. I bought my first bike because of you Zack, and hopefully this will convince me to buy my second.
I think we should all thank Aprilia for making bikes with the type of options they do. It’s making other manufacturers do the same thing. I own a rs 660 and love my cruise control, quick shifter, blipper and the comfort. The first Japanese company that builds a mid weight bike like that will sell a crap load .
After a few weeks of ownership and a couple longer trips, I can definitively say that this is the bike I'd have in my garage if I could only have one. Super capable, very comfortable, decent gas mileage, sounds amazing with the stock pipe (in my opinion), and honestly pretty well priced for what it is. Update @ 3000 miles: After many long stints on the highway and a lot of spirited back-roads riding, I decided this isn't the bike for me. Despite the absolutely fantastic on and off road handling, I always found myself wishing that it vibrated a little less at highway speeds (even after going +1 a tooth on the front sprocket), and that it was just a little faster (like maybe had the RS 660 version of the engine with 100 HP). The way the cruise control works is non-standard and a little wonky in my opinion, which is a minor nit. Other minor nits include having to take it to the dealer to reset the service light (I think I mentioned that in a reply down below), and that it does run a bit warm in the summer as Zach mentioned, which can be annoying when you're in traffic. I'm about 5' 8" (173cm) with my riding boots on, and I cannot flat foot this bike. I'm a relatively experienced rider, and it absolutely doesn't keep me from riding the bike, but it got tiring after a while, especially getting it off the kickstand which has a pretty sharp lean in it from the factory. I also tried out the Aprilia quickshifter, and it's not really smooth unless you're up over 5k RPM, unsurprising given that it's a twin, but it really didn't add anything to the experience given that the bike only makes a conservative 80 hp at the crank and the torque tends to start falling off after 6k RPM, so it's not terribly exciting if you're used to fast bikes. All of that being said, I do want to say that it averaged pretty reasonable mileage (48-60 mpg between town and highway usage, depending), and that it has excellent balance. I could balance it going 2-3 mph all day long, which is great if you're short and don't want to constantly have to reach for the ground in slow-moving scenarios. Anyway, I have other sport bikes in the garage that I always find myself grabbing the keys to, and that simply suit my riding needs better, so I decided to sell the bike. I did take it off-road a couple times, and it's extremely competent, but that kind of riding just isn't my thing.
@dankerman I've only put around 1800 miles on it so can't speak to what it'll be like long term, but my understanding is that the 660 platform is very solid at this point after being developed for a few years (on the RS660). This motor has milder cams and isn't as revvy as the RS660, and makes 20 less HP or so, so in theory it should be more reliable. As for everything else, most of it is brand-name off-the-shelf stuff (Brembo, KYB, etc). I did my own first maintenance, using a HiFlo oil filter, recommended oil, etc. That didn't cost much. What *is* annoying is that Aprilia intends for you to go to the dealership for all services, and by that I mean there's no way to turn the service reminder light off without special tools that the dealers have. My local dealer charged me $90 to install the latest ECU firmware updates, run the usual diagnostics and turn off the light, but they didn't give me a hard time about doing the rest of the service myself. That's about all the info I can meaningfully provide for now. I haven't had any issues with the bike so far, took it on a few longer trips and it's been great.
@@Neketre Consumers should be demanding and actually going on strike and refusing to support the bullsh-+t close ratio race gearing that comes standard on all new motorcycles. Why are consumers not asking for proper gear ratios? Every car sold today has an overdrive. Not one motorcycle sold has a real overdrive. You see the problem? Low gears are fun if you're doing a short ride test. On a long trip (an adventure) you need the longest tallest most insanely high gears, I'm talking at least twice as tall as they are now. No modern high torque motorcycle with super high compression and a really flat torque curve and a heavy flywheel, needs to be turning 5,000 rpms at 70 mph. Stop supporting this! Demand better.
So you replied, then deleted your reply telling me I was yelling at you (I wasn't.) and now you're telling me that I think that your comment for this video was 'so offensive'? WTF? Dude, I ain't gonna reply to you. Your skin's too thin to be on the internet, man. I start hitting you with facts or opinions with a bit of my confusion thrown in, and you're all worked up that some guy on the internet doesn't understand you. I don't need that. Have a nice day.
I just picked up a 2002 Caponord and my first 1000 mile impression is it's the best bike I've ever had. If my old Capo had all the "features" of the Tuareg and with it's 1000 vtwin it'd be unstoppable.
I have had my T660 for a few weeks ago and I love it. I had a deposit down on a T7 last year and gave up after the dealer told me they weren't getting any more bikes. To me, the tubeless tires and the electronics are a nice upgrade from the T7. As for reliability, I live 2 miles from our local Aprilia dealer so I am hoping for the best. I have two other Italian bikes that have been very reliable (Ducati & Moto Guzzi). The T660 does everything well, the suspension is excellent (after adjustment by a pro), the motor has great low end usable power and the fit and finish of the materials and plastics is excellent. The wind protection is surprisingly good and the riding position is very comfortable sitting and standing. Only negative I have is that the fueling needs improvement especially between 4-5000 rpm near neutral throttle or slight engine braking, I'm hoping that Aprilia will improve this with a software update or an aftermarket ECU reflash will be needed. Lean fueling seems to be common with new bikes these days unfortunately. I'm super happy with this bike and Zach's impressions mirror mine.....thanks Zack!
The 660 ticks all the boxes. I have a dealer nearby so service isn't an issue for me. My local Yamaha dealer has never received a Tenere 700 to even look at. The Taureg has the TFT, LED turn signals, Cruise Control, and Tubeless all the things the Tenere doesn't. I would love to get a black one to be the stable mate to my DR650 and sell off my Versys 300 (which is a great bike) Timeline for this will be hopefully next year.
Right? I have yet to see a T7 anywhere ( TX, AZ ) Yet Aprilia dealers are getting them in! Whats up with the Japanese brands ? They seem more focused on Europe .....
Aprilias are made in Italy. Most Japanese bikes are made in Thailand or Indonesia. Perhaps the Corona induced Pacific shipping slowdown is causing issues.
@@rightwingsafetysquad9872 Perhaps... Italy was hit very hard also if you remember and somehow they are getting bikes (even if slowly) to the states... many of the reviews for any new model Japanese bikes most always come from Europe first, somehow they can ship there....the ironic thing is despite all the " Euro " standards they are trying to keep up with... many European countries are trying to eliminate ( regulate ) motorcycles out of existence .
@@rightwingsafetysquad9872 The US version of the T7 is made in Japan. That being said, supply chain issues are definitely delaying US supply of bikes and parts.
Have no idea for this one, here in the EU I sold my Aprilia futura with +100.000km (+60.000 miles) on the clock few years ago no isue, exept new rear whell bearing, a year ago I saw that bike, was still on the road, my friends Aprilia caponord more or less same experience as mine.
As a T7 owner I would trade my bike in a heartbeat for this if it had the same dealer network, parts availability and expected reliability. Also, I would feel more comfortable owning the Yammie for 10+ years and piling the miles on to it. I love both brands for what they are, just my 2c.
Considering Yamaha motorcycle is a massive company there are no T7 bikes in western Canada for sale, but the 2 Aprilia dealers have these in stock go figure 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️I have an older Aprilia 850 Mana just love it for round town.
@@RUclips_Globetrotter WR400 supermoto conversion, TE449 supermoto converted, DRZ400SM, Husky SM510R, Husky 610 supermoto..other than that a bunch of street bikes, adv bike, dirtbikes, enduros, etc
I have both a T7 and a new Tuareg 660 I prefer the Tuareg across the board. It’s more refined. It feels lighter, with better suspension, and all the electronics. Much easier to pick up than the T7. Can’t beat that intake noise either.
@@IRLtrolls I see your name so I won't take you too seriously, but this is an amazing bike. And dealer support might be a problem, but I'm in Europe so I don't care!
@@IRLtrolls It really must piss you off that the Tuareg such a capable and fun motorcycle . I don't know anybody in there right mind that would ride in 110% weather thats pretty stupid . Do you ever own a motorcycle .
Picked up my 660 yesterday. Still working through the electronics as the manual print is almost unreadable. Bike feels lighter than you would expect given its height. I benefit from a local dealership that has wonderful folks and support. Parts will be challenging as is most things these days. Really appreciated there was no dealer mark-up. I will be doing a lot of offroad riding once the weather improves (pouring down rain currently and there is still snow in the mountains). Comfort seat, heated grips (and real hand guards) and engine protection will be added.
I tried this today along with the Yamaha T7 and i would go with the Aprilia any day of the week between these two.. And the INTAKE SOUND is just in another class.. Eargasm whe you twist the throttle... I also wanted to try the Ducati Desert X but it was delayed so i had to postpone that test... But that seems like an awesome bike...
I think the Ducati Desert X will be a much different bike. It has the same engine as the Multistrada 950 (which I own) which does not have very good low end power especially under 4000 rpm. As a result, I think the Ducati will likely need to be ridden pretty hard at higher rpms to get the most out of it so will probably be best suited towards skilled riders off-road. I think the T7 and T660 will be much more forgiving and easier to ride for most riders compared to the Ducati.
I enjoy that we were able to see the bike’s performance whilst splitting heavy traffic. As an la based daily rider I am always curious as to what zack would give a bikes “lane splitting” capability.
I miss lane splitting..... desperately.... the most vulnerable, should be afforded the greatest maneuverability. makes for better, more alert drivers too imho.
I rode one of these guys at the SD Get On! ADV Fest this year, and I'm incredibly impressed with everything on the bike! My main issue is that the closest Aprilia dealership to me is 4 hours away, which is likely going to push me into a Tiger 900 Rally Pro instead of the Tuareg just due to support. I REALLY wish Aprilia had a larger dealer network!
The mirrors extending from the handlebar at two different directions makes me insane. A huge part of why I end up with bar end mirrors is because so many bikes tie the brake and clutch lever mounts to the mirror mounts so when I've adjusted each lever appropriately for my hands, the mirrors are all kattywampus.
A big fault in that bike is the front fender. I had a Honda NX125 when I was a kid. It had a fender like this one where it's super close to the front tire. The problem is when you're in mud, it gets caught between the tire and the fender. Eventually the fender breaks or it makes it hard to feather the clutch because of the resistance of the mud.
I was thinking of getting this, all saved up, all docs ready, just gotta get to the dealership tomorrow and buy it!! And came back here for a last minute revision before the big test. 😂😂😂😂
2 года назад+3
T660 has a _very good_ pricing here in Turkey, it's almost same as T700. For the same money, you get much more electronic gadgetry, and even some components (suspension for one, as Zack said) seem to have much better quality and configurability. Then again, if you want a simpler vehicle (mostly) free of possible points of electronic failures, T700 is the one to go with.
Thx mate. I have a sport touring and sport bike pedigree. I am 63 now, don't be fooled. My neighbours wife keeps me young. I looked at the T7, KTM 790/890, and the Triumph 900 Rally Pro. Triumph and KTM 890 not mid class bikes but a light heavy weight bikes. Marketing BS!!! Had a look at the T7 World Raid....maybe. For $2400nz more, NAH. Like many people around the world, we are concern about reliability and the lack of dealerships for Aprilia. Me as a relative novice off road rider, The Tuareg 660 seem to be the bike for me. Not to much torque or power and an easy bike to handle off road with a good suspension. I am not looking to go madly off road but max on what we call goat/sheep trails in NZ for camping and glamping. Cruise control, a HUGE plus point. NZ has a lot of water, and I mean a lot, so river crossings are in the order of the day. Many and many hills full of sheep trials. We have more sheep than humans. 22:1 ratio. As a novice, I need a simple easy handling mid size off road bike. Thx again.
Damn it Zack, now I've got to spend close to 13000 dollars because of you. Thank you so much brother and enjoy all your work. You and Ariel are amazing and all your individual, and shared, content is so enjoyable. Much love from Saudi Arabia, but soon to be in Oregon once again.
Great review, nice to see the manufacturers starting to build lighter bikes. As they get lighter you should add a kick stand 180 degree turn to the test on any bike that falls in the ADV category. Call out the heavyweights.
After all the years manufacturers have benn working on developing vehicles you may think all the small annoyances have benn worked out, but alas, no! That blinking light for the cruise is exactly the same as my acura tlx "auto start/stop" (that I never use), when you push a button (that you have to do every freaking time you ride), a big yellow light illuminate on the dash and don't go away!
Stumped across this video from last year and realized the rpm at 5000rpm going around 65mph when now the Honda Transalp would be going about 85mph at 5000rpm
The Tuareg looks awesome with that color scheme and sounds great. if its reliable than it should make a great ADV bike, the size and weight are perfect for a all around mid sized go-anywhere bike.
You hit this review & completive posting right on the mark, Zack. I did note of this bike 1. It has a key. I love that. I was looking at the KTM 1290 & Aprilia Tuono 1100 in my dealer's shop and saw they were the keyless. I really migrated towards the 660's on the floor when seeing their key slots. I HATE keyless. 2. Unlike my larger Tuono's of past, the steering lock is remedied in these 660's leaving ample room for the bars to approach the tank. 3. You commented that the brakes were good. Additionally I see there are twin disk brakes on this. I have a Husky 701 and the single disk works fine on it. The twin discs add to unsprung weight I suppose. They do look nice. 4. I love the fuel savings on my Husky over my superbike and it cruises at 80 mph very comfortably. I live down here in SoCal and see a real future for these lighter bikes which do well with relatively high gas mileage numbers. Looking to the future for what I expect will be every increasing fuel costs for petrol plus, here in California a determination with date to move away from fossil fuels I believe many of us will be moving toward doing more with less. You certainly demonstrated there's a plethora of pleasure in this platform. Lower numbers in a vehicle's weight is really underrated. One frequently hears of a positive weight bias when mixing with heavy vehicles but damn! I've come to really appreciate a light bike. I'm going to miss the yearly Progressive MC show that has been cancelled this year where I got to be a mini-me to Zack-the-Tester and ride quite a number of bikes like he does with planning those days out well, albeit in a compressed timeframe. That was quite a blow. Now we're really going to envy the bennies of your job. Lastly, the ease of your wit on screen . . . those happy discoveries for you and us to your train of thought when testing on camera are really a joy. If only you weren't so shy and had less income you'd definitely make it in the California film industry . . . without a doubt. Many thanks!
I gave up my 2021 Africa Twin Adventure Sport for the red/black Taureg. After breaking both legs, requiring a lot of titanium to fix, the Africa was just too heavy for me now. The Taureg is a bit taller in reality but it’s so much lighter to handle. The reduction in weight negated the loss of horsepower. The Taureg holds its own.
the reason the cruise control light keeps flashing on is because it assumes youre on a highway overtaking or something and its letting you know its ready to go back to its cruising speed should you need it. My ktm superduke does the same. Also pepperoni and pineapple pizza sounds really good
My friend picked up one of these recently. I had ridden the ducati desert x right before, but wanted to try out his toureg before making any decisions on the ducati. My take was, it’s a really good bike for the price point, however, the ducati feels more premium in just about every category except for suspension. The aprilia felt like ducati junior with less premium components. My two cents, if you have the money, buy a desert x, but you can’t go wrong with the toureg.
I agree, but also think the Tuareg feels quite premium. Definitely much more so than the T7. Is the Ducati worth 50% more? I am not sure. I like the styling of the front end of the DesertX more. Having ridden the DesertX and having set on the Tuareg I feel like they are hard to compare. The DesertX feels physically bigger and is much heavier - close to 50lbs wet. It also carries the fuel a little higher. As a shorter guy, 5'7" or 171 cm, I would need to lower the DesertX where I can get along with the Aprilia. I have two other Ducati's in my stable, but I think my next ADV bike will be this Aprilia
Na man that extra 60+ pounds of weight while only holding .7 gal of extra fuel can go fuck itself. Been riding a r1200rt for nearly a year now and I refuse to buy anything over 500 pounds ever again.
I had a faulty Desert-X for a year that I gave up on. I replaced it with the Tuareg and the Aprilia feels better put together in every area than the Ducati. I love this bike.
You are Correct Sir...middleweight are super underrated in the On Road Manners and Handling....Saddle Tanks of The 890 / 790 Make for a blast in the twisties
I would love to have the Tuareg 660, but the nearest dealer is 480 miles and 8 hours away. The only thing stopping me is the dealer network for Aprilias.
Yeah, this. There are something like 15 dealers to cover all of Canada. My local one dropped Aprilia years ago, so the nearest dealer is 1300kms away (808 miles). Its sort of weird because Moto Guzzi is still operating in town, and they're another Piaggio brand.
Picked mine up this past Thursday. I have a similar impression of the bike you did. Honda is going to regret not bringing this bike to market. It's my KLR on steroids. Only other thing I noticed was a lot of air turbulence on my chest, but the helmet peak was fine. Already ordered the phone mount and Nelson Rigg Tail bag from you. It was nice to see you already have the Tuareg as a selectable for my garage. Hope the aftermarket catches up soon. I really need a tail rack and some tubular panniers.
If I could pick any bike up brand new right now it would be the Tuareg. Man it literally ticks every box for a perfect allround bike with a high fun factor that’s both amazing on and off road. Also light and capable enough to actually do off road riding with. It’s like a T7 made perfect. Price is also more than fair. The only thing is we’ll have to see how the reliable the engine is.
I have heard the engine utilizing a catalytic converter runs very hot while re-up taking the exhaust gasses so apparently it needs the radiator capacity doubled & maybe the wetter than water coolant designed & repurposed from CNC machining coolant the fluid for that brand is Pink & has an Oil in it
I really respect your opinion on motorcycles. I am most interested in seat comfort, suspension comfort, and buzzy grips, seat and footpegs. All of your videos should comment on these points. Thanks, Bob
The bark is their brand trademark, it is a secret how they do it. Same as a Harley in getting you to love a trademark sound. I love my 1100 2016 Tuono for that and more!
I very much look forward to getting one, in a year or two. (This will allow the bike to garner some aftermarket and let the firmware and any niggles mature/be found. It is a first year bike, after all.) I've had 2 Tuonos that have had no problems, and 3 dealers in a 100 mile radius, though I'd stick to XPS in Accident, MD. Should be a great bike. (I hope.) I do like how every review of every Aprilia bike with this rider suite ever has complained about the green 'ready' cruise control light and compared it to the turn signal. Folks, it's something you get used to when owning a Tuono/RSV4/T660/RS660 and now this bike. Also, keep in mind that these bikes have self-canceling turn signals. So, unless you JUST made your turn...your turn signal isn't on.
I have a 2023 KTM 390 Adventure. Great bike. Really enjoying it but I’m thinking about upgrading next year. The Tuareg 660, Versys 650 and the new KTM 790 Adventure are on the list. It’s good to see the Versys and Tuareg are high on the Zack List!
One thing another review said is that the Tuareg sits quite a bit lower than a Tenere and even a smaller person can touch flat foot on a stock Tuareg. It's actually not a tall ADV seat height.
Great to ride with you at the Get On! Fest. I got to try the 660 there too and came away fairly impressed - not exactly a match for my 701 off road but waaaay better on road ( no surprise there!).
The vents on your legs might be kinda hot on warm days but as a real ADV bike that will be ridden in colder temps for sure,those vents keeping your legs warm will be a advantage.
I don't live in SOCAL. I'm not sure where I could get support for this bike where I live. It seems like after sitting on that seat with that radiator spewing heat over me I would likely be ready to turn back and go home without even hitting the trails. This is just my take on your take. It just seemed like your review was done before it was done. Thanks for all the useful info and taking the time.
I love it, the only thing stopping me from considering it for my next bike in the very near future is the issue of heat. I HAAATE hot bikes. I wonder if this is an issue that can be fixed in the aftermarket.
Great review and told me a lot of what I’m interested in. I personally don’t like peaky engines and large twin cylinder engines are my sweet spot. I’ve changed from a 2014 GSA to a Honda AT DCT. The low/mid range pull suits the adventure bike style and me. It sounds like the Tuareg has the right balance and, for me, outright power is far less value than real world riding. The cruising revs don’t seem high when both the GSA and AT spin around 4,000 rpm at 70 mph with way more capacity. The appeal of the 660 is lower weight and general heft so a potential next bike. I’m only 1,000 miles into the Honda and very happy in the main over the GSA.
Thanks for the review. My 2019 Suzuki DL650XT has some close gearing. I can cruise at 40mph in 6th when on flat roads with no head wind. I really wish 6th gear was taller. But, she has great gearing for urban assults and back country roads. There is no perfect gearing.
I think it's cool that aprilia jumped into the market to give people more choices. Think it's kinda fugly, but looks are subjective. Me, I'm extremely happy with the 2021 KTM 890 ADV R I bought last year (5,000mi so far). LOT more powerful (important at 11,000ft+ elevation here in the Western mtn's), LOT better suspension, bigger gas tank, and overall just a lot more capable in the dirt. It IS, a KTM after all, and that's what they do best. It's not without it's quirks, but I love it. Me, I'd rather enjoy this little motor in the RS 660, THAT looks like a fun little bike to putt around on (I also have a 2015 BMW S1000RR). Regardless, if you get one, best of luck and enjoy it and ride safe!
@@richardsimpson3792 Actually, yeah, I said it, and I meant it. Coming from an actual dirtbike background (though from many years ago), I LIKE the high fender dirtbike look because the KTM, at least, IS an actual dirtbike, unlike the aprilia which is just a 660 Tuono with longer suspension. And in any contest of actual offroad ability, the KTM will walk all over the aprilia, every day of the week, and twice on Sundays...AND has more power on the street. I like aprilia streetbikes, this stinkbug, not so much.
I took this video into a lot of consideration before I bought my Tuareg... after several months of ownership, I can say that if the bike isn't in AEM mode 1, then the throttle response sucks. The Explore and Urban modes are both just "rain mode" to me at this point.
@@noturk3y4u i didn't take the Tuareg off road, but in comparison i find its weight a lot more intimidating while at low speeds even though the bike is significantly smaller. probably comes down to suspension. of course this is my personal opinion and i don't matter so take that as you will 🤣
@@512mbflashdrive lol no I appreciate it. I have a tiger 900 currently and, besides the clutch's friction point being strangely far, the top heaviness has been a big reason why I was looking elsewhere. It's kind been in between an 890 Adventure and the ATAS, but KTM's reliability is sketchy. Thanks!
@@512mbflashdrive That's odd, I have the T660 and I think it is MUCH easier to handle than the Africa Twin I demoed last year. Not as tall and a much lighter feeling. I had the suspension dialed in by a suspension guru which made a big difference too.
@@davidmmcmillan well i'm at 15k with my 21 atas so i have a bit of practice with it at this point, but even from the test ride what stuck out to me was how easy it is to make footless stops and make anything from intricate to dramatic bar movements at low speed. the tuareg for me had nowhere near that level of balance and felt like the weight of the bike shifted a lot more with the same inputs. would have been nice to have more time to set it up for my weight but that was just my first impression.
Been watching reviews of this bike all afternoon and I have to say, what a fab review - wonderful style and candour - great information and a real sense of what it's like to ride - thank you man!
You did an excellent interview with ' Itchy Boots ', AKA Noraly Schoenmaker, a while back, she is currently riding a Honda CFR 300 Rally and has made her way from Quito, Ecuador to Guatemala still on her way to Alaska. I think you should review of her bike as a Daily Rider.
I own one of these. I am 5'6" tall with a 29.5 inch inseam. With the standard seat I am on tippy toes. Not the balls of my feet. Tippy toes. I have to plan ahead as far as which foot is going to be put down, and slide across the seat in advance. Shorter riders who ride motocross or enduro bikes know what I am talking about. I also have the Aprilia lower seat. With it I am on the balls of my feet. Two things about the lower seat. If you have an acid gold or a martian red bike, you will lose the color match. The lower seat is black. The lower seat has stiffer foam, so it is not as comfy as the standard seat. Anyone with a shorter inseam than me will have a tough time with this bike, and the design of the rear suspension does not lend itself to aftermarket lowering mods such as different length links.
I was doing the stop sign challenge. My wife says WTH are you doing? Well now that she's got her own motorcycle she's doing it! Thanks for the memories!
890 R in a heartbeat....oh wait, I DID buy one. WAY better in the dirt, WAY better suspension, WAY more power, better range, and Rally mode. If all you're going to do is pose on it at the Starbucks, then anything with semi-knobbies will do, so you might as well buy something stree-based instead of actual dirtbike-based. The 890 R is actually a LOT better of a streetbike than these are dirtbikes.
13 grand is getting pricey. If I was to put down that kind of cash, I do believe I would fork out the extra $1500 and get the base model (my fav) Honda AT. Manual tranny, more dirt worthy one. Honda reliability and 1100CC to handle the highway cruise. Others would get the T7, and I understand.
@@martyxcore I rode my (5th!) Strom over to the Aprilia dealer today to put down a Tuareg deposit. The weight is similar, but that's about it - almost 2x the suspension travel and ground clearance, ~14 more hp, ~14 more mpg, smoother, narrower, better ergos, great interface... I've been a Strom cheerleader for 18 years, but this really is a whole different level of performance. Hopefully a sign of things to come, would love to see Suzuki step it up.
I haven’t even thought of this bike as a maybe for a tourer. But… My Triumph Speed Twin for fun and a 660 for longer trips. I need to go test one tomorrow..
Don’t know for sure, but it seems to me the 4 way flashers could be easily triggered without an IMU by measuring the change in speed registered by the speedometer sensor. High reduction in speed could could be interpreted as rapid deceleration. Just a guess
Zach, great review as always. How would the T660 compare to the 890 adventure (not r) as a do it all, everyday bike if you could only have 1? Is the price increase for the 890 worth it in your opinion?
Proud owner of a beautiful toad of a 950sm. Looking for something with a bigger front wheel to deal with my 45 mile dirt/sand ride home. I see a zac courts vid, I hit the like button.
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A little expensive but worth the $
Will you ever look at the ktm 390 adventure
Gotta love a good wheelie on a Mexico Road!
@@luisacosta4714 My wife has the 390 adventure… I put a De-cat header pipe on it and a piggyback ECU from Best Dual Sport Bikes.
I raced a DR650 and beat him 😂
It doesn’t wheelie as easily as a DR650 though.
I installed a proper skid plate, heated grips, a windshield extension and MotoZ Rallz tires.
I also lowered it 1 inch.
Only have 2,600 miles on it so far so I can’t say much about reliability yet.
The suspension feels pretty good for off-road.
However we rented a CB500X for her to ride the PCH and she fell in love with it. Now she wants one.
We rode seven hours a day and her butt never got sore. We can’t say that for the Ktm.
The wind protection is better on the 500 also.
She also said it feels like you sit down in the bike rather than on top like the KTM. This makes her feel like she can handle the bike much better doing U-turns and slow speed maneuvers.
Both bikes handle 75 mph highway speeds fairly well.
The 500 feels and sounds like better quality.
Best dual sport bikes has a RUclips channel and he has done a lot with the 390
Which Rev'it! glove do you have in the vid?
SO...this video played a huge role in my deciding to purchase my very own tuareg 660. I traded my 2021 Kawasaki ZX6r for it.
I've owned it about 5 months now and I have about 3000 miles on mine, which I purchased as a 2023 red and grey model.
First thing I want to add, is that throttle by wire concern....has been corrected. Aprilia released an update for the ECU and makes the throttle response more direct, no studdering, and a good bit even more grunt down low.
The highway manners are absolutely excellent for me. I've done a few multi-hundred mile trips on highway around 75mph and it just ate it up. It LOVES twisty roads, despite the knobby tires. Pirelli did a fantastic job tuning the road manners of the scorpion ralleye tires, however tire life isn't the best for a touring bike. the front of my knobs are well rounded by now after doing a decent amount of mild to medium offroad on loose dirt and hardpack.
The sound even with the stock pipe is the best I've ever owned (besides my RC8R). The torque and getup is fantastic.. The more archaich aspects like the cable clutch and such provided no issues for me. the spoke wheels are a pain to clean, but that's spokes for you.
I very much appreciate the electronics, the suspension is extremely well tuned for everything I've done. I havn't had to touch the settings at all. Especially since the Tenere 700 got a significant price hike, to me it was no contest.
The fact that it's only 450lb makes a massive difference in how it handles in the driveway. It's stress-free and easy. The steering lock is second to none, providing an unmatched turning radius, and its front end is hecka light so it's super flickable.
All in all, it's my favorite bike I've ever owned by a long way. I give it a 93/100.
Bikes I've owned:
125cc dualsport
Ninja 300
KTM RC8R
Yamaha FZ6R
Ninja ZX6R
and now the tuareg.
I hope this was helpful!
Not exactly. Suspension is only for ofroad; dives terribly when u aply brake.
On the road you have NO wind protection and there's no "accessory windscreen" - u just seat to high.
The amount of heat you get from catalic converter and engine turns your leg in roasted chicken.
No place for panniers because this exhaust pointing the sky.
And others...
KLR
@@podunkman2709 So, u luuuuuuv it?
Sorry to hear that man, should've gotten a T7
I'm almost a year into ownership on my 22 Tuareg and it's a joy to ride. The suspension, the cruise control, and being able to switch ride modes on the fly sets the bar for midsize motorcycles. The Tuareg is a competitor!
Any reliability issues? I'm considering getting one here in the midwest
To be completely fair the t7 in the world rally coloration is 12k, the Tuareg offers way more for its price (suspension, TFT, quickshifter, tubeless tyres etc...).
PERSONAL OPINION I really don't like the Tuareg design tho (and please stop complaining about reliability, if it's not made in Japan it doesn't mean it's going to explode)
@@aethelwulfwarlord1475 i work in a multi brand dealership, bikes broke equally, mostly because of poor maintaince. (And yes i owned aprilia, ducati, honda and kawasaki)
@@aethelwulfwarlord1475 I have owned 4 aprilia's. Great bikes.
@@aethelwulfwarlord1475 interesting. I've owned just about every major brand motorcycle and the KTM's and Aprilia's along with Kawasaki have been excellent. Yamaha and Honda have been nightmares for me and I don't see myself ever buying either of them again based on my personal experiences.
I have owned 2 japanese one exoloded other drinked oil
Hey Zac, I and many other travel to work before sunrise or even after sunset. A quick spiel on headlight performance in the dark would be a great addition to these great vids and most appreciated by us!
Joshua, thats a good point. That is about 30 percent of a commuters daily trip.
Good call. I work 12 hour shifts and as we progress into fall and winter I will be riding both to and from work in the dark. The first few months of ownership of my ride were 100% daytime riding. The first time I rode at night and took a nice long medium speed sweeping turn was a shocking experience. I was absolutely blind going through the turn once I was leaned into it. Thinking of getting a replacement headlight like the JW Speaker a adaptive headlight.
I have been binge watching all of the daily rides and have to say THANK YOU! Zack, your reviews just keep getting better. This one was so fun and genuine it's a pleasure to watch.
I picked mine up last week from Denver and love it! It’s a really spicy version of a T7 and adds a lot of things to make it a little more suited for ADV riders!
Do you like it? How reliable is Aprilia? There is one up for sale in my local dealer shop and I'm really thinking to get it! Gas tan is bigger, tubeless tires, great size, not to heavy and also the price range is only couple thousand more then T7 (which not available for sale till next year summer) and way less cheaper then Africa Twin. Mid size, sweet spot in between, really really looking into this. Do you enjoy it?
@@marksabota4056 I have been blown away by the bike! In town, daily commute, and off road it has been a treat. The multiple rider modes make a noticeable difference and can be switched in milliseconds. The lower seat hight is was really pushed me towards this over the T7, it is much easier to get the the ground when needed and I’m confident in slow speed stuff around town.
For reliability looking at the past 3 years of this engine in 3 other bikes, they have had very minor issues that have all been ironed out. This engine also has a much lower compression ratio then its sport bike cousins, so less work that it has to do. In forums online some riders have already put more then 7k miles on it with no issues.
I did a video on my channel about more thoughts if you want to take a look! Just click my name!
I bought my tuareg 2 weeks ago, It’s a real pleasure riding this bike. What a machine
Thank the powers that be! I've been waiting for this for so long. I bought my first bike because of you Zack, and hopefully this will convince me to buy my second.
What was your first bike if you don’t mind me asking?
I’m past break in on mine… exceeds expectations!
@@shastamite2 I ended up getting a 2020 MT 07 at 41 years of age. Last time I rode any bike I was 17 and that was off road on an XR 250
Make sure you have dealer support locally. You’ll need it.
I think we should all thank Aprilia for making bikes with the type of options they do. It’s making other manufacturers do the same thing. I own a rs 660 and love my cruise control, quick shifter, blipper and the comfort. The first Japanese company that builds a mid weight bike like that will sell a crap load .
Hopefully Honda will make a good Transalp successor.. I'm thinking after they revealed the Hornet, which is probably the platform they wil use
@@brayvdb2191 great foresight, as that is exactly what Honda has done with the new XL750 transalp!
@@Vicenevjust a pity it doesn't have cruise control
After a few weeks of ownership and a couple longer trips, I can definitively say that this is the bike I'd have in my garage if I could only have one. Super capable, very comfortable, decent gas mileage, sounds amazing with the stock pipe (in my opinion), and honestly pretty well priced for what it is.
Update @ 3000 miles: After many long stints on the highway and a lot of spirited back-roads riding, I decided this isn't the bike for me. Despite the absolutely fantastic on and off road handling, I always found myself wishing that it vibrated a little less at highway speeds (even after going +1 a tooth on the front sprocket), and that it was just a little faster (like maybe had the RS 660 version of the engine with 100 HP). The way the cruise control works is non-standard and a little wonky in my opinion, which is a minor nit. Other minor nits include having to take it to the dealer to reset the service light (I think I mentioned that in a reply down below), and that it does run a bit warm in the summer as Zach mentioned, which can be annoying when you're in traffic. I'm about 5' 8" (173cm) with my riding boots on, and I cannot flat foot this bike. I'm a relatively experienced rider, and it absolutely doesn't keep me from riding the bike, but it got tiring after a while, especially getting it off the kickstand which has a pretty sharp lean in it from the factory. I also tried out the Aprilia quickshifter, and it's not really smooth unless you're up over 5k RPM, unsurprising given that it's a twin, but it really didn't add anything to the experience given that the bike only makes a conservative 80 hp at the crank and the torque tends to start falling off after 6k RPM, so it's not terribly exciting if you're used to fast bikes.
All of that being said, I do want to say that it averaged pretty reasonable mileage (48-60 mpg between town and highway usage, depending), and that it has excellent balance. I could balance it going 2-3 mph all day long, which is great if you're short and don't want to constantly have to reach for the ground in slow-moving scenarios.
Anyway, I have other sport bikes in the garage that I always find myself grabbing the keys to, and that simply suit my riding needs better, so I decided to sell the bike. I did take it off-road a couple times, and it's extremely competent, but that kind of riding just isn't my thing.
@dankerman I've only put around 1800 miles on it so can't speak to what it'll be like long term, but my understanding is that the 660 platform is very solid at this point after being developed for a few years (on the RS660). This motor has milder cams and isn't as revvy as the RS660, and makes 20 less HP or so, so in theory it should be more reliable. As for everything else, most of it is brand-name off-the-shelf stuff (Brembo, KYB, etc).
I did my own first maintenance, using a HiFlo oil filter, recommended oil, etc. That didn't cost much. What *is* annoying is that Aprilia intends for you to go to the dealership for all services, and by that I mean there's no way to turn the service reminder light off without special tools that the dealers have. My local dealer charged me $90 to install the latest ECU firmware updates, run the usual diagnostics and turn off the light, but they didn't give me a hard time about doing the rest of the service myself.
That's about all the info I can meaningfully provide for now. I haven't had any issues with the bike so far, took it on a few longer trips and it's been great.
@@Neketre Consumers should be demanding and actually going on strike and refusing to support the bullsh-+t close ratio race gearing that comes standard on all new motorcycles. Why are consumers not asking for proper gear ratios? Every car sold today has an overdrive. Not one motorcycle sold has a real overdrive. You see the problem? Low gears are fun if you're doing a short ride test. On a long trip (an adventure) you need the longest tallest most insanely high gears, I'm talking at least twice as tall as they are now. No modern high torque motorcycle with super high compression and a really flat torque curve and a heavy flywheel, needs to be turning 5,000 rpms at 70 mph. Stop supporting this! Demand better.
So you replied, then deleted your reply telling me I was yelling at you (I wasn't.) and now you're telling me that I think that your comment for this video was 'so offensive'? WTF? Dude, I ain't gonna reply to you. Your skin's too thin to be on the internet, man. I start hitting you with facts or opinions with a bit of my confusion thrown in, and you're all worked up that some guy on the internet doesn't understand you.
I don't need that.
Have a nice day.
bro frfr the vibrations are a big deal, and highway cruisability. I'm glad you put 3k on it and changed mind.
I just picked up a 2002 Caponord and my first 1000 mile impression is it's the best bike I've ever had. If my old Capo had all the "features" of the Tuareg and with it's 1000 vtwin it'd be unstoppable.
I have had my T660 for a few weeks ago and I love it. I had a deposit down on a T7 last year and gave up after the dealer told me they weren't getting any more bikes. To me, the tubeless tires and the electronics are a nice upgrade from the T7. As for reliability, I live 2 miles from our local Aprilia dealer so I am hoping for the best. I have two other Italian bikes that have been very reliable (Ducati & Moto Guzzi).
The T660 does everything well, the suspension is excellent (after adjustment by a pro), the motor has great low end usable power and the fit and finish of the materials and plastics is excellent. The wind protection is surprisingly good and the riding position is very comfortable sitting and standing. Only negative I have is that the fueling needs improvement especially between 4-5000 rpm near neutral throttle or slight engine braking, I'm hoping that Aprilia will improve this with a software update or an aftermarket ECU reflash will be needed. Lean fueling seems to be common with new bikes these days unfortunately. I'm super happy with this bike and Zach's impressions mirror mine.....thanks Zack!
That could be because of the Euro norms. This being a Euro 5 bike means they have to lean up the fueling to meet emission standards.
The 660 ticks all the boxes. I have a dealer nearby so service isn't an issue for me. My local Yamaha dealer has never received a Tenere 700 to even look at. The Taureg has the TFT, LED turn signals, Cruise Control, and Tubeless all the things the Tenere doesn't. I would love to get a black one to be the stable mate to my DR650 and sell off my Versys 300 (which is a great bike) Timeline for this will be hopefully next year.
Right? I have yet to see a T7 anywhere ( TX, AZ ) Yet Aprilia dealers are getting them in! Whats up with the Japanese brands ? They seem more focused on Europe .....
Aprilias are made in Italy. Most Japanese bikes are made in Thailand or Indonesia. Perhaps the Corona induced Pacific shipping slowdown is causing issues.
@@rightwingsafetysquad9872 Perhaps... Italy was hit very hard also if you remember and somehow they are getting bikes (even if slowly) to the states... many of the reviews for any new model Japanese bikes most always come from Europe first, somehow they can ship there....the ironic thing is despite all the " Euro " standards they are trying to keep up with... many European countries are trying to eliminate ( regulate ) motorcycles out of existence .
@@rightwingsafetysquad9872 The US version of the T7 is made in Japan. That being said, supply chain issues are definitely delaying US supply of bikes and parts.
Have no idea for this one, here in the EU I sold my Aprilia futura with +100.000km (+60.000 miles) on the clock few years ago no isue, exept new rear whell bearing, a year ago I saw that bike, was still on the road, my friends Aprilia caponord more or less same experience as mine.
As a T7 owner I would trade my bike in a heartbeat for this if it had the same dealer network, parts availability and expected reliability. Also, I would feel more comfortable owning the Yammie for 10+ years and piling the miles on to it. I love both brands for what they are, just my 2c.
Honda is a good alternative to T7 :D
@@LooxJJ what Honda? The NC750?
@@nwbasson Nay~~ Africa Twin! :D
@@LooxJJ AT is not in the same class as the T7. It's a bigger and more expensive motorcycle.
Considering Yamaha motorcycle is a massive company there are no T7 bikes in western Canada for sale, but the 2 Aprilia dealers have these in stock go figure 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️I have an older Aprilia 850 Mana just love it for round town.
Just picked one of these up last week. On the road it feels like a big supermoto. Haven’t gotten it offroad yet but I absolutely love this bike!
I have. CRF450RL that’s converted to a SuMo and I also own this bike. I’d agree 100%. It’s a SuMo at heart/
What bike/bikes did you come from?
@@RUclips_Globetrotter WR400 supermoto conversion, TE449 supermoto converted, DRZ400SM, Husky SM510R, Husky 610 supermoto..other than that a bunch of street bikes, adv bike, dirtbikes, enduros, etc
I had the Aprilia Taureg made for about 2 years in the 80s/90s. It was loads of fun and rode like a tractor.
I have both a T7 and a new Tuareg 660 I prefer the Tuareg across the board. It’s more refined. It feels lighter, with better suspension, and all the electronics. Much easier to pick up than the T7. Can’t beat that intake noise either.
@@IRLtrolls Big chance Yamaha has got it beat, but same as Ducati Aprilia really has improved.
@@IRLtrolls I see your name so I won't take you too seriously, but this is an amazing bike. And dealer support might be a problem, but I'm in Europe so I don't care!
Sounds like a dream garage!
@@IRLtrolls don't be a pussy the motor has been around for years . overall pretty reliable bike .
@@IRLtrolls It really must piss you off that the Tuareg such a capable and fun motorcycle . I don't know anybody in there right mind that would ride in 110% weather thats pretty stupid . Do you ever own a motorcycle .
Will I ever buy one? No. Will I watch because I love Zach? Yes.
I mean we’re all probably never gonna be able to afford most these bikes but it’s sure worth it to watch Zach ride them
Buying one at the end of the month! Huzzahhh!
Rode one today, I'm selling my Africa Twin and am buying one.
@klrnoel how did that go ?
99 percent these bikes i can never buy
Picked up my 660 yesterday. Still working through the electronics as the manual print is almost unreadable. Bike feels lighter than you would expect given its height. I benefit from a local dealership that has wonderful folks and support. Parts will be challenging as is most things these days. Really appreciated there was no dealer mark-up. I will be doing a lot of offroad riding once the weather improves (pouring down rain currently and there is still snow in the mountains). Comfort seat, heated grips (and real hand guards) and engine protection will be added.
Thanks to daily rider, I can add another term to my moto vocabulary, "Constipated highway" I love it. Keep up the good work Zach!!
Zach, I appreciate your reviews. They are sensible, enjoyable and always good for a few laughs.
I tried this today along with the Yamaha T7 and i would go with the Aprilia any day of the week between these two.. And the INTAKE SOUND is just in another class.. Eargasm whe you twist the throttle... I also wanted to try the Ducati Desert X but it was delayed so i had to postpone that test... But that seems like an awesome bike...
I think the Ducati Desert X will be a much different bike. It has the same engine as the Multistrada 950 (which I own) which does not have very good low end power especially under 4000 rpm. As a result, I think the Ducati will likely need to be ridden pretty hard at higher rpms to get the most out of it so will probably be best suited towards skilled riders off-road. I think the T7 and T660 will be much more forgiving and easier to ride for most riders compared to the Ducati.
@@davidmmcmillan Ye ok, you might be right.. It will be available for testing in June so will see then...
I enjoy that we were able to see the bike’s performance whilst splitting heavy traffic. As an la based daily rider I am always curious as to what zack would give a bikes “lane splitting” capability.
As an LA based rider, can you tell me why the hell 99% of your cohabitants commute in cars? It seems completely idiotic.
I miss lane splitting..... desperately....
the most vulnerable, should be afforded the greatest maneuverability.
makes for better, more alert drivers too imho.
It's nice splitting lanes with tall, narrow bikes because you can see a long way ahead.
@@fallinginthed33p also, not forgetting the tall ass bars and mirrors so you clear most sedans
I imagine the benefits of being tall for visibility are balanced out by having to dodge mirrors. My GSXR splits great being low and narrow.
I rode one of these guys at the SD Get On! ADV Fest this year, and I'm incredibly impressed with everything on the bike! My main issue is that the closest Aprilia dealership to me is 4 hours away, which is likely going to push me into a Tiger 900 Rally Pro instead of the Tuareg just due to support. I REALLY wish Aprilia had a larger dealer network!
The mirrors extending from the handlebar at two different directions makes me insane. A huge part of why I end up with bar end mirrors is because so many bikes tie the brake and clutch lever mounts to the mirror mounts so when I've adjusted each lever appropriately for my hands, the mirrors are all kattywampus.
A big fault in that bike is the front fender. I had a Honda NX125 when I was a kid. It had a fender like this one where it's super close to the front tire. The problem is when you're in mud, it gets caught between the tire and the fender. Eventually the fender breaks or it makes it hard to feather the clutch because of the resistance of the mud.
With the revived Dakar obsession, Aprilia was probably singularly focused on sand rather than dirt or clay.
Is it adjustable in height?
@@rightwingsafetysquad9872 i thought that too, but what a waste. It could be so much more.
Aftermarket will make a high fender kit. I have an Africa Twin and it's the same issue. High fender kit. Problem solved
I was thinking of getting this, all saved up, all docs ready, just gotta get to the dealership tomorrow and buy it!! And came back here for a last minute revision before the big test. 😂😂😂😂
T660 has a _very good_ pricing here in Turkey, it's almost same as T700. For the same money, you get much more electronic gadgetry, and even some components (suspension for one, as Zack said) seem to have much better quality and configurability. Then again, if you want a simpler vehicle (mostly) free of possible points of electronic failures, T700 is the one to go with.
Sefa hocam her yerdeyiz diyorsun yani 😊
Thx mate. I have a sport touring and sport bike pedigree. I am 63 now, don't be fooled. My neighbours wife keeps me young. I looked at the T7, KTM 790/890, and the Triumph 900 Rally Pro. Triumph and KTM 890 not mid class bikes but a light heavy weight bikes. Marketing BS!!! Had a look at the T7 World Raid....maybe. For $2400nz more, NAH. Like many people around the world, we are concern about reliability and the lack of dealerships for Aprilia. Me as a relative novice off road rider, The Tuareg 660 seem to be the bike for me. Not to much torque or power and an easy bike to handle off road with a good suspension. I am not looking to go madly off road but max on what we call goat/sheep trails in NZ for camping and glamping. Cruise control, a HUGE plus point. NZ has a lot of water, and I mean a lot, so river crossings are in the order of the day. Many and many hills full of sheep trials. We have more sheep than humans. 22:1 ratio. As a novice, I need a simple easy handling mid size off road bike. Thx again.
The pizza question and answer was awesome. Zack is such a cool dude.
I love these videos, cause even when I'm not interested in the bike, I still get a tour of many of the cool places I know so well from GTA5
Damn it Zack, now I've got to spend close to 13000 dollars because of you. Thank you so much brother and enjoy all your work. You and Ariel are amazing and all your individual, and shared, content is so enjoyable. Much love from Saudi Arabia, but soon to be in Oregon once again.
Great review, nice to see the manufacturers starting to build lighter bikes. As they get lighter you should add a kick stand 180 degree turn to the test on any bike that falls in the ADV category. Call out the heavyweights.
I do the kickstand turnaround all the time on my Super Tenere; would benefit from a wider kickstand mount but it works when its needed.
Did I miss the part where you talk about the windscreen and buffeting and adjustability?
After all the years manufacturers have benn working on developing vehicles you may think all the small annoyances have benn worked out, but alas, no! That blinking light for the cruise is exactly the same as my acura tlx "auto start/stop" (that I never use), when you push a button (that you have to do every freaking time you ride), a big yellow light illuminate on the dash and don't go away!
Mercedes does it too....infuriating
@@jahyoda I sell cars and love them, but is true,there is not perfect vehicle yet! You have to make your own perfect vehicle! Lol.
I always look forward to Zach’s reviews though he did cause me to buy a 21 GS 💰💰
Stumped across this video from last year and realized the rpm at 5000rpm going around 65mph when now the Honda Transalp would be going about 85mph at 5000rpm
The Tuareg looks awesome with that color scheme and sounds great. if its reliable than it should make a great ADV bike, the size and weight are perfect for a all around mid sized go-anywhere bike.
Got the 2023 model today winter clearance. Saved 2k got the yellow one. Really liking the color.
This bike makes me happy i never got a T7. It's def at the top of my list 👍
Can't wait for the ducati desertx daily ride !
You hit this review & completive posting right on the mark, Zack. I did note of this bike 1. It has a key. I love that. I was looking at the KTM 1290 & Aprilia Tuono 1100 in my dealer's shop and saw they were the keyless. I really migrated towards the 660's on the floor when seeing their key slots. I HATE keyless. 2. Unlike my larger Tuono's of past, the steering lock is remedied in these 660's leaving ample room for the bars to approach the tank. 3. You commented that the brakes were good. Additionally I see there are twin disk brakes on this. I have a Husky 701 and the single disk works fine on it. The twin discs add to unsprung weight I suppose. They do look nice. 4. I love the fuel savings on my Husky over my superbike and it cruises at 80 mph very comfortably.
I live down here in SoCal and see a real future for these lighter bikes which do well with relatively high gas mileage numbers. Looking to the future for what I expect will be every increasing fuel costs for petrol plus, here in California a determination with date to move away from fossil fuels I believe many of us will be moving toward doing more with less. You certainly demonstrated there's a plethora of pleasure in this platform. Lower numbers in a vehicle's weight is really underrated. One frequently hears of a positive weight bias when mixing with heavy vehicles but damn! I've come to really appreciate a light bike.
I'm going to miss the yearly Progressive MC show that has been cancelled this year where I got to be a mini-me to Zack-the-Tester and ride quite a number of bikes like he does with planning those days out well, albeit in a compressed timeframe. That was quite a blow. Now we're really going to envy the bennies of your job.
Lastly, the ease of your wit on screen . . . those happy discoveries for you and us to your train of thought when testing on camera are really a joy. If only you weren't so shy and had less income you'd definitely make it in the California film industry . . . without a doubt. Many thanks!
I gave up my 2021 Africa Twin Adventure Sport for the red/black Taureg. After breaking both legs, requiring a lot of titanium to fix, the Africa was just too heavy for me now. The Taureg is a bit taller in reality but it’s so much lighter to handle. The reduction in weight negated the loss of horsepower. The Taureg holds its own.
TU - A - REG. A desert tribe from northern Africa. (Not TAU-REG)
@@ms-jl6dl I don’t fucking care. Why do you? It’s called auto correct.
the reason the cruise control light keeps flashing on is because it assumes youre on a highway overtaking or something and its letting you know its ready to go back to its cruising speed should you need it. My ktm superduke does the same.
Also pepperoni and pineapple pizza sounds really good
My friend picked up one of these recently. I had ridden the ducati desert x right before, but wanted to try out his toureg before making any decisions on the ducati. My take was, it’s a really good bike for the price point, however, the ducati feels more premium in just about every category except for suspension. The aprilia felt like ducati junior with less premium components. My two cents, if you have the money, buy a desert x, but you can’t go wrong with the toureg.
I agree, but also think the Tuareg feels quite premium. Definitely much more so than the T7. Is the Ducati worth 50% more? I am not sure. I like the styling of the front end of the DesertX more. Having ridden the DesertX and having set on the Tuareg I feel like they are hard to compare. The DesertX feels physically bigger and is much heavier - close to 50lbs wet. It also carries the fuel a little higher. As a shorter guy, 5'7" or 171 cm, I would need to lower the DesertX where I can get along with the Aprilia. I have two other Ducati's in my stable, but I think my next ADV bike will be this Aprilia
Na man that extra 60+ pounds of weight while only holding .7 gal of extra fuel can go fuck itself. Been riding a r1200rt for nearly a year now and I refuse to buy anything over 500 pounds ever again.
I had a faulty Desert-X for a year that I gave up on. I replaced it with the Tuareg and the Aprilia feels better put together in every area than the Ducati. I love this bike.
You are Correct Sir...middleweight are super underrated in the On Road Manners and Handling....Saddle Tanks of The 890 / 790 Make for a blast in the twisties
"But is it better than a V-Strom?"
"Yes."
Not one superfluous word.
I would love to have the Tuareg 660, but the nearest dealer is 480 miles and 8 hours away. The only thing stopping me is the dealer network for Aprilias.
Yeah, this. There are something like 15 dealers to cover all of Canada. My local one dropped Aprilia years ago, so the nearest dealer is 1300kms away (808 miles).
Its sort of weird because Moto Guzzi is still operating in town, and they're another Piaggio brand.
Picked mine up this past Thursday. I have a similar impression of the bike you did. Honda is going to regret not bringing this bike to market. It's my KLR on steroids. Only other thing I noticed was a lot of air turbulence on my chest, but the helmet peak was fine. Already ordered the phone mount and Nelson Rigg Tail bag from you. It was nice to see you already have the Tuareg as a selectable for my garage. Hope the aftermarket catches up soon. I really need a tail rack and some tubular panniers.
Suggestion - when mentioning fuel tank capacity, also state what grade of fuel the manufacturer recommends
loved riding with you, thanks for taking us along. great info, great bike.
Aprilia did a wonderfull job with this engine. 3 models, 3 success.
If I could pick any bike up brand new right now it would be the Tuareg. Man it literally ticks every box for a perfect allround bike with a high fun factor that’s both amazing on and off road. Also light and capable enough to actually do off road riding with. It’s like a T7 made perfect. Price is also more than fair. The only thing is we’ll have to see how the reliable the engine is.
a terrific video - great content - thanks for taking us along.
Thanks for the review, I've picked up mine today, just in red 😊
$12000 u guys are lucky in Australia its like $23000!!! Even with the exchange rate difference in economies its still too expensive
I have heard the engine utilizing a catalytic converter runs very hot while re-up taking the exhaust gasses so apparently it needs the radiator capacity doubled & maybe the wetter than water coolant designed & repurposed from CNC machining coolant the fluid for that brand is Pink & has an Oil in it
I am so addicted to this series. Keep em coming!!
I really respect your opinion on motorcycles. I am most interested in seat comfort, suspension comfort, and buzzy grips, seat and footpegs. All of your videos should comment on these points. Thanks, Bob
Just picked mine up this past Saturday and love it so far!!
The bark is their brand trademark, it is a secret how they do it. Same as a Harley in getting you to love a trademark sound. I love my 1100 2016 Tuono for that and more!
I very much look forward to getting one, in a year or two. (This will allow the bike to garner some aftermarket and let the firmware and any niggles mature/be found. It is a first year bike, after all.) I've had 2 Tuonos that have had no problems, and 3 dealers in a 100 mile radius, though I'd stick to XPS in Accident, MD. Should be a great bike. (I hope.)
I do like how every review of every Aprilia bike with this rider suite ever has complained about the green 'ready' cruise control light and compared it to the turn signal. Folks, it's something you get used to when owning a Tuono/RSV4/T660/RS660 and now this bike. Also, keep in mind that these bikes have self-canceling turn signals. So, unless you JUST made your turn...your turn signal isn't on.
Scrambler 1200 Daily Rider? Is what I ride everyday. Great daily IMO. Strap my bag on, and go to town! Much electronics, much torque, much fun!
I have a 2023 KTM 390 Adventure. Great bike. Really enjoying it but I’m thinking about upgrading next year. The Tuareg 660, Versys 650 and the new KTM 790 Adventure are on the list. It’s good to see the Versys and Tuareg are high on the Zack List!
I took a hard look at this bike at the ADV fest. Having bent 2 subframes in the past, the lack of a bolt on subframe kept it from my wish list.
I've only ever bent 1 subframe, but as the rest of the bike was extremely bent too (as was I), it was an insurance job...
This bike is $15k USD (22k AUD) in Australia,
Rough price hikes down here
One thing another review said is that the Tuareg sits quite a bit lower than a Tenere and even a smaller person can touch flat foot on a stock Tuareg. It's actually not a tall ADV seat height.
Great to ride with you at the Get On! Fest. I got to try the 660 there too and came away fairly impressed - not exactly a match for my 701 off road but waaaay better on road ( no surprise there!).
This thing is shaping up to be my second bike, and my first adv! Everything about the Tuareg seems to be right up my alley as a Canadian 2 wheeler.
Yet another great video. Must admit I'm surprised the Aprilia ranked so high. It looks very uninspired to me - kind of like an old Honda Translap.
The vents on your legs might be kinda hot on warm days but as a real ADV bike that will be ridden in colder temps for sure,those vents keeping your legs warm will be a advantage.
looks good...is it just me or....the design almost similar with Honda Africa Twin blue -red-white stripe?
I don't live in SOCAL. I'm not sure where I could get support for this bike where I live. It seems like after sitting on that seat with that radiator spewing heat over me I would likely be ready to turn back and go home without even hitting the trails. This is just my take on your take. It just seemed like your review was done before it was done. Thanks for all the useful info and taking the time.
I love it, the only thing stopping me from considering it for my next bike in the very near future is the issue of heat. I HAAATE hot bikes. I wonder if this is an issue that can be fixed in the aftermarket.
A full exhaust, free flowing air filter and a proper tune will make a world of difference. Pre-mixed engine ice coolant will also help.
thanks but I'm still in love with the Suzi DR650 :- 1
Lucky is he who enjoys his day job as much as Zach!
Great review and told me a lot of what I’m interested in. I personally don’t like peaky engines and large twin cylinder engines are my sweet spot. I’ve changed from a 2014 GSA to a Honda AT DCT. The low/mid range pull suits the adventure bike style and me. It sounds like the Tuareg has the right balance and, for me, outright power is far less value than real world riding. The cruising revs don’t seem high when both the GSA and AT spin around 4,000 rpm at 70 mph with way more capacity. The appeal of the 660 is lower weight and general heft so a potential next bike. I’m only 1,000 miles into the Honda and very happy in the main over the GSA.
the high speed cruising RPM is madness because it's clearly going to be used by people on the road!
just buy a ktm/husky 890/901 unspoken but we all know that is the big balls bulldog of this class , best performance by any measure
Thanks for the review.
My 2019 Suzuki DL650XT has some close gearing.
I can cruise at 40mph in 6th when on flat roads with no head wind. I really wish 6th gear was taller. But, she has great gearing for urban assults and back country roads. There is no perfect gearing.
I think it's cool that aprilia jumped into the market to give people more choices. Think it's kinda fugly, but looks are subjective. Me, I'm extremely happy with the 2021 KTM 890 ADV R I bought last year (5,000mi so far). LOT more powerful (important at 11,000ft+ elevation here in the Western mtn's), LOT better suspension, bigger gas tank, and overall just a lot more capable in the dirt. It IS, a KTM after all, and that's what they do best. It's not without it's quirks, but I love it. Me, I'd rather enjoy this little motor in the RS 660, THAT looks like a fun little bike to putt around on (I also have a 2015 BMW S1000RR). Regardless, if you get one, best of luck and enjoy it and ride safe!
A KTM 890 owner saying an aprilia is ugly!
Do you have a pet locust?
@@richardsimpson3792 Actually, yeah, I said it, and I meant it. Coming from an actual dirtbike background (though from many years ago), I LIKE the high fender dirtbike look because the KTM, at least, IS an actual dirtbike, unlike the aprilia which is just a 660 Tuono with longer suspension. And in any contest of actual offroad ability, the KTM will walk all over the aprilia, every day of the week, and twice on Sundays...AND has more power on the street. I like aprilia streetbikes, this stinkbug, not so much.
I took this video into a lot of consideration before I bought my Tuareg... after several months of ownership, I can say that if the bike isn't in AEM mode 1, then the throttle response sucks. The Explore and Urban modes are both just "rain mode" to me at this point.
i daily an ATAS and this bike felt really top heavy to me. also SO hot. i live in a hot state but even my aircooled bikes are more comfortable.
I'm really looking into getting an ATAS. I would have thought it would also be top heavy, no?
@@noturk3y4u i didn't take the Tuareg off road, but in comparison i find its weight a lot more intimidating while at low speeds even though the bike is significantly smaller. probably comes down to suspension. of course this is my personal opinion and i don't matter so take that as you will 🤣
@@512mbflashdrive lol no I appreciate it. I have a tiger 900 currently and, besides the clutch's friction point being strangely far, the top heaviness has been a big reason why I was looking elsewhere. It's kind been in between an 890 Adventure and the ATAS, but KTM's reliability is sketchy.
Thanks!
@@512mbflashdrive That's odd, I have the T660 and I think it is MUCH easier to handle than the Africa Twin I demoed last year. Not as tall and a much lighter feeling. I had the suspension dialed in by a suspension guru which made a big difference too.
@@davidmmcmillan well i'm at 15k with my 21 atas so i have a bit of practice with it at this point, but even from the test ride what stuck out to me was how easy it is to make footless stops and make anything from intricate to dramatic bar movements at low speed. the tuareg for me had nowhere near that level of balance and felt like the weight of the bike shifted a lot more with the same inputs. would have been nice to have more time to set it up for my weight but that was just my first impression.
Please review the NEW 2022 BMW R1250RT.
Been watching reviews of this bike all afternoon and I have to say, what a fab review - wonderful style and candour - great information and a real sense of what it's like to ride - thank you man!
The Tuarag is most definitely a wood fired, medium, thin crust, pepperoni & jalapeno pizza IMO. Be blessed and ride safe 👍🙏
You do not need a 1200 cc Adventure bike. Middle weights make more useable power. The lighter the bike off road means more fun.
You did an excellent interview with ' Itchy Boots ', AKA Noraly Schoenmaker, a while back, she is currently riding a Honda CFR 300 Rally and has made her way from Quito, Ecuador to Guatemala still on her way to Alaska. I think you should review of her bike as a Daily Rider.
I own one of these. I am 5'6" tall with a 29.5 inch inseam. With the standard seat I am on tippy toes. Not the balls of my feet. Tippy toes. I have to plan ahead as far as which foot is going to be put down, and slide across the seat in advance. Shorter riders who ride motocross or enduro bikes know what I am talking about. I also have the Aprilia lower seat. With it I am on the balls of my feet. Two things about the lower seat. If you have an acid gold or a martian red bike, you will lose the color match. The lower seat is black. The lower seat has stiffer foam, so it is not as comfy as the standard seat. Anyone with a shorter inseam than me will have a tough time with this bike, and the design of the rear suspension does not lend itself to aftermarket lowering mods such as different length links.
I was doing the stop sign challenge. My wife says WTH are you doing?
Well now that she's got her own motorcycle she's doing it! Thanks for the memories!
Zach, if you had to spend your money on this, the Ktm 890 adv R, or an Africa twin, which would you buy?
890 R in a heartbeat....oh wait, I DID buy one. WAY better in the dirt, WAY better suspension, WAY more power, better range, and Rally mode. If all you're going to do is pose on it at the Starbucks, then anything with semi-knobbies will do, so you might as well buy something stree-based instead of actual dirtbike-based. The 890 R is actually a LOT better of a streetbike than these are dirtbikes.
13 grand is getting pricey. If I was to put down that kind of cash, I do believe I would fork out the extra $1500 and get the base model (my fav) Honda AT. Manual tranny, more dirt worthy one.
Honda reliability and 1100CC to handle the highway cruise.
Others would get the T7, and I understand.
Don’t forget all the extra weight you get for 1500 more 😆
@@SupermotoCentral I'm six four 225, it's no prob
505 lbs (claimed with full tank) is only 50 more than the Aprilia
@@martyxcore I rode my (5th!) Strom over to the Aprilia dealer today to put down a Tuareg deposit. The weight is similar, but that's about it - almost 2x the suspension travel and ground clearance, ~14 more hp, ~14 more mpg, smoother, narrower, better ergos, great interface... I've been a Strom cheerleader for 18 years, but this really is a whole different level of performance. Hopefully a sign of things to come, would love to see Suzuki step it up.
Pepperoni 🍕 Pineapple 🍍 is my Faaaaaaaavorite pizza so this bike must be amazing!!! Acid Gold is the color to choose though. Great Episode!!
Unlike the Yamaha T7, you can actually buy one right now.
This Aprilia may cause the first wrinkle in my relationship with my T7… Let’s wait for reliability reports though.
I haven’t even thought of this bike as a maybe for a tourer.
But… My Triumph Speed Twin for fun and a 660 for longer trips.
I need to go test one tomorrow..
Don’t know for sure, but it seems to me the 4 way flashers could be easily triggered without an IMU by measuring the change in speed registered by the speedometer sensor. High reduction in speed could could be interpreted as rapid deceleration. Just a guess
or by registering abrupt brake lever inputs, maybe? Don't think that'd be a hard thing to implement.
If using this for urban commuting (which is most likely how it will be used), how does it compare to the Ducati Desert Sled?
Zach, great review as always. How would the T660 compare to the 890 adventure (not r) as a do it all, everyday bike if you could only have 1? Is the price increase for the 890 worth it in your opinion?
Proud owner of a beautiful toad of a 950sm. Looking for something with a bigger front wheel to deal with my 45 mile dirt/sand ride home. I see a zac courts vid, I hit the like button.