Aprilia Tuareg 660 Review - The forgotten middleweight Adventure bike?
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- Опубликовано: 4 июл 2024
- The Aprilia Tuareg 660 is pehaps one of the forgetten bikes in the middleweight adventure sector. Coming in at around the 200kg mark and around £10,000 it's taking on a busy and competitive sector. So is it a solid return to the adventure market for Aprilia? In this video, I ride the Tuareg 660 both on and off-road, in an attempt to get under its skin and see how it measures up.
In the video I'm wearing;
Rev'it Mangrove Gloves - tinyurl.com/Revitgloves
Knox Urbane Pro Utility Shirt - tinyurl.com/knoxURBPRO
Rev'it Component H2o Jacket - tinyurl.com/Componentjacket
TCX Blend2 Boots - tinyurl.com/TCXblend2
00:00 - Intro
01:28 - Ergonomics & Comfort
02:34 - Gearbox
03:15 - How good is the screen?
04:26 - TFT Screen, Riding Modes & Controls
05:15 - Engine Performance
06:41 - Suspension & Handling
07:33 - Well thought out details & some wildlife!
07:56 - Fuel Tank design & Capacity
08:39 - More nice details in the design
09:44 - Tyre Choice & Confidence
11:28 - Off-Road Riding
14:13 - Pricing and Competition
14:39 - Final Observations & Conclusion 
Авто/Мото
I bought a red one a couple of weeks ago. It really is a fantastic bike…. I find it difficult to put my finger on it but it’s easy to ride, fast enough and fits me really well. The screen is good, the sat nav bar, kickstand, the seat, the sound and a great standing position. Very well thought out bike and loads of fun👍
Cheers Tim I have to agree
Hi Tim Firth. What are your thoughts of the bike after owning it for a short time? I’m considering purchasing one. And would love to here your thoughts.
Thanks in advance 👍
@@stuartfox8914 great fun but one fatal flaw for me …the fuelling. Mine (like many others) developed a stutter at about 4k revs. It drove me nuts and Aprilia don’t want
to know about it. It was a second bike for me so I ended up not riding it and taking the BMW I have. Sold it in the end and bought an old R80 G/S. This bike is a reminder of how bikes used to feel before stupid fly by wire throttles and Euro 4 and 5 restrictions and emission regulations.
One thing people miss is the slipper clutch. It’s a really nice addition to this package. Also, for those who don’t like the power, you can get the RS660 Cam and a race tuner and you’d end up around 110 to 115hp if you add a pipe and air filter. Throw in a quick shifter and you literally have a Taureg RS660.
Great review,simple and to the point!
Cruse control makes this my #1.
It is an all-rounder I will enjoy.
The weight and size are prefect.
Agree
I have an aprilia sx and absolutely love my bike, so I would be very happy to test ride the tuareg and top marks for reviewing of this bike 👍
Just love your reviews!
Thank you so much!
Excellent review as always👍👍👏
Thanks
Great balanced review, worth a look that one Tony
Cheers Peter
heard only nice things about this bike, nice overview as always Tony, cheers V!
Thanks Buddy
Really great video. Good to see that you went really in the dirt. 👌
Thanks
Very nice review. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Nice review Tony 👍
Cheers Dale
Great review as always. Thank you. 👍😎🇦🇺
Thanks Marcus
The cruise control, is a big plus,,, like you say, gs, or at, to heavy.. No point in big hp, unless doing big road miles, the weight is the key for lanes,,,
Great review Tony, I absolutely love my Aprilia Tuareg 660, it is so very capable in the dirt, like you say, confidence inspiring.... I did swap my tyres from new though so have not ridden it on the Pirelli STR's, went for Motoz Tractionator Adventures as they are more suitable for UK green lanes.
Thanks 👍
Hi Tony, great to meet you today while you were out filming your latest video for your RUclips channel! I watched this video with interest as Aprilia seem to have really upped their game with their models like my RS660 I told you about! Look forward to the Honda Hornet video when you release it! Nice bike, mate! The exhaust note sounded tasty when you rode off!! Ride safe! Paul 😎👍
Cheers Paul, nice to meet you too. Would you like to appear in the video?
@@mancavemoto yes mate you can include our conversation if you think it helps! I don’t think I said anything too controversial & as long as you don’t mention that I was a “MAMIL” on that occasion! 🚴🏻♂️😂👍
I handn’t realised I was still filming until I downloaded the footage 🙄😂
I do the same on my bike and when driving , get distracted by kites and buzzards ,glad it’s not just me! I really like this bike and lm hopefully going to try one out soon!
Nice review, Tony.
This sounds like a seriously good bike. Quick and comfortable on the tarmac and easy to handle on the dirt - ideal for getting to green lanes and then enjoying them when you get there. Could this be the bike we've all been waiting for?
Exactly, it did surprise me for sure, in a good way
Looks a good bike.Thanks.
No problem 👍
Very informative, would like to see a review of the new Tuono 660 factory
I’m hoping to swing a leg over one soon
Another super review. Interested how it stacks up against your KTM 790 Adv and the Norden.
Thanks Louis, it feels taller and a little more top heavy than my 790 Adventure, but the engine is more flexible. At the moment the Norden is my favourite, but this pushes it, especially given the price!
Unfortunately, it's been raining quite a bit so I haven't been able to ride my Tuareg as often as I hoped. I wish the screen was a bit taller - I'm 5'11" and it puts my helmet in some noisy wind. I may consider the touring screen that Aprilia has for it. The bike fits me well and I haven't been bothered by the engine heat that some have mentioned. I live in Seattle so the heat on my legs, while not excessive, is generally welcome. It may be an issue in August. I come from a single cylinder, dual-sport background, so this twin engine is a revelation. I don't like the bikes that weigh over 400lbs but this one holds its weight low and I think it I'll appreciate it on the freeways. I have the benefit of a good local dealer and I paid MSRP. For the price, it is hard to beat. And it's beautiful to look at in person - much better than when viewed on videos. I'm not getting the gas mileage that Aprilia has promoted, but it is reasonable.
Thanks for the info Michael, good to hear
very interesting thank you
No problem
Thanks for posting this review. I'm looking at one of these as my current bike (At 235 kilos without luggage) is just too heavy for me. I can't say I have learned to have sufficient courage on a heavy ADV bike. So I'm hoping the 660 Tuareg is a bit lighter to handle.
Glad it was helpful!
They are brilliant in the dirt with a tyre swap, love mine!
@@mancavemoto Well, I got the chance to ride one back to back with a Yamaha Tenere 700. as an alternative. (3 hours of riding on each bike.) I've placed an order for the Tuareg 660. Engine power delivery and the light weight were the main reasons I opted for the Aprilia. The Tenere was probably a better motorcycle to ride non stop across the Sahara desert with no outside support, but as an everyday rider, I found the 660 Tuareg an easier motorcycle to ride.
Very nice machine. I tried it and do regret I didn't buy it. I almost never do offroad, so the 21" front, has slightly put me off, but the general impression is 👍👍 Also the attention to valve clearance is every 20000 km. Tenere7 - every 42000, but it has NOTHING of the civilized things ☝☝🧐 - which the Tuareg offers.
Excellent video sir. 👍
Seems pretty good value. I guess for most of us it's just the questions of reliability, resale value and a small dealer network...
Cheers, yes I think so too. Most modern bikes don't have much in the way of reliability these days, but there is a lack of dealers for sure
Nice looking bike may have to find a dealer, which will mean going to the big smoke. Road trip! What gloves were you wearing?
Keep up the good work, brother & stay safe.
Cheers Mark, the gloves are Rev'it Mangrove
Hi T hope all is well with you enjoyed the video. I think
It's a lovely looking bike. Just checked out what the luggage
Would look like. Your not going to believe the price . The top
Box and rack Is 1100 pounds on it own . Just back from doing the
Nc 500 Scotland is just beautiful. Take care T.
is a lovely
Ouch!
many aftermarket are half that.
What a fab bike should sell very well
(Early June 2022) Here in Virginia I will be among the first customers to receive a red Tuareg that I ordered in early April from The Aprilia Store (USA & Canada). My receiving dealer will be getting the bike soon but the Options I ordered will come as a separate shipment, therefore he (the dealer) will have to install those Options and charge me for that labor. Ouch.
I now have a dilemma, I own a Ducati scrambler 1100 and just bought a scram 411 . The Ducati is used for fast twisty roads which it dose very well, and the scram is for them green lanes and narrow roads that I wouldn’t normally ever explore. Then comes along this Aprilia which will probably do everything my two bikes will do but even better. I should be content with what I’ve got but it’s so tempting to swap them out for the Aprilia
An interesting dilemma to have, but I do think this bike would equally serve both cases, so it could be a way to go
Nice jacket.. model and brand ? Good vid ! Thx
Which one? I’m wearing two different ones in the video
Can I ask if you think due to the tubeless tyres the outer rim looks vulnerable? I ride really rocky terrain and would worry about the rims getting eaten up big rock hits?
I wouldnt say so too much, there are quite a few manufacturers who use this style of rim, and it makes for easy spoke changes
I would like to see Aprilia and Yamaha playing in the Sahara dunes. Yamaha is a legend and brought a midsize perfect adventure bike that passed the Dakar Rally test with flying colors. You don't need a lot of horses to ripped off sand or travel the world 🌍. We are the traction control and the bike will go where ever you want to enjoy the planet wonders. Take care mates.
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
no problem
Cross-spoke wheels are more significant to me than electronics. I'd rather have this than the T7, apart from the question of reliability. It may be. The T7 will be.
I’ve got almost 4,000 miles on mine. Zero issues so far. There have been some complaining about oil leaks. These are also people who chose to break their engine in like it’s a 800hp drag bike.
Speaking of Options, I wonder if there will be an Optional heat guard/deflector for the toasty catalytic converter? Or will Aprilia step up and replace the entire header & cat under warranty?
I’ve ridden mine in 100 degree days and it does get warm but it’s not excessive. The way the bike is built, they couldn’t put the cat under the bike without sacrificing ground clearance. You could always cat delete or just deal with it. Those complaining about the heat on this bike either haven’t actually ridden one or have never ridden a Harley. Had you, you’d think this was a cool riding machine.
Whay would they replace the header & cat under warranty when theres nothing wrong with it? I didn't notice any more heat than a lot of other bikes, and if your wearing tall adventure boots you won't notice the heat.
@@mancavemoto While waiting for my Tuareg to be delivered, I peruse all of the Tuareg reviews that I can find. Usually they are YT vids, some by professional reviewers or motorcycle journalists, many by recent owners who compare it to a myriad of other modern adventure bikes. None of the early reviews from the press launch at Sardinia mentioned high heat levels but once the bike was available in North America, reviewers and new owners quickly took notice of the heat levels felt by the rider, mostly on the right side. I have Forma adv boots but I occasionally wear below-the-calf ventilated boots when I am riding in town in stop and go traffic. It is the stop-and-go scenario that seems to reveal the heat from the cat near rider's right foot plus the radiator heat on both sides. From a functional level, the cat - header pipe should reduce emissions without excess heat felt by the rider. Neither my Tiger XC nor my R1200GS had excess heat issues while in stop-and-go traffic. There is already a small Italian company offering a heavy duty replacement aluminum engine bash plate with several air vent holes that claims to improve "engine cooling".
Hi Tim Firth. I’m considering purchasing a 660 Tuareg. What are your impressions now after owning the bike for a short time?
Hi Stuart, I do t own the bike I only had a press bike for a week or so
Great video! Was engine heat an issue for you? It was boiling hot when I tried it on a 30C day
I havent tried it yet but that is my major concern on an otherwise very interesting bike.
catless header should cure that.
@@Rob-tl9md If I am not mistaken, the source of the heat wasn't just the cat. I got the impression that all the engine was very hot
@@cchrist0f97 nearly everyone complained about right side heat. Garenteed the cat is the source of nearly all the added heat.
I never found engine heat a problem, its no worse than a lot of other bikes
Do you think it is possible to use it on the road with a passenger en go travelling?
Yes, I think that would be no problem
Sorry it only posted part of my reply, you can get one for sub 10k atm , the only worry for me is Aprilia reliability ( electronic’s ect ) off road long term , maybe a T700 is a safer bet atm 👍👍
Yep, I’ve seen 2022 models advertised at £9499. Whether they actually have stock or not Is another question. Only time will tell how they hold up
@@mancavemoto so if it was your money Tony which would you get I like the simplicity of the T7 but the Aprilia has lots to offer 🤔🤪
I have owned 4 aprilia's. All very reliable and those where even a good bit older.
@@Rob-tl9md hi Rob thanks for the reply yes I have a v41100 Tuono as well, I just thought the off road mud water ect might be a long term problem I’m intending to keep the off road et a fair while , but I do like the looks & I see that Heed have all the protected parts I’ll need to lol
How's the heat on your right leg?
I can't say that I actually noticed it that much
Real question is the reliability
Yep, and we won’t know that for a while yet
I don’t think it will turn the heads of us T7 owners. If we’d wanted a “Suite of electronics”, and valve adjustment every couple of thousand miles, we wouldn’t have bought the T7🤔.
I did say ‘potential buyers’ not owners, those people looking at middleweight adv bikes around that price point could be swayed in either direction. Valve check is at 12k miles, so I don’t see that as a problem. Glad you’re a happy T7 owner…..but you are also watching Tuareg reviews 😉😂
@@mancavemoto 😂😂. I’ve watched reviews of Royal Enfield Himalayan and CRF 300L in the last few days too. I’m not buying them either😜👍.
lets wait and see what mama honda has to say
You may have to wait a couple of years (Or decades) if you're lucky.
People are still waiting for a new Blackbird, st and Varadero to name some...
Honda 750 Transalp 2023! 😉👍🏻
So tell me again what were the negatives that you found.
"No bike is perfect," and you go off reiterating the positives.
But as I stated the negatives are more personal preferences rather than problems. For me the lack of an adjustable screen is a negative, as is the looks of the headlight. Apart from that its hard to fault
The first 34 seconds was just creepy as f**k!
Why creepy?!
@@mancavemoto It just looks "other-worldly" and surreal! Like the bike is superimposed and floating above the ground, as well as shimmering/twitching in a weird way!
@@Jer0867 it’s the 360 camera. Must say I’m not a fan of the 360 but the bike looks great.
You can keep all the electronic mumbo-jumbo🤢 Thank you for listening Yamaha simple simple 🙏 It's an adventure bike not a super sport bike🤡🇨🇦