Aprilia Tuareg 660: bikesales Bike of the Year 2022 finalist
Aprilia’s returned to the competitive adventure arena with a machine that’s more than making up the numbers: it’s an absolute beauty
Why is the Aprilia Tuareg 660 a bikesales BOTY finalist?
The Tuareg moniker isn’t new to Aprilia, with the Italian firm using it in adventure and sportstouring motorcycles in the in the 1980s and 1990s.
The badge has now returned, as Aprilia takes on the adventure game for the first time since it retired the big-bore Caponord range about five years ago. However, this time it’s a different proposition: the Caponords were adventure-touring behemoths, while the Tuareg 660 has a far more off-road bias and is targeting models like the KTM 890 Adventure R and Yamaha Ténéré 700.
Not easy targets, mind you, so how has Aprilia gone about it? For a start, it’s utilised the excellent 660 parallel-twin engine found in the fully faired RS660 sportsbike and Tuono 660 naked roadster – but with tweaks to flatten the performance curve for a more adventure-friendly mid-range.
Without underselling how impressive the engine is, it’s the balance of the 204kg (wet) package that has parachuted the Tuareg 660 into 2022 bikesales Bike of the Year calculations.
Just the right balance of user-friendly electronics, a solid chassis, smart weight distribution, a slim waist and 240mm of suspension travel (and the same amount of ground clearance) are the aces Aprilia has delivered, and it’s hard not to get swept up in just how well all those attributes come together.
Even on the road it’s a willing performer, without the docility that can often befall machines with such a large diameter front wheel – 21 inch for the Tuareg.
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Who will the Aprilia Tuareg 660 appeal to?
The Aprilia Tuareg 660 is capable of a wide body of work. On that metric, it will appeal to experienced and new riders alike, across all abilities.
Off-road, exceptionally skilled riders can really go nuts, while the those who don’t covet such frenetic heights can simply sit on the seat and garner the same amount of enjoyment.
And the Tuareg will also appeal to adventure riders who want to hit the tarmac, with cruise control and a larger than normal screen for an off-road leaning adventure bike. The 18-litre fuel tank will keep the Tuareg 660 in motion for long stretches, but the seat does have its limits. The TFT screen is a beauty, with vision remaining unimpeded in all light conditions.
What does the Aprilia Tuareg 660 cost?
Both the full-powered and LAMS versions retail for $22,230 ride away, in two separate liveries: Martian Red and Acid Gold. There’s a third premium livery, Indaco Tagelmust, which is $22,530 ride away.
That’s a decent hit for a LAMS bike, and there are certainly cheaper options – but they don’t come within cooee of the Tuareg’s level of refinement. Horses for courses.
The Tuareg is priced about smack bang in the middle of the Yamaha Ténéré 700 and KTM 890 Adventure R, and like all good adventure bikes there’s a decent accessories catalogue including a quickshifter, heated grips, hard luggage, protection bars, LED fog lights, centrestand, a touring screen and a comfort seat.
What have we already said about the Aprilia Tuareg 660?
bikesales editor Dylan Ruddy first rode the Aprilia Tuareg 660 in the bike’s heartland of Italy, and he was impressed with the bike's comfy ergonomics, enduro-like control in the dirt, and its capacity to tackle even the harshest terrain with aplomb.
Ruddy was also animated about its balance and stability on tarmac, as well as the smooth and user-friendly engine.
He concluded: “In short, the Tuareg will appeal to those who want a bit more sophistication than the Ténéré and are prepared to pay for it. Likewise, if you want a bike that is close to the off-road performance of the 890 R, but you want to save a couple of grand, then this is your bike.”
Aprilia Tuareg 660 specs at a glance:
Price: $22,230 ride away (full-powered and LAMS)
Engine: 659cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC parallel-twin
Output: 80hp (58.8kW), 70Nm at 8500rpm (LAMS 61Nm at 5000rpm)
Transmission: Six-speed
Weight: 204kg (wet)
Seat height: 860mm
Fuel capacity: 18 litres
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