Aprilia Tuareg 660: pricing and specs

The new 2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660 adventure bike will hit Australian showrooms in late May or early June, and will be priced from $22,230 ride away, with a LAMS (Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme) variant – pricing TBC – to follow in July.

Based on the middleweight platform that has already produced the Aprilia RS 660 sportsbike and Aprilia Tuono 660 streetfighter, the new Aprilia Tuareg 660 adopts a similar premium-spec, high-tech theme, and is powered by the same 659cc parallel-twin engine, but tuned for off-road potential with a claimed 80hp (58.8kW) at 9250rpm and 70Nm at 6500rpm.

A fresh rival for the likes of Yamaha’s Tenere 700, KTM’s 890 Adventure R and Triumph’s Tiger 900, the Aprilia Tuareg 660 will be available in prestige Evocative Premium paint (pictured) from $22,530 ride away as well as Acid Gold or Martian Red schemes, both from $22,230 ride away.

Related reading:
Learner-friendly Aprilia Tuareg 660 L arriving in July
Aprilia Tuareg 660 adventure bike to arrive mid-2022
Incoming Aprilia Tuareg 660 revealed

Named after the nomadic Berber people of the Sahara Desert, the Tuareg (pronounced ‘Twa-raig’) utilises a new tubular steel chassis strengthened to take the extra abuse and higher loads that are part and parcel of the adventure bike genre.

With a comfy upright ride position, generous legroom and a broad handlebar, it’s set up for long days in the saddle and delivers a commanding ride position, its tall 860mm seat height and long-travel suspension underlining its off-road potential.

The 18-litre fuel tank is said to deliver a generous range of around 450km, while on the tech front the new model scores full LED lighting, a 5.0-inch TFT colour instrument display, and a ride-by-wire throttle integrated with Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC).

The APRC suite in the Tuareg 660 features three different engine maps, three levels of engine braking, and four levels of traction control, as well as electronic cruise control. A bi-directional quickshifter is available as a factory accessory, as is the Aprilia MIA multimedia platform (which translates from the Italian as ‘My Aprilia’, rather than ‘Missing In Action’, we suspect!). The system provides sat-nav, call management, and more.

There’s also a choice of four ride modes – Urban, Explore, Off-road and Individual – with the Off-road mode disabling the ABS on the rear wheel, and Individual allowing the rider to tailor all the customisable settings to their liking.

As for the parallel-twin, it’s essentially one half of Aprilia’s fire-breathing 1099cc V4, with the head, combustion chambers, ducts, cylinders and pistons all deriving from the big banger. Aprilia says the 270-degree crank gives the bike similar performance and sound characteristics as a V-twin, while differences between the Tuareg 660 and the engine found in the RS 660 and Tuareg 660 include lower gearing (with lower first gear and final drive ratios), and a new oil sump that is positioned higher, giving 240mm of ground clearance.

The grunt is sent to the rear wheel via a slipper clutch and a six-speed gearbox, while the bike rides on a 43mm Kayaba fork and a Kayaba monoshock, with 240mm of wheel travel and full adjustment at either end. The spoked aluminium wheels, 21in up front and 18in at the rear, also emphasise the model’s off-road potential, with the Aprilia Tuareg 660 weighing in a modest 204kg wet (187kg dry).

The new model will launch with a comprehensive list of factory accessories, with aluminium panniers and topbox, engine guards, LED auxiliary lights, a centrestand, chainguard, touring windscreen and comfort seat all on offer, along with a dedicated range of apparel.

And for those starting out, the full-power Aprilia Tuareg 660 will be followed by a learner-friendly Aprilia Tuareg 660 L in July, with all of the full-biscuit model’s capability and tech but a LAMS-compliant output of 47.6hp (35kW) at 5500rpm and 61Nm at 5000rpm. Pricing for the Aprilia Tuareg 660 L will be announced closer to the model’s local arrival.

On paper, and certainly judging by the photos, this new Aprilia Tuareg 660 looks like one extremely capable bit of kit, and one we can't wait to get our mitts on. We'll bring you more info on the model and a full review as soon as we can, but in the meantime see your nearest Aprilia dealership for more information.

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, eight-valve, four-stroke, DOHC parallel-twin
Capacity: 659cc
Bore x stroke: 81.0mm x 63.9mm
Compression ratio: 13.5:1
Engine management: Electronic fuel injection
Emissions: Euro 5

PERFORMANCE
Power: 80hp (58.8kW) at 9250rpm
Torque: 70Nm at 6500rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet, multiplate slipper

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Tubular steel with aluminium plate subframe
Front suspension: Inverted 43mm Kayaba telescopic fork, fully adjustable, 240mm trave
Rear suspension: Kayaba monoshock, fully adjustable, 240mm travel
Front brakes: Twin 300mm discs with Brembo four-piston calipers
Rear brake: Single 260mm disc with Brembo twin-piston caliper
Wheels: Spoked, aluminium drop centre, 21in front, 18in rear
Tyres: Front 90/90-21, rear 150/70-18

ELECTRONICS
Ride-by-wire throttle, engine brake, traction control, cruise control, four ride modes

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Rake: 26.7 degrees
Trail: 113.3mm
Claimed dry weight: 187kg
Seat height: 860mm
Wheelbase: 1525mm
Fuel capacity: 18 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: From $22,230 ride away (LAMS pricing TBC)
Availability: May/June 2022
Colours: Acid Gold, Apex Black, Lava Red
More information: Aprilia