Yesterday, Aprilia provided the first look at the production Tuareg 660, which it has teased for quite some time. A photo of the new bike, which is expected to be a 2022 production model, along with a video discussing basic specifications was released.
Take a look at the video below, but the new Tuareg 660 features a version of the parallel twin already released in the RS 660 and Tuono 660. In the Tuareg, it is rated at 80 horsepower.
The Tuareg 660 should have some genuine off-road chops with a 21″ front wheel, 9.5″ of suspension travel and a 412 pound claimed dry weight. State-of-the-art electronic rider aids will be available along with cruise control and a 5″ TFT display. The fuel tank will hold 4.8 gallons. Take a look at the video below and give us your thoughts on this new bike.
I want to like it but the proportions look somehow wrong, like some of the Chinese motorcycles.
Yamaha has nothing to fear.
Yes, but 50 lbs lighter and 20hp stronger than the Moto Morina X-Cape 650. It has a real 21″ front wheel not a 19″. If its gonna be ugly at least its more fun to ride, really italian, and not made in China.
ALL THE GREAT ADVENTURE BIKES HAVE THIS STYLE..IT WORKS….ktm 950 se..BETTER OFF ROAD THAN ALL OF THEIR NEWER MODELS
The Trans Alp is back
Can’t believe you said this. My very first look see was the same response. This would be much better in the dirt. WHY ALMOST NO DEALERSHIPS IN AMERICA ?
I will be saving my pennies for either Tenere 700 or Taureg 660 the deciding factor is going to be the price. Tenere is more simplified less trickery that can go faulty. However, you have to spend about £2000 to get the same suspension travel that the Tuareg has out of the box as long as they don’t cut this on the final production model. I am not holding my Breath that the Tuareg will be cheaper than the Tenere, there are lots of top-end features like cruise control traction control rider modes, and tubeless wheels. The lack of an Engine cradle and the fact that the bash plate is directly mounted to the engine warrants a take two. The KTM 450RFR has a similar set-up. Only time will tell how many sumps will be left behind.
I wonder if they intentionally gave it a similar color scheme as my old KLR.
This is the bike I hoped Kawasaki was going to replace the KLR with. I love KLR’s and was sorry to see it “go away”. When it came back I was hoping it would be narrower and less bulky. You know, LIKE THIS, KAWASAKI.
I had a 2008 Versys and I’m definitely digging the Tuareg!
Watched a first ride on one last evening on you tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsGgNTUQUpA
Not the final product but pretty close. Looks like a great bike to me but I am tainted by owning 3 Aprilia’s and 4 DR650,s over the last 16 years. Could it replace both? Nope but would love to own one.
I like that Aprilia is making a family of bikes from this engine. Having owned a DRZ for desert riding, I simply can’t understand why anyone would want to take a 450+ bike out into the woods or desert…it would be exhausting. However, put some 17″ wheels on that bike and I think it’d make a heck of a comfortable street bike. I’m sure that will be the fourth release from Aprilia.
I’m an east-coast guy and no one with any sense would ride a beast like this offroad in the East. But America is a VERY BIG PLACE and not everywhere is like the East…and thats a great thing.
Hmmm… I wonder about a 2022 model being accurate. All the images (including the video obviously…) are renders. Seems like they’d have real photos/video to show if they were planning to release in a few months or less?
Anyway, looks nice, and I bet it will be fun with that engine, but at 412 lbs dry, I can’t imagine it really ripping off-road.
Is ~5 lb/hp a good ratio for off-roading? Just wondering, before I jump on this. And when I add my own fat body to it, it’s at ~7.5 lb/horse.
Remember the “UJM”? Looks like we’re heading to the “UADVM” between this and the Africa Twin and the Tenere among others looking the same.
It’s nice that companies are realizing you don’t need 1200+cc to cruise along the highway and 500 pounds of bike on a gravel road. However, this should be a fairly tough sell against the similarly powered yet 100 pound lighter KTM 690 Enduro / Husqvarna 701. With all the adventure gizmo add-ons and proven engine, I’m already leaning in that direction.
those bikes suck on the highway almost as much as larger dual sports suck on singletrack. This is not an enduro competitor as much as it is a t7 and 890 ktm
Agreed. Different classes of bike. I think the direct competitor is the 700 Yamaha.
I rather have the Kawasaki – much cheaper and more reliable.
I would give up a little comfort on the short stint of the highway than to suffer massively through all the trails. I don’t quite get what you mean though because the T7 I tested wasn’t nearly as fast as any 690 I’ve ridden. The 80+ mph stuff is a piece of cake but maybe a small windscreen could reduce wind blast. A hundred extra bucks on a small windshield for the highway is a whole lot easier to swallow than a hundred extra pounds on the trail!
An Husky 701 enduro isnt really comparable to this bike. Neither is the KTM 690 Enduro R. Husky doesnt have a comparable bike and the KTM that’s comparable is the 890 Adventure. Just sayin.
It’s definitely a mall-crawler. Has optional bazooka scabbard.
The mall crawler front fender will clog with sticky mud and stop the front wheel or tear off the fender and brake line, needs to be raised up.
Do people really take bikes like this off road, or are 21″ wheeled street bikes like this mostly used like mall crawler Jeeps? This, the T7, and the like seem like bad choices for most riders to me.
While there is no doubt a segment of buyers using them just on the street, people definitely take these bikes off-road. I see them out there all the time.
Interestingly, I’ve noticed these big adventure bikes have become the gateway to dirt bikes for many. Used to be the other way around. I know a lot of people who started on these and realized they really like off-road. Then they try something like a KTM 690 or an XR650 as they begin tackling more advanced stuff. Then finally they end up on the hardcore dual sports or dispense with the “dual” part altogether.
Horses for courses. The T7 is a very capable off road bike. It’s not an enduro race bike to compete with 450s dodging trees on single track. But, it’ll do ATV trails, and the BDR, quite well. Which is in it’s intended mission spec. It’s a better, easier, choice than the big BMW twins or Yamaha Super Tenere. A friend got a T7 for the CO-BDR trip we did in July, he loves it. It did the BDR quite well, and has done light sport touring with ease.
I too like what Aprilia is doing with their 660 lineup and wish them well. As Tommy has pointed out though, a thriving dealer network is key to its success. The con rod recall on the other 660’s can’t help the Tuareg so I hope Aprilia can resolve it quickly for the other owners. Aprilia has several hits on their hands IF they play their cards right. Are you listening Piaggio?
I look at what Aprilia is doing with this whole 660 line up and applaud them for their effort. Now if they could only shift 10% of that energy to promoting a USA dealer network. Sure high end bike snobs can deal with sparse dealer network. But these middleweights are selling to another intended demographic. I’m sure many sales are lost to those without a local dealer. Ducati USA and Aprilia USA have terrible dealer management tactics that force dealers to abandon any hope for bringing them on board. We lost our local Aprilia dealer years back and now Ducati was recently dropped.
My version of MAGA would be for small enthusiast-owned franchises to exist again. Used to be many small shops but with so many (if not all) company’s trying to go the big fancy auto dealership type space they’re shooting themselves in the foot. We’re back to a smaller market of buyers like back in the early to mid 60’s so big sq ft franchises with big overhead can’t make it. And stop with all the BS electronic crap! And GTFO my lawn!
Muffler bracket looks severely whimpy, both picture views. Are 2 front discs really necessary ? Nice looking, except for the extended forward light/instrument pod. Hope it is a 270 crank.
Looks competent. Will wait until a ride review is posted before I pass judgment.
Well, I was pondering a Tenere 700 when supply becomes more plentiful. Might have to wait to see how this compares before making that move.