Aprilia Tuareg 660 On and Off Road Test Ride and First Impressions

The Aprilia Tuareg 660 is an adventure motorcycle that I've been wanting to swing a leg over ever since it was first announced. This 660cc Italian beauty fits squarely into the mid-size adventure motorcycle category also occupied by my Yamaha Tenere 700 and Huqsvarna Norden 901. I had the chance to take the Aprilia Tuareg off road at the Get On ADV Fest in California and I came away very impressed.

The Tuareg 660 off road handling is very impressive. It feels stable and planted even in very loose sand, and I felt immediately confident pushing it and putting it through its paces. Off road on the Aprilia Tuareg 660 is a dream, and it reminded me of a cross between my Yamaha Tenere 700 and Husqvarna Norden 901. It's got everything I love about those bikes and almost nothing I don't.

On the highway, the Aprilia Tuareg really flies. It's fast, playful, stable at high speeds, comfortable, and very easy to ride. I could see doing a multi-day, multi-surface ride on this adv bike and being very comfortable.

I came away very impressed with the Aprilia Tuareg 660 after riding it both on and off road. It's a solid machine that's easy and fun to ride. The only question marks in my mind are reliability and parts availablity, but only time will tell in those areas.

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[DorkintheRoad]

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[mattguzzim]

Aprilias (especially under Piaggio) are very reliable. I put 37000 miles on my 2015 Caponord 1200 Travel, taking it one long trips, way off-road (not just tame fire roads) and it was virtually trouble free. The Honda of Italian motorcycles.

[BigRockMoto]

Will they take my Norden with a failed shock as a straight over trade? I was forced to take the bike home with the broken shock, and told there is no ETA for a fix. Wow, great!

[richardsprings]

Hey I was there with you guys I helped set up before everybody came it was nice meeting you guys and I love the Aprilia 660 it felt like it handled better than my Africa twin or xr650

[osimnod]

I have a 2003 Aprilia Caponord - their attempt at an adventure-touring rig that has since become another street-only unit. The '03 has the entertaining and reliable Austrian Rotax v-twin teamed with a smooth 6-speed tranny, neutral riding posture, modest wind/weather protection, hard panniers. It's a bit much off-road at 500+ pounds which is why I keep in on solid surfaces (just don't have the skill yet to risk more sketchy tracks). As for reliability, seems to not be an issue with mine. Dealer availability is limited, although Sacramento has more than one. The 660 Tuareg looks like a sweet bike.

[spencervidal]

I had a 06 Tuono and had NO reliability issues.. Plenty of outlets for parts. Would by an Aprilia any day of the week!!!

[L--Z]

Way to maximize your trip. Great coverge, great content.

[HippoDrones]

Brill to see you having a good play on the new Aprilia Tuareg 660, I absolutely love mine.
Weird you felt it had less throttle response in offroad mode, it has max agression in that mode and reduced in the road modes! :-)
The TC is very aggressive, but also works very well, you need to go into the Individual mode to fully turn it off and tailor the other electronics, then it will kick the back end out no problem. It is a shame there is not a less aggressive setting for the offroad mode though.
Am looking forward to your Moto Guzzi V85 thoughts.

[garrysceppa]

Im glad your reviewing this bike I’m intrigued.

[laurentpate]

Looks like a nice bike !… but reliability of Aprilia’s was so bad a few years ago. I hope they’ve improved it!!! I wouldn’t buy an Aprilia, until reading some long term review that would confirm a significant improvement.

[Crittermoto]

It sounds amazing for stock exhaust. Definitely a bike I would consider buying.

[Rogbag]

Your closed course looks amazingly like my old stomping ground in the Imperial Valley. Almost like you were riding 80 on the 8.

[jhocktro]

I think the dealer coverage is a bit better here in the UK, plus nothing is that far away on a small island! Great video as always, the bike seems great, but I for me it is not a very pretty bike, but who cares if it goes well!

[MrPagargar]

Looks like an Italian t7 with more electronics I’m loving it might trade the klr for one hmmm

[MrRickrm]

Great review. I've been trying to figure out which bike to swap my vstrom 650abs for. Being an old timer 69. I dont want to work on my bike, basic maintenance is fine, just ride. Seattle is 3 hours away. But reliability id of great concern.

[alexandersmith]

Aprilia did have a reputation for not so good build quality here in Europe but that was years ago. They realised this and changed things so now seem to be built to a higher standard, long term tests have them as good as most other bikes now. They are only a relatively small factory so availability could be the worst problem.

[davidhanger]

In regret not riding one of those when I had the chance. Interstate the Taureg has "Africa Twin" and "Norden" color way.

[johnhoaglun]

You need some me luv from them with a long term demo unit.

A 3 way shoot out with the T7 and H901

[robpinter]

Only thing I would change is the front indicator out riggers, I can see the indicator lamp snapping off the mount so easily.

[The_Kayak_Guy.]

I like it. Seems to be a solid motorcycle and very T7 like.