The much-anticipated Aprilia Tuareg 660 has launched in Australia as a new competitor to the likes of the highly popular Yamaha Tenere 700 and KTM 890 Adventure.
Last week, we got the chance to trial the all-new adventure bike with an arduous on- and off-road ride in north-west Victoria.
Does it have a chance against its aforementioned rivals? Watch the INFO MOTO video below to find out…
What we like:
- Spectacular off-road prowess
- Exciting parallel-twin motor
- Ergos dialled for purpose
Room for improvement:
- Windscreen non-adjustable
- No quickshifter as standard
2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660 pricing and specs
Aprilia has launched its new Tuareg 660 middleweight adventure bike in Australia, priced from from $23,230 rideaway.
The Aprilia Tuareg 660 is available in both LAMS and full-power configurations, with three colour schemes on offer – Martian Red, Acid Gold and Indaco Tagelmust – the latter adding $300 to the bike’s pricetag.
Motivating the Aprilia Tuareg 660 is the brand’s latest 659cc parallel-twin engine, generating 59kW and 70Nm in standard trim, or 35kW/61Nm in the case of the restricted 660 L LAMS variant.
As it is positioned as a dirt-focussed model, the Aprilia Tuareg 660 features 21- and 18-inch wire-spoked wheels matched with long-travel Kayaba suspension.
Also bolstering its adventure credentials is an 18-litre fuel tank – up two litres compared to its Yamaha Tenere 700 rival – as well as a healthy weight of 204 kilograms (wet).
A strong electronics package includes advanced traction control, engine braking and fuel mappings that can be toggled via four rider modes: Urban, Explore, Off-Road and Individual.
The bike also gets a large TFT display and cruise control as standard, while an up/down quickshifter can be fitted as an option.
A premium braking package sees dual 300mm discs at the front, and a single 260mm disc at the rear with Brembo callipers all round.
The bike is specified to compete with the likes of the Yamaha Tenere 700 ($19,399) and KTM 890 Adventure R ($24,470).
While it is motivated by the same 659cc parallel-twin motor that powers its platform-sharing RS 660 and Tuono 660 stablemates, the new Tuareg 660 gets its own tune to produce 59kW and 70Nm.
That translates to an 11kW drop in peak power, and a 3Nm boost to peak torque compared to the RS 660 sportsbike, as it is specifically tuned to suit its off-road chassis.
For comparison, the Yamaha Tenere 700 makes 53kW and 68Nm from its 689cc parallel-twin engine, and both rivalling adventure bikes tip the scales at 204 kilograms (wet).
Spencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
