Aprilia Tuareg 660 2023 — Specifications

Ten years of silence in the trail category, and Noale chooses to return with a bang rather than with caution. The Aprilia Tuareg 660 does not seek to seduce everyone; it is aimed at those who see a dirt track as an invitation rather than a problem. This assumed adventurous positioning sharply contrasts with the trend of the over-equipped road-trail that has dominated catalogs for a decade.

The inline twin-cylinder engine with a displacement of 659 cm3 is not unknown. Born under the fairings of the RS 660, designed for sportbikes, it has already demonstrated its liveliness in the Tuono. Here, Aprilia has recalibrated it to serve a radically different use. Power is capped at 80 horsepower at 9,250 rpm, which places the machine above the Yamaha Ténéré 700 in the horsepower hierarchy, but it is mainly the torque of 70 Nm available at 6,500 rpm that changes the game off-road. The low-end responds, the machine moves forward without forcing, and that is precisely what is expected of a trail with an off-road vocation. The announced consumption is around 4 liters per 100 km, which, combined with the 18 liters of the tank, provides a comfortable theoretical range for remote areas without a gas station.

What truly distinguishes the Aprilia Tuareg 660 Adventure from its direct competitors is the honesty of its suspension. The 240 mm of travel of both ends, managed by an inverted 43 mm Kayaba fork and a fully adjustable progressive monoshock, place the machine in a category that neither the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure nor the Africa Twin truly claim. Only the KTM 890 Adventure Rally plays in the same amplitude register. The 860 mm seat height logically follows; shorter riders will have to compromise on that, or consider the adapted Aprilia Tuareg 660 accessories. The steel tubular trellis frame with aluminum connecting plates completes the philosophy: robustness and repairability take precedence over a premium image. The dry weight of 187 kg remains reasonable for a machine so equipped.

The 21-inch front wheel, tubeless spoke wheels, 240 mm ground clearance, and aluminum engine guard define a consistent profile. The modest thickness of this engine guard, only 2 mm, will be regretted; it will suffice for rolling tracks but will deserve to be reinforced if ambitions become serious. The electronics, faithful to the Aprilia culture, are dense without being useless. Four riding modes, including two configurable, traction control, switchable wheel-by-wheel ABS, cruise control, and a 5-inch color TFT screen; this is a catalog that does not blush in the face of machines twice as expensive. The quickshifter, however, remains an option, a debatable choice given the base price, but ultimately consistent with an off-road use where this kind of assistance does not add much.

At 11,999 euros, the Aprilia Tuareg 660 price is clearly above the Yamaha T7, but the difference in equipment level justifies part of the difference. For those looking for a mid-range trail capable of handling real terrain without sacrificing road comfort, the Tuareg 660 2023 constitutes a serious and well-built proposition. It will suit riders who already have experience with trails, comfortable enough off-road to exploit its capabilities, and patient enough to overcome its seat height during maneuvers at a standstill. The Aprilia Tuareg 660 reviews from early users confirm a engaging machine, physical but never exhausting, whose twin-cylinder engine reveals its true character past 5,000 rpm. Aprilia returns to the category with a solid argument; remains to be seen whether the brand will be able to build around it a support network worthy of the displayed ambitions.