Aprilia Tuareg 660 2024 — Specifications

Eight years. That's how long it took Aprilia to return to the trail category after the Caponord was discontinued. Eight years without a machine capable of handling a rutted track, crossing a mountain pass in the rain, swallowing up the miles with boots in the mud. The Aprilia Tuareg 660 closes this parenthesis, and it does so with an ambition that far exceeds a simple return to the market.

The name was not chosen at random. The Tuareg carries forty years of off-road history on its back, from the small ETX 125 of 1985 to the 350 and 600 derivatives of the eighties. The lineage ends there, however. The 659 cm3 inline twin that beats under the steel trellis frame has nothing to do with the old 600’s wheezy single-cylinder engine. This twin, derived from the RS 660, designed for sporty maps, has been revised for adventure: 80 horsepower at 9,250 rpm, 69.9 Nm at 6,500 rpm, and above all, a mid-range availability that the RS didn't seek. Compared to its direct rival, the Yamaha Ténéré 700, the Aprilia Tuareg 660 gains a few extra horsepower and boasts a more comprehensive technical specification. Compared to the Guzzi V85 TT, the positioning is unambiguous: here, the aim is marked adventure, not a police patrol ride.

What convinces on the Aprilia Tuareg 660 Adventure is the technical consistency. The 240mm travel suspension, front and rear, places this machine above a BMW R 1250 GS Adventure or an Africa Twin on that specific criterion. Only the KTM 890 Adventure Rally rivals in this order of magnitude, and it costs more. The 21-inch front wheel, the knobby tires as standard equipment, the generous ground clearance, the natural upright riding position: everything indicates that Aprilia has built a tool for getting off the beaten path. The 860mm seat will penalize shorter riders, it's a point that Aprilia Tuareg 660 reviews often mention, but it’s not a surprise on this type of machine. The dry weight of 187 kg remains reasonable, the 18-liter tank ensures correct autonomy for those who stray from service stations.

On the electronics front, Noale didn’t cut corners. Four riding modes, including two customizable, a dedicated off-road mode, traction control, engine braking adjustment, switchable ABS on the rear wheel or both wheels, a 5-inch color TFT screen: the equipment would make twice as expensive trails blush. The quickshifter, on the other hand, remains an option, and that's a justifiable choice. On a rocky track, no one asks for an automatic gear change; the standard equipment is better kept relevant. It's a detail, but it says something about the maturity of the product.

The question of price remains. At €11,999, the Aprilia Tuareg 660 price is above the Yamaha T7, which is a cause for concern. But the comparison ends there, as the level of equipment and mechanical sophistication play in a different category. For a rider looking for a versatile machine, capable of handling a weekend of trail riding on Saturday and a mountain road on Sunday without painful compromises, the Aprilia Tuareg 660 2024 constitutes a serious proposition. It will suit an experienced rider wishing to leave the asphalt without giving up modern assists; less suitable for beginners, whose ground clearance and seat height will be the first obstacles. The pedigree is there, the technology follows, the price requires an effort. It’s often the price of consistency.