Just don't take it to an Aprilia dealer, if you can find one, hoping for "service" and "spare part" Our local KTM, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Husky dealer - finally gave up! Had them come and take all his showroom models back. They were a money loser for him!
@@ChrisSandstorm I decided to go with the V85tt because it fit my needs a little better and is surprisingly confidence inspiring off road. But I still stand by my love for the Tuareg
Thanksgiving of 2021 I lost my 2017 Africa Twin in an on-street accident. Due to the accident I’ve have a LOT of titanium in my legs along with severely damaged ankles and knees. I replaced my 2017 Africa with the bigger 2021 Africa Twin Adventure Sport. Unfortunately it was too much for me to handle in my permanently compromised state. I quickly traded it in for a Tuareg660 and so far I love the bike. I’m restricted now to pavement and basic gravel roads but this bike is an excellent performer for all around riding. With 11,000 miles on it now, I haven’t had any serious quality issues.
I could use some ur advice since u had two bike im currently in market for. Can u compare general quality, power and comfort, especially potholes and offroad hoe they compare? I mean older AT vs tuareg, cheers
@@Angry-Lynx if I could only choose a 2017 AT or the Tuareg, I would choose the AT. The Ergos are close but the AT is more upright and less bend in the knees for me. My Tuareg had a lot of fueling issues and I spent a lot of money to fix it and never got it right. I’ve heard that Aprilla has addressed this issue though. As for quality. Well the plastics are better on the AT. I got a little gas on the Tuareg black plastic and it stained it. I never had a single issue with the engine leaking on the AT but I had to tighten several bolts on the engine covers and oil pan to stop small leaks on the ape. The only issue I had with the AT was the cam chain tensioner. It would slack off about every 15k. I just replaced them. A big plus for the Tuareg was the tubeless rims. That was nice. Also, the Tuareg felt lighter but honestly, the AT ran on rails if you take the time to set the suspension right. Maybe this will help. I had over 45k on the AT when it got demolished in an accident. I told everyone it was my first forever bike. I had 13K on the Tuareg and I traded it in on a Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT.
Hi Ian, We both agree, this is a cracking mid sized twin adventure packed with quality components and thoughtful design........well apart from that skid plate come engine guard which is as thick as an aluminium baking tray we use for cooking! Look forward to seeing your solution to this one vulnerability of what is otherwise a brilliant bike.
@@BigRockMoto Receiving a comment from Dave at MADTV is an honor as he's renowned for his long-term reviews and epic adventure rides. Big fan of his channel.
Great vid as usual . Very interesting to me - I'm 68, and not really up to handling a 500+ pound ADV anymore. I've had several large ADV bikes over the years. Last summer I rode my friends GS1200 up in the Kennedy Meadows area - man was I careful to not dump it. This bike might end up being my last gasp wack at adventure riding.
Totally agree. I will be 68 next month and with a fused lower back I can’t swing my leg over the up swung back seat or pick up a bike with a high center of gravity or heavy weight.
@@randydewees7338 It's all relative, I guess. I got a KTM 300 because I was concerned about picking up my xr650l. If we exercise and practice, we increase our chances. And we can always seek help if we can't get it up. There's no shame in asking for help especially at our age. That said, we break easier. I wouldn't go off the beaten path alone on a big bike at this stage.
Excellent review! I had ALMOST as much fun as you did. I would seriously consider this bike if I was younger (82 now). I campaigned a DKW 125 years ago. Would love to had a machine like this to blow off some steam. Keep up the great work. God Bless
What a great review..this looks like the best replacement for my old KLR, I have watched your channel for a long time as well as many other channels, you are the best motorcycle journalist out there. I always appreciate the honest down to earth content. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Ian. This has to be one of my favorite reviews of yours. What a riot to see this bike perform off-road with traction control enabled. Your demo of slow speed handling looks super fun. If Aprilla could just broaden their dealership presence, that could be a HUGE step in getting Aprilla more exposure in the states. You didn't use the word unicorn, but this bike looks as close as we are going to get! Awesome review.
Thank you Ian, for this good review of that bike. You shortly mentioned it that the Tuareg660 behaves nearly as good as the 890R off-road. Would be interested in your comparison of these 2 bikes on-road on long trips. MAD TV from Australia, that you also follow, made an on- and off-road test of the Tuareg, concluded it was very close to the 890R, but were not detailed for the on-road part. I did bought a '21 890R after testing the Tuareg, for very tiny differences like ergos, and engine capacity for on-road, that I prefered on the 890. Looking forward to hearing your view on this point.
Great content, the Aprilia Tuareg is on my want list in 2023. I currently have 3 BMW GSA's and 2022Triumph Scrambler SE. The GSA's are 2005,2012 are 1200's and a 2016 F800. My circle of friends tell me to stay away from the Aprilia because of the dealer network is few but when you got multiple bikes that doesn't matter. I like the seating and ergo of the Aprilia for my 6'4" frame. I also use Klim gear but find their sizing ridiculous!!! I'm tall in the mid section and large in the shoulders. I've complained multiple times to their reps at shows and on the net and they just ignore me on building jackets to fit tall men. Areostich will be my next jacket built to fit. So when you're talking to Klim let them know a 3xl tall jacket is necessary in their sizing. Keep up the great content and I'll have that Aprilia in my power barn soon.
Hi Ian, this has been a great series, nobody covers the details and the set-up to make a bike comfortable like you. Maybe you could do an updated video on the tools and repair items you carry when testing bikes or longer rides.
Another great video, thanks! Contacting some dealers about buying one today. You should get commission from Aprilia 😅The only question now is yellow or blue 🤔
Great real world test vid of what most ADV riding is like. Its fun to watch Chris Birch ride a big ADV like a 250 Enduro but we are not him. Though I love my KTM 790 R, the Tuareg is high on the potential 'switch to someday' list. Problem is the far flung dealer network which makes the choice harder.
great bike i just wish there was more dealer support but KTM was the same way and now there are more dealers than 10-15 years ago not quit like a honda
I'm impressed with this bike, but my concerns are it's reliability, specifically electrical wiring. Never had good luck with European wiring, being it automotive or motorcycle, they just don't do it as well as the Japanese, in my opinion. There's nothing worse than tracking down electrical gremlins. The other issues are it's dealer network and parts availability. I'll probably wait to see how this bike shakes out for a year or two. Thanks for your insight , very informative and helpful! Well done as always!
Interesting video… many of your subscribers will agree that “evaluating” the Aprilia’s “off road “ prowess truly means going off road… as in single track trails… not a semi rutty hard pack dirt road that any 96 Honda Accord could easily handle that poses little to no challenge for the rider. But first and most importantly, you never informed your viewers as to what your suspension settings were.. sag, high/low speed compression, rebound , spring preload all make HUGE difference when properly or improperly set up. Granted suspension settings are as individual as the rider based on their skill level but a bit of insight would be greatly appreciated by your viewers.. As for your technique in tackling sand was spot on… higher gear, off the seat, butt to the rear of the bike and on the gas to keep the front end light . The only helpful suggestion is that the bars will dance at speed, don’t fight them by having a death grip…and as always.. momentum is your friend. Keep up the great work…we appreciate it.
@@BERZERKERSV4 actually.. you don't get. well, give it time.. and maybe you might. For me also everything was black and white a couple of years ago.. but, in the mean time, I got wiser. I hope you'll do it as well. good luck!
Love your vids mate - another good one here :) Rode the Taureg the other day. It is the first modern bike I enjoyed riding. I thought the rider aides were laughably bad but in the end I was having fun on it. It is deeply flawed in so many ways, but it must be doing something right. I have a review coming out soon. I'm expecting a lot of hate mail LOL. Cheers, Cam from New Zealand.
The GS is fun don't get me wrong, its just if I have to commute 120 miles a day to work, it'd be nice to be able to pass the slow pokes lol. The increased weight would suck a little bit but honestly the 2nd gear clutch dump I just saw in that deep sand is about as 'technical' as I can get here in the desert of El Paso haha. Totally looking forward to seeing how screwed I'll get at the dealer.
I went from the 310GS to the Tuareg, but I just couldn't let myself get rid of the 310GS. Though I may have to let it go since I take the Tuareg every time I go riding.
Terrific video series Ian is the most trusted reviewer I know - actually buys the bikes for review!!! 660 is a good looking bike !! Im 56 rolling with my kawi 300 klx dual sport ( stock) I’ll keep riding until I just keel over on a bike😉 absolutely love adventure riding esp Arrowhead/ Big bear mountains /forest
Great review! Am impressed with the low speed maneuvering, My 690 doesn't like to behave that well on low speed, but it's probably me and not bike like in most cases
I had 690 enduro and found it was too tall and had a poor turning angle. My Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC is easier to handle at low speed and so much more stable on freeways.
If Aprilia expand their service around the world, riders will definetely consider to have this one. By the way, when Honda start to sell new Transalp?? I'm looking forward to listening new Transalp from you.
Oh yes! Transalp! And what about the tenere 700 world raid? Next year I hope I’ll be able to afford either one of them…..tenere 700/world raid transalp or new 790 adventure if quality is right…..
@@DisableMe123 doubt he will be doing a review of the World Raid, as they are (I believe) not selling them in the states. At least if you go to their US website, they are not listed.
Never been so excited for a new video on RU-vid! God bless you Ian for doing this series on the Tuareg. Really excellent content. You’ve come a long way this year and I’m glad to see your subs reflect that. Based on your videos I think I’m going to pull the trigger on a Tuareg soon and hit up some serious COBDR next year. Can’t wait for the next video. Keep it up!
Without a actual test ride this one pretty much pulled me over to get this bike. Replacing my Guzzi V85TT character wise is going to be difficult. But offroad this will be miles ahead of it. Thanks for actually putting this bike through it's paces in the dirt. Over here in the Netherlands the dealer network is very good, so no reason there to not go the Aprillia way.
Ian, once again a thorough and genuinely useful review. I loved this bike (in my mind) even before you reviewed it. It ticks all the boxes - weight, handling, engine etc. The one important box it doesn't tick: it's not available where I live (Indonesia) and there is not much support. So for now I am stuck with my old bmw 800gs. The Honda transalp is coming here next year. But it doesn't seem to hold a candle to the Tuareg. Look forward to seeing your review of the transalp!
Awesome video. Loved the camera angles on the sand. You really do add a fantastic and different perspective to your videos. Im between the 890 Adv and this. On paper, once you add the extras you need for the Aprilia, you’re at KTM money.
As always, very informative. Several times you mentioned the 660 compares favorably with the 890. Which is the better adventure bike your opinion, money aside. Or are they just different purposed? Are there some trails you would take one bike over the other, or some length road oriented trips which is better suited to one or the other? I was convinced on one of your previous video's that the 890 S was the bees knees! Don
I thoroughly enjoyed this review. The Tuareg really looks at home off the pavement. Just a bit off the topic and technical. I see the compression ratio for the motor is stated as 13.5:1. What are your thoughts on longevity for a engine of that nature say compared to something with a ratio of 12 and lower? If Ian doesn't answer anyone else can give me an opinion.😉
Great video, Ian! I live in San Diego and will be making a visit to GP Motorcycles to check this bike out in person. Outstanding channel... the best out there in my opinion, On to your mext video on the Aprilia Tuareg. Thanks for making these great videos!
The sound it made when you opened it up got me laughing so hard I almost crapped myself. It reminded me of my first truck. It was a 1977 Datsun king cab without an air cleaner. It always sounded like it was starving for fuel when it was overloaded with firewood, going up hill. Although you can't argue the $12,000 price tag, it's a good bike, until you compare it to the Tiger 900 pro $15,000 - $17,000 the Triumph is a much better bike for the money. To me the Aprilia Tuareg looks like someone didn't give it alot of thought . In a nut shell it reminds me of a bike that Amazon would create. I could see it being delivered from one of there new cargo vans. 50% of buying a bike is the style. BMW, Triump, KTM 890, Yamaha, along with Pan Am got it right. Ok, maybe Pan Am is a stretch. What it comes down to is style and ride The real question is, when you are at a stop light and the person next to you, looks at the bike, do you want them to say, "cool bike" or "where the hell is my package ?"
Always nice to know the boundaries before you buy. I prefer this to the lower CG bikes for certain terrain. A cable clutch should give better feedback than auto-adjusting type under mushy cond..
I have owned lots of GoPros and haven't had a whole lot of problems with them. One thing I do is if it isn't acting right as I will turn it off remove the battery for 10 or 15 seconds then put it back in sometimes that makes a big difference
Ian, You've outdone yourself. Excellent review and now I WANT what would be my third bike. (Would the wife notice?) It looks great and seems to be extremely capable.
Another informative video. Nice job. Question, are you an engineer? You delve into things a lot deeper and with a better understanding than most other reviewers.
Another fantastic video Ian! I'm having a hard time deciding on a 23 890r and this. My local Aprilia dealer even has the red one I want. Your series indicates that this bike is enough, especially for the price, but... Merry Christmas and Happy New Years you and yours!
If you were a woman you would be the biggest tease ever! I have been waiting for this video for sometime. Thanks for the great review! I am looking forward for the next videos.
I really like tubeless wheels and the bigger suspension travel over my Tenere 700. Only the reliability is uncertain with these. Time will tell I guess..
Really enjoyed this series. I was looking to replace a 2017KLR and rented the Tuareg for 1 day and the 22 KTM R for 6 days. I was surprised by how low the center of gravity felt on the 890 and how fast it was. I like the sound of the engine and exhaust, which many complain about. The 890 suspension felt too stiff for my riding style, (slow) I'm 68 and don't need to go fast in the dirt. Tuareg felt nice, but also set up very stiff. The throttle felt twitchy for the dirt. I now realize offroad is set to full throttle response, (I don't get this) I would think a smoother throttle response is needed for the dirt. The Tuareg felt top-heavy compared to the 890 for me. Not sure which I would buy. On the fence. In many ways, the KLR still feels nice for me at the slower pace I ride. Lighter, (removed 25 lbs from stock) better wind protection, bigger tank, regular gas, ETC. For sure not as good on the road.
Yes the Tuaregs Suspension is set-up quite stiff from factory. But luckily it offers a wide range of adjustment possibilities and they actually make a difference. With your riding style you can easily reduce the compression damping by 3-4 clicks and will have a much smoother ride on rough surfaces and gravel.. you still won't come close to bottoming it out ;)
When I ride in sand I describe the technique differently. First, I'm on the seat, trying to put the maximum weight on the rear wheel. I agree, power has to be on (again, to lighten the front wheel, because if it digs...). But you said one interesting thing, weight the pegs. So I suggest you do an experiment. Please climb on a bike that is on center stands. Stand up. Now, put weight on the right peg. How did your body balance out? Yes, your left arm PULLED the handle bar to prevent you from falling. If your left arm PULLED, right arm PUSHED THE HANDLEBARS. Effectively, weighing the pegs is an AUXILIARY, it is SECONDARY to countersteering. It DOES HELP with countersteering. But on sand, to keep the proper weight on back, you can just be seated and countersteer. That is steer with the handlebars. 🙂 Try it. And we should always remember, without countersteering, we don't go anywhere on a motorcycle or bicycle. And handlebars are wide enough to offer the highest leverage point for two-wheel handling.
Countersteering occurs at > 8 mph as i recall. i agree that bikes don`t steer w the pegs. Keith code proves it in his Cornering school w his No BS (no body steering) bikes.
@@jr.6199 I don't know of a speed when countersteering starts working. :-) But I know countersteering is how we lean and hence steer motorcycles. The "weigh the pegs" issue is a red herring, but an effective one, if we can put it that way, since when you weigh the pegs, you NEED to countersteer to keep the balance. So it does help. But people should know what effectively leaned the bike to then be able to steer was the reaction from weighing the pegs, which led to the movement in the handlebars. So it becomes a language issue. The appropriate way to say it would be: on sand I'm weighing the pegs to help with countersteering. But because sand makes the bike really twitchy, I'm on the seat so I put less weight on the front wheel and can finetune the handlebars with relaxed arms, because ultimately, the handlebar is what does it.:-) Good conversation.
Thanks Ian great Video, I seem to be torn between the tourag and the Norton expedition, what do you think, I mostly ride similar trails as you did with the Tourag with some Highway as well
I just watched Terrence o caffley s review of the tuareg 660 . I really enjoy your videos but I think you should check him out how he does his reviews.
Hi Ian, I am sure the power is plenty for the dirt but I am keen to understand how satisfying the power is on on the highway as a touring bike between destinations. I am looking to come down from a larger bike (1090 AR) and I don't expect the same experience but I do like a bit of sporty riding in the right conditions so your impressions would be more valuable than a short Dealer test ride. Cheers.
Great video! Wonderful camera work and very good sound. The parts on different terrain are presented very nicely. I am also enthusiastic about the Tuareg and have had many great experiences with the bike since February. Thumbs up for your report, a real treat! Best regards from Germany!
Hi Ian. It was pleasure to watch your video. I crave for this motorcycle since i first sit on one. What about the heat from the catalist system? I read some sort of heat. I rode test the 890R (not able to try the Tuareg) and i felt like i was sit on top of wood stove….that bike make lot of heat…what about the Aprillia compare to Ktm?
Hello Ian, really nice to meet you here. I am Italian and live in Rome. I very like your videos. And here you test an Italian motorcycle 😉😉.can I ask you a question, witch is better? Klr 650 or this Aprilia? Can you do a video to compare these 2 moto?? Thanks very much. I hug you 😘😘😘
So maybe this is a bit illogical but i immediately judge a bikes off road capability if it has a high front fender or not. One ride on the right type of wet clay soil and that front tire is locked up, guaranteed as there’s simply not enough room for soil build up which is inevitable. I never understood why the fenders can’t be an inch or two higher.
It looks so good over the series, makes me want one, but the dealer network, here in Australia (and the US by the looks of it), is not enough. Many of the major regional towns here either have a KTM dealer, or a least can get KTM parts, but Aprilia?, not happening…now maybe if one of the Japanese manufacturers made it well…. 4:12
Hi Ian. Compared to t7? Your thoughts please. And as far as the 890r is concerned does it justify the higher price or the tuareg is just the right way to go? Thank you in advance.
Am also wondering how the Tuareg stacks up against the 890 or Norden. Not just specs but how it feels to ride. (Also 890 2023 will be real interesting and how that will mix things up)
Hey Ian, love your videos especially as a 2022 Tuareg owner myself. Had a question what size windshield riser do you use in the video Revzilla offers it in 3 sizes. Thanks
The sand riding was the most valuable part for me. Handling sand is a very important criteria in selecting my next ADV bike. I ride a 1st Gen Wee-Strom, equipped with Shinko 804/805 tires, running 26/28 psi. I have no fear of riding it aggressively on gravel and dirt, but find it to be an uncontrollable pig in sand. Technique doesn’t seem to apply, at least in a noticeable way. FWIW, I have 15 years of experience on KTM XCW dirt bikes, and have ridden a lot of sand. How much better is the Tuareg in sand than the Wee? Slightly better. Noticeably better. Night and day different. I would love to hear your feedback.
First of all its not even same category bike. First gen vstroms are purely onroad bike. I know cuz i have 2005 vstrom 1000. Fantastic bike, just by no any means adv bike. I think ill keep it as road trip bike and get me some adv bike for well...adv rides like this one or AT or ktm950 again ;
Nice review. Do you have a link to what handle bars you are using? I am looking for another set because my stock bars on my Tuareg do not put me in a good position, while standing, when I'm riding up an incline. I have rotated them forward as much as possible. Did you find this with your stock handlebars and did the new ones help?
I really think this bike could be my next one but you've mention difficulty with parts accessibility and you would not use it for a long haul trip only in your backyard. And the reliability is so so. I need one just like this one but with a full proof reliability and access to parts easy on the travels that I do. What other bike would you recommend in the same area being tubeless. And a low ch ? Thank you and Hello from Canada 🇨🇦
