Mine did exactly the same as yours. Took it back to the dealer and Aprilia told the dealer to fit a new nut and it’s been fine ever since. I didn’t believe that it could just be the nut, but it worked. OR that’s what they told me.
Sorry that you’re having the issues with the Aprilla. I actually have had a DR 650 for the last couple of years as my first Dual Sport bike and I was considering getting the touareg as something more exciting and a bit more creature comforts. Hearing about your issues and the issues of others that have had their bikes stuck in the shop for months has changed my opinion. The DR 650 may be relatively boring, but you do a lot of fun things when you know that you won’t be stranded.
You and ADV Matt both have Tuareg's dead in California while on a trip. A DR650 is a great bike and easily made better, I have a DR650 parked next to my T700 and Gen1 KLR. some of the most reliable bikes ever produced with proven engines and dealer/ parts/aftermarket networks everywhere. I admit the Tuareg is a cool machine but typical Euro troubles. DR650 all the way. Check your BMW Euro bike ego at the door and go a DR650 ride have some fun.
Tuareg owner from London UK here🇬🇧 I've been waiting for almost 7 weeks for the part ( quickshifter) to arrive from Italy to the Uk... dealer said that is still in transit .. not sure who to blame for it Aprilia dealer or Brexit 🤤
Man you've been through it with this thing. Sorry to hear that brother. Definitely dangerous being out on the trail like that but I'd have done the same thing. The Tuareg is such an awesome platform, but seems to be hit or miss. I offloaded mine a few months back, waiting on my new bike to come in. I thought I was subbed but I guess not. Subbing now! Hope they get it cleared up for you man!
I liked a lot of what I saw with the Tuareg 660, but this was the second 660 problem video I saw today. The other had a leaking crankshaft seal that was greatly complicated by two absolutely horrible dealer experiences. I do my own maintenance and minor repairs so I wasn't put off by the minimal Aprilia dealer network in the US, but these two stories (a couple of months to get a starter?) have really put me off. I honestly believe a cheap Chinese bike has much better parts availability and customer support.
Even if that were true… With a handle like Liberty4Ever why would you support a communist dictatorship with zero liberty?! I lived in that s-hole of a country for several years and wouldn’t use anything they build if they gave it for free. There is absolutely no way Chinese mainland quality is reliable. Just sayin’ 😂
Thanks for sharing the update. A total bummer, bump starting a fuel injected bike sounds like a pain since you need to build up some speed. I have a DR650, great bike. A great aftermarket and support for the bike too. Good luck on your next bike
Sorry to hear you’ve had issues with the T660! That being said, it sounds like you’ve had an amazing time doing “bucket list” rides in the north west, I’m envious. I say keep the Aprilia and get it fixed. I love my T660 and would never go back to my Suzuki DL650 even though it’s indestructible, and I don’t think you’re going to be happy with a DR 650 now. Good luck!
I'm going to say something controversial, but the KTM 890 and Tuareg are, to my thinking, NOT adventure bikes. I don't care what their specs are, or how great a paid reviewer who rides a factory loaner for a day says they are. They are not reliable, and when they have problems, they are not fix-able in the forest. They may be somewhat lighter or easier to handle in technical situations than the other mid-size ADVs, but are still way worse than most thumper dual-sports, all of which are "fixable", either in the forest or by any small-town mechanic, using parts that are easily sourced. To qualify as an ADV bike, it should be something you'd be willing to ride thru Africa or Asia, unsupported, like Itchy Boots.
@PNW.Voyager Hope you get a new bike soon. Our riding season is so short. I rode to Index-Galena-Skykomish loop on Saturday, and then the Old Cascade road almost up to the old Lake Dorothy trailhead. Fun stuff!
Itchy Boots had to get parts air freighted from Holland to Africa several times to repair her Honda including a complete engine rebuild. And what towed the guy out? A 20 year old KTM.
Did you check the battery charge? I know this sounds simple, but when I get a "click" and no start its usually a low voltage battery. Sounds like all the other electronics where intact (fuses, connectors, etc). You also said you had installed the kickstand cut off bypass module, did you try taking that off and and reconnecting the original wiring? Was wondering if that little bypass module failed due to water or something. Another idea...I had a kill switch get clogged up with dirt one time from dropping the bike in muddy water. Bike wouldn't start on the trail and I tore the entire bike apart troubleshooting it in a similar way to what you describe (including the long tow out). Back home I tore the whole thing down in the shop replacing battery, wiring connectors, checking ground wire connections, etc only to find the kill switch issue by accident weeks later after having given up on it. Cleaned the kill switch contacts in less than 5 minutes (mud and dirt) and it fired right up (insert palm to forehead emoji here LOL) . Please update us on what you find out. I've got about 5000 miles of BDR style riding on my Tuareg with zero problems so very curious what this turns out to be.
Hi PNW Voyager, I’m sorry to hear this, as others have already said, there is a good chance that the starter nut came loose and there is some oxidation either on the cable or on the starter motor connection itself. Also, you can check if the the ground cable (connected on the left hand side in the engine casing itself next to the gear shaft) came loose. I wouldn’t sell the bike, especially if it’s just the stupid bolt that came loose, the bike is just too good. Just my 2 cents. Keep us posted and ride safe 🤙🏼
Unlikely it's the starter since it won't bump start. Check everything in the starter circuit. It shouldn't be too hard to trace with a wiring diagram and a multimeter.
Man oh man, sorry to hear about that. I would definitely stick with the Japanese type brand of bikes. They are so much more reliable than anything else on the planet.
Hi Jacob. Just came back from “Americade” last weekend and tested 15 bikes in 2 days….my first choice was the Tuareg, second F900gs and 3rd Moto Guzzi Stelvio. Now more and more i read, heard, listen, i will be not buying some motorcycle from Piaggio group…..Last year, had T7 for the season, this year oposite in weight, Ktm 390 adventure…..and like you, problem start with KTM. I will demo the Suzuki v-stom 800DE this week for the 3rd times, and think that was my next bike, because dealer is about 45 minutes drive, just in case…or 2024 Africa twin ( but MUST test it before any comment). I think YES, you must sell the Tuareg, Man, i love this bike so much, but don’t want to wait, for parts, dealer, etc….keep going, the curse will end soon…👍
I want to change my F750Gs because it's too heavy for me. Up to now the tuareg has been my main choice. You have had a lot of issues however others are having a good run. I'm hoping overall they are better then worse.
My Tuareg only has 6500 miles without any problems or leaks etc, but about 1500 of those miles were off-road. Many others have had similar experiences without problems. Usually when there is a clicking sound it's a dead battery or solenoid. I assume you ruled out the battery?
Current Tuareg owner here. The Tuareg is an amazing bike but lacks dealer support. My bike was at the dealer for a month waiting on a fuel sensor ( still rideable). I just recently crashed on the bike while doing the PA Wilds BDR. The front washed at 45 mph on gravel road. The bike ran like nothing happened to it for about 300 miles. I say sell your Tuareg and buy another one. Start buying parts fot it. I also have a 2022.
It’s one of the best handling and most fun motorcycles I’ve ever owned in 40+ years of riding! I’ve had minor issues but not worse than KTMs, Hondas, Suzukis, and others I’ve owned in the past. Electrical issues are notoriously wonky and hard to diagnose. Very often battery and connectors seem like the culprit. And yeah… Aprilia parts take an eternity since they always seem to be made on demand and shipped from Italy. And dealers here never seem to stock Aprilia parts :-(
with starter issues, try to bypass as much of the bikes electrics as possible by running some decent guage wire straight to the starter terminals isolating it from the loom using a known good battery this will prove the stater/solenoid good or bad.
I think it is a simple electrical connection which is affecting voltage to the ECM. Due to what we are demanding as consumers the only way for manufacturers to achieve these things is with electronics. Unfortunately electronics can be compromised with moisture, poor connections and jarring which in these types of motorcycles are what they are being used for. Another thing is emission requirements in a lot of cases can only be achieved by the use of electronics / technology. I hear what others are saying about purchasing something simple that can be ‘McGyvered’ on the trail is ideal, but there are a bunch of trade offs. I’m not an Aprillia owner but have 5 KTM and 1 Husqvarna and knock on wood have not had any reliability issues with any of them.
Wow pretty big shopping list!! Two friends who ride Aprilia, both bikes are super fun until they are not!! Front brake parts and the bike was off the road for over 2 months, close to 3. Even with exploded parts diagram, easy to see the numbers and click and paste part numbers, wrong part on original delivery from Italy and the numbers on the invoice and order forms were not even close!! It's part of the adventure of riding an exotic!! Ducati is heavy and expensive, Ducati decided to add a sales tease and offer a 2 year warranty. It would not have helped you maybe you are out close or passed 2 year window! In Baja you see lots of bucket list warriors, they do Alaska to Cabo and many keep going for Patagonia. Japanese is a sort of standard, DRZ 400 is okay but the highway element is an issue the Honda and Suzuki big twin have some road manners but still get close to buzzing out your soul and dental work on multi hour highway miles. In my area freeway is @82-85 mph. and often higher in the fast lane. The Suzuki has big aftermarket with the years in the market, easy to get stuff you need for world travel, robust racks and crash bars, easy to mount cheesey wind protection,heated grips. And springs are easy so you can get fork springs and rear shock spring for @$200+ bucks. Rubber will keep seals clean and the forks are maintenance free if you don't puncture or tear the boots, tires, brakes, airbox and spark plug easy to get to, half dozen plus oil filters will work and crush washer is also easy, so you can do oil, filters, brake pads and spark plugs easy anywhere and in central or South America you can get that level of service w lots of local purchases and tires are pretty easy, but if you add $35-40 you can get FedEx, Amazon has these boxes all over Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and some places south. It's a metal mailbox kiosk, they email you and 5-6 digit code and it opens the box, if you are staying somewhere, you can send clothes or parts directly and it's some lead time..125 is a thing so Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha ( not so much Kawasaki) have decent dealerships from US to tip of South America and you can send parts on a sort of will-call arrangement. Bigger diameter dual sport or off road tires are not readily available!! So if you want 21,19 w a 50/50 tread you can get it but it's a little work. Lots of people say the Swiss Army knife thing about the KLR but as much as I know the reliability, support is so so. If you are really planning for long travel.. Honda and Suzuki get you enough payload and capabilities on and off-road.. and the stater can drive an aftermarket headlight with massive lumen improvement..
Hi Pnw voyager : Most of the modern bikes have variable timing valves, and you not supposed to try push start them, since this may affect the timing mechanism, but let's hope this is not the case. Best regards.
As a Tuareg owner in the US, I think its principal disadvantage is poor parts availability and sparse dealership network. As such, it is a risky choice for long distance remote touring. I don’t get the impression it has lower reliability than other bikes. However it suffers from a high risk of delay in getting parts. I am still waiting for a fuel sensor ordered 10 months ago. Fortunately I can still ride the bike.
Seems you have a anomaly, a lemon.. my Tuareg has been bullet proof for 11k miles which include gnarly Florida single track, highway droning through Oklahoma and a very challenging Expert route BDR near Durango Colorado , and those mountain boys sure know how to ride…chain/sprockets, tires and a few oil/filter changes…that’s it.. and as an A Class racer in FTR (Florida TrailRiders) aboard a 2023 KTM 300XC, I abused my Tuareg quite regularly and trust me I expected the Aprilia to dead on the side of the trail many a time…my only issue is the heat from the catalytic converter area…and no , header wrap does not offer any significant heat reduction… As a side note, take a look at the T7… it’s bones are very good, throw some $$$$ in significant suspension mods and I think you’ll be quite happy.. especially if is the 2024 model..plus it’s a Yamaha and sure it doesn’t have the soul/character of the Ape, but head in over to the T7 forums and marvel at what those mad scientist have done..
@@mediocremichaelThe T7 hasn’t been without issues or failed parts either. Although they seem mostly structural. Structural issues are much easier to identify and rectify than electrical. I’ve beaten the hell out of my 2022 Tuareg on single-track MX trails. The handling on and off-road is unmatched by any Japanese adv. The biggest issue is really the incredible poor dealer network. Besides AF1 in Austin there really aren’t many dealers who know Aprilia bikes well in the entire US.
@@johanballin6601 Its clearly far less common. Additionally, and I genuinely dont mean any offense here, but lack of a dealer network this seems like youre just listing an additional issue. Furthermore, this comment was about reliability, but if you need to adjust the T7 HP get a pipe and an ECU (mine now has 80 HP). Need better suspension/handling - Rally Raid. No one is getting down more than 80 HP offroad, so it simply comes down to the rider. Ive also been somewhat successful offroad, and from my perspective the T7 is unmatched. Cheers - stay stoked out there!
Why not get a T7 and pay someone to go over the suspension who knows what they're doing? That's the only real advantage the Aprilia has over it unless you care about the electronics/CC etc, which if you're considering a DR you probably don't. Also I do get people saying It's tall and top heavy, but I'm 6'3 and don't find it to be any issue.
Hey Jacob, my buddies and I will be riding the first 2 or 3 sections of the WABDR (from Bridge of the Gods until about Ellensburg) this summer. Any advice? We’ll be on two T7s and one Ibex 800.
@@PNW.Voyager Would be very curious how this conclusion came about? T7 can do it all. Need better suspension: Rally Raid. Need more HP: ECU and a pipe. Need CC - lots of options. It is a Taureg, only reliable. The italians set out to make a hot T7 when they built it. Just make a hot T7!
you want to sell the Turaeg, fair enough. But it aint "unreliable" just cos you've got a random electrical fault....or a loose connnection....or a dead battery...or whatever.... My Tuareg runs awesome and I thrash the crap out of it across all terrain. And I don't know about the idea of selling a bike just cos of a mechanical/electrical problem.....Over the 30+ bikes I've owned over the last 40 years, I just fix it....but hey, you do you... but if you gonna travel far tho, you MUST learn to fix stuff bro....good luck with it all.
You are correct, several have had zero issues, but several have documented, consistent problems which include overheating, electrical gremlins, and various gasket/seel leeks. It seems to me, that the bikes which have problems have more than one issue, and the bikes that run well, always run well. Half of the problem is that Aprilia's service guides for their technicians is written in Italian, and it is difficult for them to follow proper instruction, when the language isn't their native language and/or language structure.
@@PisgahGravelProject i think biggest problem is Aprilia uses chinese components like seals,bolts etc...Their quality is not consistent so some bikes got good parts and other bad
I used to ride a Honda XR600R back in the 90's. It only had a kick starter with a manual deconpression release. When cold, I'd stand on a milk creat to kick start it, when we were out riding, for rest stops we'd park on top of hills for I could roll her down the hill and click her up into 2nd. gear and pop the cluch to start her in 2nd gear. My current dirt bike is a 2008 KLR that I bought new in Oct 2007 has a 6 GALLON GAS tank, with a 300 mile range. I'm 71 and keep up with my 35 year old friend riding a DR650 (with it's dumb ass small 2.5 gallon tank). I've owned my KLR650 for 17 years and it has never NOT started, has broken down on me. I just rode it yesterday.
Current Tuareg owner here. My 5 month old Tuareg had the same issue: It wouldn't start. Bump starting wasn't possible either. Had to tow it to the dealer. He replaced the starter and said that was only the 2nd time he experience this in his 20 year career.
Dude, that sucks. I live in NM and had to leave my Tuareg in CA after the counter shaft seal gave up. I had to fly home and will have to fly back once the bike is fixed. I feel your pain. Good thing you have back up bikes.
That sucks! I have almost 1,000 miles on mine so far and no problems at all! (LOL, this is a joke.) I look forward to hearing what it ended up being. Crazy no starters available in the United States. I’m guessing it’s some sort of electronic gremlin but who knows. Starters are pretty low tech. Good luck.
Some T660 owners have no issues, but there are many who have several issues. It’s really too bad. Until they improve their reliability, I’ll be sticking with my T7. I fully acknowledge the T660 is a better bike in nearly every way, except reliability, and for me reliability is more important on a bike I take to remote locations. Others disagree and that’s okay; to each their own; ride what makes you happy. PS: I think the DR650 is a great choice. I’ve strongly considered it as well. Keep us posted.
Check out TFL bike.Long haul Paul has a T7 with like 200,000 miles and has had O issues.Not even a fork seal.I was getting a new bike for travel also and I ride alone most of the time.Yamaha cycles are built like tanks.They just don't ever have problems.I beat the crap out of a wr250r for 20,0000 miles and also had O issues.
I say this with no joy but you can’t trust European bikes. Even the new CF Moto ibex 450 (which I hope turns out to be reliable) is to closely related to the KTM family of bikes. There’s lots of cool stuff you can do to a DR650 and that’s never a bad choice. I’m planning a RTW myself and considering the transalp or T7.
If it did not bump start you need to check the bsttery and the electrics going to the battery. The starter will not stop a vehicle from bump stating but a low battery will. Voltage below a given amount will not allow the fuel pump and often the ECU to function.
Agree! This is where I would look first. KTMs have huge issues with this, as well, and probably lots of other bikes. A weak or wonky battery can cause all kinds of strange and unexpected behavior. I have an antigravity battery with the restart option for that reason on my Tuareg. Fortunately, the only issue I have run into is a fairly oil leak which also seems like a fairly common issue.
I love the performance of my Tuareg but reliability pretty bad. 4,500 miles and I've had a bad rear brake master cylinder and a failed fuel tank sensor.
@@PNW.Voyager It's a known issue and my dealer is fighting for a warranty replacement even though i'm out of warranty. I can't imagine what will fail next. Thinkin' I might trade-in for a KTM
@@t1deaf I also had a bad fuel sensor. AF1 Racing in Austin replaced it without any drama but between the sensor and the luggage rack rusting after 6 months in Abilene, I got rid of it. I'm on a Transalp now and couldn't be happier.
@@trailrider1980 Point taken. there's a reason they say KTM = Keep The Manual. I've been lucky with my 1290 SAR but I want something more nimble. Thoughts on TT700 or Honda?
Sorry to hear about your bike. I’m new to adventure riding and I’m in the process of buying a new bike. I’m going with the 24 bmw f900gs. Yeah it’s heavy but I’m don’t want a light bike since I plan on doing some cross country riding and don’t want to get blown around on the freeway, and plus I want cruise control.
Yea man, take DR650 do NSU bolts tightening mode, and countershaft seal mode, and you are good to go 3 times around the world. Valve check and adjustment is a 30 min job, literally. Just have a spare crank case plug, the original one is easy to be stripped. Some emulators in the front forks are must and heavier rear spring. And the seat needs to be upgraded. OEM seat is shocking, after 15 minutes of riding but starts to hurt. About BMW I had a brand new 2014 f800gs. Newer again any BMW.
The fact remains beautiful and sexy as they are, European bikes are simply nowhere near as reliable as their Japanese counterparts. My 2007 Aprilia Caponord engine totally failed at less than 13k miles, it was my first, and last European bike for me.
