With the launching of the Tuareg 660 adventure motorcycle in 2022, Aprilia has brought back the Tuareg moniker, which was initially used in the 1980s. This vehicle has off-road capabilities not seen on any other Aprilia, yet it shares the same 660 chassis as the rest of the lineup making it one of the Best Aprilia Bike of All Times. Thanks to the vehicle’s innovative bodywork, off-road suspension, and sophisticated electronics package, you can easily access safety and ride-control functions. The overall review of the 2023 Aprilia Tuareg 660 Sports Motorcycle with its features and specifications is given below.
2023 Aprilia Tuareg 660 Sports Motorcycle – Features and Specs
Performance and Capability
Aprilia improved upon the performance of its tried-and-true 660 engine, making it more adapted for off-road use and hence more suitable for traversing the wilderness. The Tuareg 660 has an engine that produces 80 horsepower and 51.6 pound-feet of torque. The 81 mm bore and 63.93 mm stroke give it an actual displacement of 659 ccs, and the searing 13.5-to-1 compression ratio means it’ll prefer higher octane hooks better than 2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660 Sports Motorcycle.
Also Read: 2023 Aprilia RSV4 XTrenta Sports Bike Review
This water-cooled, four-stroke, parallel-twin engine has four poppets in each cylinder and features a DOHC for even fuel distribution. A front air vent allows air to be sucked into the air box, and 48 mm throttle bodies control the induction in response to signals from the ride-by-wire throttle.
The slipper-type clutch in the six-speed gearbox permits a light lever pull with back-torque reduction capabilities, preventing wheel hop and traction loss at the rear wheel. If you believe you’ll need one, a bidirectional quick-shifter feature is among the available add-ons that’s why the motorcycle is one of the proud member of Top Ten Best Naked Motorcycles Up to 1000cc in 2023.
Many of the trumpets are heard. The APRC Suite incorporates traction control, changeable engine maps, engine braking management, and four riding modes, allowing for instantaneous transformations in character. If you are looking for the Best Adventure Bike under 750cc, 2023 Aprilia Tuareg 660 is an ideal bike.
A final chain drive completes the powertrain. The total final drive ratio determines the maximum speed of the 2023 Aprilia Tuareg 660 Sports Motorcycle, which is roughly 125 mph, although you shouldn’t go that fast on paved roads with those knobby tires or off-road anywhere other than a salt flat.
Design
Although Aprilia is now best known for its street and race bikes, the firm has deep roots in adventure riding, as seen by the Tuareg series. Just a quick comment: the ’85 model’s blunt snout reminds me of Honda’s Africa Twin series, which came out about the same time.
The new design is simple and it is extremely popular in Indian market in 2022, but it takes a far more modern approach than before, owing to the segmented LED headlamps and the compound-curved windscreen that dominates the front end. The Tuareg’s LED daytime running lights (DRLs) work with the bike’s other lights to increase its visibility in broad daylight. The standard handguards round out the pilot’s safety equipment.
For the Tuareg, form follows function, so they have a relatively unadorned physique that doesn’t waste too much energy on frivolous ornamentation. What little there is has been placed through a wind tunnel to achieve unique penetrability in an off-road vehicle.
The Tuareg 660, being the best rated adventure bike, has a five-inch color TFT display and a windscreen that offers some protection. The display is used to operate all of the complex electronics and equipment.
The radiator cover and engine bash plate hide much of the mill, but the gearbox and castings are still in plain sight. Consequently, the engine seems to be both well-protected and out of sight.
The bench-style seat may be reclined to a flat surface or tilted at an angle. There is enough room for passenger and fore and aft body adjustments for the more challenging off-road activities.
More LED yummy goodness ensures that the low-slung taillight and turn signal light bars at the back are easily visible day or night. In sum, the Tuareg hits all the right notes in terms of ADV bike design while yet maintaining its own identity. It’s a radical departure from the norm, at least when compared to the decades before this one.
Chassis
The steel tubes that make up the Tuareg 660‘s primary and sub-frames are joined with aluminum plates that form the swing arm’s yoke-style finish. Of course, the engine used to move the heavy structure also serves as a stressed component, so it must be able to lift quite a bit of weight.
So, the Aprilia Tuareg 660 Sports Motorcycle is designed with a dry weight of 412 pounds. The chassis will be relatively delicate but easily recoverable if you lose it while out and about.
Kayaba suspension supports both ends with 43 mm USD forks up front and a mono-shock in the back. All three settings are available, and the 9.4-inch travel on all four wheels is more than adequate to handle rugged terrain.
The anchors are managed by Brembo, with four-bore calipers biting dual 300 mm discs up front, while Brembo likewise contains the single-pot binder and 260 mm disc in the back. A multi-map ABS feature, which may be toggled to enable cornering, gives the finest anti-lock protection while driving on less-than-civilized roads.
Experienced off-road riders always seem to prefer laced wheels, so that’s all that’s left to do to finish up the rolling chassis. Its ability to conquer any terrain is primarily thanks to its 21-inch wheel, followed by an 18-inch rim. The reels themselves include a 90/90 up front and a 150/70 in the rear, both having a very aggressive off-road tread designed specifically for the brown even though they are technically appropriate for the blacktop.
Price
The retail price of a 2023 Aprilia Tuareg 660 Sports Motorcycle is $12,999. That’s the suggested retail price, and actual spending may vary, but this is the baseline for this yearlong global nomad’s budget. Indaco Tagelmust (blue), Mars Red, and Acid Gold are some color possibilities for a usually monochromatic genre.
2023 Aprilia Tuareg 660 vs Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Adventure
Suzuki didn’t think twice about increasing the V-curb Strom’s weight to accommodate its more robust bodywork, making it the ideal example of an ADV. It makes the Aprilia more functional than the V-Strom, which is more visually striking. With its factory engine guards and large panniers, the Suzuki is slightly more practical than the showroom.
With just spring preload and rebound damping to play with, the V-suspension Strom’s starts to droop despite the engine strain and aluminum twin-spar frame that keeps it together. Although anti-lock brakes are standard equipment, the Tuareg’s are more sophisticated than the V-is Strom’s.
Advanced traction control, idle-speed management, and low-rpm assistance are the only electronic features that fall short of expectations, and they are the only ones that Suzuki provides. Although this facilitates operation, it cannot compare to Aprilia regarding ride control or security.
The inevitable compromise occurs at checkout: the base price of a Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Adventure is $10,499. In my view, the deciding factors will be the kind of riding surface chosen and the potential electrical advantages. One can also have a look at our comparison review between 2023 Yamaha Tenere 700 and 2023 Aprilia Tuareg 660.
2023 Aprilia Tuareg 660 Sports Motorcycle – Technical Specifications
Engine
Type | Aprilia forward-facing 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, double overhead camshafts (DOHC), four valves per cylinder. |
Bore and stroke | 81 x 63.93 mm |
Engine capacity | 659 cc |
Compression ratio | 13,5:1 |
Max Power | 80 HP (59 kW) at 9,250 rpm |
Maximum torque at the crankshaft | 70.0 Nm (7.13 kgm) at 6,500 rpm |
Fuel system | Airbox with front air vent. 2 Ø48 mm throttle bodies, Ride-by-wire management |
Starting | Electrical |
Lubrication | Wet sump |
Transmission | Six gears |
Clutch | Multiplate wet clutch with slipper system |
Secondary drive | Chain, drive ratio 15/42 |
Electronic management | APRC Suite that features ATC (traction control), AEB (engine brake), AEM (engine maps), ACC (cruise control) 4 Riding modes (2 sets and 2 personalizable) |
Chassis
Frame | In steel tubing and built-in subframe. Aluminum engine connection plates |
Front Suspension | All-new fully adjustable 43mm upside-down Kayaba fork with counter spring. Wheel travel: 240 mm |
Rear Suspension | Aluminum swingarm. Fully adjustable Kayaba mono shock. Wheel travel: 240 mm |
Front brake | 300 mm diameter double disc, Brembo floating caliper with dual opposing pistons (Ø30/32 mm). Brembo master cylinder and metal braided brake line |
Rear brake | 260 mm diameter disc, Brembo single piston (Ø34 mm) caliper. Metal braided brake line |
ABS | Multi-map |
Wheels | Spoked, Frt: 2.15” X21” Rear: 4.25” X18” |
Tire | Tubeless, Frt: 90/90-21 rear: 150/70 R 18 |
Dimensions
Wheelbase | 1,525 mm |
Length | 2,220 mm |
Width | 965 mm |
Saddle height | 860mm |
Headstock angle | 26.7° |
Trail | 113.3 mm |
Kerb weight | 204 kg |
Others
Emissions compliance | Euro 5 |
Consumption (WMTC cycle) | 4 liters/100km |
CO2 Emissions | 99 g/km |
Fuel tank capacity | 18 liters (3-liter reserve |