Moto Review: 2024 Aprilia Tuareg 660

The Tuareg is one of the most anticipated middleweight adventure motorcycles in North America. Even though the Tuareg nameplate dates back to 1985 inspired by Aprilia’s Dakar Rally bikes, this is their most serious attempt to make it a more mainstream choice in North America. After seeing the success of the resurrected Africa Twin and Tenere 700, it was the right move for Aprilia to come up with an alternative for adventure seekers.

The Tuareg 660 offers a nice balance of traditional adventure bike silhouette with modern lines but with Italian flair. The one-piece LED headlight is unique, but it enhances the rugged look. The front fascia is quite small with no design gimmicks. From the side profile and other angles, it is undoubtedly an adventure bike with a road presence, a one-piece bench seat, a wide handlebar, high ground clearance and 21″ wheels in the front.

The only gripe I had was the fuel cap, it is fully removable with no hinges, which makes the whole bike feel cheaper. It has its advantages during off-roading, but it just feels cheaper than the rest of the bike in general. Even though the windscreen isn’t adjustable, it is large enough to offer a decent amount of wind protection. It really doesn’t feel as bulky or wide when you swing a leg over the bike, which makes it a lot easier to ride it every day without changing a lot of things.

The Tuareg 660 makes you feel at home when you take it off the beaten path, but at the same time, it is a great daily rider mainly due to its relaxed ergonomics. The seat is not the most comfortable, especially on longer trips, but it allows the rider to go forward or back to change the riding position. The 33.9-inch seat height is also not too high for an off-road-oriented bike, which makes shorter riders feel more confident at low-speed action. There is also plenty of space for the passenger, in case you want to ride 2-up.

It’s not meant to ride long distances, especially with a passenger, but the preload can be adjusted on the fly to keep up with the extra weight. The footpegs aren’t too high and aren’t too low. The upright riding position makes it easier to see around, and maneuver and enhances the overall comfort. The wide handlebar makes it much easier to control the bike at lower speeds with more precise inputs, and riding when standing up feels quite comfortable.

There is not a lot to talk about when it comes to tech, as expected from a middleweight adventure bike, you want simplicity with the right amount of features. It comes with a large TFT screen that shows the necessary information you need, including the speed, RPM, and gear. The display is super easy to use through the buttons located on the left side of the handlebar.

The Tuareg 660 also comes with different riding modes that can be changed on the fly, including riding aids like stability control and ABS. Unlike some entries, it allows you to choose different levels of traction control, so it doesn’t have to be fully on or off. I have found the TCS is quite intrusive until you switch to the minimum setting, then it allows you to have fun safely. However, what makes the Tuareg 660 appealing to most adventure riders is the standard cruise control, it makes the bike a much better option for longer trips.

The 659cc parallel-twin engine is the heart of the Tuareg 660, it is the most important piece that defines its personality. Even though Aprilia used this engine in other models like the RS660 and Tuono 660, the engine is tuned differently. The camshaft profiles are the biggest mechanical difference to offer more torque at lower RPM. It revs a little bit lower than the other 660 models, claiming a peak of 80 horsepower at 9,259 RPM. It is tuned for less peak power for a more flat powerband, which means more bottom-end grunt yet still punchy mid-range, mainly for off-road riding.

The parallel-twin engine offers more of a traditional V-Twin character thanks to its 270-degree crankshaft and firing order. It’s the most optimal layout for many middleweight adventure motorcycles, as it offers the compact package of a parallel twin with the powerband of a V-Twin. The shifts are crisp, the clutch is predictable yet easy to operate, and the short gearing really pays dividends on technical trails. You can also opt for the quick-shifter to make shifting a little easier, especially in tricky situations.

As expected from a serious off-roader, it has the 21-inch tubeless spoked wheels. It is matched with Pirelli Scorpion tires, which offer a decent amount of grip on all surfaces. The braking components are also top tier with a pair of 300mm discs paired with 4-piston Brembo calipers in the front and a single Brembo caliper in the rear with a 260mm disc. The braking performance is decent, and the modulation is very progressive for off-road riding. If you are looking for a sharp initial bite, it may disappoint you to offer a smoother braking experience in the dirt.

If I had to describe the Tuareg 660 in one word, it would be competent. It is utterly competent on dirt, gravel, or any type of light-duty bike trail. The fully adjustable Kayaba suspension can handle a lot, the 43 mm inverted forks can travel 9.5 inches with 9.8 inches of ground clearance. For larger obstacles, there is a skid plate that helps to protect the engine, but that usually happens in very technical trails, which is where I would much prefer to take a dedicated dirt bike.

On pavement, the Tuareg 660 has great road manners. The softly sprung suspension offers great comfort, but it doesn’t fall apart when you ride it in a more spirited fashion. The suspension can easily be adjusted, but even at the firmest setting, it is not punishing the rider. The bike is easygoing and forgiving, the engine is very predictable, and the power delivery is smooth and well-suited to ADV riding. It is calm and smooth when you ride it normally, and it can be quite fun at higher RPMs, which makes it the right choice both for newer and more experienced riders.

Aprilia has done a terrific job bringing back the Tuareg nameplate with such a solid contender. They clearly studied the market to bring a competitive product after many years of absence. The Tuareg 660 offers a nice balance of the off-road capability and rider aids that we found in other European entries with a much higher price tag, touring-friendly features that we do not find in more entry-level models like Suzuki V-Strom 800DE, well-balanced, easy-to-live, and competitively priced to challenge the bestseller, Yamaha Tenere 700.