The Aprilia Tuareg 660 has been revealed to herald the Italian firm’s high-profile return to the adventure motorcycling arena with a serious rival to the Yamaha Tenere 700.
Designed to be lightweight and capable in the rough stuff without losing the sporting spirit synonymous with its RS and Tuono ranges on the road, the Tuareg 660 is the third model to be spun off Aprilia’s fresh middleweight platform.
Described as ‘Aprilia’s most advanced riding concept to date’, the marque has offered up some key details that on paper will make Yamaha sit up and take notice.
Using a detuned but higher torque version of the 660cc parallel twin found in the RS and Tuono, the Tuareg 660 tops out at 80hp with peak torque coming in at 70Nm, which compares favourably with the Tenere 700’s 72bhp.
Furthermore, the Aprilia Tuareg 660 is as featherweight as its rival, tipping the scales at a dry weight of 187kg, compared with the Tenere 700’s 180kg.
Aprilia will also offer its APRC - Aprilia Performance Ride Control - to give the Tuareg 660 a more sporting dynamic on the Tarmac, plus four riding modes (two customisable), ABS that can be deactivated for both wheels, traction control, cruise control and engine mapping, all accessible via a 5’ TFT screen.
As well as being a light chassis, the Tuareg 660 offers 240mm long travel suspension, a wheelbase of just over 1500mm wheelbase, plus a 43mm diameter fork with single shock absorber.
Aprilia is yet to say when the Tuareg 660 will hit the road but expect Visordown to bring you our first riding impressions in the next couple of months.
