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Aprilia Tuareg 660 — Review Summary

Main strengths

• Strong all-round adventure-tourer concept: The Tuareg combines a 21-inch front wheel, long-travel suspension and a full-size touring setup while remaining among the lightest bikes in its class. The reviewer sees it primarily as a touring motorcycle that should also work well off-road.
• Excellent suspension and road handling: The front and rear suspension are fully adjustable, and the rear preload has a convenient hand-adjustment knob. The standard setup prioritizes control over plush comfort and is particularly impressive on twisty roads: the bike holds a line confidently and changes direction cleanly despite its long suspension travel. The reviewer prefers it to the Tenere 700 and most comparable adventure bikes on pavement.
  • The suspension can be softened for dirt riding, though the reviewer says it never becomes completely soft.
  • It is less comfortable on rough roads for riders who want a plush ride or have little experience standing and shifting their weight.
• Stable at speed: Despite its 21-inch front wheel and long-travel suspension, the bike feels very stable on the highway—even around 160–170 km/h.
• Useful touring electronics: Cruise control is a major advantage over the Tenere 700, especially after a tiring off-road ride. The bike has four riding modes, two of which are customizable. Riders can adjust throttle response, engine braking, traction control and ABS, including switching systems off. The reviewer values being able to tailor the settings for road, city and off-road conditions.
• Smooth, tractable engine: The engine has good low- and mid-range power, is easy to control and does not tend to stall at low revs, even when crawling uphill. The reviewer considers its power appropriate for the class and had no desire for more.
• Reasonable vibrations: The engine vibrates more than the Tenere’s CP2, but not enough to cause fatigue on long rides.
• Good fuel economy and range: The reviewer reports around 4 L/100 km in the mountains, sometimes less; roughly 3.5 L/100 km at 90–100 km/h; and 4.3–4.7 L/100 km at 130 km/h using cruise control. He estimates a range of about 400 km in varied conditions. The standard Tenere tank offers less range, though the World Raid version is an alternative.
• Easy-to-use suspension adjustments: Reconfiguration is quick and requires only a screwdriver for damping adjustments; preload can be changed by hand.
• Good ergonomics for medium and tall riders: The bike feels narrower and lower than the Tenere 700, making it easier for the reviewer to reach the ground and shift his weight off-road. At 188 cm, he found the riding position comfortable, with well-positioned, wide handlebars and no awkward tank or seat shape. The display is easy to see while sitting or standing.
• Comfortable equipment and practical details: The bike includes handguards, engine protection, fork and shock protection, a high-mounted radiator, a folding gearshift lever, quick-release footpeg rubbers and removable passenger-footpeg brackets.
• Other positives: The optional exhaust sounded especially good to the reviewer. Engine heat was not uncomfortable during tests at around 30°C, although it was noticeable while wearing shorts. The display is bright and has a visor to help shield it from rain and dust.

Drawbacks and irritations

• Poor windscreen: This is the reviewer’s biggest complaint. The screen directs wind toward the rider’s eyes, can funnel insects into the face, causes helmet buffeting and noise, and can make the helmet twitch at highway speeds. The reviewer would replace it or add a spoiler. Riding without it was sometimes more comfortable, though the wind then became tiring.
• Seat shape: The seat is softer and more pleasant than the Tenere’s or KTM’s, but narrow enough to cause fatigue over time. The reviewer considered it acceptable and better than the Tenere’s.
• Stiff gearshift pedal: The pedal is difficult to operate, even in light shoes. The reviewer argues that a light pedal is particularly useful while standing and riding off-road.
• Inconsistent quickshifter: Upshifts can work well in the right rev range, but shifts can be rough at lower revs, and downshifts are often harsh. Using the clutch can be easier.
• Brakes: The Tuareg has Brembo brakes and larger discs than the Tenere, but the reviewer dislikes their feel: initially mild, then more abrupt. He prefers the brakes on the KTM 790/890 and Triumph Tiger 900; different pads may help.
• High beam: The reviewer considers it inferior to the Tenere’s, although auxiliary lights could address this.
• Dashboard warning light: The cruise-control indicator blinks distractingly when cruise control is switched on but not active.
• Controls: The bulky, forward-positioned switchgear can make it awkward to operate the left turn signal while using the clutch.
• Extra display functions: The Tuareg offers quickshifter, navigation-arrow and music-control functions, but the reviewer considers the latter display features largely unnecessary.
• Sound assessment caveat: The reviewer tested an optional muffler, not the standard exhaust.
• Off-road setup needs adjustment: The standard suspension settings are not ideal for dirt; the fork especially should be softened. The stiff gear lever is another off-road inconvenience.

Comparisons

• Yamaha Tenere 700: The Tuareg offers cruise control, more customizable electronics, more suspension adjustment, greater range than the standard model, a lower and narrower-feeling stance, and—according to the reviewer—better handling on twisty roads. The Tenere’s engine is slightly stronger at low revs, has fewer vibrations and is praised for reliability; the reviewer also prefers its headlight. He says the Tenere World Raid improves range but is very tall.
• KTM 790/890 Adventure: The reviewer finds the KTM engine more powerful but more vibratory and uneven in its delivery, with weaker low-rev performance. He considers the 790–890 suspension compromised: the R is too stiff, while the S has a non-adjustable fork. He prefers the Tuareg’s ergonomics for medium and tall riders, though he considers the KTM a better option for shorter riders. The KTM’s brakes are preferred.
• Honda Transalp and other mid-size bikes: The Tuareg’s electronics and road behavior are presented as advantages over the Transalp. The reviewer says many adventure bikes have overly soft suspension that feels comfortable on bad roads but vague on twisty pavement.
• Large adventure bikes: These can offer greater comfort and performance but are typically 20–30 kg heavier. The Tuareg is presented as a useful middle ground, with comfort closer to larger bikes than to lightweight dual-sports such as the KTM 690 or DR650.
• Reliability: The reviewer says the Tuareg has not shown serious widespread issues in the period discussed and that its engine had already been used in road models. He still considers the Tenere a safer choice for a ten-year-old used bike because of its reputation and broad service network—not because he identifies a specific reliability problem with the Tuareg.

Verdict

The reviewer’s clear favorite among new mid-size adventure bikes is a notably light, capable and efficient motorcycle with unusually good suspension control, strong road handling, useful touring electronics and practical range. It requires compromises—especially the windscreen, seat shape, gearshift, quickshifter and brake feel—but he considers these manageable. He says nothing else in the class combines its handling and low weight as effectively.

Speaker’s perspective

One reviewer provides the assessment. He prioritizes road touring and confident handling on twisty pavement alongside off-road ability, and repeatedly frames his conclusions as his own preferences and riding experience. He says he is not attached to the Aprilia brand or especially attracted to the Tuareg’s looks; his praise is based on how effectively it performs.