Why I Chose the Aprilia Tuareg 660 over Other Middle Weight Adventure Bikes
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
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In a follow-up to my last video, I've added a second ADV bike for my perfect 2-bike garage. After riding the Harley Davidson Pan America this year both on and off-road, I decided I wanted to get a lighter-weight adventure bike.
Initially, I had planned on replacing the Pan America, but it is such an amazing bike for a lot of what I do, I just couldn't see getting rid of it. The more I've been riding adventure, the less I've been riding street, so I traded the Aprilia Tuono 660 in on a Tuareg 660.
I evaluated my use case and needs against several lightweight and mid-weight adv bikes. My list included:
KTM 390 Adventure
BMW G 310 GS
Yamaha Tenere 700
Aprilia Tuareg 660
Ducati DesertX
Honda CB500x
I used a variety of metrics to compare the bikes:
Weight
Seat Height
HP/Torque
Ground Clearance
Front and Rear Suspension Travel
Tire Arrangement
Cost
In the end, the Aprilia Tuareg came out on top (for me), and I'm looking forward to getting out and exploring more off-road terrain.
- Video Contents -
00:00 Opening
00:22 What happened to Pan America
00:37 Why a second bike
01:09 My basis for a selection list
01:33 Lightweight bikes considered
01:41 Middleweight bikes considered
02:13 Spec criteria
02:34 Lightweight bike review info
03:14 KTM 798/890 review info
04:34 Yamaha Tenere 700 review info
05:26 Ducati DesertX review info
05:57 Honda CB500X review info
06:28 Aprilia Tuareg 660 review info
07:36 Wrap-up - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Make sure to catch the first video in this 2-part series: th-cam.com/video/COYWOmPsB44/w-d-xo.html
Still love my Pan America, but I'm very excited to continue exploring offroad with the Aprilia Tuareg 660. What are some of your favorite Tuareg mods?
I put Heed rear crash bars on. Don't look like they'd help much in a crash, but does offer another tie-down point for luggage, or hand-grab for a passenger. Also have a Heed luggage plate and sump guard. Have the Aprilia center stand, but haven't put that on yet. Also installed a Leo Vince black slip-on and Puig tinted sport screen. A bit under 4000 miles with zero issues. But, I will be looking seriously at the still-rumored Transalp, can't beat Honda reliability, but it better have tubeless wheels. Also interested in what the new VStrom 650 will be like.
Have had my eye on the Tuareg 660 since it came out. I think it's the perfect balance of tech, performance and aesthetics. Right now it's about as perfect as you can get.
Greg, I'm excited to see first-hand!
Ride Safe, man!
Great editing!! Normally I get bored watching these but the way you edited it made it tolerable and enjoyable. Good Job!!
Thanks Wade!
Exactly took the same decision road and now going for 660 tuareg. It’s going to be fun. 🎉🎉
Fantastic analysis! Thank you
I picked the T7, love it.
Right on! The T7 looks fantastic.
Ride Safe!!
@@exploready You also.
Definitely made a great choice with that Tuareg, amazing bike and I'm loving mine too. Garmin Zumo Xt, oem Aprilia heated grips and quickshifter, oem Aprilia crash bars and fog lamps are all great mods along with whatever luggage you prefer to run. Also there's a long list of performance mods like emission delete kits, airbox mods, exhaust, and upmap /powercommander based tunes! Happy riding.
Robert, thanks for the info!
So far I've got some HepcoBecker crash bars installed (vid to come), but looking at the quick shifter and oem heated grips.
How's the functionality of the QS? On my Pan America it's just "ok", so I barely use it.
Ride safe!
@@exploready Quick shifter is solid on this model. I like the HepcoBecker stuff as well and was actually considering their handguards. Take care!
Doesn't decat and piggyback void your warranty?
@@interstellarv0id Yes it does, so if that's a concern you could always wait until the 2 year warranty expires and then do it or leave it stock.
Hey for my first video of you you did a great job keep up the good work
Hey, thanks!
Good photography. Narration is spoken clearly, well organized. The material presented is interesting, and promotes respect.
Thank you so much 😀
Great analysis of available bikes, and your purchase sounds like a good one. I cannot imagine trying to find one bike that can do everything, it truly is virtually impossible. To me, it makes sense to have a comfortable road bike for long distance rides, and a dedicated street legal lightweight enduro for off-road adventures. Since I no longer enjoy all day street rides, and my favorite off-road trails are 10-20 minutes from my garage, my favorite bike is the 2023 KTM 350 EXC-F, it is super light, and with ECU, airbox, and exhaust mods, can perform almost like a 500cc. Great video my friend, please keep us posted on your progress with this awesome new bike!
Thanks! Will do.
Thanks for the vid! In my case coming from a huge 1250 GSA, the few things that went against the APRILIA were the unknown reliability (as you noted), esthetics (didn’t fall in love) the parts availability and maintenance (long solo trips to South America etc) also price…needed a simple and capable bike w parts available and ease of repair on the road
1250 has also many problems. I own a small accomodation in România and in 2020 I had two clients in same year ego broke rear wheel shaft on TET with 1250. Two in one year. Guess what, this is not repearable, îs only changing part for only 2500 Euro.
Had a buddy JUST make hard call between the Tuareg 660 and a new but significantly marked down 21 Multistrada 950. He went with the 950 but only because he already has a DR650 for offroad so the 950 made more "complimentary" sense. The Tuareg is a VERY compelling "one bike house" package.
Sounds like he made a good call. I would think that the Multistrada and DR650 would go great together. The discount makes it that much sweeter!
Ride Safe!
The Tuareg is at the top of my list for all the reasons you mentioned also.
Chris - Right on! I don't have many miles on mine yet, but I'll be updating the channel as the miles tick up.
Ride Safe!
Thanks for sharing 😊
Thanks for watching!
Having access to both a VersysX-300 and a Pan America Special, I agree: The PanAm seems like it's a LOT of bike to muscle around, even with the advantage of its active suspension. The Versys is light in all the best ways except for horsepower for sure.
Here's to hoping the (speculated) 975 is actually more in line with a sub-500 pound middleweight. I wish you safe travels with your Aprilia.
CaptSlaq - The EICMA show should be pretty interesting this year, with possible bikes from Honda and Harley in the middle weight/middle weight+ segment.
I think doing what you have for a setup makes a ton of sense (full side ADV/Tour and middle/lightweight ADV bike)...it just took me a bit to get there.
Ride Safe!
Just discovered this review, and I’m finding it helpful and affirming that we think along similar lines. Starting from essentially the same list you had, I’m down to the Tuareg 660 and the KTM ADV 390 for my next bike. Looking forward to videos showing what you think of the Tuareg. Some comments here that Aprilia might not be as reliable as some other makes, which is a tricky thing to verify, with many anecdotal comments floating around on social media. As a reference point I read both KTM 890 ADV and Tuareg FB pages, and see many more mechanical issues posted for the KTM than for the Aprilia.
Well done.
Good luck with your new bike. I'm looking forward to your updates. PS, what's the beautiful river in the background?
David, That is the North Platte river just north of Deckers, CO. Lots of great fishing, or so I'm told.
I hope it proves reliable enough for you.
As an outright adv package it is exactly what I would want 🍻🍻
Thanks Blazin - Fingers crossed!
I'm 71 and still riding my 08 KLR650, I paid $4200 new Out the Door in Oct. 07. 16 years ago. It's never broken down, never has not started, not even a flat tire, or a dead battery, gets 50MPG, with a 300 mile range. Zillions of cheap parts are available for KLR's. My biggest conplaint about the KLR was that it had no 6th gear, and no cruise control. I know that it's not that powerful, but it hooks up in the mud and pulls you through. I always ride by myself, and at 71 not crashing and hurting myself and reliablity is my number one and two priority. I don't race along at 65-80 MPH like some of the guys I rode with when I was younger. Mostly I ride along in 3rd. and 4 th gears doing about 35 mph in 3rd. or around 45 mph in 4th gear on the trails, and about 60 mph in 5th. on the pavement. The KLR's are easy to work on, I just replace the steer head bearings and changed the fork oil myself. All the new bikes are just too expensive, unreliable, and way too complicated with their dumb touch screens to go and through em into mud holes. I did test ride the Tuareg, and if I was going to buy a new dual sport bike the Tuareg would be my first pick.
I had to pick one bike for off-road and highway travel. I chose the Tuareg. The build quality is outstanding. The engine is impressive, and the ride adjustments are thorough. Cruise control included. Get the quick shifter, it is fun! I have really enjoyed it so far. Your videos are helpful and informative.
Definetly the Best option there! Tubeless Tyres, Low down center, Dash. And relaiability will be perfect.
Right on. My father recently started a job on an Aprilia dealer so I had one home to try ity out. What a great bike. I have a KTM Duke 790 at the moment which I love. But whenever I ride past a small gravel road I'm just "Gah, I should have that Aprilia!". Might end up buying one, we'll see! What stood out was the super low center of gravity and excellent engine, with lots of grunt. So easy to handle. And the tech pack is amazing, and the price is great compared to the KTM for example. Good choice!
Right on! The dukes look like a LOT of fun!
Shewww😅, you almost broke my heart man. The Pan Am is awesome don’t get ride of it. I may get a the same bike you just bout. I have the Pan Am and a Aprilia RS 660 so I’m familiar with the power plant. Looking forward to your reviews brother.
I had been riding enough ADV that I decided to trade in my Tuono 660 for the Tuareg. The Tuono was sitting a lot...
Looking forward to exploring a bit more and trying out more offroad stuff on each bike (and hopefully some long trips).
Ride Safe!
Great choice! I have done 4k miles on my Tuareg and am still in Love with it :)
Just one Tip: replace the handguards as soon as possible. The very first time dropped my Tuareg (on soft dirt) the handguard shattered into several small pieces.
I don't think there are Barbusters for the Tuareg yet, but I got the Toratech Defensa guards and I am happy so far.
Chukku - Funny that you would mention that. I had the same thing happen...
T660 is also what I would choose, but I'll wait until late 2023 / early 2024 when the reliably and quirks are well known, the aftermarket support is better, and I want to compare it with the Honda Transalp first.
Be good to see how this goes. They got great reviews. I like the lower seat height over the T7, the bigger tank, and the better suspension. The rider aides put me off a bit, but they sound the easiest to navigate and switch off (compared to anything else on the market). Currently on a 2016 Africa Twin and am probably happy to invest money in that. Hopefully, I can demo a T7 and Tuareg soon. Still haven't ridden either.
Campbell, The Africa Twin is such a great-looking bike!
I'll be doing some comparison videos between the Tuareg and a full-size ADV bike. Hopefully, there will be some good info in there.
Ride safe!
@@exploready Awesome, compare it to an older Africa Twin. The newer ones are pretty crap, overcomplicated, over-priced, and have really terrible fueling/rbw. They are also not set-up to ride off-road.
Good luck with the bike. I bought a 790r when they first came out and loved it. Sold it for a yet lighter bike but ended up coming back to the 890r which I currently own. Love the design and am familiar with KTM. The Tuareg 660 also looks like a great bike. Lot's of great choices out there now! I had a couple of Ducati road bikes which were reliable and overall fantastic. Always admired the Aprilia road bikes too.
David - What lead you back to the heavier bike from (890r) from the lighter one?
Ride safe!
@@exploready Had a Husky FE501s which I was carrying to off road riding areas. Great off road but terrible on road. Bought it because I did not want to ride on the roads anymore with crazy traffic. Then moved to an area with less traffic so wanted something better on the road again. Loved my 790r (wished I had not sold it) so went with a new 890r. I knew all the mods I wanted to do and was very familiar with working on the bike so that was a big factor. So far so good but the quick shifter is really clunky compared to my 790r so need to see if the shop can better calibrate it. Otherwise no issues....fingers crossed!
@@rc51bigdaddy Right on, makes sense..., especially with traffic. It can be frustrating seeing so many people driving around on their phones...but I digress...
So many great bikes to choose from. Enjoy the 890r!!
I have the Pan Am and Desert X. Desert X is freakin' amazing! I have had a lot of bikes and this one ticks all the tabs.I strongly considered the Aprillia. Love the extra power of the Desert X.
Right on!
I really like the Aprilia, but keep wondering about the KTM 890 and/or DesertX's extra power. Glad you're having a great time on the Ducati... we're fortunate to live in a time we're there's few bad choice when it comes to bikes.
Ride Safe!
Hey Jim, thanks for your feedback.
Couple of questions: Why didn´t you consider a CRF 300 Rally for example?
Do you have the "right leg" heat issue with the Tuareg?
Please keep us updated on that reliablity topic. Thx in advance.
Thomas, great questions.
I looked at the CRF 300 Rally and the concern I had for my use case came down to highway and interstate travel. With a few exceptions, for me to get out and explore I'll need to get to the dirt by way of some faster paced tarmac riding. I felt I'd be giving up a lot of highway/interstate speed, 'planted-ness', and comfort by going with something more dual-sported in nature.
I had looked at the KTM 690 Enduro, and with the exception of HP, felt the same way. If I lived close to trails, and lots of dirt, I think the 690 Enduro may have been a good pick too.
I just picked up the Tuareg mid-October, so the ambient air temps in Colorado haven't been high enough for me to experience the right leg heat. I'll keep the channel updated though.
Ride Safe!
Agreed. I love my Tuareg and am happy now that I was unsuccessful with locating a T7. The Tuareg is really great for my riding style. Luckily I have a dealer close by but still getting parts from Aprilia is not an easy lift. I waited 4 months for a fuel sending unit to arrive. The wind screen cause buffeting for my height-6ft- so that will need to be changed at some time. However, these are just minor dinks in what is a great bike imo. I think if I was using a bike to circumnavigate the world I might choose a DR650 with a bunch of mods but right now I am very happy with the Aprila.
The Puig Touring Windscreen may be an option. I’ve switched between that and OEM based on my distance riding.
Glad you’re enjoying your bike!
Saw the new Honda Transalp was just unveiled at EICMA. Kerb weight of 208kg and 90 hp. Maybe also a good option. Hope you enjoy the Tuareg. It's seems like a good option for what you want to use it for
horrible suspension.
Hey, nice video. It looks like you've done a lot of ground work to find a good bike. Just out of curiosity, did you consider the Honda CRF300L Rally? It's significantly lighter while still maintain long service intervals. I know the HP might be a little lower on paper, but riders like Itchy Boots have definitely shown that it's more than capable of going around the world. Just posting because I'm looking at getting a more off-road focused middle-weight bike and the CRF300L keeps butting into my bike roster.
Hey James - my exclusion for the CRF-300L came down to HP. I know I'll be doing some longer stretches of highway/interstate regularly in the western US, and having the ability to comfortably stay up with traffic riding 1Up and luggage (I'm sure I overpack) was a deciding factor.
ItchyBoots has definitely shown that the bike is very capable, but in my use-case, I think it would have been too much of a compromise.
Ride safe!
Aprilia is a great choice if you have a dealer near you, and you don't plan on going too far away from home.
I agree with all your points. I also considered the KTM(Husky\Gas-Gas) 690\701\700 bikes. With these I didn't like the gearing, fuel fill behind the seat, which would be under any luggage carried(no doubt, a total pain in the ass on a trip) and then there's reliability issues with these bikes.
PaiN - I think that the KTM 690 (platform) would be pretty solid, except for the reasons you noted, and for me...the amount of highway miles I plan on putting on.
I'll be riding the bike to "the ride" at interstate and highway speeds, and I didn't feel like the 690 would be a good match for that.
If I lived closer to "the trails", I would have ended up considering a bit more.
Ride Safe!
Can't argue with that weight number. Good choice.
So just to be clear.. you had an issue with KTM's reliability but you chose an Aprilia?
Dan - Valid point. We'll see how the Tuareg holds up, and if there are any wide-spread problems. I traded in an Aprilia Tuono 660 on the Tuareg, and my experience with the Tuono was very positive.
Really good point ejejeje in my times reliability was Yamaha, and fun was KTM
Been riding for 56 years. I have owned just about every brand there is at one point or another, except Harley. I own four Aprilias. A 2008 Shiver 750, 29,000 miles. A 2018 Shiver 900 purchased new in 2021, 8,000 miles. A 2015 Tuono V4R APRC, 24,000 miles. A 2022 Tuareg 660, 5,000 miles. The ONLY problem I have ever had with any of these bikes was with the 2008 Shiver 750. It took Aprilia a few tries to get the ECU fuel-air map right. Other than that, all four bikes have been absolutely bulletproof. This idea that Aprilia motorcycles are unreliable is complete and utter bullshit. In fact, the most unreliable bike in my garage is a 2001 Honda VFR 800Fi. It is a very reliable bike, but the Aprilias have proven to be better. Aprilia's only problem in the USA is the lack of an extensive dealer network.
I thought the same thing but not that Aprilia is less reliable more that the bike is unproven and Aprilia’s dealer network isn’t as extensive as KTM. Depends where you are and where you ride of course.
I have had 4 different Aprilias and they have all been very reliable. I am lucky that we have a great dealer in northern Colorado , also Imperial sportbikes in Denver. I have only used the dealers for initial service and valve adjustments. Easy to get parts from AF1 in texas.
As said, Yamaha has lots of dealers but few bikes. Aprilia, few dealers, few bikes. KTM Adventure 890 street bias, 890R too tall and heavy for a technical trail. Aprilia reliability is reasonable but if you need parts or service, it could be a wait for either. The Tuareg with it's suspension travel, ground clearance, lighter weight and lower center of gravity can take you anywhere you are capable of going with it, but for the long haul it's probably better to not seek out the extreme challenges for it, but rather you can confidently accept them when they are presented to you by circumstance.
pmw350k - Love your take
Making purchase decisions just got even more complicated today (Nov. 8 2022) with the introductions of the new Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE and the Honda 750 Transalp.
Wise man
interesting. watch T7 videos. they are busy riding. typically they don't waste time talking about other bikes.
We have some experience with Italian motorcycles here in Italia. Aprilia did huge improvements over the past about reliability. So did Guzzi when it switched to Piaggio. Ducati is still Ducati but, you know, are designed for perfomance, like KTM.
Everyone buys a motorbike thinking he will keep it a lifetime, 80% will sell it after 10000km.
Nulrom - Great point on ownership. For good or bad, I fall into the camp of folks that are trying new/different cars and bikes on the regular. My wife is not as stoked as I am about the new toys :/
I’m a Yamaha man, always will be. Hopefully the toerag 660’s hold up ok. Certainly look like a nice bike
I hope so too!
Hello, how many liters does your tank fit? My Tuareg 660 model 2022 doesn't fit more than 15.6 liters. I ran the tank completely empty and then filled it up.
Are you not in the US? Thought Suzuki sell the DR650 there? Would be the choice
Did you test ride any of these bikes?
I'm surprised you overlooked the old faithful Triumph Tiger or BMW 800 as they have been around a while
I own an Africa twin and it's a little heavy to pick up I'm thinking about going to the Touareg 660
My friend switched from a CB500X to a Tuareg. The result has been like getting out of a drama-free long term relationship to dating a hot mess.
Oh no! Hopefully everything gets sorted.
I'm in the same boat! I can't let go of my Pan Am, however, what fills the gap? I rode a T7 for months and I really like that bike. Yet, here I sit and wonder... Maybe the new Tiger?
So far the Tuareg has been nice, BUT I have maybe 700 miles on it. The winter in CO has been more challenging with the amount of snow we're received in the mountains (great for the drought, though).
@@exploready Where you at?? I'm near "Slick Rock/Egnar" , we got hammered this year also. Still getting flood warning in the low areas from the snow melt. So many places to ride. Remote, if I fell down and couldn't ride/walk out they would find my bones someday. Really should get an in-reach or similar :)
I’d like to hear more about the Taureg reliability, durability, and if replacement parts/repairs are needed,, how available are they? I’m pretty much right on par with you on decisions though. The tenere 700 was 1st choice but back ordered for a long time. I don’t like the 790/890 and the Ducati and Honda Africa twin are too heavy. My other option is the ktm 690 enduro. More of a dirt bikey feel but it can fit that adv bike niche pretty well. And not too expensive
C W - I'll update the channel with any issues (on both the Tuareg and the Pan America). I had a 2021 Aprilia Tuono 660 which I traded in for the Tuareg and I didn't have any issues with reliability on that bike. Of course one bike's reliability isn't much of a trend, but fingers crossed that the Tuareg will be ok.
I looked at the 690 enduro as well. In my case, I knew I would be putting plenty of tarmac miles on at higher speeds, and wanted to get something that I felt would better suit me for that. Good luck on your search.
Ride Safe!
+ 1 on the ktm 690 I rarely ride the 1290sa any more unless the wife is coming along, 690 fun factor & weight put it at the top!
Having had the privilege of riding them the Honda CRF1100L was the pick. Wet weight of 218kg on the scales. Very similar to the 660 wet weight. Honda reliability and a cracking motor. My KTM experience was a constantly empty bank account. Hope the Aprilla goes well for you!
226kg according to Honda and 236kg for the DCT?
Lol yeah not sure how he made that mistake. The Africa twin carries it’s weight higher too, which makes it feel even MORE heavy
Great video. Hope the Aprilia serves you well. Been looking at them pretty hard. I would have a 8 hour drive to get it to a certified dealer/service department. For that reason...T7. And gas is 6lbs per gallon. Really, how much more top heavy is it?
Service/support is a big concern. Aprilia is slowly adding to their network, but they have a LONG way to go. I'm lucky that I have 3 dealers within about 40 minutes, but that won;t help when traveling...
There's a lot of great choices in ADV bikes at the moment.
Italian engineering ranks near the top. I switched to Italian bikes 14 years ago and have had absolute trouble free operation with them. Parts and service are problematic as the dealer networks are sparse. The 660 was on my radar as well, I chose a lightweight Beta 500 (250 lbs) that is now being upgraded for ADV duty. I ride alone 90% of time as well in the rocky part of USA, I’m done lifting heavy bikes! I suspect the 660 will be very reliable, good luck!
Randy - Sounds like you made a great choice!
Engine-wise I do agree. The issue with many bikes (and the advantage of Japanese bikes) is that quality is lacking in the details. I have owned an Aprilia (the old Tuareg) and I moved to Honda for nearly 10 years. Now I own a KTM 1190 AdvR for nearly 10 years, and after having solved some of the minor quality issues in the initial 2 years, it has been running faithfully ever since. Had the new Africa Twin been available in 2012, I would probably be still with Honda.
Jim. Great video. I have to ask, though,....which would you go for if you could 'just buy one' for the dirt? I'm ridiculously torn between the Desertx and the T7 world raid. I live in the middle of nowhere, and all that surrounds me is forest and dirt....and really nice trails. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Dealer network would have to play a big part if you live a long way from service centers.
If it's just going to be dirt, I'd probably look very hard at a KTM 690 Enduro. Realistic service intervals (valves are still on a pretty aggressive timeline), decent weight, and a much more dirt-bias.
Between the T7 and DesertX, I'd probably lean towards the T7. It weighs less, even if the CoM is a bit higher. More service centers as well, and at this point, a more mature aftermarket parts marketplace.
Good luck on your search Marty!
@@exploready Thanks, Mate. I appreciate your time and input.
Hi! I know I am late to your video but I was wondering if you have done any long highway miles on the Tuareg yet? And if so, how long? And how is the it long distance on the highway? I am going through a very similar process as you. I plan on doing the TAT next year and a couple of BDR's but there will be LONG road miles either getting there are just as separate road oriented trips. Obviously two bikes would be ideal, but due to space and finances I am not in a position to do that right now. FYI ... I currently have an Africa Twin AS and it is WAY too big. Thank you for any info you can provide!
Chad - I've not done the highway miles I'd like to :/
I've got a couple 90-120 minute stretches, but at lower speeds...and a few 60-minute stretches at interstate speeds.
The seat isn't quite as comfortable as the HD Pan America, at least for me. I also found the OEM windscreen to generate a lot of wind noise (I'm 5'-10"). The air coming off the front feels incredibly clean, but I still swapped to a slightly larger after-market windscreen.
I can't say the bars feel vibe-y with the OEM windguards, or the HDB Handguards, so that's a plus. I've also removed the rubber from the pegs, and can't really report anything negative for feet vibrations.
I'm hoping to be able to get some travel in during Feb, as long as the weather cooperates, and I'll report back then.
@@exploready Thank you so much for your detailed response! This morning I actually came across this great video which answered some of my questions: th-cam.com/video/icBhWJVOnoQ/w-d-xo.html. He took it on the Autobahn. Granted it seems this guy is probably shorter than me (I don't believe he mentioned his exact height but he did mention being short and I am 6'), but hopefully that can be fixed with an aftermarket screen. Whelp ... it's decided. I am going to go check one out in the next few days even though there is snow on the ground. I am lucky to have a dealer close by that has a couple in. Thanks again!
People need to start comparing bikes with the T7 World Raid. All the problems of the regular T7 seem to be solved. Seen plenty of riders including Adam Reimann say the center of gravity is now much lower and the bike feels much better with all the other upgrades.
Stefan - Good point. In this comparison I took what I considered the base model for each model (like the 890 Adventure vs the Adventure R).
Next time I may take a deeper dive into the models that are selling well and compare them a bit more in-depth.
Ride Safe!
With a seat height of 890mm anything is high center of gravity, the front of the T7 is MASSIVE i tried alot of bikes but it felt worse than an Africa to me i'm 175cm Tall. I also really dislike the on/of snatchy throtle at first input
Nothing beats a KTM 890 Adventure R - elected BTW best ADV bike in Europe :) Need some tune and some little updates though
I'm still intrigued by the 890 platform. I suppose it all get down to "what adventure rider are you"? Are you doing loads of highway miles, and pretty tame fire roads, or are you doing local single-track (or something in-between). The bikes are all pretty much great...and I think it's more about choosing the bike weight that aligns best with your use-case.
I'll take one of each!
The best bike is the one you got that dont belong to the bank !!!
A DEFINITE consideration and I have the $$,$$$ to get whatever. Been riding for 55+ years and had some adventures before it was "cool". It's a matter of what scratches your 2 wheel itch I guess. IF I wanted a newer machine the Aprilla would DEFINITELY be on the radar for reasons mentioned. I do my own wrenching so dealer distance isn't such an issue and for reliability "Aprilla in general" from what I can tell from the "tube" has been acceptable; better than KTM (oops). Current: Gen1 KLR (modified), 01 DRZ400E (off-road version), 72 Kawa h2, Mach IV.
You didn't consider the KTM 690 / Husky 701? I have a 701, and it is an absolute weapon. It easily cruises at 100mph and can handle single track without issue. It's also light compared to any other mid weight ADV. I have no problem picking mine up, fully loaded, multiple times a day. I recently did a 10,000km trip and it was flawless.
Hey Jay, my biggest concern on the 690 was how it would do on highway/interstates. The service intervals look great, it's pretty light-weight, and seems super capable...
I know I'll be traveling on the bike a fair amount, and felt I didn't want to make the compromise there, so I ended up compromising on a machine with a little more street bias, but had to give up offroad performance.
Ride safe! 10,000km trip sounds awesome!
My 690 was exhausting on the freeway after just 40 minutes...its too light in windy conditions and not stable enough at speeds over 70 with decent knobbies.
I switched to a Triumph scrambler 1200 for the perfect compromise.
Jim, if you ever get the chance, ride a 690 ER on the highway. With a windscreen its more stable than you’d expect, and its infinitely better on the dirt than any of the middleweight ADVs. I went from a multistrada to a dr650 (for the same reasons u mentioned about the harley), and with a windscreen its fine on hwy for long trips (2+ hours). Best to take motorcycle side roads anyway, regardless what u ride. On those its fantastic. That being said, id still rather go with an even lighter bike for trails.
Hey, what do you think of the tranny in your bike?
@@WhatTimeIsIt369 i have it set up for a blend of climbing steep trails and riding long stretches of the California highway at 80mph comfortably. It is doable but far from ideal. Ive got a few more revs than id like on the freeway in 5th but its not winding up the motor like smaller bikes (drz, klx300). At the same time i also wish it had a bit more torque in 1st for steep ascents. Id say it just barely works good enough, lol.
Picking up an adventure bike seems to me a very personal thing, they differ more than any type of bikes, all enduro bikes, sport bikes, even naked bikes are very similar. It's all-arounder for your personal preferences, some people don't want to go above the CRF 300 rally, some never ever go below 1290 SAR
Pavel - Well said
I thing the most common problem is the rider, not the motorcycle :)
so if im between the 890 adv r, and the Tuareg, and have a dealer of both companies within 10 miles of where I live, should I go for the 890? I like how it looks more than the Tuareg, and the extra $2000 is relatively minor when im spending $13000 anyway for the Tuareg at minimum.
The “looks” matters a lot (at least it does to me), so there’s that…
And really, either bike is going to be a really nice bike. It’s tough to go wrong with that decision, imo.
Yamaha needs to stop dancing around the fact that smaller does NOT mean cheaper. The Tenere lineup should have a 500cc in it that comes with a lower seat height (30''), dual rear fully adjustable shocks, lower gas tank and upscaled everything. Very few, over time, will accept a lower priced, smaller yet taller bike that's more top heavy, it just doesn't make any sense and the only people buying the Tenere 700 are those with money to literally burn. If they would just fit a smaller bike with more upscale parts they could even charge MORE for it than the 700 and sell more of them, especially in Asia. It could become their version of Honda's Super Cub which is the world's all-time best selling gas powered vehicle. They always go half way toward a great idea and then back off right in a place where everyone from every walk of life goes ''Wha? Why?''. It's obvious that you had your hopes up on the Yamaha and it's obvious you were let down, we all were.
intresting to see what you think of Aprilias reliability . . . . undeserved & repeated tagline . The Dealer network & parts availability is the real headache
Where is that setting ; stunning backdrop , Love it
Hey Gixxis - Time will tell on reliability. So far, my experience has been good. Visiting groups, there appears to be a lot of broken shifter pivot bolts, so that's something to be aware of.
The is Douglas County, CO...just north of Deckers.
Ride Safe!
What is holding your phone in place even after a fall?? What kit do you use
I've been using Quad Locks. They work ok, but even with the anti-vibration mount, I've had my camera's image stabilization get borked up (just an FYI)
What? No RE Himalayan! Best small bike by far. I absolutely love mine. buuut my someday upgrade will be the Tuareg.
Tenere has a very old engine, in contrast , Tuareg have a new and better engine. Regarding the reliability , Tuareg could be better than Tenere, we don't have the data yet. So stop saying that it is not reliable.
The BMW 310? ppp!
I looked at all those other bikes except the Honda. I chose the KTM 390 Adv because of the weight. Gawd is it light! Its price is fantastic too. I didn't see me riding up near 12,000 feet anytime too soon living here in New Orleans and as long as I avoided large logs and boulders, I figured the ground clearance issue could be mitigated. She is fast, full of adjustability and the lowest most comfortable seating position of those bikes ... for me. I'm 6'-0" and my feet sit almost flat and confidently on the ground. Yeah, most of my riding is solo and the fact that I can man-handle the KTM's 350# so easily was a winner for me.
But dude! That Tuareg is pretty. 450# is still a lot, but better than the Harley for sure. BTW, I think the Harley is great. The MoCo did a fantastic job first time around.
Thanks for the vid, hope to meet you out there some day, be careful.
S
I'm glad you like the KTM 390Adv...I had started to consider that as a possibility again (very solid choice!). Really looking forward to warmer weather here. I drove thru LA last week, and hopefully it was a short-lived cold snap.
if you call Tuareg a compromise, you should come up with particular reasons on why. What reliability issues are you referring too? Sounds to me like people keep repeating some tails they heard from others over and over again instead of providing their feedback based on personal experience. Just FYI, the Tuareg was called Bike Of The Year in 2022 for a reason. I own one. It is more reliable that Honda CRF450RL that I owned before, more reliable than KTM, and, attention, is manufactured in Italy in comparison with, let's say BMW F850GS, whose engines have been outsourced to China. It is a beautiful nimble bike that delivers a beautiful roar and an amazing linear torque. The compromise word could only come from Halrley owner in this case really bc Harleys. obviously, are the best. Right?
It’s a great bike, lots of fun!
660 Aprilia hands down best out there
🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@skazma1199 it is in the middleweights
"I was concerned about reliability, I bought a first year Italian bike..."
I would love to have a PanAmerica for touring, but hard to pay the price. I don't really do any off road riding. I would think it would be too heavy. I really like the Aprilia, but closest dealer is 100 miles.
For touring, between the Tuareg and the Pan America, I'd go Pan America. The semi-active suspension is super nice, along with the power...and the list goes on and on. However, you're right. It is a heavier bike than the Tuareg.
thats what i exactly think about each bike.
Great minds ;)
Great bike but totally overpriced in South Africa. Is even more expensive than KTM 890 Adventure here, almost 30% more expensive than T7.
Yikes! Yes, that seems pretty crazy. I have no idea how international pricing, import/export, and tariffs work…but that pricing would make it difficult to choose the Aprilia :/
Ride safe man!
I’ve had a KTM 790 since 2019 and it now has 15,000 trouble free miles on the ODO. Have a 2016 690 with almost 10k on the ODO. A 2014 KTM 350 EXC with over 1,500 on the ODO that I use for single track only. I also had a 2014 KTM 1190 that I put 8,500 trouble miles on before electing to go smaller. Bottom line, I think the KTM reliability issues are over blown. Put that 660 on the scale with a full tank and post your findings. I’d be interested in knowing what it really weights. All bikes I’ve had weigh more than what’s advertised. Examples my 690r is 358 with fluids and a small tool bag. It’s supposed to be 330. My 790 Adventure with fluids and no bags is 475. It’s supposed to be 450.
I'd have to say the KTM unreliable comments are valid. I've owned about 20 KTM's and friends all own them. Fun they are but reliability isn't their strong point. The stories I could tell you with issues would probably shock you, and that is just out direct group of riding friends.
Sorry to hear about your experiences with KTM. I’ve owned six KTMs total and that’s not been my experience. I also have buddies who ride KTMs. One of them has had many more than I and he’s not had any issues either.
The engine chain sprocket placement shaft (very high up in the motorblock) is unique to the T700. It makes it drive in a "very easy to control way".
Aprilia 660 vs yamaha T700 reliability, warranty,... are the only things that would keep me from getting an Aprilia
Anyone other has opinions about these 2 bikes?
Of course my friend. Yamaha is a legend in the world toughest terrain and racetracks at any riding styles. Reliability+ Goes my vote to the Yamaha, service, and parts so you can upgrade to the finest your own warhorse. Aprilia neighbors are experimenting this adv world, pricey , and the absent of a simple oil level window. 80 HP is quite good but you don't need a bunch of horses to cross the world. The T7 can ripped off those sand dunes and eat dirt where no other can handle, and go places even a GS cannot. That's my opinion but if you got the money, go do it.
Supposed reliability isn't enough for me to pick Yamaha or Honda. The T700 is about the same weight as 890 Adventure, 20 less horsepower and no special electronics. And I can't read that lcd meter. And tube type wheels on the Yamaha. I have had the KTM 390 Adventure for a year with no problems. I have had 3 Aprilias for several years with no problems.
I’m not sure about whether you test rode these bikes or simply write them off based upon what other people said? I think that you probably could have widened your search to include things like the KTM 690 Super Enduro, Suzuki DRZ400 and Yamaha WR250, but I hope that you enjoy the Aprilia and don’t have too many offs.
in what world is the wr250r and the ktm690 in the same boat!? i have owned/own both.....
Interested
Logical and pragmatic approach to bike selection. The Tuareg is a well engineered well designed nike that seems to hit all the high notes. I would however, put the Tuareg reliability as a question mark even though that 660 motor has been out for a while and with very few issues. Best of luck with your choice
Andrew - I would agree. While my Tuono 660 was problem free, that doesn’t necessarily translate over to the Tuareg. We’ll see how it goes over the next year.
Ride Safe!
Now at 15k on my Tuareg, not a single issue
Love it!
Would love the Aprilia but it cost 30% more than the T7 in DK
Yikes!
That's a bit of a premium. It's nice to get a few 'extras' like ride modes, cruise, etc...but that's a heck of a premium
Why did you not consider the Ktm 690adv r?
MrBeracah - In my case, the biggest reason the 690 Enduro wasn't on the list was the amount of time I'll need to spend on highways/interstates. I was VERY interested in that bike...but live too far from dirt/trails to make that level of compromise.
Any bike is really a balance of all the compromises we make I suppose.
Thanks for the question.
Ride Safe!
Interested if you thought of the Honda crf450rl or crf300 rally or even the XR650- if you want to lean towards the dirt the XR650 is a legend.
God only knows Noraly Schumaker has proven the crf300 rally a tough and durable bike. The other bikes I seem to see chosen a lot lately is the Norden 901 and the Africa twin. ( but I’d probably call those big Adv bikes too)
Noraly is such an inspiration! Love her channel.
I did look at the crf450, but the service intervals are pretty aggressive (I think ~600 miles per oil change).
Noraly has proven the crf300 rally can go the distance, but I think my use-case (and size) really would limit how I could use the 300. I'll be doing plenty of Interstate/Highway miles, and really wanted something that would feel planted and be comfortable.
Ride Safe!
@@exploready well thought out answer. I’ve decided to subscribe. See how your adventures go..
@@Surly1966 Thanks for choosing to spend some time on the channel!
The Tuareg 660 is the superior bike. It is totally new, and means a few niggles, which I am sure will be ironed out by Aprilia to gain undeniable top position in the segment.
David, the Pan America also has had its share of niggles, but the Aprilia looks to have a lot less (fingers crossed). Looking forward to getting out and exploring.
Ride Safe!
Keep dreaming! LMAO! It's an Italian built motorcycle! Never going to happen even though all you guys keep hoping for it.
@@josefmd I'm always the optimist, but if things go south, I'll also be the realist and share my experience.😀
@@exploready It would be nice if the Japanese made a bike with the features of the Tuareg 660, but they don't. Italians build Ferraris, and Ducati's, all of which have their virtues, and the Japanese don't. Sometimes you have to sacrifice some reliability for something that gives you more pleasure, and fits you better.
I've owned various Japanese bikes and more Ducati's and Aprilia's and have NEVER had any reliability issues and never hesitate to commute or take a long trip, common sense maintenance goes a long way. If you're getting into these bikes with parts availability complaints then you haven't done your proper homework, but I'm fine with that, as the reliability is great I'm not worried about the parts, that's why you have another bike in the garage to ride 😆
ktm 1190r love it have not put a spanner on it
So Pan America over a GS? And Aprilia with the great dealer network?? Good video nonetheless brother
Mr. GS - The adaptive ride height on the Pan America was a huge deal to me. I'm still super impressed by how well that system works. I started ADV riding on a KTM 390 Adventure, but had a lot going against me (new discipline, trying trails WAY too hard for me, seat height). I was really looking for something that put me a little closer to the ground.
Time will tell for the Aprilia's reliability...(but fingers crossed).
Ride Safe!
@@exploready I was on the same boat when I bought my GS. I got it with low suspension and never looked back. Reliability was an issue over a KTM but would buy a Africa twin if wasn’t a short stack🤣🤣
Pity it likes to drop exhaust valve seats.
Norden 901 ??
hello, i have heard the same about the tuareg regarding reliability
What model of KTM are you riding?
@@exploready KTM 790 Adventure 2023
Nice review.. you are confusing more power = means better performance offroad. aka there are no reason to believe that Ducati Dealer X is more offroad capable, then Tuareg. Heavier and more power = more work offroad.
It wont beat any of em when, not if, its broken on the side of the road
I like the Aprilia but I wouldn't choose it over the T7, just from a reliability standpoint.
It was easier for me where I live to get a tenere 700 than it is for aprillia anything
Gabriel, that's awesome! Availability is incredibly hit or miss everywhere.
@@exploready I live in Bonners ferry idaho and the only aprillia dealer is in Seattle and there is 10 yamaha dealers within 100 mile radius
Spent several months looking at mid Adv Bikes and on paper Aprilia is in first position. Being a new bike with very limited dealerships and sales I just cant reach for the wallet, yet. A used 890 is in close 2nd. Yes, reliability can be an issue with KTM. But it seems that common issues are known as compared to unknown. And their are a lot of 790/890 on the road compared to 660's. What I really want is a mid African Twin. A reliable, lighter, less expensive version of an AT. Transalp? I guess we may know soon...
RidemFast - Hopefully the Tuareg will be pretty solid. I rode a 2021 Aprilia Tuono 660 (same engine), and didn't have any problems with the bike...but my 1 experience isn't really statistically significant.
There were a few used KTM 790s here, but they're asking as much as the new Tuareg was :(
I'm also interested to see what Honda releases at EICMA. There's also a rumor that HD will debut a smaller Pan America as well.
Good luck on your search. I'll be updating my ownership experience as I ride.
Ride Safe!
What we really need, is a Honda CRF 450/500 L Rally
@@crazyosva That may be the next choice. For now a 2020 701 is working out very well!
Why not get something like an EXC to learn offroad skills on?
That looks like a blast, I just need something I can ride from the house (and ideally has less aggressive service intervals). In the future, if I end up with a van or truck…a far more dirt-oriented bike may be the ticket
Ride safe!
@@exploready They are street legal, but the service intervals are different from shall I say the "more casual" bikes
T7 is the king of enduro bike with basic setups, great riding balance and feelings and bulletproof engine and chase and cheap to ride for....if u are short and soft enduro rider tuareg make you happy with electronic toys but still ???
For me, the inclusion of cruise control is a big deal, but we all have our different decision making criteria.
Are you riding s T7 currently (great bike)?
@@exploready yes riding T7 now 29k
@@gezginendurocu 29k!? Nice man!
those light weight adv bikes you looked at, are by any means off-road bikes...at all!!
Aprilia does not have the best reputation in terms of reliability and decent dealers. I have had experience with Piaggio. Be warned.
This is my second Aprilia, so far so good (time will tell). The lack of dealers sucks. There's 3 within about 45 minutes of my location, but that doesn't help much when traveling.
Ride safe!
7:20 - reliability - bingo. That's my only misgiving with this one. It ticks every other box. But damn it - reliability is such a big box to not tick. Especially with such a small number of dealers. Also - a related issue - parts availability. A friend has had a clutch lever and hand-guard on order for 5 months now. I mean, c'mon. What the hell.
Unfunny Username #389 - Both great points. Reliability is still a question. Parts availability really isn't...as you've pointed out...which is a big frustration (especially when new bikes are still being produced, so there's seemingly enough parts for production).
Hopefully your friend gets his clutch lever and hand-guard soon. 5 months is ridiculous, especially considering how spectacularly the hand-guards shatter.
I have a left hand-guard (Martian Red) sitting in the garage. Hit me up if that will help him out.
Ride safe!
@@exploready Thanks - for both the review, and the offer.
I've been waiting for a year now for oem crashbars from ktm. I'm also waiting for 6 months now for ktm handguards. Ktm 1290 sas 2021 model.
Never again a ktm.
Triumph 900 Rally pro
Right on!
@@exploready Definitely a choice. In today's world don't get too myopic or brand loyal, things change; you could miss out!!!