Hey - just found your channel while searching for Taureg long-term reviews. I'm going down the Taureg vs Transalp rabbit hole, and I'm leaning towards the Aprilia. Liked and subscribed. 👍
Hey Jacob, thanks for the long-term review. Sounds like for the most part it’s a reliable bike, but then you may have that moderate defect that can have it in the shop for six weeks because you’re waiting on parts. Also, not good news that Aprilia fought you on the warranty. Thank you for your honest review because it helps those of us that are considering the purchase go in with our eyes wide open, if we decide to do it.
Hello there, don't be mad about a bearing, my old BMW F800GS needed fresh bearings every 20k km (about 12k miles) and I happily used it up to 100k km, now it belongs to a friend of mine.
Really impressive mileage in that time. You are certainly a very genuine user of this bike, probably more than anyone. I love your reviews and thank you so much. From UK
Pretty darn positive experience review, a problem or two not withstanding. And impressive challenges you've thrown at it. Wasn't sure you were still riding it judging from one of the last videos you did, so glad to see and hear this one. Great to hear your enthusiasm for this moto is still fresh. Thanks.
I had one and really enjoyed it but found that it had a few issues - wouldn't shift at times. I sold it mostly because it is still a heavy bike versus my CRF 450L and my use case didn't justify it. Still a lot of bike for the money and a good value.
Bearings can fail if the have had water in the mix. Sometimes high pressure cleaning can be detrimental. River crossing etc. Always check your bearings at each tyre change. Often an easy simple and quick job to replace them.
There is no doubt the Tuareg 660 is a great bike. The only real question remained on the durability and reliability over time. Hopefully you continue to experience good things with the bike and they remain a great mid-weight option for people.
one of the few with miles on the bike and telling us about it, wheel bearings I get your frustration but usually a cheap and easy fix by yourself. my 05 GS1200 front bearings did well over a 120 thousand miles thats pretty amazing to me, rear bearings lasted past over a 100 but they are a major job to change and expensive as a part of the final drive one is BMW only part the other SKF, all bearings and seals over £250 now.. Thanks for the vids. that is one good vid spot your a lucky guy if thats local.
The Tuareg 660 is the best middleweight ADV bike on the market right now, and seems very reliable. Unlike its japanese competirors, all components are top shelf stuff. By the time I reached 16,000 miles on my Africa Twin 1000, I had already replaced two wheel bearings, fuel tank, fuel pump, had multiple intermittent issues with the screen, leaky forks (not fixed under warranty) and significant rust on every frame joint, rims, discs. Adjusting the valves clearance was also extremely expensive, actually more expensive than a Ducati desmo service
@@joseanlehu8311 I don't own an Africa Twin, but I have been doing some research on it, the Tuareg, and the Norden 901 because I'm thinking of buying one of these. I have seen on AT forums multiple documented cases of the issues mentioned, sadly.
Have fun in Italy. Hard not to in my opinion. I will keep a look out for the wheel bearing issue. Mine has low miles still and is itching to get on the trail soon. However, Colorado Winter keeps fighting back at Spring. I currently am waiting for a fuel sending unit from Aprilia. It appears this is a relatively common fault. Fuel gauge continues to flash. Dealer tried new software with no effect. Hopefully it will arrive soon? Sadly your Jaguar comment is likely to be pretty accurate. Grrrr. I still love mine as well and no regrets.
I appreciate your efforts and candidness. It's refreshing when you consider the other 'professional reviewers' who are flown into places like Portugal to 'test' manufacturer's new models, wined and dined and pampered to flog their bikes after a day of riding. Shameless Shills. From what I can gather it's a good bike but the dealerships are far and few between here in North America and Aprilia hasn't quite developed the level of customer satisfaction that the leading Japanese and other European brands have and that's disappointing. If the Tuareg sales fail its because of Aprilia and not motorcycle customers. Again, thanks for your video posts.
With any Euro, you'll be sitting there waiting for parts - long time. I bought Japanese bike for back-up. It's a fantastic bike, and I won't be sitting there on a lovely summer day, wondering when, if ever, I'll be ready to race again.
The bearing failure is interesting and a bit scary. Since I am sure the bearings it uses are standard size and mass produced, it is extremely unlikely the quality of the bearings themselves are the root issue. It’s more likely parallel or angular misalignment in the hub or something causing premature wear, which is kind of scary IF true. Would be very shotty QC
It would be almost impossible to fit a wheel bearing on an angle without damaging the much softer aluminium hub although it might be possible to not have the wheel bearing seated properly and this might cause premature wear. The bearings are a standard size like you say, but quality varies greatly across manufacturers and this is most likely the cause of the problem rather than fitment in my experience. I would also change the bearings myself and ignore the warranty. Good quality bearings are very easily available and quick to fit. Instead of a month and a half of complaining and time and hiring trailers etc you could have had them fitted for $20 and an hour of your time. That gets my vote every time.
@@cyclerecon3750 Good advice. There's a bearing house in every major city around here. (East Texas) Cheap Chinese bearings have caused several issues with my equipment. 2009 caddie front hub bearing, F250 hub bearing, boat trailer bearings. Went to Timken bearings for all purposes. Cost more but I hate double work. Stock Timkens in my 1999 Ultra, but those are serviceable, re-shim and grease.
Hi Jacob, thanks for keeping us all up to date with your candid reviews. After research, the Tuareg 660 is my first choice for my next ADV bike. I ride the bike around Colorado where I live, on and off road, on road to get there and back and off road for the fun and camping. I also plan to ride more BDRs in the west and want to do the big trip to Ushuaia. My biggest concern as it is a new bike is the reliability and access to parts and service on the long trip. There are several dealers in Colorado, so no issue here, even on some of the BDRs like Wyoming which doesn't have an Aprilia dealer to my knowledge, it wouldn't be a huge issue. But going through central and south America is concerning. Knowing what you know would you make this trip with the Tuareg? Great name by the way...😉 Anybody else on this thread have long term experience with Aprilias?
The bike is a blast to ride and feels very light and sporty. I’m looking into the COBDR, maybe headed out that way this year. I’m sure the bike would make it just fine on a big trip like that. With any bike, you just never know what might happen or when. It is difficult getting certain parts for the bike, absolutely.
It's a great bike, its everything one needs actually. My biggest concern is purchase price compared to other bikes, price of parts and lack of an extensive Aprilia dealer network where I live. And then long term 3-4 years/50 000 km reliability and maintenance cost. But it's still an awesome bike
I’ve been scouring for info on these bikes. I’m a Washington native and have been cross shopping with this bike to go with my DR650. Aprilia’s network is so small here it makes me nervous.
It's nice that they repaired the wheel bearing under warranty. I can't blame that failure on Aprilia though. It is very possible that an odd substandard bearing was used in manufacturing. A misaligned axle could be at fault. Who knows?
Hey Jacob, it's Joaquin here... Met you in Yellow Pine. IM me if your heading this way this summer. I am doing a month to Phoenix then up the AZBDR, UTBDR, Montana starting in first week of May.
Awesome! I have your number still, I’ll hit you up if I head that way. Let me know if you’re ever in WA. I forgot if you have a dirt bike, if so lots of great mountain single tracks here.
Could you tell us a bit about why Aprilia didn't want to cover the rear wheel bearing? Very concerning. I have been thinking about a '23 but with all the little issues I am not sure if it would hold up to the long routes such as the BDR's and long distance road/camping trips. A break down in Wyoming or...would make life difficult.
On my honda rear wheel bearing went south at 30k km so really not a specific to Italian brands. BTW this is like 1 hour job and few euros for parts, better use aftermarket bearing anyway.
sadly, wheel bearings are something - on a new bike especially - that you should check straight away - to make sure that the factory provided enough grease in there...often, this isn't the case -for italian AND japanese bikes.....but all good - you got thru it. I have a Tuareg too. It rocks.
well gee, Wayne, clearly sealed bearings cant be inspected...but pivot points, shafts and non-sealed bearings can be...and if peeps have the time and inclination, having a good ole inspection of the new bike lets you know how much attention was paid to details.....I've noticed quite some differences over the years. Thanks for your prompt to clarify.@@waynerasmus2854
Honestly I'm not sure. I understand bearings are a wearing item, but for an ADV bike I've never had them go bad so quickly. Not sure if you've watched any of the new vids, the Tuareg's motor blew up. The right piston became disconnected from the crank shaft... :(
@@PNW.Voyager No I didn't!!!! Wow. I'm out. T7 it is for me. I ride a Sherco 300 with over 500 hours and never replaced a single bearing. My KTM buddies replace them all the time.
@@PNW.Voyager thanks, I just saw your other video describing the cam problem. Pretty concerning since there seems to be only one Aprilia dealer in Washington
Hey Jacob, do you have to wait month for all the parts? If I were riding to Alaska and I had bearing problems like you, would I have to wait months for parts? Would I be SOL, stranded miles from home? I'd love to get a Tuareg, but that seems like a deal breaker....
@@PNW.Voyager Thanks, man. Really appreciate it. That's a bit scary. Makes the adventure a little bit more of an adventure than I'd care for. You'd have to be brave to ride around the world on one of these things...
Correct me if I'm wrong: we're talking about a bearing that costs 20 to 50$ OEM and could probably be replaced within 30 minutes with any bearing as long as the 3 dimensions match (30x62x16mm)... and you decided to make a 6-week story out of it and probably paid more for U-Haul transportation. Or am I missing something? ))
At the time you were unable to purchase aftermarket bearings. OEM bearings were also not able to be ordered. The bearings came from a brand new Tuareg from a box to install in my bike and the dealer had to have an express shipment sent for the boxed Tuareg. It was the only way to get this bearing set last year.
@@PNW.Voyager sounds like a very "dealer" way of solving problems. My point was that I don't know for sure but I doubt a lot that another Aprilia/KTM/BMW/Honda etc don't have bearing matches (=tuareg has a unique diameter/width for some reason).
Thanks for the candid update! I’m looking to upgrade from a KLR and this one’s on the short list. By the way, is that North Fork Rd you’re standing on? Cheers!
Thanks for the update. I've got one on order and reliability is only remaining question I had. Could water crossing have contributed? I do a lot of creek small river crossings.
That’s exciting! Yes, water crossings and high pressure washing can lead to failures. I will definitely be replacing the wheel bearings more often on this bike. You can find replacement kits from sites like AF1 Racing. My heavy weight bikes still have original bearings both with almost 100k miles. :o
Hi, I'm in japan where parts may take a some time to ship. But there are 2 dealers withing about 1hr of my home in tokyo. I don't have a car and only can part 1 bike. Would you trust this bike to get you to and from work 5 days a week?
Hi, I probably would go with a Tenere 700 if you are wanting to ride with only one bike. Specialty parts can take many months to ship. I love riding the Tuareg, find a cheap back up bike! :-)
I’m about 6’4. There are aftermarket high seat options available. I don’t mind the stock seat, it’s comfortable and you sit down in the bike for cruising. I’m usually standing 99% of the time off road.
That is unfortunately typical "Italian warranty", they just don't care about warranty. I had broken part after 4 days of ownership (Moto Morini) and they just refused to accept it as warranty claim. It was so absurd, that the dealer paid it from his own money... Similar approach with Moto Guzzi. Everything is also veeeery slow.
Great question, you can get up to 50k-100k out out of the bearings as seen on my BMW GS motorbikes. Just keep an eye on the front and rear wheel, you will notice there will be a bit of play in the wheel from side to side when the bearings are going bad. For a dirt bike, it's more common to replace vs adventure bikes.
My KTM 1090 Adv R needs a new rubber gasket for the front tire (guy who had it before me turned it to tube, dunno why), they are not going to ship till August... I think everything is just bonkers thanks to stupid government decisions. I bought a Beta 300 RR Race Edition, and dude it is so nice you should check it out.
@@dylansheldon4913 16 subscribers and 4 videos yupp! im sad and lonely :( So I watch alooooot of bike videos, and I know what im talking about :) I also work with mc:s. So I stand my ground, this was a really shitty "review".
The Tuareg for sure. The Norden is not great off road, but very nice on the street. I felt they have a very heavy front end, the Tuareg is much more flickable off road
Hey Jacob, quick question do you struggle putting the bike into neutral? I just purchased the 2023 model and it seems to be a challenge going into neutral Not sure if I should adjust the clutch cable or take it back to the dealership
Hi Rene, I’ve not had any trouble with my clutch and neutral. I would take it back to the dealer and have them look into it. It may need a slight adjustment.
When I picked mine from the dealer's I also noticed similar problem. I was very surprised and even started to adjust the clutch cable right away, which by the way didn't help at all. In the end the problem 100% fixed itself when I put a dozen of miles on my bike. My guess is that the oil just got properly distributed all over the clutch and gearbox.
The real question is - $12500 for one of these or $14000 for the new KTM 890 Adventure. I'd probably go KTM just because I have a dealer down the road and also because KTM...
The 890 R is an awesome bike! The Tuareg still fits my body type much better, it's like a tall Dakar bike. The 890 even with handle bar risers is still a bit awkward for me standing and I don't have much to grab with my legs being a taller rider (around 6'4). The 890s cockpit is completely different vs the Tuareg. Still, you will find the 890 has awesome power and also have the benefit of having easy access to accessories and parts. Cheers
@@Gofr5 I did but went a different route. Picked up a 2013 R1200GS to compliment my CRF450L. Both the Tuareg and the 890 had too many shortcomings for me personally.
Hi Jacob, why do you mention it is not a one-only multipurpose bike for a rider?? It is because the pricey maintenance or the stock spares problem or any other thing I’m missing out 🤔? Thanks for videos !
Hi Leon, the Tuareg is a great all round middleweight adventure bike for on and off road! The power is also enough for freeway travel when covering long distances.
2 things. Wheel bearing failure at 16k miles is NOT normal for any bike. I put 40k HARD off-road miles on a super tenere with zero problems. Also I bet you are left handed?? Most people crash on the left side which is a reflection of most of the population being right handed. Just a thought.
Dude… Bearings are not “Aprilia” parts, without exception “universal” open market parts such as bearings are sourced to a specification from outside vendors. Dumping on Piaggio for a failed bearing is asinine. Now how you were treated regarding the warranty repair process you had to endure is well worth the effort to complain about failure to meet expectations.
What an incredible backdrop! Thanks for sharing!
Hey - just found your channel while searching for Taureg long-term reviews. I'm going down the Taureg vs Transalp rabbit hole, and I'm leaning towards the Aprilia. Liked and subscribed. 👍
Aprilia is tubeless which is a huge plus...
Hopefully you save yourself the headache and just get a tenere 700
Hey Jacob, thanks for the long-term review. Sounds like for the most part it’s a reliable bike, but then you may have that moderate defect that can have it in the shop for six weeks because you’re waiting on parts. Also, not good news that Aprilia fought you on the warranty. Thank you for your honest review because it helps those of us that are considering the purchase go in with our eyes wide open, if we decide to do it.
Hello there, don't be mad about a bearing, my old BMW F800GS needed fresh bearings every 20k km (about 12k miles) and I happily used it up to 100k km, now it belongs to a friend of mine.
Really impressive mileage in that time. You are certainly a very genuine user of this bike, probably more than anyone. I love your reviews and thank you so much. From UK
Thank you!
Pretty darn positive experience review, a problem or two not withstanding. And impressive challenges you've thrown at it. Wasn't sure you were still riding it judging from one of the last videos you did, so glad to see and hear this one. Great to hear your enthusiasm for this moto is still fresh. Thanks.
Thanks for this, and your previous reviews. Really helpful. Just bought one, and so far so good….. !
Hey Jacob, what a back drop!!!! Man O Man that is a helluva view.... Thanks for the videos and look forward to the next. Safe travels!
That is best motorcycle review background I've ever seen! Thanks for the honest review. (edited typo 'review')
I had one and really enjoyed it but found that it had a few issues - wouldn't shift at times. I sold it mostly because it is still a heavy bike versus my CRF 450L and my use case didn't justify it. Still a lot of bike for the money and a good value.
Bearings can fail if the have had water in the mix.
Sometimes high pressure cleaning can be detrimental.
River crossing etc.
Always check your bearings at each tyre change.
Often an easy simple and quick job to replace them.
Also get quality (SKF) ones if you replace bearings.
from 100 miles south, thanks for the review. Thinking of one as a stablemate with an Africa Twin.
There is no doubt the Tuareg 660 is a great bike. The only real question remained on the durability and reliability over time. Hopefully you continue to experience good things with the bike and they remain a great mid-weight option for people.
one of the few with miles on the bike and telling us about it, wheel bearings I get your frustration but usually a cheap and easy fix by yourself. my 05 GS1200 front bearings did well over a 120 thousand miles thats pretty amazing to me, rear bearings lasted past over a 100 but they are a major job to change and expensive as a part of the final drive one is BMW only part the other SKF, all bearings and seals over £250 now.. Thanks for the vids. that is one good vid spot your a lucky guy if thats local.
The Tuareg 660 is the best middleweight ADV bike on the market right now, and seems very reliable. Unlike its japanese competirors, all components are top shelf stuff.
By the time I reached 16,000 miles on my Africa Twin 1000, I had already replaced two wheel bearings, fuel tank, fuel pump, had multiple intermittent issues with the screen, leaky forks (not fixed under warranty) and significant rust on every frame joint, rims, discs. Adjusting the valves clearance was also extremely expensive, actually more expensive than a Ducati desmo service
I think your comment is out of place, I have not seen anyone with that kind of problem with an Africa T.
@@joseanlehu8311 maybe some guy from a company with A :)
If you want reliability, get a T7
@@joseanlehu8311 I don't own an Africa Twin, but I have been doing some research on it, the Tuareg, and the Norden 901 because I'm thinking of buying one of these. I have seen on AT forums multiple documented cases of the issues mentioned, sadly.
Nice lil review from a fellow PNW'er. Thank!
Have fun in Italy. Hard not to in my opinion. I will keep a look out for the wheel bearing issue. Mine has low miles still and is itching to get on the trail soon. However, Colorado Winter keeps fighting back at Spring. I currently am waiting for a fuel sending unit from Aprilia. It appears this is a relatively common fault. Fuel gauge continues to flash. Dealer tried new software with no effect. Hopefully it will arrive soon? Sadly your Jaguar comment is likely to be pretty accurate. Grrrr. I still love mine as well and no regrets.
I appreciate your efforts and candidness. It's refreshing when you consider the other 'professional reviewers' who are flown into places like Portugal to 'test' manufacturer's new models, wined and dined and pampered to flog their bikes after a day of riding. Shameless Shills. From what I can gather it's a good bike but the dealerships are far and few between here in North America and Aprilia hasn't quite developed the level of customer satisfaction that the leading Japanese and other European brands have and that's disappointing. If the Tuareg sales fail its because of Aprilia and not motorcycle customers. Again, thanks for your video posts.
With any Euro, you'll be sitting there waiting for parts - long time. I bought Japanese bike for back-up. It's a fantastic bike, and I won't be sitting there on a lovely summer day, wondering when, if ever, I'll be ready to race again.
The bearing failure is interesting and a bit scary. Since I am sure the bearings it uses are standard size and mass produced, it is extremely unlikely the quality of the bearings themselves are the root issue. It’s more likely parallel or angular misalignment in the hub or something causing premature wear, which is kind of scary IF true. Would be very shotty QC
I agree. Definitely could be a hub issue. Love the bike.
It would be almost impossible to fit a wheel bearing on an angle without damaging the much softer aluminium hub although it might be possible to not have the wheel bearing seated properly and this might cause premature wear. The bearings are a standard size like you say, but quality varies greatly across manufacturers and this is most likely the cause of the problem rather than fitment in my experience.
I would also change the bearings myself and ignore the warranty. Good quality bearings are very easily available and quick to fit. Instead of a month and a half of complaining and time and hiring trailers etc you could have had them fitted for $20 and an hour of your time. That gets my vote every time.
@@cyclerecon3750 Good advice. There's a bearing house in every major city around here. (East Texas) Cheap Chinese bearings have caused several issues with my equipment. 2009 caddie front hub bearing, F250 hub bearing, boat trailer bearings. Went to Timken bearings for all purposes. Cost more but I hate double work. Stock Timkens in my 1999 Ultra, but those are serviceable, re-shim and grease.
@@cyclerecon3750 Exactly my thoughts. The video poster seems like a city slicker who doesn't want to get his hands dirty.
Really useful review / update. Many thanks for taking the time to upload it. Great scenery you have there too! Ride safe mate
Hi Jacob, thanks for keeping us all up to date with your candid reviews. After research, the Tuareg 660 is my first choice for my next ADV bike. I ride the bike around Colorado where I live, on and off road, on road to get there and back and off road for the fun and camping. I also plan to ride more BDRs in the west and want to do the big trip to Ushuaia. My biggest concern as it is a new bike is the reliability and access to parts and service on the long trip. There are several dealers in Colorado, so no issue here, even on some of the BDRs like Wyoming which doesn't have an Aprilia dealer to my knowledge, it wouldn't be a huge issue. But going through central and south America is concerning. Knowing what you know would you make this trip with the Tuareg? Great name by the way...😉 Anybody else on this thread have long term experience with Aprilias?
The bike is a blast to ride and feels very light and sporty. I’m looking into the COBDR, maybe headed out that way this year. I’m sure the bike would make it just fine on a big trip like that. With any bike, you just never know what might happen or when. It is difficult getting certain parts for the bike, absolutely.
Yeah that’s along time to wait for plastics shrouds. I did a fall on my translap and needed new shroud. Two weeks and had new parts.
It's a great bike, its everything one needs actually. My biggest concern is purchase price compared to other bikes, price of parts and lack of an extensive Aprilia dealer network where I live. And then long term 3-4 years/50 000 km reliability and maintenance cost. But it's still an awesome bike
Thanks for the update!
I’ve been scouring for info on these bikes. I’m a Washington native and have been cross shopping with this bike to go with my DR650. Aprilia’s network is so small here it makes me nervous.
It's nice that they repaired the wheel bearing under warranty. I can't blame that failure on Aprilia though. It is very possible that an odd substandard bearing was used in manufacturing. A misaligned axle could be at fault. Who knows?
Hey Jacob, it's Joaquin here... Met you in Yellow Pine. IM me if your heading this way this summer. I am doing a month to Phoenix then up the AZBDR, UTBDR, Montana starting in first week of May.
Awesome! I have your number still, I’ll hit you up if I head that way. Let me know if you’re ever in WA. I forgot if you have a dirt bike, if so lots of great mountain single tracks here.
Brroooo that background looks like a f@@king computer game
Bring your fam and come stay with me! Let’s do a lil brappin
@@PNW.Voyager
Background looks epic
Could you tell us a bit about why Aprilia didn't want to cover the rear wheel bearing? Very concerning. I have been thinking about a '23 but with all the little issues I am not sure if it would hold up to the long routes such as the BDR's and long distance road/camping trips. A break down in Wyoming or...would make life difficult.
On my honda rear wheel bearing went south at 30k km so really not a specific to Italian brands. BTW this is like 1 hour job and few euros for parts, better use aftermarket bearing anyway.
You said that you’re a really tall person, how about telling us how tall you are that way we get a better feel about what you’re talking about.
@@petertrout7866 6’3
I guess almost 7foot11 by the looks of it.
@@PNW.Voyager thanks!
I’m trying to decide between Tuareg 660 vs V Strom 800 DE Adventure (almost same price) maybe Suzuki will be more reliable and safe.
The new Vstrom is nice! They are a bit top heavy and more road orientated, but it’s a Suzuki so it will run forever. 😃
Thanks for review, when u say the rear wheel bearing exploded in the rear wheel did it lock up the rear wheel when it happened?
Guessing you have Alpinestars Tech 7s? Because I have the same pair and they are squeaky AF too. haha
Crossfire 3 :-)
sadly, wheel bearings are something - on a new bike especially - that you should check straight away - to make sure that the factory provided enough grease in there...often, this isn't the case -for italian AND japanese bikes.....but all good - you got thru it. I have a Tuareg too. It rocks.
Be interested to know how do you check a sealed wheel bearing for grease?
well gee, Wayne, clearly sealed bearings cant be inspected...but pivot points, shafts and non-sealed bearings can be...and if peeps have the time and inclination, having a good ole inspection of the new bike lets you know how much attention was paid to details.....I've noticed quite some differences over the years. Thanks for your prompt to clarify.@@waynerasmus2854
Pleased you still love your bike 😊 Italy? Vespa all the way Jacob 👍
Do you know what brand bearings they use? If they use low quality bearings in one area they probably do throughout the bike.
Honestly I'm not sure. I understand bearings are a wearing item, but for an ADV bike I've never had them go bad so quickly. Not sure if you've watched any of the new vids, the Tuareg's motor blew up. The right piston became disconnected from the crank shaft... :(
@@PNW.Voyager No I didn't!!!! Wow. I'm out. T7 it is for me. I ride a Sherco 300 with over 500 hours and never replaced a single bearing. My KTM buddies replace them all the time.
Thanks for the video. I'm thinking about getting a Tuareg 660. Do you still have this bike and how's the reliability now?
I do still have the bike it’s been at the dealer since the first week of December due to some cam wear issues, it was just finished last week.
@@PNW.Voyager thanks, I just saw your other video describing the cam problem. Pretty concerning since there seems to be only one Aprilia dealer in Washington
Was the chain ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY adjusted properly? No estimating, rotating the chain to ensure no tight spots? (Chains NEVER stretch evenly. )
Hey Jacob, do you have to wait month for all the parts? If I were riding to Alaska and I had bearing problems like you, would I have to wait months for parts? Would I be SOL, stranded miles from home? I'd love to get a Tuareg, but that seems like a deal breaker....
Yes, it took a little over a month to get the parts. I’m going to order some major things like bearings, clutch cable etc to have on standby.
@@PNW.Voyager Thanks, man. Really appreciate it. That's a bit scary. Makes the adventure a little bit more of an adventure than I'd care for. You'd have to be brave to ride around the world on one of these things...
Correct me if I'm wrong: we're talking about a bearing that costs 20 to 50$ OEM and could probably be replaced within 30 minutes with any bearing as long as the 3 dimensions match (30x62x16mm)... and you decided to make a 6-week story out of it and probably paid more for U-Haul transportation. Or am I missing something? ))
At the time you were unable to purchase aftermarket bearings. OEM bearings were also not able to be ordered. The bearings came from a brand new Tuareg from a box to install in my bike and the dealer had to have an express shipment sent for the boxed Tuareg. It was the only way to get this bearing set last year.
@@PNW.Voyager sounds like a very "dealer" way of solving problems. My point was that I don't know for sure but I doubt a lot that another Aprilia/KTM/BMW/Honda etc don't have bearing matches (=tuareg has a unique diameter/width for some reason).
Thanks for the candid update! I’m looking to upgrade from a KLR and this one’s on the short list. By the way, is that North Fork Rd you’re standing on? Cheers!
It is! Happy trails :-)
Thanks for the update. I've got one on order and reliability is only remaining question I had. Could water crossing have contributed? I do a lot of creek small river crossings.
That’s exciting! Yes, water crossings and high pressure washing can lead to failures. I will definitely be replacing the wheel bearings more often on this bike. You can find replacement kits from sites like AF1 Racing. My heavy weight bikes still have original bearings both with almost 100k miles. :o
Hi, I'm in japan where parts may take a some time to ship. But there are 2 dealers withing about 1hr of my home in tokyo.
I don't have a car and only can part 1 bike. Would you trust this bike to get you to and from work 5 days a week?
Hi, I probably would go with a Tenere 700 if you are wanting to ride with only one bike. Specialty parts can take many months to ship. I love riding the Tuareg, find a cheap back up bike! :-)
@@PNW.Voyager it’s this, ktm 790 or Honda Transalp. I just hate how Honda made the bike actively worse to save money
Hey, how tall are you if I may ask? I'm 6'3'' interested in the tuareg.
I’m about 6’4. There are aftermarket high seat options available. I don’t mind the stock seat, it’s comfortable and you sit down in the bike for cruising. I’m usually standing 99% of the time off road.
That is unfortunately typical "Italian warranty", they just don't care about warranty. I had broken part after 4 days of ownership (Moto Morini) and they just refused to accept it as warranty claim. It was so absurd, that the dealer paid it from his own money... Similar approach with Moto Guzzi. Everything is also veeeery slow.
How many km’s should the bearings be replaced roughly?
Great question, you can get up to 50k-100k out out of the bearings as seen on my BMW GS motorbikes. Just keep an eye on the front and rear wheel, you will notice there will be a bit of play in the wheel from side to side when the bearings are going bad. For a dirt bike, it's more common to replace vs adventure bikes.
Any updates?
My KTM 1090 Adv R needs a new rubber gasket for the front tire (guy who had it before me turned it to tube, dunno why), they are not going to ship till August... I think everything is just bonkers thanks to stupid government decisions.
I bought a Beta 300 RR Race Edition, and dude it is so nice you should check it out.
The new beta RR is sick!
The government has a policy regarding rubber gaskets for KTM wheels?
Good try of making a review video. 5/10 though! Im sure you will post better videos in the future. Hang in there
Lol, says the guy with 16 subscribers and 4 videos to his credit. Troll elsewhere mate
@@dylansheldon4913 16 subscribers and 4 videos yupp! im sad and lonely :(
So I watch alooooot of bike videos, and I know what im talking about :) I also work with mc:s. So I stand my ground, this was a really shitty "review".
Between this and Norden 902 expedition , which one would you get ???
The Tuareg for sure. The Norden is not great off road, but very nice on the street. I felt they have a very heavy front end, the Tuareg is much more flickable off road
Hey Jacob, quick question do you struggle putting the bike into neutral? I just purchased the 2023 model and it seems to be a challenge going into neutral Not sure if I should adjust the clutch cable or take it back to the dealership
Hi Rene, I’ve not had any trouble with my clutch and neutral. I would take it back to the dealer and have them look into it. It may need a slight adjustment.
When I picked mine from the dealer's I also noticed similar problem. I was very surprised and even started to adjust the clutch cable right away, which by the way didn't help at all. In the end the problem 100% fixed itself when I put a dozen of miles on my bike. My guess is that the oil just got properly distributed all over the clutch and gearbox.
I had trouble finding neutral on brand new Tuareg too, but it settled down in the first 500 Km and is flawless since. Hope yours settled too.
The real question is - $12500 for one of these or $14000 for the new KTM 890 Adventure. I'd probably go KTM just because I have a dealer down the road and also because KTM...
The 890 R is an awesome bike! The Tuareg still fits my body type much better, it's like a tall Dakar bike. The 890 even with handle bar risers is still a bit awkward for me standing and I don't have much to grab with my legs being a taller rider (around 6'4). The 890s cockpit is completely different vs the Tuareg. Still, you will find the 890 has awesome power and also have the benefit of having easy access to accessories and parts.
Cheers
Did you make a decision here? I'm currently trying to settle between a Tuareg and Norden 901 as well. Mostly for road commuting/fun/touring use.
@@Gofr5 I did but went a different route. Picked up a 2013 R1200GS to compliment my CRF450L. Both the Tuareg and the 890 had too many shortcomings for me personally.
@@RandomGRK Fair enough. I can only have 1 bike, so can't do that.
Hi Jacob, why do you mention it is not a one-only multipurpose bike for a rider?? It is because the pricey maintenance or the stock spares problem or any other thing I’m missing out 🤔?
Thanks for videos !
No answer?
Hi Leon, the Tuareg is a great all round middleweight adventure bike for on and off road! The power is also enough for freeway travel when covering long distances.
2 things. Wheel bearing failure at 16k miles is NOT normal for any bike. I put 40k HARD off-road miles on a super tenere with zero problems. Also I bet you are left handed?? Most people crash on the left side which is a reflection of most of the population being right handed. Just a thought.
Get over the wheel bearing issue , happens on Japanese bikes too.
You could’ve bought a set of wheel bearings yourself for about $20 and put them in in about 30 minutes.
Sell it to me!
Dude… Bearings are not “Aprilia” parts, without exception “universal” open market parts such as bearings are sourced to a specification from outside vendors. Dumping on Piaggio for a failed bearing is asinine. Now how you were treated regarding the warranty repair process you had to endure is well worth the effort to complain about failure to meet expectations.
Chinese made bearing i expect
100th comment lol