This bike is incredibly good. The balance and chassy on it is so-so-so good, it's just so easy to control it on low speeds and technical single tracks. I'm 5'10/180 cm and it's perfect for me. I couldn't handle a Tenere but this bike makes it easy to trash and have fun on. I've dropped mine countless times, it's been through hell lol, deep deep mud, water, sand, log hopping. It's seen it all and going strong after 7000 miles in 5 months. Just did a roadbook rally event and there's another one coming up this weekend, and oh this bike is easily capable of winning the adventure class for sure.
Yup! 5’8” an no problem from UK. My first wife? The T7😂😂😂😂 So now second wife is so much easier to get on with.❤❤❤ Still love the first wife though.😂😂😂 🏍️🏍️🙏🙏👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧
Agree with most of your review. I owned a Tuareg and found that it was pretty much better in everyway to the T7, which, at the time, were hard to find. A lot of value for the money. Unfortunately, I had some issues with the transmission and my inquiries to the local Aprilia shop went unanswered. That spooked me a bit so I sold it before any other issues came up. It was a lovely bike in so many ways, except for the heat coming off the engine - hard to ignore in slow traffic on a hot day. Still believe they are more reliable than a KTM 790/890, but that's a low bar. I'm intrigued with the CFMoto MT 450, which seems like a mini Tuareg.
You believe a KTM 890 is less reliable. I know that my 890 with 41.000 km in 3 years has had 0 issues. That said, I believe the Tuareg is a great bike.
The engine in my KTM 790 Adventure R let go at just under 47,000 km (cams, head, right side piston and piston ring failure). It was reliable until this point.
Just crossed the 20k km. So much fun on and off-road. No issues so far, but I have to check the fork. Would love to see the same bike with a 900cc engine and 100 hp. Came back from Pyrenees last week with a 1200 km ride in one piece. There are not many bikes I can do that.
Excellent review, you have a new subscriber. Love the way they designed the rider triangle, narrow, no plastics. Sounds like a cat delete might give you power and stop your legs from cooking... hoping Aprilia gives this a nice refresh soon, the face is hard to love.
Most of the current Aprilia models have a face that only a mother can love. The RSV sport bikes are the only gifted ones when it comes to good looks. JMHO.
Excellent review. Waited a long time but just picked up a used 2022 with lots of aftermarket add ons for $9,800 us. Well worth it as the ergonomics and features fit me so well.
Thanks for the update. I'm a happy owner of the tuareg. Done nearly 10000 miles and only had the fuel sender go down. Replaced under warranty. Not had the forks apart but will do soon. Another plus point is the cruise control that you don't get on the tenere and 80hp is a decent amount for the weight 👍
I love mine, only 3500km but no issues. Fitted a Tractive x-treme suspension kit which is amazing(I am 100kg with gear). Aprilia did do a special deal of 3 years warranty during a specific month in the Netherlands. I got mine in november with a 1000 euro discount which is a great deal❤
Nice review! Very briefly test rode the Tuareg a couple of months ago, mainly on roads/highway. Found the seat height accessible and liked the ergonomics. It felt very comfortable and agile/maneuverable for a fairly large bike. Suspension felt really good. It certainly has lots of power but I found the delivery somewhat artificial (bit of lag) compared to the smaller bikes I am used to (maybe I was in the wrong riding mode). Felt the heat from the engine after about 20 minutes. Ultimately too big and powerful and perhaps not raw enough for my liking. Nice bike but not the nimble go-anywhere bike I was looking for.
@@PatchedBandit se eliminate i due fianchetti laterali il calore diminiuisce molto perche le feritoie sono chiuse.tutti si lamentano e aprilia dorme io li ho eliminati di conseguenza le ventole lavorano meglio e il calore sfoga meglio.sono a 40000km e per il momento tutto bene
ln Greece warranty is usually 4 years for Tuareg. Even when it is not on offer you can buy the extra 2 years for 230€. As we speak, the bike is on offer 11.290€ New, with 4 year warranty.
this is without the tax, freight, and the paperwork correct? I went to a dealer today here in the states. The price was at $11499 but every he added all the other charges the final price was alittle over 14k usd
I am looking forward for your 20k and 30k review. All what you had are minor issues and won't leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere. My bike (a different model) started to make problems after 12k and all of them appeared on the tet of albania. Water expension chamber and radiater leaking, radiator fan died, suddenly oil consumption. It really distracted me from my trip and made headache, but the engine didn't die, so still somehow reliable...
Nice review! I’m a Tuareg owner, and totally agree with the positives on this bike, and somewhat agree on the negatives. My sense from reading owners FB postings is that a large majority of Tuareg owners have no problems or a few minor problems (fuel gauge for one)that are fixed under warranty. The bike is very capable, people are successfully taking these bikes on the TAT and Back Country Discovery Routes all over the US. My take on the heat issue is the engine doesn’t run hot, rather air flow around the bike creates a pocket of still air around your lower legs, and as a consequence you feel heat radiating off the cat and engine. However, for cold weather riding this “fault” becomes a “feature”, and I expect to be able to more comfortably ride the bike through a New England fall, winter and spring because of it. I know there’s an issue with the compression damping in the front fork for the 2022-2023 (24?) model years, and you mentioned having the fork rebuilt. Did you experience a problem with it, and if so did the rebuild help? Riders talk about a harshness in compression damping when going over big ruts and bumps at high speed. I haven’t noticed this problem yet, although I may not be going fast enough! Thanks for the nice review!
Agree on all points. I should have worded the "running hot" a bit differently but shit happens when english is a second language 😁 But hopefully people understand what I mean and I did show graphs of the engine running on normal temps on the thermostat section. The suspension fix is noticeable on some riding situations but not all of them. The bike felt ok on asphalt but it was acting a bit weird on rougher hits. I have a full video about the fork issue here: th-cam.com/video/rZ4xqN0xVX0/w-d-xo.html
@@PatchedBandit thanks for the link, I’ll take a look at this. I some suspension shops near me that I may talk with about this. I don’t have the tools, workbench or most important, the experience to tackle this job myself.
My perception, as a T7 owner: you can get the T7 and mod it to make up for the performance shortfalls. The tuareg is technically better, but you cant mod your way into superior reliability. Very tough choice for me.
@@scliff7 modding the center of gravity on thr top heavy t7 is probably not that easy and also if the ergonomy is not there its just due to the frame and sizing. Anyone under 180cm is going to feel a bit small on the T7. Rideable but Tuareg feels so much better im comparison to me personally.
Bought one 3.5 months ago,. Just got my 10k service this morning. I agree with all the points. Even a 2up trip from NL trough Austria and back with full luggage(soft) is great on the bike. Would like to have a stiffer spring next time for a 2up trip.
I am owner with same mileage: two times engine light on. I am waiting for the lambda sensor to be replaced. But It has always worked fine. Quickshift perfect going up, but I never use It going down, I dont need It for that. But I know It is there for the first gear to enter when I need It offroad. Just added a steering damper because I dont like the feeling at Highway speeds with knobby tyres. I have to test It more but It seems fine so far. I miss the road confidence of the original pirelli tyres when installing anakee Wild. Maybe next ones I Will try dunlops 50-50.
Tubeless is definitely a plus. If I had looked for a successor for my Transalp 600, the Tuareg would be it. But I wanted something substantially lighter (CRF 300 L in the end). My experience with Aprilia and my dealer is very good, RSV 1000 R then and Tuono 1100 V4 now, altogether 50,000 km. Thanks for your review, enjoy the Tuareg, Günter/Nürnberg
@@PatchedBandit a lot of the myths about unreliable italian bikes and especially aprilias are - myths. Mostly based on some rare things that happened when the owners didn't pay the necessary attention to their bike. The Tuareg is very high on my 'would like to have' list alongside my other Aprilias. Unfortunately I think my `Ministry of Finance' is not willing to release to funds.
@@gerharddahlheimer5485How about those $100 spark plugs? Do you think cost of replacement parts is a concern, or is that only a concern for the second and third owners? 😂
Interesting thing u mentioned at the end - im afraid they can stop production of tuareg, their sales aren't too hot despite all stellar reviews. And few years already without any updates to bike doesn't bode well for its future
Adventure crowd is probably putting much more value towards reliability than other factors and this is hindering the sales even though the bike is amazing (just my feeling). Then again people are still buying KTM even though it has some horrible problems with some of the current models so..
@@PatchedBandit am sorry, but people who buy adventure bikes, for adventure riding - as opposed to bling it up with rally raid and touratech to hit the big starbucks puddle within 10 mile range on a sunday morning - actually value reliability. I have 30000 km on my Tenere WR in under 2 years, on and offroad. ZERO issues. The last thing i want to do is worry about my bike failing somewhere is the middle of a baltic forest.
@@PatchedBandit you defo ride more than me, better than me and you defo use the bike to it's true potential no question about that. What am trying to say is that on a given trip, id feel much more comfortable mentally knowing that i have a reliable machine that can get me home. There was a question of poor sale figures of the Tuareg and reliability comes to play. I'd pay more for a basic Tenere than a Tuareg just for reliability - Personally. Not to mention the demise of KTM that is sinking fast due to the scandalous camshaft, and more importantly, the lack / poor customer relations. Am talking adventure bikes that are used for adventure.
Very true. The no.1 thing in these kind of tools should be that they work at all times and if they dont parts are available. Crazy thing is that Aprilia shuts down its warehouses during peak riding season 🤯 I fully agree on you I just had to jab a bit jokingly back 😂 Im not a good rider but I compensate with enthusiasm 😂😂😂
Great review 👏 Totally agree about having an oil level sight glass - if Honda can do it on their budget CRF300L, then every bike should have one. I'm surprised the chain tensioner isn't hydraulic - again, a bit of a miss there for Aprilia. I'd still like to test one out, but I'm not sure I'd buy one mainly due to cost, reliability, resale value, and lack of dealer near to me.
Agreed with most points, also would like to add that fuel cap is not fixed with anything on the bike so all the time you need to find someplace to put it. on positive side you didnt mention cruise control. Good to know that rattling noise is from chan tensioner, ive just recently heard the same noise on my bike! . Also my clutch sensor failed so it does not know if clutch is pulled- don't know the reason yet but as not many has had this fail i might guess it's due to my handlebar raisers that take the steering tube too far off the original position and maybe have pulled on the wiring a little bit causing internal disconnection- But its just a guess at the moment.
So far I only had the very well known water pump gasket issue that was fixed under warranty during the first 1000 km service. Other than that all is fine. I notice the engine heat, but - at least for me - it's very tolerable even at 30 degree and more. Warranty can be extended to 4 years, at least in Germany.
Great review, I see all the wind in the background, leading me to ask, how is the bike in high winds on highway, open roads? being so tall ? Any stability, shaking issues? Thanks... Obviously Aprillia main issue is reliability.... fear many prospective owners have
One of the more stable mid size bikes that I have ridden. Although I feel that the Tenere 700 was pretty much the same. I'm used to riding small bikes too so I'm not that bothered about little things though. Someone who has been used to a big GS or some big roadbike might say it's more unstable than me.
If I had to rent one, I would definetely go with the Tuareg. If I had to own one, I would 100% go with the Tenere Extreme. Minor performance advantages for the Tuareg. Huge reliability advantages for the Tenere. If I wanted to use it as a road bike, I would consider Tuareg seriously. But for Adventure riding (distant locations with no communication or people around) give me the reliability of the Tenere every day of the week. The Extreme closes the gap of performance a lot, without spending a ton of money. Tenere Extreme for me! 🎉 (after owning both)
Fair assesment that I mostly agree on. If the Tenere ergonomics would suit me better I would probably consider buying the extreme but it just doesnt fit me well. Good bikes for everyone that find the proportions suitable 🎉
@@PatchedBandit to be honest this is a quite tall bike(91cm seat height -86cm for the Tuareg), plus it carries its weight fairly high. For me, at 184cm it feels like if I were 180cm I would not be able to handle it. But with experience you get better. I have even see some very short or female riders do fantastic things on the Extreme. It’s all about skill I guess after a certain point. But I get your point about ergonomics! 🫡
I dont even mean the seat height. With that I can live with but my hand positioning on the bike is just all wrong. I cant tour with the stock bike at all. At least not comfortably. Day trips that most people take can be done on any bike. I did a 3 month tour with the Tenere but I had to do a lot to it beforehand.
A tough market to squeeze into and hard to judge on small production output. Our local motorcycle manufacturer used to make all of its bikes in a month after making its snowmobiles. They found it hard to make changes after all the bikes were made. A longer run would allow for updates to be incorporated. Maybe starting with a Supermoto would have got volume up.
Hi, could you tell me what exhaust heat shield you are using, and where you purchased it? Thanks, great video, reflects my opinion on my Tuareg exactly. Love this bike!
I've heard people say they've had issues finding neutral on that bike.Have you had any issues with that? Especially after the quick shifter had been installed.
@@PatchedBandit I do believe this is the bike I have settled on. I just wish Honda would build the KTM890 adventure. R, and everybody would have the perfect bike.lol
Those "minor" reliability issues are actually pretty major if you don't catch them soon enough or if they don't manifest in the same manner as yours did. The thermostat is part of the heat management system of the bike and if you're doing some slow off-road stuff and the fan never kicks on, you could end up boiling your coolant and left with a dead bike out in the middle of nowhere. Same with the chain tensioner. When you have a bike designed to take you miles away from the main road, having it fail on you can be a death sentence. If this were a road bike from one of the big 4, you and most others would be outraged to have those kinds of issues form a brand new bike. Because it's an Aprilia though, you'll just accept it and count yourself fortunate and that says more about the brand and bike than you probably meant. It may be a fun, high performing bike, when it works and nothing on it is broken requiring potentially months of repair and heavy reliance on the warranty.
I dont just accept it. I made a full episode bringing the fork issues to light in detail and I also was 100% honest about all the problems I`ve had so far. Its not the most reliable bike by any means. Still its a fun and very capable bike.. but I wouldnt go around the globe with it. Ps. The fan works fine if the thermostat is jammed open. Issue is not overheating but overcooling which can cause engine problems if not noticed.
Hi, I had the same sound which you said was the chain tensioner on my RS660 (same engine). Is it the timing chain? The first time was after hard use on the track and the engine oil was near the minimum level. After I topped of the oil the clacking sound went away. I think it has happened a couple more times but never for very long and I've ridden 6000 km since the first time. If it's the same issue, am I risking engine failure?
Yes it is the timing chain tensioner. Main purpose it has is to keep the chain under tension under all operating conditions (heat etc), but also to compensate for vibrations in the timing system. In your case the issue might have just been the oil level and if the sound went away after top up the tensioner is likely working as it should if you got sufficient oil circulating in there. Wouldn't worry me if the noise doesn't return with appropriate oil levels. But you should run this buy an actual aprilia mechanic to be sure. I'm just some dude on the internet 😄
The price is crazy in Finland. I've got mine for 10k euro in Sweden. It makes much more sense for this price. P.s. it was nice meeting you at Outduro')
Was nice to see a Tuareg at the event too so thanks for bringing it! 😄 Yeah prices in Finland can't be justified. Worst place to have any hobby in and especially this one.
The Tuareg was on the top of my list, and I was ready to pull the trigger. But finding out about the suspension issue put me off =( and ended up getting something else. Which is a shame, cause it's the best middle weight adv in the market 😔
This is true BUT. If you buy a BMW do you care who manufactured the parts on it? Its still an Aprilia and they should make this right for the customers. Admit the fault and do an official service callback to fix it. But they are staying silent.
Sold my 790 KTM due to major issues such as rear shock and camshaft. Could not find a replacement with cruise and tubeless, and this bike is out of consideration due to the limited dealer network in the US. I have a Moto Guzzi and know from experience how ridiculous it is to get parts from Aprilia. Warranty or not I cannot do adventure travel without parts and dealer support.
True. Serious limitations. Sadly there are not many options in this segment with these requirements. Transalp 750 is interesting but what Honda did with that air filter location is crazy for an ”off-road” bike 😵
If I had the $ ok but I’ve found off road my cheap little crf rally can keep up with any bike. Getting out and having adventures doesn’t have to break the bank.
Does it really cost EUR 18K in Finland? Is there any special vehicle tax on that? In central Europe the Tuareg 660 costs 12K including VAT. And it has been on sale for 10K every winter (January & February) so far. There are some extra options like QS, but it does not add that much.
One question - what do you mean by thermostat issue with "drop from 2 bar to 1 bar". You shown temperature graph with values around 80C, so if I have like this it is fine? Thanks for sharing your time.
Yeah basically temps should not drop that hard riding. If the thermostat is jammed open it doesnt restrict the coolant circulation and it makes the bike run very cold especially on colder days. If tuareg shows only 1 bar on the temp the bike is running colder than it should.
@@PatchedBandit my tuareg shows 1 bar on open roads and colder days, offroad and on warmer days, shows 2 bars, i would say it is inbetween 1-2 bars in most conditions. Should i check it ? where did you buy the third one, aftermarket?
@@AnteKardum-kj8by Third was ordered from the aprilia catalogue. It was still different than the 2023 stock bikes had. If it drops to 1 bar the engine is already very cold. It should really not do that even under 10'C weather.
How do you install the uni filter pre-filter? do you just place this on top of the air-unifilter? I wasn’t able to find instructions on how to install this. Please help!
Yes just place it on top. I found it is easier to push the prefilter in the airbox top part before installing it back to the bike. It should stay there nicely.
I've been seeing so many problems w/ the electronics on these bikes that I'm turned off just hearing about all the offerings & screens that sets up modes & such.... lol, I guess a lot of guys like to fool around w/ screens of rider modes but from some of what I've seen there's a lot of problems that requires a Qualified Dealership Mechanic to fix things. The down time & cost is high so I'm kinda down on all this stuff. I like ABS that can be turned off/on but that is just a switch on the bars? No need for a display screen for that but give the riders what they want ! Ride safe guys & GB ALL // peace
No man, I only wish we were all living then b/c people treated people w/ respect & all I said above is I don't like all the computer crap. Lots of stuff that breaks & costs a lot to fix + only certain people can fix it. But I'm not only a lover of 70's, I like any motorcycles that do not need a valve check for 15K-20K miles = I love that but get a KTM & you'll be doing lots more often. The big difference was it was simpler days, that's all. If you can afford these bikes & it's not a problem dealing w/ the electronics ; more power to you & really it might be guys like you buying them that makes the manufacturer do a better job? Kudo's if you help that cause but I only like things "Simple". That's all I want is simple things going right. You ride safe & I'll see ya on the roads
Can't say I don't like to drive/ride a new vehicle.... I love the feeling but not when it's time to pay for problems. That's where it's no fun at all & worse is ; It's getting harder to find people who can fix them? peace
Pretty sure the dealer ordered the ’Chain stretching drive’ and ’Chain tensioner expansion tank’ to be swapped but I’m not a 100% sure if there was something else too.
I own Tuono 660 Factory '22 and I recently clocked 10.000 km. When I first bought the bike, it came with a broken fan from the factory so they had to replace it after a week, no issues with overheating after that. I haven't had any issues with the chain tensioner or knocking either. I love this bike so much, it's so agile and fun in the corners! I do agree with oil sight glass, that is the only thing that I "dislike" about the bike, it is what it is :P I don't know if you are aware of this issue or not, regarding oil pressure relief valve th-cam.com/video/6lOUCFI6hn4/w-d-xo.html but that is something that I will investigate this winter and make sure it doesn't come lose, cause it can destroy your engine and pistons! Since RS/Tuono/Tuareg is using the exact same engine, this might happen on any of those 3 models. Greetings from Norway!
Dont know about the US recommended fuel ratios. In europe 95E10 is ok to use but its not the same in the US. ”EU ratings are 95/98, which are equivalent to US ratings of 91/93. So, EU 95 octane = US 91 octane and EU 98 octane = US 93 octane. Top performance with EU 98 octane = 93 US octane. Small loss in performance with EU 95 octane = 91 US octane.” So.. 89 might not be recommended but. I’m only guessing.
@@PatchedBandit i mistype 89 i meant 98 i live in Europe ... the performance is not the problem .. the problem whit hi compression rates is that it knocks (premature ignition) if the octains are to low ... so i was just wondering if it needs the 98 because of that hi compression ... but you only used 95 whit no knocking so i guess 95 is ok
As a person who has owned several Aprilia’s along with about 40 other bikes I will wait until these have a 30 or 40,000 mile track record. Until then I’ll stick with something Japanese made that I’m going to take out in the middle of nowhere
I still check all my bikes frequently. Some bikes start consuming oil and its good to notice before its too late and the engine starves from it causing critical damage. If you only change the oil every 10k it might be 5k too late to notice engine has had oil starvation for the last 5. I recommemd checking at least every 1000 -2000km the levels.
@@PatchedBandit Is it not the function of the oil pressure sensor to warn you about critical oil pressure issues? It can also be that there is a level sensor to alert you about too less oil. I do not know this for that bike. I agree, to be on the safe side would be fine.
@@haraldsimon2807 Also the sensors can fail. Checking the oil level is so easy to check and the single most important thing to get right. When you learn how it consumes oil, you can also easily spot if there is a change.
What I love about Tuareg is that you can switch everything off and it wilö stay off forever if you dont want them. Only bike that has modes and lets you do that.
@@PatchedBandit yeah I know, sad place when it comes to how much the government is entitled to take from your pockets! But at least you can enjoy wild places to ride in peace! I hope i'll manage to take mine all the way up north and enjoy the same tracks! Nice review, btw!
I’m happy that you’re happy but I would not put my hard earned money on a bike with so many issues and only after 10,000 km… I don’t even want to think of what awaits you in the next 10K 😮 My T7 is safe for now 🥰🥰 Continue to make your wonderful content! Safe riding 🍻🍻
I wanted to experience this bike first hand as I think it has earned it. But like I stated before I even bought it I will always be a 100% transparent on my experience with it 😊
It looks like a great adventure bike as long as you don't get too far away from civilization, which to me, kind of negates the purpose of an ADV bike.... Still prefer my T7.
But at that point the bike would be heavier, feel more clumsy offroad and I would not like it as much 😄 There is always compromises but the bike is pretty rapid: th-cam.com/video/Qc0FOlNpTc8/w-d-xo.html
@@PatchedBanditThe KTM 890A/AR is slightly heavier, but the CoG is lower, so it feels more manageable, and by the time you've added the crash bars etc. to the Aprilia, the difference is negligible.
@@RedRupert64 890 is a great bike but I prefer the engine on the Tuareg and Terere even if on paper they have less power. If the bike is for primarily road use there are so much better options out there. I personally hate riding on asphalt no matter what the bike is.
@@PatchedBandit It's not just on paper that the 890 is more powerful, it's much more powerful in reality. I'm not a power freak (probably I'd go for a 1290 if I was), but I expect my bikes to excel in many areas, which isn't unreasonable these days. For instance, this is the type of riding I do regularly: 400km days on gravel roads in the Baltic States; minor country roads and tracks in rural France; racing the local fast boys in the Picos de Europa; haring through Spain to ride the challenging tracks in Andalusia. For someone who dislikes road riding, you've chosen a fairly road orientated bike. Were you not tempted by something like the Husky 701 or a even the Kove 450?
@@RedRupert64 On paper comment was mostly just that when I ride offroad I don't feel the need for more and when I'm on road I tend to ride within the speedlimits most of the time. So all the extra power is really just there without being used. Even the tuareg does 30 to 120 kph in around 4 secods. Thats fast in my book for a bike that has 18/21 wheels 😄 And I used to ride liter bikes etc. I don't find much joy in that anymore. If I could only keep 1 bike I would pick 701/690 with high likelyhood but I have a very stable 2 bike strategy. Smaller daytrips in tricky terrain I love to ride my CRF. When I do longer trips thats when a twin cylinder shines the brightest. I've ridden multiple 690's and 701's but I've never really fallen in love even thought the power is intoxicating. They still feel heavy as an enduro bike and fairly uncomfortable as a travel machine compared to twins.
I thought it was the summer months when the parts garage was closed but yeah I've heard about that. Very bad customer service if the bike needs to sit awaiting reparis for weeks on peak riding season.
None of them are as good as a 2004-07 R1200GS with all the crap off it. Reliability, easy maint, cheap as chips to buy, maintain and run. Mine weighs around 210kg fueled albeit with a titanium system and superior chinese lithiom battery installed. Its more balanced than any of them, better for a larger range of riders, has more power and torque and has been around the block. Do the math lol
@@PatchedBandit If you go GS get one without ABS. Less weight and less trouble. No crash bars, luggage or even rear seat or centre stand. Would be interesting to see how rideable you could get it with absolute minimal spending.
Reliability is the #1 most important factor on an ADV bike that actually goes on adventures. That being said, anything italian shouldnt even be remotely considered. The tenere 700 is simply the superior adv bike.
I can't hear this anymore honestly. Especially considering that 90% of overall KM's on these bikes are done on the road. As if riding anything but a T7 meant certain failure. If reliability is your only concern in a motorcycle you might as well ride a KLR 650.
@@DB-sd3cw I am good buddy, and I am not going to argue with a fanboy. I ride a T7 since 2019 but I can acknowledge that there is room for improvement on our bike. If you take perceived reliability out of the equation, this Aprilia beats the T7 in basically every metric. Fun fact: the T7 was developed almost entirely by Yamaha Italia, and the engine is built by Minarelli, an Italian engine manufacturer that also did the 660. I hope your bike won't blow up.
@gbner9991 well, sounds like yamaha turned an Italian turd into a reliable gem ☺️. Good luck with the warrenty work and oil leaks though lil feller, hope it's worth it
Using the words “adventure bike” to describe any unreliable Italian motorcycle is hilarious. 10,000km is a joke to American Adv riders. Thats a 2 week trip across the country. I’ll be interested in a Tuareg when I see a bunch of 100,000 MILE examples without any manor issues (which will never happen) Yamaha really needs to give the T7 tubless wheels and cruise control and just put the Tuareg out its misery.
@@PatchedBandit Yes of course. The Tuareg, Desert X and 890 are for the coffee shop Adv guys that want to talk about horsepower and suspension travel instead of actually riding
When I had to replace my crashed AfricaTwin crf1000, I tested the Tuareg, along with AfricaTwin1100, DucatiDesertX, Tenere700, Norden901. The best was DesertX but too expensive, the worst was Tenere700, Tuareg was 2nd best, but I didn't like the too high handle bar, the gearbox was too firm, and engine was a little weak. So that I bought a 890R, incredible engine and suspension. Would Aprilia fit a 800cc engine in the Tuareg and it would sell far more.
To me the magic on the Tuareg is it's weight which would be ruined with a 800cc engine. 80 hp is plenty enough for any offroad use. Better asphalt muchers are available but then we go to a different category of bike in my opinion.
Full Aprilia Tuareg 660 playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLjuLZY6TnpPl1dkaWtff8aaJPcrBrt64j.html
This bike is incredibly good. The balance and chassy on it is so-so-so good, it's just so easy to control it on low speeds and technical single tracks. I'm 5'10/180 cm and it's perfect for me. I couldn't handle a Tenere but this bike makes it easy to trash and have fun on. I've dropped mine countless times, it's been through hell lol, deep deep mud, water, sand, log hopping. It's seen it all and going strong after 7000 miles in 5 months. Just did a roadbook rally event and there's another one coming up this weekend, and oh this bike is easily capable of winning the adventure class for sure.
5'10 = 177,8 см 😀
Yup! 5’8” an no problem from UK.
My first wife? The T7😂😂😂😂
So now second wife is so much easier to get on with.❤❤❤
Still love the first wife though.😂😂😂
🏍️🏍️🙏🙏👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧
Agree with most of your review. I owned a Tuareg and found that it was pretty much better in everyway to the T7, which, at the time, were hard to find. A lot of value for the money. Unfortunately, I had some issues with the transmission and my inquiries to the local Aprilia shop went unanswered. That spooked me a bit so I sold it before any other issues came up. It was a lovely bike in so many ways, except for the heat coming off the engine - hard to ignore in slow traffic on a hot day. Still believe they are more reliable than a KTM 790/890, but that's a low bar. I'm intrigued with the CFMoto MT 450, which seems like a mini Tuareg.
You believe a KTM 890 is less reliable. I know that my 890 with 41.000 km in 3 years has had 0 issues. That said, I believe the Tuareg is a great bike.
@@lucvangompel141 That's also the case for me with my KTM 890AR - 35k km in two years.
The engine in my KTM 790 Adventure R let go at just under 47,000 km (cams, head, right side piston and piston ring failure). It was reliable until this point.
you're afraid of Aprilia reliability and consider buying a chinese bike?:D Cmon bro
Just crossed the 20k km. So much fun on and off-road. No issues so far, but I have to check the fork.
Would love to see the same bike with a 900cc engine and 100 hp.
Came back from Pyrenees last week with a 1200 km ride in one piece. There are not many bikes I can do that.
There's lots of bikes that would do that.
Excellent review, you have a new subscriber. Love the way they designed the rider triangle, narrow, no plastics. Sounds like a cat delete might give you power and stop your legs from cooking... hoping Aprilia gives this a nice refresh soon, the face is hard to love.
Most of the current Aprilia models have a face that only a mother can love.
The RSV sport bikes are the only gifted ones when it comes to good looks. JMHO.
Danke!
Thank YOU for the support ❤️✌️
Excellent review. Waited a long time but just picked up a used 2022 with lots of aftermarket add ons for $9,800 us. Well worth it as the ergonomics and features fit me so well.
Sounds like an excellent buy 👌
Thanks for the update. I'm a happy owner of the tuareg. Done nearly 10000 miles and only had the fuel sender go down. Replaced under warranty. Not had the forks apart but will do soon. Another plus point is the cruise control that you don't get on the tenere and 80hp is a decent amount for the weight 👍
Fuel pump failure within 16k km is not "only".
@@OriginalUsername9000 The sender unit, not the pump...!
I love mine, only 3500km but no issues. Fitted a Tractive x-treme suspension kit which is amazing(I am 100kg with gear). Aprilia did do a special deal of 3 years warranty during a specific month in the Netherlands. I got mine in november with a 1000 euro discount which is a great deal❤
Sounds like a good deal for sure!
Nice review! Very briefly test rode the Tuareg a couple of months ago, mainly on roads/highway.
Found the seat height accessible and liked the ergonomics. It felt very comfortable and agile/maneuverable for a fairly large bike. Suspension felt really good. It certainly has lots of power but I found the delivery somewhat artificial (bit of lag) compared to the smaller bikes I am used to (maybe I was in the wrong riding mode). Felt the heat from the engine after about 20 minutes.
Ultimately too big and powerful and perhaps not raw enough for my liking. Nice bike but not the nimble go-anywhere bike I was looking for.
Yep the ride by wire throttle is not perfect. Response modes help but I prefer the throttle feel on cable throttles usually better.
I think the problems with heat is because the motor is running lean of emmision regulations. Maybe a remap of the ecu will do the trick.
As far as I have found info online it doesnt help. Removing the cat helps a bit apparently but its still a hot bike.
@@PatchedBandit se eliminate i due fianchetti laterali il calore diminiuisce molto perche le feritoie sono chiuse.tutti si lamentano e aprilia dorme io li ho eliminati di conseguenza le ventole lavorano meglio e il calore sfoga meglio.sono a 40000km e per il momento tutto bene
Great review as always!! Thanks!
ln Greece warranty is usually 4 years for Tuareg. Even when it is not on offer you can buy the extra 2 years for 230€. As we speak, the bike is on offer 11.290€ New, with 4 year warranty.
this is without the tax, freight, and the paperwork correct? I went to a dealer today here in the states. The price was at $11499 but every he added all the other charges the final price was alittle over 14k usd
@@milesperhour023 keep in mind that the sales tax in Greece is 24%, they call it "value added". also + 10-11% eur->usd conversion rate
just 9000 miles on mine and ive ridden it very hard! zero issues besides the fuel sensor
Thats good to hear! ☺️
Great review! Thanks from Washington State USA
I am looking forward for your 20k and 30k review. All what you had are minor issues and won't leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere. My bike (a different model) started to make problems after 12k and all of them appeared on the tet of albania. Water expension chamber and radiater leaking, radiator fan died, suddenly oil consumption. It really distracted me from my trip and made headache, but the engine didn't die, so still somehow reliable...
What’s mileage would you recommend selling an Italian bike at?
Nice review! I’m a Tuareg owner, and totally agree with the positives on this bike, and somewhat agree on the negatives. My sense from reading owners FB postings is that a large majority of Tuareg owners have no problems or a few minor problems (fuel gauge for one)that are fixed under warranty. The bike is very capable, people are successfully taking these bikes on the TAT and Back Country Discovery Routes all over the US. My take on the heat issue is the engine doesn’t run hot, rather air flow around the bike creates a pocket of still air around your lower legs, and as a consequence you feel heat radiating off the cat and engine. However, for cold weather riding this “fault” becomes a “feature”, and I expect to be able to more comfortably ride the bike through a New England fall, winter and spring because of it. I know there’s an issue with the compression damping in the front fork for the 2022-2023 (24?) model years, and you mentioned having the fork rebuilt. Did you experience a problem with it, and if so did the rebuild help? Riders talk about a harshness in compression damping when going over big ruts and bumps at high speed. I haven’t noticed this problem yet, although I may not be going fast enough! Thanks for the nice review!
Agree on all points. I should have worded the "running hot" a bit differently but shit happens when english is a second language 😁 But hopefully people understand what I mean and I did show graphs of the engine running on normal temps on the thermostat section.
The suspension fix is noticeable on some riding situations but not all of them. The bike felt ok on asphalt but it was acting a bit weird on rougher hits. I have a full video about the fork issue here: th-cam.com/video/rZ4xqN0xVX0/w-d-xo.html
@@PatchedBandit thanks for the link, I’ll take a look at this. I some suspension shops near me that I may talk with about this. I don’t have the tools, workbench or most important, the experience to tackle this job myself.
My perception, as a T7 owner: you can get the T7 and mod it to make up for the performance shortfalls. The tuareg is technically better, but you cant mod your way into superior reliability. Very tough choice for me.
@@scliff7 modding the center of gravity on thr top heavy t7 is probably not that easy and also if the ergonomy is not there its just due to the frame and sizing.
Anyone under 180cm is going to feel a bit small on the T7.
Rideable but Tuareg feels so much better im comparison to me personally.
Bought one 3.5 months ago,.
Just got my 10k service this morning. I agree with all the points.
Even a 2up trip from NL trough Austria and back with full luggage(soft) is great on the bike.
Would like to have a stiffer spring next time for a 2up trip.
brilliant bike no issues with mine in 2 years
I am owner with same mileage: two times engine light on. I am waiting for the lambda sensor to be replaced. But It has always worked fine. Quickshift perfect going up, but I never use It going down, I dont need It for that. But I know It is there for the first gear to enter when I need It offroad. Just added a steering damper because I dont like the feeling at Highway speeds with knobby tyres. I have to test It more but It seems fine so far. I miss the road confidence of the original pirelli tyres when installing anakee Wild. Maybe next ones I Will try dunlops 50-50.
Tubeless is definitely a plus. If I had looked for a successor for my Transalp 600, the Tuareg would be it. But I wanted something substantially lighter (CRF 300 L in the end). My experience with Aprilia and my dealer is very good, RSV 1000 R then and Tuono 1100 V4 now, altogether 50,000 km. Thanks for your review, enjoy the Tuareg, Günter/Nürnberg
Good to hear about trouble free aprilias 😊
@@PatchedBandit a lot of the myths about unreliable italian bikes and especially aprilias are - myths. Mostly based on some rare things that happened when the owners didn't pay the necessary attention to their bike.
The Tuareg is very high on my 'would like to have' list alongside my other Aprilias. Unfortunately I think my `Ministry of Finance' is not willing to release to funds.
@@gerharddahlheimer5485How about those $100 spark plugs? Do you think cost of replacement parts is a concern, or is that only a concern for the second and third owners? 😂
Interesting thing u mentioned at the end - im afraid they can stop production of tuareg, their sales aren't too hot despite all stellar reviews.
And few years already without any updates to bike doesn't bode well for its future
Adventure crowd is probably putting much more value towards reliability than other factors and this is hindering the sales even though the bike is amazing (just my feeling).
Then again people are still buying KTM even though it has some horrible problems with some of the current models so..
@@PatchedBandit am sorry, but people who buy adventure bikes, for adventure riding - as opposed to bling it up with rally raid and touratech to hit the big starbucks puddle within 10 mile range on a sunday morning - actually value reliability. I have 30000 km on my Tenere WR in under 2 years, on and offroad. ZERO issues. The last thing i want to do is worry about my bike failing somewhere is the middle of a baltic forest.
I must LOVE starbucks as I ride more than you 🫣😏 jk jk 😂
There is s tool for everyone. The best tool for you is not the best for everyone.
@@PatchedBandit you defo ride more than me, better than me and you defo use the bike to it's true potential no question about that. What am trying to say is that on a given trip, id feel much more comfortable mentally knowing that i have a reliable machine that can get me home. There was a question of poor sale figures of the Tuareg and reliability comes to play. I'd pay more for a basic Tenere than a Tuareg just for reliability - Personally. Not to mention the demise of KTM that is sinking fast due to the scandalous camshaft, and more importantly, the lack / poor customer relations. Am talking adventure bikes that are used for adventure.
Very true. The no.1 thing in these kind of tools should be that they work at all times and if they dont parts are available. Crazy thing is that Aprilia shuts down its warehouses during peak riding season 🤯
I fully agree on you I just had to jab a bit jokingly back 😂
Im not a good rider but I compensate with enthusiasm 😂😂😂
Great review 👏
Totally agree about having an oil level sight glass - if Honda can do it on their budget CRF300L, then every bike should have one.
I'm surprised the chain tensioner isn't hydraulic - again, a bit of a miss there for Aprilia.
I'd still like to test one out, but I'm not sure I'd buy one mainly due to cost, reliability, resale value, and lack of dealer near to me.
Very concerned about reliability issues , I live in middle of no where, so am looking at V-STROM 800DE
Agreed with most points, also would like to add that fuel cap is not fixed with anything on the bike so all the time you need to find someplace to put it. on positive side you didnt mention cruise control. Good to know that rattling noise is from chan tensioner, ive just recently heard the same noise on my bike! . Also my clutch sensor failed so it does not know if clutch is pulled- don't know the reason yet but as not many has had this fail i might guess it's due to my handlebar raisers that take the steering tube too far off the original position and maybe have pulled on the wiring a little bit causing internal disconnection- But its just a guess at the moment.
Hi Intresting reveiw of the bike. Witch Kriega lugets du you youse on te tuareg? And also the heat protekting on the muffler?
These are the kriega passenger footrest eliminators found on Kriega page.
Heatshield is juts some generic thing I bought from ”motonet” Finland.
Great job on the review ! 👌😎👍
To the point and not a B.S talk.
So far I only had the very well known water pump gasket issue that was fixed under warranty during the first 1000 km service. Other than that all is fine. I notice the engine heat, but - at least for me - it's very tolerable even at 30 degree and more. Warranty can be extended to 4 years, at least in Germany.
Great review, I see all the wind in the background, leading me to ask, how is the bike in high winds on highway, open roads? being so tall ? Any stability, shaking issues? Thanks... Obviously Aprillia main issue is reliability.... fear many prospective owners have
One of the more stable mid size bikes that I have ridden. Although I feel that the Tenere 700 was pretty much the same.
I'm used to riding small bikes too so I'm not that bothered about little things though. Someone who has been used to a big GS or some big roadbike might say it's more unstable than me.
If I had to rent one, I would definetely go with the Tuareg.
If I had to own one, I would 100% go with the Tenere Extreme.
Minor performance advantages for the Tuareg.
Huge reliability advantages for the Tenere.
If I wanted to use it as a road bike, I would consider Tuareg seriously.
But for Adventure riding (distant locations with no communication or people around) give me the reliability of the Tenere every day of the week.
The Extreme closes the gap of performance a lot, without spending a ton of money.
Tenere Extreme for me! 🎉
(after owning both)
Fair assesment that I mostly agree on. If the Tenere ergonomics would suit me better I would probably consider buying the extreme but it just doesnt fit me well. Good bikes for everyone that find the proportions suitable 🎉
@@PatchedBandit to be honest this is a quite tall bike(91cm seat height -86cm for the Tuareg), plus it carries its weight fairly high.
For me, at 184cm it feels like if I were 180cm I would not be able to handle it.
But with experience you get better. I have even see some very short or female riders do fantastic things on the Extreme.
It’s all about skill I guess after a certain point.
But I get your point about ergonomics! 🫡
I dont even mean the seat height. With that I can live with but my hand positioning on the bike is just all wrong.
I cant tour with the stock bike at all. At least not comfortably.
Day trips that most people take can be done on any bike. I did a 3 month tour with the Tenere but I had to do a lot to it beforehand.
The Extreme Edition is definitely the way to go, if you want a Tenere. But it only fixes the suspension aspect of the T7, the other points remain.
If Yamaha can get the T7 weight down like this bike or the KTM 790, it game over for all the other ADV bikes.
Why , its a adventure bike 50000klms onwards , Quality matters !
@@motozz8258 No shit sherlock.
Do you mean get the weight down, improve the engine, suspension, chassis and rider comfort, then price it competitively and it would be game over?
….and offer cruise control and tubeless wheels?
A tough market to squeeze into and hard to judge on small production output. Our local motorcycle manufacturer used to make all of its bikes in a month after making its snowmobiles. They found it hard to make changes after all the bikes were made. A longer run would allow for updates to be incorporated. Maybe starting with a Supermoto would have got volume up.
Hi, could you tell me what exhaust heat shield you are using, and where you purchased it? Thanks, great video, reflects my opinion on my Tuareg exactly. Love this bike!
If you mean the protection its this: Best protection for Aprilia Tuareg 660?
th-cam.com/video/qmvC-82iayA/w-d-xo.html
@@PatchedBandit No, I meant the metal heat shield mounted on top of the muffler with two metal clamps. Thanks.
Oh its just a generic sheild i bought from a local shop and cut to correct size.
I've heard people say they've had issues finding neutral on that bike.Have you had any issues with that? Especially after the quick shifter had been installed.
Yep it is a bit tricky but I got used to it. Easier when you go from 2’nd down to neutral.
@@PatchedBandit I do believe this is the bike I have settled on. I just wish Honda would build the KTM890 adventure. R, and everybody would have the perfect bike.lol
it's pretty bad brand new, but after a few thousand miles, it's fine
Those "minor" reliability issues are actually pretty major if you don't catch them soon enough or if they don't manifest in the same manner as yours did. The thermostat is part of the heat management system of the bike and if you're doing some slow off-road stuff and the fan never kicks on, you could end up boiling your coolant and left with a dead bike out in the middle of nowhere. Same with the chain tensioner. When you have a bike designed to take you miles away from the main road, having it fail on you can be a death sentence.
If this were a road bike from one of the big 4, you and most others would be outraged to have those kinds of issues form a brand new bike. Because it's an Aprilia though, you'll just accept it and count yourself fortunate and that says more about the brand and bike than you probably meant.
It may be a fun, high performing bike, when it works and nothing on it is broken requiring potentially months of repair and heavy reliance on the warranty.
I dont just accept it. I made a full episode bringing the fork issues to light in detail and I also was 100% honest about all the problems I`ve had so far. Its not the most reliable bike by any means.
Still its a fun and very capable bike.. but I wouldnt go around the globe with it.
Ps. The fan works fine if the thermostat is jammed open. Issue is not overheating but overcooling which can cause engine problems if not noticed.
Not reliable enough to do outback trips in Australia sad reality Aprilia droped the ball dealer network is poor cheers for the vid
Hi, I had the same sound which you said was the chain tensioner on my RS660 (same engine). Is it the timing chain? The first time was after hard use on the track and the engine oil was near the minimum level. After I topped of the oil the clacking sound went away. I think it has happened a couple more times but never for very long and I've ridden 6000 km since the first time. If it's the same issue, am I risking engine failure?
Yes it is the timing chain tensioner. Main purpose it has is to keep the chain under tension under all operating conditions (heat etc), but also to compensate for vibrations in the timing system. In your case the issue might have just been the oil level and if the sound went away after top up the tensioner is likely working as it should if you got sufficient oil circulating in there.
Wouldn't worry me if the noise doesn't return with appropriate oil levels. But you should run this buy an actual aprilia mechanic to be sure. I'm just some dude on the internet 😄
The price is crazy in Finland. I've got mine for 10k euro in Sweden. It makes much more sense for this price.
P.s. it was nice meeting you at Outduro')
Was nice to see a Tuareg at the event too so thanks for bringing it! 😄 Yeah prices in Finland can't be justified. Worst place to have any hobby in and especially this one.
The forks look amazing on that bike. I really wish my 690 forks had that level of plushness.
The engine temperature does not run hot. The heat emitted is felt more than some bikes.
Very much what I meant in the video. Engine heat is pushed to riders legs way more than any other bike I have ever ridden.
The Tuareg was on the top of my list, and I was ready to pull the trigger. But finding out about the suspension issue put me off =( and ended up getting something else. Which is a shame, cause it's the best middle weight adv in the market 😔
the suspension issue is a cheap fix
@@j0rss yeah, no doubt. But the idea of getting a new one and immediately need to fix something 🤷🏻♂️
@@JoLXP to be fair, the blame isn't on Aprilia in this case, it's Kayaba who is making these forks.
This is true BUT. If you buy a BMW do you care who manufactured the parts on it?
Its still an Aprilia and they should make this right for the customers. Admit the fault and do an official service callback to fix it.
But they are staying silent.
@@PatchedBandit exactly.
Sold my 790 KTM due to major issues such as rear shock and camshaft. Could not find a replacement with cruise and tubeless, and this bike is out of consideration due to the limited dealer network in the US. I have a Moto Guzzi and know from experience how ridiculous it is to get parts from Aprilia. Warranty or not I cannot do adventure travel without parts and dealer support.
True. Serious limitations. Sadly there are not many options in this segment with these requirements.
Transalp 750 is interesting but what Honda did with that air filter location is crazy for an ”off-road” bike 😵
what brand are those passenger footpeg tie-down loops?
Kriega
If I had the $ ok but I’ve found off road my cheap little crf rally can keep up with any bike. Getting out and having adventures doesn’t have to break the bank.
So true! I love my little CRF too 😊
Great review. Just need to replace those stock footpegs with some Motion Footpegs.
I rarely feel the heat on mine. Only in standstill traffic basically
Does it really cost EUR 18K in Finland? Is there any special vehicle tax on that? In central Europe the Tuareg 660 costs 12K including VAT. And it has been on sale for 10K every winter (January & February) so far.
There are some extra options like QS, but it does not add that much.
Tech pack is quite pricey and Finland probably has the most expensive motorcycles on the planet.
We love our taxes….
Our goverment hates motorcycles and are greedy for taxes. And what we do about it...nothing.
One question - what do you mean by thermostat issue with "drop from 2 bar to 1 bar". You shown temperature graph with values around 80C, so if I have like this it is fine?
Thanks for sharing your time.
Yeah basically temps should not drop that hard riding. If the thermostat is jammed open it doesnt restrict the coolant circulation and it makes the bike run very cold especially on colder days.
If tuareg shows only 1 bar on the temp the bike is running colder than it should.
@@PatchedBandit ahhh 1 bar, now I get it. I thought 1 bar as of unit of pressure xD
@@PatchedBandit my tuareg shows 1 bar on open roads and colder days, offroad and on warmer days, shows 2 bars, i would say it is inbetween 1-2 bars in most conditions. Should i check it ? where did you buy the third one, aftermarket?
@@AnteKardum-kj8by Third was ordered from the aprilia catalogue. It was still different than the 2023 stock bikes had.
If it drops to 1 bar the engine is already very cold.
It should really not do that even under 10'C weather.
How do you install the uni filter pre-filter? do you just place this on top of the air-unifilter? I wasn’t able to find instructions on how to install this. Please help!
Yes just place it on top. I found it is easier to push the prefilter in the airbox top part before installing it back to the bike. It should stay there nicely.
@@PatchedBandit go it! Thanks for the quick reply. Much appreciated!!
I've been seeing so many problems w/ the electronics on these bikes that I'm turned off just hearing about all the offerings &
screens that sets up modes & such.... lol, I guess a lot of guys like to fool around w/ screens of rider modes but from some
of what I've seen there's a lot of problems that requires a Qualified Dealership Mechanic to fix things. The down time & cost
is high so I'm kinda down on all this stuff. I like ABS that can be turned off/on but that is just a switch on the bars? No need
for a display screen for that but give the riders what they want ! Ride safe guys & GB ALL // peace
you sound like you are stucked living in the 70s 😅
No man, I only wish we were all living then b/c people treated people w/ respect & all I said above is I don't like
all the computer crap. Lots of stuff that breaks & costs a lot to fix + only certain people can fix it. But I'm not
only a lover of 70's, I like any motorcycles that do not need a valve check for 15K-20K miles = I love that but
get a KTM & you'll be doing lots more often. The big difference was it was simpler days, that's all. If you can
afford these bikes & it's not a problem dealing w/ the electronics ; more power to you & really it might be guys
like you buying them that makes the manufacturer do a better job? Kudo's if you help that cause but I only
like things "Simple". That's all I want is simple things going right. You ride safe & I'll see ya on the roads
@@diggy-d8w The issues he had - thermostat, chain tensioner - good old 70s issues. Not the electronics.
Can't say I don't like to drive/ride a new vehicle.... I love the feeling but not when it's time to pay for problems. That's
where it's no fun at all & worse is ; It's getting harder to find people who can fix them? peace
Great content! 1Q - Which part of the chain tensioner is it exactly? there are several parts
Pretty sure the dealer ordered the ’Chain stretching drive’ and ’Chain tensioner expansion tank’ to be swapped but I’m not a 100% sure if there was something else too.
Did you change fork valving when you had the suspension work done?
No
In The Netherlands we can extend the warranty to 3 years for the amount of €221 and to 4 years for €424
I've heard this from many countries. I think the 4 year extension is worth it just for peace of mind.
I own Tuono 660 Factory '22 and I recently clocked 10.000 km. When I first bought the bike, it came with a broken fan from the factory so they had to replace it after a week, no issues with overheating after that. I haven't had any issues with the chain tensioner or knocking either. I love this bike so much, it's so agile and fun in the corners! I do agree with oil sight glass, that is the only thing that I "dislike" about the bike, it is what it is :P
I don't know if you are aware of this issue or not, regarding oil pressure relief valve th-cam.com/video/6lOUCFI6hn4/w-d-xo.html but that is something that I will investigate this winter and make sure it doesn't come lose, cause it can destroy your engine and pistons! Since RS/Tuono/Tuareg is using the exact same engine, this might happen on any of those 3 models. Greetings from Norway!
How tall are you including inside leg? Thanks
5 ft 8.5" (174cm)
Inseam: 32 in (82cm)
dose it take 95 gas or do you need to put 98 in it whit that compression ratio ?
Dont know about the US recommended fuel ratios. In europe 95E10 is ok to use but its not the same in the US.
”EU ratings are 95/98, which are equivalent to US ratings of 91/93. So, EU 95 octane = US 91 octane and EU 98 octane = US 93 octane. Top performance with EU 98 octane = 93 US octane. Small loss in performance with EU 95 octane = 91 US octane.”
So.. 89 might not be recommended but. I’m only guessing.
@@PatchedBandit i mistype 89 i meant 98 i live in Europe ...
the performance is not the problem ..
the problem whit hi compression rates is that it knocks (premature ignition) if the octains are to low ... so i was just wondering if it needs the 98 because of that hi compression ...
but you only used 95 whit no knocking so i guess 95 is ok
According to the manual 95E10 is ok to use with the stock bike but I use 98E5 if it's available.
A lot of mentions/comparisons to “CFMoto”, new bike on the horizon? 😊
😅 I’ll sit on that one for a while at least
As a person who has owned several Aprilia’s along with about 40 other bikes I will wait until these have a 30 or 40,000 mile track record. Until then I’ll stick with something Japanese made that I’m going to take out in the middle of nowhere
Soon I'm buying this as so many + 😁💰 ok maybe some - are still coming
Oh.. I tried hiding them at the end 😂
@@PatchedBandit in the end sound is like my KTM all the time 😁
True 😂😂 You will never know if your bike has an issue until it stops working 😅
400 km ok a tank? Is that legit?
Absolutely
Agree. The best bike. Right after 900gs
Similar specs F900GS is over 24 000 € in Finland though 😅😮💨
Does the engine consumes oil? My AT07 did also not have a oil glass but it did not consume oil. So, who cares?
I still check all my bikes frequently. Some bikes start consuming oil and its good to notice before its too late and the engine starves from it causing critical damage.
If you only change the oil every 10k it might be 5k too late to notice engine has had oil starvation for the last 5.
I recommemd checking at least every 1000 -2000km the levels.
@@PatchedBandit Is it not the function of the oil pressure sensor to warn you about critical oil pressure issues? It can also be that there is a level sensor to alert you about too less oil. I do not know this for that bike. I agree, to be on the safe side would be fine.
@@haraldsimon2807 Also the sensors can fail. Checking the oil level is so easy to check and the single most important thing to get right. When you learn how it consumes oil, you can also easily spot if there is a change.
You forgot to tell use the range in freedom units.
I'm getting lazy 😮💨 250
This bike costs now 10500e in my country.
Thats a nice price 😦
Modes, modes,modes that’s why I’m buying a T7 No modes No messing just ride 👍 use good old fashioned riding skills 🤷🏻
What I love about Tuareg is that you can switch everything off and it wilö stay off forever if you dont want them. Only bike that has modes and lets you do that.
The T7 is just too gutless for me.
18K??? FFS, I paid my 2023 (ex-dealer with 0kms on the clock) 9800 stock! 😮
Finland..
@@PatchedBandit yeah I know, sad place when it comes to how much the government is entitled to take from your pockets! But at least you can enjoy wild places to ride in peace! I hope i'll manage to take mine all the way up north and enjoy the same tracks! Nice review, btw!
For a new bike you should not have any drama with it. Aprilla will never learn
I’m happy that you’re happy but I would not put my hard earned money on a bike with so many issues and only after 10,000 km…
I don’t even want to think of what awaits you in the next 10K 😮
My T7 is safe for now 🥰🥰
Continue to make your wonderful content!
Safe riding 🍻🍻
I wanted to experience this bike first hand as I think it has earned it. But like I stated before I even bought it I will always be a 100% transparent on my experience with it 😊
It looks like a great adventure bike as long as you don't get too far away from civilization, which to me, kind of negates the purpose of an ADV bike.... Still prefer my T7.
If only that was a 900. The 660 with 80 PS is not enough as it would be my only bike.
But at that point the bike would be heavier, feel more clumsy offroad and I would not like it as much 😄 There is always compromises but the bike is pretty rapid:
th-cam.com/video/Qc0FOlNpTc8/w-d-xo.html
@@PatchedBanditThe KTM 890A/AR is slightly heavier, but the CoG is lower, so it feels more manageable, and by the time you've added the crash bars etc. to the Aprilia, the difference is negligible.
@@RedRupert64 890 is a great bike but I prefer the engine on the Tuareg and Terere even if on paper they have less power.
If the bike is for primarily road use there are so much better options out there. I personally hate riding on asphalt no matter what the bike is.
@@PatchedBandit It's not just on paper that the 890 is more powerful, it's much more powerful in reality. I'm not a power freak (probably I'd go for a 1290 if I was), but I expect my bikes to excel in many areas, which isn't unreasonable these days. For instance, this is the type of riding I do regularly: 400km days on gravel roads in the Baltic States; minor country roads and tracks in rural France; racing the local fast boys in the Picos de Europa; haring through Spain to ride the challenging tracks in Andalusia.
For someone who dislikes road riding, you've chosen a fairly road orientated bike. Were you not tempted by something like the Husky 701 or a even the Kove 450?
@@RedRupert64 On paper comment was mostly just that when I ride offroad I don't feel the need for more and when I'm on road I tend to ride within the speedlimits most of the time. So all the extra power is really just there without being used. Even the tuareg does 30 to 120 kph in around 4 secods. Thats fast in my book for a bike that has 18/21 wheels 😄
And I used to ride liter bikes etc. I don't find much joy in that anymore.
If I could only keep 1 bike I would pick 701/690 with high likelyhood but I have a very stable 2 bike strategy.
Smaller daytrips in tricky terrain I love to ride my CRF. When I do longer trips thats when a twin cylinder shines the brightest.
I've ridden multiple 690's and 701's but I've never really fallen in love even thought the power is intoxicating. They still feel heavy as an enduro bike and fairly uncomfortable as a travel machine compared to twins.
I know how it works. I go to the parts department and they tell me, sorry, the Italians don’t work during the month of September. 😂
I thought it was the summer months when the parts garage was closed but yeah I've heard about that. Very bad customer service if the bike needs to sit awaiting reparis for weeks on peak riding season.
@@PatchedBanditIt’s such awesome bike. I might buy one and let the second and third owners of the bike worry about replacement parts. 🤘
None of them are as good as a 2004-07 R1200GS with all the crap off it. Reliability, easy maint, cheap as chips to buy, maintain and run. Mine weighs around 210kg fueled albeit with a titanium system and superior chinese lithiom battery installed. Its more balanced than any of them, better for a larger range of riders, has more power and torque and has been around the block. Do the math lol
Old bikes definitely have some gems to pick from. I might do a project at some point 😊
@@PatchedBandit If you go GS get one without ABS. Less weight and less trouble. No crash bars, luggage or even rear seat or centre stand. Would be interesting to see how rideable you could get it with absolute minimal spending.
Also have heard the 1200 is a very reliable worhorse. Thats an interesting project bike for sure!
I thought these GSs have serious cyclinder issues. A friends of mine faced them and could not afford to fix it.
Reliability sketchy off road= no thanks!
Reliability is the #1 most important factor on an ADV bike that actually goes on adventures. That being said, anything italian shouldnt even be remotely considered. The tenere 700 is simply the superior adv bike.
For long tours no arguments here. I just can’t live with the riding position etc.
Even still I have done a 3 month tour with the Tenere 700.
I can't hear this anymore honestly. Especially considering that 90% of overall KM's on these bikes are done on the road. As if riding anything but a T7 meant certain failure. If reliability is your only concern in a motorcycle you might as well ride a KLR 650.
@@gbner9991 sorry reality hurts your feelings or something little feller
@@DB-sd3cw I am good buddy, and I am not going to argue with a fanboy. I ride a T7 since 2019 but I can acknowledge that there is room for improvement on our bike.
If you take perceived reliability out of the equation, this Aprilia beats the T7 in basically every metric.
Fun fact: the T7 was developed almost entirely by Yamaha Italia, and the engine is built by Minarelli, an Italian engine manufacturer that also did the 660. I hope your bike won't blow up.
@gbner9991 well, sounds like yamaha turned an Italian turd into a reliable gem ☺️. Good luck with the warrenty work and oil leaks though lil feller, hope it's worth it
Using the words “adventure bike” to describe any unreliable Italian motorcycle is hilarious. 10,000km is a joke to American Adv riders. Thats a 2 week trip across the country.
I’ll be interested in a Tuareg when I see a bunch of 100,000 MILE examples without any manor issues (which will never happen)
Yamaha really needs to give the T7 tubless wheels and cruise control and just put the Tuareg out its misery.
@@IRLtrolls there is a bike for everyone
@@PatchedBandit Yes of course. The Tuareg, Desert X and 890 are for the coffee shop Adv guys that want to talk about horsepower and suspension travel instead of actually riding
@@IRLtrollswhat a miserable s o b
Heat is the reason I’m not buying this.
Overblown issue really.
Disagree. Its very uncomfortable on hot days. Very personal how much it bothers anyone but also not fair to say its a non issue.
Try not to ride in shorts ans trainers.. that should helps a lot
ho dato una risposta cercala nei commenti.e facile risolvere il problema del calore
When I had to replace my crashed AfricaTwin crf1000, I tested the Tuareg, along with AfricaTwin1100, DucatiDesertX, Tenere700, Norden901. The best was DesertX but too expensive, the worst was Tenere700, Tuareg was 2nd best, but I didn't like the too high handle bar, the gearbox was too firm, and engine was a little weak. So that I bought a 890R, incredible engine and suspension. Would Aprilia fit a 800cc engine in the Tuareg and it would sell far more.
To me the magic on the Tuareg is it's weight which would be ruined with a 800cc engine. 80 hp is plenty enough for any offroad use. Better asphalt muchers are available but then we go to a different category of bike in my opinion.