When Aprilia presented the Tuareg 660 in 2021, all eyes were already on the Yamaha Tenere 700 – and, at least in Europe, people went nuts for the T7. I started seeing them everywhere – out on the Trans Euro Trail, at amateur rally races, and on the road.

I don’t recall spotting many Tuaregs, though, not in 2021, and not recently; so when I went to rent one a couple of months ago for a week-long adventure stint in Southern Spain, I’ll confess I expected very little from it. I sort of thought it’d be a lot like the T7 – top-heavy, somewhat boring, and with a reluctant attitude (that’s my personal take on a stock Tenere 700; however, I only had a chance to test-ride it for a day, so there’s that).

But the Tuareg 660 was none of those things – and, frankly, it blew my mind.

Here’s why:

Stock Aprilia Tuareg 660

First off, it often feels like most, if not all, stock bikes are a little… lumpy, for lack of a better word. It’s either the suspension or the balance or the center of weight, so when I rolled out onto the backroads of Andalusia aboard the Tuareg, I had very few expectations. And yet, it instantly felt right: the weight was so low that the bike essentially could stay upright of its own accord, but, at the same time, it leaned into corners with gusto. It was incredibly steady and stable in traffic and on the main roads, but the second we hit the narrow mountain twisties, it’s as if the Tuareg was saying, “alrighty, let’s goooo!”.

And it did – effortlessly, but with a bit of a forgiving attitude, which I always appreciate. Some bikes are so sharp they’ll immediately teach you a lesson in humility if you’re even the tiniest bit clumsy; others, like my DR650 famous for its “tractor factor”, will be so steady it’ll lack that oomph. The Tuareg, to me, felt like it had the perfect balance between the two.

And, most amazingly, this was a completely standard, stock model. Not a single thing had been modified, but the bike felt great in all the right places – the throttle response, the corners, the braking, and the agility while remaining incredibly stable and forgiving.

Gravel Travel

While I had road tires and wasn’t allowed to hit any proper trails on the rental, I did have a chance to ride the Tuareg on a few gravel tracks. I’d switched the Urban mode into Off-Road, expecting nothing more than the ABS being disabled, but here, too, I was pleasantly surprised – the throttle felt sharper, the bike seemed to bite happily into the loose gravel, and I felt a lot more sure-footed and relaxed on it than I had on the T7. The Tuareg floated along the trail in an easy cruise, and the low weight, again, made all the difference.

The Schoolmaster Bike

As the week progressed, so did my newfound fascination with the Tuareg 660. It felt like it was equally happy with everything – paved twisties, steep gravel switchbacks, narrow, potholed backroads, light off-road trails, city traffic, Spanish cobblestone streets, and fast-flowing mountain roads.

In the horse-riding world, there’s a term “schoolmaster horse”: it’s typically a mature, well-mannered horse experienced in a variety of riding disciplines, steady and consistent; these horses are kind and sort of bomb-proof – they will gently respond to the right cues, correct the wrong ones, and won’t freak out or bolt if the rider is too green.

That, to me, was what the Tuareg felt like – steady, consistent, forgiving, comfortable, and well-balanced, but happy to go at it if you twist the throttle, whether on tarmac or gravel.

Now, that was just a week in Southern Spain, and I’m not a professional bike tester by any means; however, the Tuareg 660 seems to be doing just fine on long-distance trips, and while finding parts for Aprilia may be a tad more difficult than other makes, it seems to me that this is a fantastic schoolmaster motorcycle for ADV trips – and, yes, I would totally get one if I was in the market for a new adventure bike.

Quick Specs:

Price:   $11,999-$12,599

Engine Type:   4-stroke twin cylinder

Displacement: 659cc

Horsepower: 80 hp at 9250 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed w/optional Aprilia Quick Shift (AQS)

Final Drive: Chain, 15/42T

Electronics: APRC Suite: ATC (traction control), AEB (engine brake), AEM (engine maps), ACC (cruise control), 4 Riding modes (Urban, Explore, Off-Road, Individual)

Chassis: Single unit steel frame

Front Suspension: 43mm Kayaba, fully adjustable

Rear Suspension: Single Kayaba shock, linkage, aluminum swingarm, fully adjustable

Wheels: Spoked; aluminum drop center

Front Tire: 90/90-21 in., tubeless

Rear Tire: 150/70R-18 in., tubeless

Wheelbase: 60.04 in.

Seat Height: 33.85 in.

Weight (Wet, full fuel tank): 450 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 4.75 gal.

What’s your take on the Aprilia Tuareg 660? Team T7 or Team Tuareg? Share in the comments below!