#tuareg

It was a hard choice between winner and runner-up in the Adventure category which means we’re the real winners. There are so many great options not only in the middleweight category, but also the genre as a whole. The Ducati and Aprilia are two of the latest entrants into the segment and the Tuareg managed to eke out the win for precisely the reason we’ve seen it twice now in our MOBO selection – its exceptional value proposition.

2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660 Review – First Ride

The 660cc Parallel Twin-powered Tuareg proved its versatility during our long ride off-road and on from Sturgis to Los Angeles during our August Showdown. It was Evans’ and my preferred steed for the long stints on the street and gave up little if anything when the trail got bumpy. Further showing its versatility was the fact that Evans and I had the same observations despite our different levels of off-road proficiency. Being able to adjust the electronics to suit the ride really helps the tailor the Tuareg for a large swath of riders. The fact that it’s smaller in stature and displacement also helps those new to riding or the ADV scene to feel less intimidated while allowing them to enjoy their first foray into the unknown.

For Aprilia to knock it out of the park with the first really well-rounded adventure machine certainly deserves praise, and like we mentioned before, the Italian marque has managed to do so while providing a great value relative to any motorcycle segment – not just for an ADV bike. And it’s for those reasons that we’re giving the Aprilia Tuareg our Best Adventure Motorcycle of the Year award.

The main beauty of Sardinia is the almost complete lack of Sardinians, which makes it hard to explain why the twisty roads that connect the villages on the Mediterranean’s second-biggest island are so perfectly maintained. The new Aprilia Tuareg 660 is up for all of them. There’s a lot of second and third gear work in there, which the optional quickshifter makes quick work of, and even the occasional first-gear corner when the fur is flying – also not a problem.