Is it her or is it not her? Of course it’s her! So Ezio Greggio would say and so we too exclaim in front of the photos of the probable Aprilia Tuareg 660, published by the Facebook page Aprilia 660 world group, who hardly mistakes an Aprilia for another bike.
We have already talked about the Tuareg when Aprilia showed it in the Milanese grove of EICMA 2019 (see the video below). Here, however, the bike was caught in the flesh, obviously in all black livery like any self-respecting prototype.
The future Tuareg 660 shows to go in the right direction. What motorcyclists have been following in recent years, road enduro agile, light and powerful just the right thing. With an obvious note: the reference to the Dakarian lines, as we have seen done by Yamaha with Ténéré 700 e Honda con Africa Twin (both sold very well in 2020).
And this recall Aprilia can afford. In the fabulous 80s and 90s made generations of kids dream with his Tuareg Wind and Rally inspired by racing in design and colors, but also tremendously effective in terms of chassis and engine. The mythical engines Rotax often developed powers that not even motocross bikes of the same displacement of the time they could boast. What times!
But let’s come to our days. Aprilia Tuareg 660 leaves the parallel twin engine in plain sight, which in this configuration should be below 100 horsepower in order to optimize thrust at medium-low revs. On the other hand with a dry weight between 175 and 190 kilos already 85/90 horses would be more than enough to ensure excellent performance. The Tuareg maintains a contained dimensioning, the the tank is located above the engine and does not go down to her hips. We can hypothesize a capacity of about 17/18 liters, while the saddle appears narrow, but not low (at least 86/87 cm from the earth).
The fairing is small in size so as not to disturb off-road driving and the turn of the collectors is low, as on rally bikes true. In this way, the rider’s legs are also not affected by their heat.
You immediately notice the huge silencer, which proves two things: the bike is pretty small and definitely the twin cylinder being tested is Euro 5. The aluminum swingarm is also very long, giving great traction by means of a single shock absorber that works on progressive linkage. In front we find an upside-down fork with an excursion definitely greater than 210 mm and the inevitable double disc with radial mount calipers.
The Tuareg 660 winks at the even difficult off-road, but as standard it will certainly have ride by wire, engine maps, ABS and traction control (which can be excluded). The circles a spokes are 21 inches at the front and 18 at the rear, possibly tubeless like on the bike seen at the fair in Milan last year.
When it will arrive? It is early to tell, but 2021 could hold some nice surprises. The Tuareg 660 will not be as black as this prototype. We already imagine her with the liveries that took away our sleep then. And maybe there will also be a nice Rally with the tank. Yes, dreaming costs nothing.
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