If you are currently in the market for an adventure bike, you are genuinely spoiled for choice. Every single major manufacturer has thrown their hat into this particular ring. But, if you want something a little more versatile, then a middleweight might be the answer.
Middleweight ADVs offer a balance between street and off-road performance, and each brand offers a different balance between these two mutually exclusive characteristics. All these bikes offer a level of versatility that makes the dream of a one-bike garage a reality. Your set of needs will determine which bike you choose.
A Smorgasbord Of Versatile Options
If you want a blank canvas that you can personalize with a variety of readily available aftermarket options, the Honda Transalp offers us a solid foundation for that. From the outside, it might look as if it is missing a lot of features, but by leaving off those features, Honda is able to make it genuinely affordable. If you want to lean into the adventure touring side, you can, and if you want to make it more off-road capable, that is also an option.
The Tenere 700 was the bike that really kicked this segment into high gear, and Yamaha just made it more off-road capable than ever before by adding the World Raid trim. All the minor niggles of the base model have well and truly been addressed with this model that bristles with intent. Both these bikes offer impressive versatility, but the bike in question has their number in one key area.
How The Yamaha Tenere Offers The Perfect Blend Of On-Road And Off-Road Riding
Slim, fast, and built to brawl on any surface, the Ténéré 700 blends street smarts with serious off-road grit
The Aprilia Tuareg 660 Is The One Adventure Motorcycle That Just Works Everywhere
MSRP: $12,499
Even though the Tuareg 660 still offers a fairly comprehensive list of features, it is still lighter than the competition. This isn’t only something that will be felt off-road, either. If you plan on using the bike as a commuter, then weight is also a pretty big factor. Lugging a big, heavy bike around tight city streets will wear thin pretty quickly, but the Aprilia is light and pretty nimble for an ADV. It also offers a charm all of its own, and while this is pretty subjective, it is arguably the main reason why the bike has won over so many fans since it made its first appearance back in 2022.
2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660 Review: When Less Is More
Aprilia’s Tuareg 660 middleweight hits the adventure-bike sweet spot
The Tuareg Has A Punchy Twin
Power: 80 Horsepower
As is the case with most of the middleweight options, the Tuareg 660 runs on a modular platform. While it shares this 660 parallel-twin with a sports bike and a naked bike, it is in a vastly different tune compared to those two bikes, though. Both of those bikes make over 100 horsepower, while the Tuareg only makes 80 horsepower. The Tuareg has been optimized for torque delivery. While there isn’t any more torque, it is able to get its power down more effectively off-road. By detuning it like this, it will also be more reliable, a desirable characteristic in any motorcycle that will be used for travel.
Proving The Doubters Wrong
The first RS 660 models had the mother of all wobbles, with a few bikes experiencing engine failure. It was at this moment that we all thought that it might be a sign of things to come, but after rectifying the issue, this powertrain has proven to be perfectly reliable, especially in the Tuareg’s more mild state of tune. Although mechanical reliability is something we all expect from modern machines, Italian bikes have a history.
Thankfully, both Aprilia and Ducati are bucking this trend, but the one problem Aprilia still has is the dealer network. Or lack thereof, at least. Aprilia/Piaggio is a smaller manufacturer when compared to the Japanese juggernauts, and that will just be part of the ownership experience. There is no denying that this could be a dealbreaker for those who are used to the convenience of owning a Yamaha or Honda motorcycle.
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The XL750 Transalp gives you almost everything that the F 900 GS does, at a significantly lower price.
The Tuareg 660 Is Feature-Rich
Over the past decade or so, Aprilia has become a leader in terms of motorcycle electronics. While the Tuareg does not come with the most sophisticated electronics package in its class, everything you need is there. Ride modes and cruise control are present, as well as a TFT dash. ABS and traction control are both switchable. What it lacks is an IMU, something other bikes are now getting, including the Yamaha Tenere 700 World Raid. It is something that adds a significant amount of weight to an ADV, underscored by the fact that it now weighs 30 pounds more than the Aprilia.
The Yamaha Adventure Bike That Can Go The Distance Without Breaking A Sweat
The Tenere 700 was already the most capable standard midsize ADV; the World Raid takes that platform to the next level now
Added Lightness Makes All The Difference
Balancing tech features and weight is a nightmare for any ADV engineer. While modern customers demand more features, they also demand more off-road capability. Every manufacturer has a different solution for this, and every manufacturer ends up siding with one or the other. Aprilia’s solution lies within the chassis. While the naked Tuono and RS 660 sports bikes share an aluminum twin-spar chassis, the Tuareg has a steel trellis chassis with aluminum plates.
This is the same chassis design you will find on several exotic sports bikes, although Aprilia chose it for a different reason. It certainly delivers good road manners, but its ultimate objective is to offer the same level of durability as a traditional steel chassis without the added weight. It is a relatively expensive option, but it also worked rather clearly.
One thing that is often not made clear enough is the fact that any adventure bike – from small entry-level options to the big-bore behemoths – will never be an off-road bike. Adventure bikes are street bikes that can go off-road, no matter what the marketing may depict. As such, the Tuareg is no all-conquering dual sport; it simply offers an ideal balance for those looking for the most effective tool for the job. It simply works everywhere. Which is the whole point of owning an adventure motorcycle, in our opinion.
Chassis, Suspension And Weight Specifications
|
Chassis |
Steel trellis with aluminum plates |
|
Front Suspension |
43mm Kayaba USD fork, fully adjustable (9.5-in travel) |
|
Rear Suspension |
Kayaba monoshock, fully adjustable (9.5-in travel) |
|
Weight |
450 lbs |
Source: Aprilia