RIDE REVIEW I 2022 APRILIA TUAREG 660
P98
>REGURGITATING
SPECIFICATIONS
I will save you the trouble of looking
for our previous story to find the specs
and throw in a few comparisons to the
competitive options.
The Tuareg utilizes the Aprilia 660
twin also found in the RS and Tuono
street bikes that have proven to be very
popular and competitive on the race-
track. To make this bike world-travel-worthy but
day-trip-rip friendly, Aprilia reworked the impres-
sively fun twin-cylinder RS- and Tuono-mounted
powerplant significantly. Tuned to 80 horsepower
and 70 Nm of torque, the dual-overhead cam,
270-degree firing twin features a load of en-
gine tech and performance. But for Tuareg use,
specifically, Aprilia slid in cams with lower lift and
a narrower crossing phase of the cam
lobes to boost low-end torque character.
A unique air-intake system (somewhat
obvious considering its perch above the
fuel tank) is also added to the engine to
emphasize low-rpm torque with longer
ducts. The exhaust system follows the
low- to medium-rpm performance bias,
as does specific ignition mapping.
Aprilia says 75 percent of the 70 Nm
of max torque (52.5 Nm) is available at 3000 rpm,
and 85 percent is on tap at 4500 rpm with max
torque pumped out at 6500 rpm—well below the
horsepower peak at 9250 rpm. This pairs well
with a Tuareg-specific gearbox featuring a shorter
first gear and a two-tooth-smaller front sprocket
to deliver torquier grunt right at the crack of the
throttle. In the books, this sounds awesome.
The Tuareg is
powered by the
same powerplant
found in the RS
and Tuono
street bikes.
