Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1546057
P96 RIDE REVIEW I 2026 APRILIA TUAREG 660 RALLY a better job of bringing out the best in this bike in the dirt. The most noticeable differences between the standard and Rally Tuareg models are the different handlebars, the seat and the taller ride height. Most of our test riders have off-road/motocross backgrounds, so the handlebars feel very comfortable to us. We also like the seat and did not have any issues with the roughly two-inch-taller seat height, which results from the nearly one-inch-taller seat and less sag in the suspension. We have no complaints about the standard Tuareg's brakes, but the braid - ed steel lines on the Rally model improve on that solid baseline. They provide great control and modulation in the dirt and perform equally well on pavement. The ABS options are good and, unlike many bikes, aren't too intrusive, so you can comfortably leave the front ABS on while riding off-road. The TFT dash and electronics pack - age are intuitive and offer endless tuning options. Kudos to Aprilia for including cruise control, a great feature for long road sessions. Speaking of the road, we found the bike comfortable for on-road sessions, even with the more off-road- inspired handlebar bend. CONCLUSION We were already big fans of the Aprilia Tuareg, giving it high marks for on-road performance. However, we felt the sus- pension settings were not as good as those on some of the alternative bikes in this class for off-road riding. The latest Tuareg Rally addresses our complaints and puts it on the same playing field as the KTM 890 Adventure R. The Tuareg Rally's class-leading lightweight and narrow feel between the rider's legs also add to off-road confidence. With an MSRP of $13,999, it offers a lot of perfor - mance for the price. CN 2026 APRILIA TUAREG 660 RALLY ($13,999) Engine Inline, 4-stroke, parallel-twin Valvetrain DOHC, 4-valves per cylinder Bore x Stroke 81 x 63.93mm Displacement 659cc Compression Ratio 13.5:1 Horsepower (claimed) 80 hp @ 9250 rpm Torque (claimed) 70 Nm @ 6500 rpm Fuel System RBW, EFI, w/ 2 52mm throttle bodies Ignition Electronic Transmission 6-speed w/ AQS (Aprilia Quick Shift) optional upgrade Clutch Multiplate wet w/ slipper system 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 (engine as stressed member) Front Suspension 43mm Kayaba, fully adjustable, linear-rate springs (revised vs. base) Rear Suspension Single Kayaba shock, linkage, aluminum swingarm, fully adjustable Front-Wheel Travel 9.45 in. Rear-Wheel Travel 9.45 in. Front Brake 300mm dual disc, Brembo, ABS Rear Brake 260mm single disc, Brembo, ABS Wheels Spoked, gold-finish aluminum, tube-type Front Tire 90/90-21 in., tube-type Rear Tire 150/70-18 in., tube-type Rake / Trail 26.7° / 4.46 in. (not independently confirmed for Rally) Wheelbase 60.0 in. Seat Height 35.9 in. Weight (wet, full fuel, measured) 439 lbs. Fuel Capacity 4.75 gal. Colors (Rally livery) Red/purple Dakar-style graphics, red-painted frame, gold wheels