Tuareg 660 and the Tenere 700

Today we test rode the tuareg 660. It is awesome to see all of these new adventure bikes on the market. 10 years ago, there was nothing. Now we have options.... good options!
Thanks for watching. Make sure you subscribe and watch ALL of my videos so that I dont need to answer the same questions every week!
Get a sticker and other stuff here: sasmcshop.square.site/
My audio works like this: • How to get awesome aud...

[@BikerBits]

Like you said "just ride ya bike". I always say if you see a bike and it "spins ya wheels" that's the bike you buy! 👍 Great review Nerb and thanks for sharing. Cheers... Mark

[@RekimNZ]

"Don't let it sit in a shed" soo true !

[@paarthd2]

Interesting observation there about the BMW like ergos. The original F650 the Funduro was actually based on the Aprilia Pegaso 650 (they shared all the components other than the outer body parts) which then went on to become the base for the future Dakar bikes, the F650GS etc. So the Tuareg feels like a BMW which was essentially an Aprilia underneath. Funny how the circle comes around to complete itself.

[@Tomdogful]

I agree totally. My X Challenge had Aprilia stamped on most parts except the motor (Made in Austria LOL).

[@Ariautoace]

This is my new favourite Australian Reviewer, a no nonsense approach to talking about a bike. Some of these reviews seem "paid", like a counterpart of his that reviewed a Desert X, the whole review seem paid. This review is so brutally honest I wish every reviewer had a format like this. Good on ya mate.

[@storkyize]

Thanks, good to see you back.😊

[@oic1968]

Good review, it seems like this bike solved some issues that have built a strong aftermarket for the t7

[@Tomdogful]

Always enjoy your no nonsense reviews and rides Nerb. My first impression was BMW “G” series. Thanks for the review 👌

[@gillesgenete9598]

I rode my '21 701E for 17.000km off-road, double and single track. Just sold it, to mod my 500excf adventurized for solo trips. I used to road trip my '16 AfricaTwin until a car broke it. I tested all midsize adv bike, Norden901, T700, DesertX, Tuareg660. DesertX is fantastic bike but price is insane. Norden is a roadster disguised in adv look. T7 is good bike but Tuareg pleased me better with suspension, engine and electronics, noticeably offroad. At the end of the day after lot of hesitation, I bought an KTM 890 AdvR, because I slightly felt better on 890 from ergonomics than the Tuareg which has wider and higher handlebar and rough gear box.

[@robertrscott]

Loving my Tuareg, no regrets @ all! Good video

[@FULLPELTAdventures]

Hey Nerb, I did the test ride on the Sunday. Really enjoyed the Tuareg. Seems we both came to a similar conclusion. Enjoyed you vid. Regards FPPete.

[@olis790]

Going to be doing the same test ride here in NSW can't wait. I think the light weight (comparatively) and the cruise control make it a winner. Just hope not to have issues if I were to purchase.

[@jaybosher6144]

If I'm not mistaken the bash plate is basically mounted to the engine lol. Those bars on the t7 are actually pretty useful as a consumable if you bottom out

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Interesting review. Thanks.

[@Whos-That-Guy]

Thanks you for bringing back some Tool!!!!..... After owning a 1190eds I couldn't believe how easy the slow speed ease of the T7. Now I own a wr250r and guess what, it's sitting in the garage not being used... Time for a new bike..

[@henryjanssen7851]

Great video,must have been a great day did you ride the 1200? I did spot my brother in the shot, keep the videos coming 👍

[@MotoSwagger]

Was hoping you were going to do this comparo - much appreciated! I'm upgrading my T7's suspension soon with YSS components and I think my setup will be pretty much complete then and will have to be a pretty serious contender to make me switch. I also tried to do the tubeless option on the T7, rear never worked and front started leaking after a few months so back to tubes in both - cant justify upgrading the rims just for that!

[@Nerb1]

Yeah, converting TT to TL is not easy. If I win the lotto I'll buy TL rims.

[@elderrider9298]

great comparison, i Enjoy my T7 also

[@bobdrakeford5731]

Cool review Nerb! I went the day after to compare my T7 with the Taureg 660. Imo two totally different bikes. Both bikes I enjoy/enjoyed to ride. I've set my T7 up to suit my likings, so although impressed with the Tuareg 660, I'm staying with my T7. If I was in the adventure market (with nothing in the shed) it'd be a tough decision with the choices out there atm. Thanks for sharing you comments/commitment to Adventure Motorcycle Riding here in the Land of Oz! 👍😁

[@Nerb1]

Exactly what I thought Bob. Bikes are in the same market segment but are not the same style.

[@billcotton1551]

It does look good in yellow.

[@MitchMotoMaths]

Seems like a good bike. I'm still leaning towards a T7 (when I can afford it) but seeing the Tuareg in action has at least given me some idea of what other options there are. Wish I could afford one of these before open roads but it looks like no. (Had to buy a new car recently and have just bought a house so the funds for a new bike are basically nothing) It's a shame open roads 2023 isn't going to be rec reg friendly but ahwell. Might have to take my mates postie!

[@JimmyCall]

It a very precise designed bike. If that adapts to good riding it another matter, per rider.

[@joseaguirre7517]

Awesome bike anyway!! But if you don't have enough in your pocket.. Just go.. for the T700!! As simple as that!!

[@JustTex]

Not sure how useful the front of the seat would be , you would need to be going pretty hard into a corner to use that part i would think. I do like the idea of cruise control for touring . Cheers 4 sharing sir.

[@SomeRandoInternetPoster]

Booked on the NSW one. I reckon the payed ride is a good idea, 90 mins with mix of road/gravel for a nominal fee. The Sydney dealers only give you 20 mins run round the block so pointless on an ADV ride especially in 50-60km/h city traffic.

[@mrlemonadesandwich]

Ride modes are more of a marketing feature than a riding feature in my opinion. I have a 1090 Adventure R and it stays in Sport mode with ABS in off road, and traction control always off in the dirt or dry/wet tar. I never change them because i dont need to. Just something more to distract the rider

[@davewalton2358]

Interesting to hear your thoughts, Nerb. Your T7 sounded like it was a bit snappier on the throttle, the Tuareg sounded a bit more doughy down low, almost like it still had TC on. Is that the case? I was expecting you to be power sliding out of some of the corners, and it just sounded a little sluggish...

[@miyrides1180]

I,m living in the UK ,I,d have the Taureg here ,there's a good dealer network ,and your never far from help if it goes t.ts up.I have a T7 waiting for me In NZ when I return next month it's a bit more remote in places and far more dirt roads and a lot less help on hand if it goes t.ts up ,plus a lot of small NZ country towns cater to the farming community,so there's more then likely ,a Yamaha or Honda agent in town looking after farm bikes and quads to get you out of most mechanical situations.....which let's face it are more likely on the euro bikes

[@richardsimpson3792]

Greetings from the UK...the weather looked familiar! Great review...focussed on the important stuff rather than showing off How much did it cost to sort the suspension on the T7 to your satisfaction? What's the weather protection like on the two bikes...which would be better for a long ride on a fast road?

[@Nerb1]

I spent about $3000 (2000 pounds) on new suspension for the T7. Weather protection is just a fantasy on these type of bike. A goldwing has reasonable weather protection. These have a screen that reduces wind load on your torso. :) That said, the tuareg screen is more effective.

[@wobblysauce]

Just needs a high fender kit … Lukey… Modes that default on is a legal thing, but having it stay in the same settings as you left it does feel good

[@csiautodetail]

I wrote a comment before that I wanted to buy a a T7 for long time but they are incredibly hard to get here in US, you can find used ones but people ask 2 or 3 grants more than msrp. I found my KTM 1190 with every mod you can do, super loaded for a decent price, problem is that I find the bike to heavy for me. I have been thinking the toureg alternative but is hard for me to justify pay like 4 grants more than my 1190 and then spend another thousands in modifications.

[@travishimself1973]

That looked alot like mt slide rd.

[@azlong4596]

Nerb what was the front tire on the Tuareg you rode? The US version I have has a different tire.

[@Nerb1]

They put TKC80 front and rear on them for the demo.

[@bazza8947]

Do you think you might go for this If you didn't have the T7 and you were looking at a new bike now? I think Aprilia have really hit the mark in terms of features and performance vs price. It's only a few thousand more than the base model T7 and few thousand less than the Desert X

[@Nerb1]

Probably not. I think I like the name Yamaha better than Aprilia. And I really like the riding position on the T7.

[@bazza8947]

@@Nerb1 far less chance the Yamaha blowing up in the middle of nowhere lol.

[@PwnstarUK]

This double the bike of the T7

[@Eddie_Turbo]

Nerbson I got a crf300 with ABS, the switch only turns the rear off. I have noticed some dudes remove the abs fuse full time (so no abs at all front or rear), road and dirt. What is your thoughts on this? Do you run abs off road in the front?

[@Nerb1]

Ive been told that the crf300 has very basic and very intrusive abs, so maybe it is pretty ordinary off road? I'd have to have a play on one, but generally, you want abs onroad. There are a HUGE amount of avoidable crashes that happen, particularly by younger riders, that abs would have saved. Unfortunately, the T7 abs is on or off... there is no option to keep the front on. If there was, I would leave the front on when off road. I always did on my 1190. Ask yourself, how often do you lock the front wheel when offroad?

[@Eddie_Turbo]

@@Nerb1 I totally agree, it's just the gnarly steep downhill sections of single track I'm worried about... especially in the rain... I am yet to take it out to do some gnarly wet offroad stuff.

[@TheGardenSnake]

15:49 no no no, not if it's a simple budget bike ABS like my CRF300L had. That was way too intrusive. Also if you're doing a supermoto conversion like I did on my CRF then that system just isn't gonna adjust itself to that level of grip on street you now have. But yeah good ABS systems are amazing. People want to fight me over this when I full ripped that system off my CRF hahaha.

[@Nerb1]

Yes, the cheapest and nastiest abs are probably junk. But none of these bigger adventure bikes use 1st generation abs. They are good. Do a demo for us and show that you can out brake it. I'd be interested by how much.

[@TheGardenSnake]

@@Nerb1 Like I said "But yeah good ABS systems are amazing"

[@400chevlc]

The RS660 engines are hand grenading all over the planet. Are these a detuned version? Hopefully more reliable than the RS

[@sspirito3130]

I think you didn't get a chance to properly test the suspensions on the Tuareg. Try doing some high speed deep corrugations on the Tuareg and then do the same with the T7. Corrugations are a very good torture test. The stock suspensions on the Tuareg plays in a different league, brilliant straight out of the box - can't say the same thing about the T7

[@Nerb1]

Yes, I said in the video that we didnt get to test the suspension. I changed the suspension in the T7. That cost should be considered if comparing the two. In stock form, they are both 43mm KYB. The longer the travel, the larger the diameter should be.

[@dieppe182]

Modes, traction control, cruise control and testicular padding😆What's not to like?

[@BadgerMcblasty]

Do you take absolute noob adventure ( and motorcycle ) riders under your wing for Little trips to help them ( me ) out?

[@Nerb1]

Sure, provided youre not scared of falling off ;)

[@BadgerMcblasty]

@@Nerb1 it’s not the falling off. It’s the hitting of the ground. But yea, I live in Melbourne ( Epping ) I’ve ridden a few times off road, and I did the Hart adventure course. But I’m not keen doing solo adventure rides just yet. Before you say “hit me up on Insta”, I only have KZbin, I try have as little a digital foot print as I can. Tbh, unsure how to get a hold of ya to organise. 🤤

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

Hay mate , I reckon ABS is fantastic ( only tech I like ) obviously very good on wet asphalt. BUT MotoGP riders don’t use ABS , traction control they do , and they can ride and say out perform ABS , obviously I’m not a gun 🔫 like that 😂😂😂.

[@Nerb1]

Motogp dont use abs because the FIM doesnt allow it. Otherwise they would.

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

@@Nerb1 ok wonder 💭 why that is ?

[@wobblysauce]

It is also a sport picked not to be just rider aids…

[@Nerb1]

@@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449 Marquez did testing of ABS in 2014, but FIM said no. They wanted the racing to be about the rider. ABS generally stops lowsides. They allowed TC though because it prevents highsides, which result in injuries. That is my understanding anyway. But certainly, it is an FIM restriction.

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

@@Nerb1 good 👍 to know

[@toby7504]

Better of with the t7😊

[@TheHornetRider1]

You forgot "Does good monos!"

[@BadgerMcblasty]

The DR650 wins every time. 😂

[@Nerb1]

Get out of here! 😜

[@BadgerMcblasty]

@@Nerb1 true story.

[@whitedrguy6503]

Definitely my choice . 👍💯

[@toby7504]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@adamrichards2072]

Got one for sale, if you are interested...

[@davidmallia628]

T7 enthusiasts are in denial, that this is a better bike. Reliability will be told in the future. A follow up to the original model could address some teething issues, like heat coming onto your leg from the cat, otherwise this Tuareg is a winner.

[@mountainconstructions]

Ripper

[@OzTwanger]

$30 a bargain

[@Captndarty]

Bottom line it’s just plain ugly. The front looks like Frankenstein‘s forehead.

[@whitedrguy6503]

It’s Italian. Pass.

[@grego10r]

nope nope amd nope nothing beats t7 that turek its junk

[@AusMoto]

Would take the jap T7 any day 😆 I was meant to be down there testing one yesterday, but other plans came up.