Why isn't the Tuareg 660 more popular?

[@HotRodRV]

Absolutely love the bike. Coming up on 10k miles with zero issues.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Nothing makes me happier to hear man!

[@mrbase111]

I have 23000 and am super happy. But I had the following problems -> tank sensor broken, indicators and horn no longer work and the side stand sensor was destroyed by a stone.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

@@mrbase111 Thanks for sharing and too bad with the issues, although I don't think that's too bad at all, especially for an adventure bike that I assume have seen some offroad miles as well!

[@aleksandaravramchev145]

@@JohannesDalenMC@HotRodRV @mrbase111 Have any of you guys made any mods to lower the bike? Im okay with the stock setup and seat but I think for overall use and daily riding it would be much more comfortable to have a solid footing on both feet

[@BrakeMagazine]

It's coming man. I think you're gonna love it.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

This is like when I first heard about The Hobbit, I was counting down the days, excited as a little kid! Do we have a date or do I have to live in this uncertainty?

[@lynvigo]

Hi. Good to see you “back” on KZbin😊 I’m the one that bought the Tuareg you tested here on your channel, the demo bike, and I absolutely love it! It has about 6500km now and no problems. This summer I rented a Tenere 700 in Lithuania, and drove about 2000km Offroad on all kinds of terrain. Apart from maybe the engine, the Tuareg is just as good or better in every way. The engine on the T7 though feels a bit torqueier and it definitely sounds better. I hope to fix that with a full exhaust at some point😉. So that’s a little status update from a happy Tuareg owner.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Thank you Morten, and I'm very happy to hear the exact one I rode is doing fine (guess it's because of good break-in 😆). Thanks for the update and I'll see you on the road in a few months!

[@lynvigo]

Yes, if I see you around we can swap bikes for some kilometers. I’d be happy to try that PR7 also😉 you actually have a more rare bike than me😎

[@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV]

This is a great question. One of the best adv twins out there. I really rate them. In Australia they aren't penetrating the market, which surprises me. One reason is the relative lack of service centres. Their build quality is excellent, great ergos, engine, suspension, traction control, low centre of gravity, the list goes on.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Hey Dave, nice to see you here, I just finished watching your Tiger 900 video this morning - excellent stuff! Yeah, it's a strange situation. Perhaps the Tuareg 660 winning the Africa Eco race this year might help their reputation?

[@keithkeeble7483]

In the UK they could not give them away even with big discounts on list price and it because of the dealer network spares availability

[@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV]

It's sad because the bike is amazing. @@keithkeeble7483

[@andrewtreloar7389]

But Dave, they are priced way too high here in Australia. When, in other countries they are directly priced against the Transalp and the base T7 but here they retail for $22,230 for the base paint job. That's over $8k more than a Transalp.

[@joeyfromtheblock5528]

I owned one in vic. Good luck getting parts, and good luck dealing with the worst dealership experience ever, and not having a choice to go anywhere else. All of that was enough for me to sell it.

[@SpyCRS]

Very good and interesting topic! As a Tuareg owner myself, and an avid researcher of everything i buy or want to buy, constantly educating myself with new info about anything surrounding motorcycles my "educated" guess is that Aprilia just lacks popularity with people who are considered target clients for adventure bikes, and they just don't trust Aprilia enough. It's quite the same with chinese manufacturers like Cfmoto or Moto Morini etc. All the mainstream major brands have had decades of offroad bikes manufactured and used so people have pretty good idea what they would get and many dealerships around the world already have them represented also because they are in this business for so long. It will take time and many model generations of proof that a manufacturer can build good reliable bikes.

[@joeyshmoey8514]

I bought my Toureg 660 on June 8, 2023 (10 months ago) as a gift to ,myself for having made it through a six hour open heart surgery about five months earlier. It was the perfectly sensible thing for a 72 y.o. guy to do. Right? I took advantage of a military veteran's discount they had at the time. I brought it home and haven't even ridden it yet because I was still too weak from surgery. It still has only 2 miles on it. However, in the past 10 months the Tuareg has aquired an adjustable suspension link (Altrider) that lowers the bike 1 3/8", crash protection bars, a beefy aluminum skid plate, tail rack, luggage, etc., and is ready to ride across the country. At the same time I have been in rehab and have gained strength substantially. I also updated and upgraded my riding gear. Spring is just about here and the Tuareg and I are finally ready for some adventure. But why the Tuareg 660? I am coming from last riding a BMW K100RS road bike. I rode dual sports for years before that. The Tuareg 660 takes care of both desires for me. The Tuareg 660 has the heart of a sport bike, and the body of a dirt bike. I haven't ridden mine yet, but the dual nature of the bike is obvious when you see the Tuareg in person. The looks have grown on me. I never liked the insectoid KTM look, or the beak on some bikes. I have come to like the distinctive looks of the Tuareg. Despite some concerns about reliability, and dealership availability - here is what has not been mentioned - Aprilia has a TWO YEAR WARRANTEE; while Honda and Yamaha have only a one year warantee. My Tuareg will have sat in a garage for 10 months and it will still have a longer remaining warantee than a new Honda bought the day I take my Tuareg out of storage. Aprilia backs their product with twice the warantee - that says a lot about their faith in their product. The Tuareg does have to return to the dealership at the 600 mile mark for an initial service, which requires Aprilia to update the bike's computer. After that, warantee service performed by any licensed motorcycle shop will satisfy warantee requirements. The only real drawback is the scarcity of dealerships, but with a new bike with a 2 year warantee I don't see much need for the dealership after the first service. Oil changes, tires, etc. can be done by any shop, if you don't do it yourself. Therefore, I felt fine buying a less common motorcycle - especially since it is most likely best-in-class. I also like the fact that I won't see many other Tuaregs on the road, for a while anyways. I plan on living from the back of my Tuareg 660 for several months at a time as I explore the U.S.A. via the TransAmerica Trail, BDRs, and any other place I care to ride. I hope we make a good traveling team. I also hope the Piaggio Group makes steady growth in the U.S. market.

[@pavelshchors]

I have my Aprilia Tuareg since July last year - no problems so far. We have two dealers in Stockholm - more than enough for me:) I plan to put the bike for proper test this year - will see what it brings

[@MotoSwagger]

I think you've hit the nail on the head - I cant say for the rest of the world but in Australia there are very few Aprilia dealerships and reliability seems to be a very high priority for the ADV community here. My son bought a Toureg 660 around a year ago and has had zero issues, I've riden it and compared to my customised T7 it's a better adventure bike BUT I'm not getting rid of the T7 anytime soon. Keep up the great work and refreshing content!

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Thank you Craig, happy to hear both you and your son is enjoying your bikes. If I can share adventures on two wheels with my son when I grow I will be a happy man - enjoy my friend!

[@enriquejaimes3368]

Reliability is everything when you want ride to remote offroad places. That is why I am still riding my DR650. Not the most powerful, not the most equipped, not the most modern but boy it is reliable as hell.

[@Talishar]

This is the bigger point. KTMs aren't trusted when you really go out into the desert or the wilderness in general. They're fun little trail toys, but most people would not trust one to go through the Sonoran Desert or a multi-day ride/camp trip through the Alaskan wilderness. When you see groups/companies doing long-distance off-road treks or tours, it's almost always a very basic bike from one of the Big 4, rarely would you see anything European being selected for this unless they have an overland vehicle following them with replacement parts and tools. Most of us do not have a professional chase vehicle with mechanic following us around as we go away from civilization. To have your bike break down out there turns a relatively short trip into a survival situation real quick.

[@SupermotoCentral]

Just bought one in november, absolutely love it! Much nicer than a T7 imo.

[@douglasalexander4348]

I’d rather have an off road bike that’s capable and reliable, commonly known as a T7, than ‘nice’ I’m sure you look very pretty outside a coffee shop.

[@user-qq5kv2oq6x]

@@douglasalexander4348you're saying the Aprilia isn't capable? Whatever makes you happy Yamaha fanboys 🤷‍♂️

[@douglasalexander4348]

@@user-qq5kv2oq6x Which is better off road, the whole point of buying this bike. The Yamaha. So Aprilia is prettier but less capable and more unreliable. But stick your head in the sand. I owned an Aprilia Mille for 7 years, fantastic bike, so that makes me a Yamaha fan boy ? Haha.

[@kloppskalli]

... the Aprilia is just better and i know because I own a Tenere ... also Tenere owners have a hard time accepting that bullet proof reliability isnt everything in a motorcyclist's life but ... eh, whatever i know i am wasting my time with you @@douglasalexander4348

[@JohannesDalenMC]

I respectfully disagree sir. The Tuareg 660 is a better offroad bike than the T7, in almost every measurable aspect. Better suspension, lower center of gravity, more ground clearance and lower seat height. I would argue the CP2 engine is slightly more tractable, but the Tuareg engine is also excellent.

[@eigenaar0191]

Had it for 1year and two months and put 20.000km (12.000miles) on it. Great bike, didn't like the looks, but it handled very well. Offroad too! Traded it in on an AJP PR7 last year. Main reason: Valve check every 20.000km, which is actually pretty good compared to the AJP. But I got quoted a crazy price for the 20k service, and decided to walk away. Apparantly, the valve check on this bike is a very long and technically difficult procedure. Which means I don't feel it's a true adventure bike. Not liking the looks of the bike helped in the decision, I like to look back at my bike after parking it and be happy with how it looks. Reliability was ok, but as said, I didn't test it past 20k. Had some doubts about the hot running engine, quality of engine seals, and the engine running relatively high up in the revs.

[@antiR3ality]

Thanks for sharing!

[@BERZERKER888]

I bought my Tuareg new in November 23, 6100 miles in 7 weeks , from Daytona to Utah… limited highway droning, mostly 2 lane roads to Moab Utah… then the fun began.. off roading with the locals since I am an A Level racer in FTR (Florida Trial Riders, KTM 300XC) aside from the excessive engine heat, the Aprilia was 100% reliable with ZERO mechanical issues…. Have fun on your Mom’s TTR….

[@customjrod]

I've had both the tuareg 660 and a 2023 890 adventure r. The aprilia was hands down better in every category except power. The ktm ate its cams at 2200 miles and numerous other issues with that bike. The aprilia has been perfect so far and is an absolute blast the ride.

[@alexjson]

The Tuareg 660 was top of my list when I was looking at new bikes recently. I didn't go for it because of the reliability concerns, the parts delays and poor attitude to customer service from the Piaggio group. Resale value of these bikes is awful too. I'd probably put 10k miles on a bike in a year and I didn't think the Tuareg would survive 2 years and would certainly have been worthless after that period. A travel bike either needs to be super reliable or the manufacturer needs to be able to deal with issues very quickly in the countries you plan to visit. I currently own my 2nd BMW bike. Both BMWs have had minor issues but BMW immediately sorted these out. First time they collected the bike from my house, delivered me a rental car and then delivered the bike back to me a few days later. I had a similar experience when I'd an issue with my 2nd bike too. I feel safe to buy a BMW which is full of tech and hence prone to the odd issue. Aprilia and KTM do not have service like this so I would avoid them as they're both prone to issues. I've spent a lot of time in Italy over the last few years and you don't see many Italian bikes on the streets, it's mostly Honda, Yamaha and BMW. I asked a biker on a BMW in Florence why this is and he told me when he goes riding with his friends they need to make sure there's enough spare passenger seats to carry home all their friends on the Italian bikes as they always break down. It's a shame about the Tuareg as it seems to be an amazing bike. Piaggio need to sort themselves out and instil some confidence in potential buyers.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Thanks for sharing Alex, I think you make a great point here. On a business related podcast I listened to some years back I recall they quoted one of the CEOs of BMW (cars, but still relevant). Whenever you brought your BMW car in for service or repair, you would be treated very well. They would serve you food, coffee, clean your car and do things outside of what's expected, just to make you feel good about it, because that will get you returning customers (according to BMW).

[@alexjson]

@@JohannesDalenMC my first BMW was a used 750GS so was probably one the cheapest bikes they had in that dealer. I was treated so well. You get a warm fuzzy feeling owning a BMW 😅 They know if they treat you right then you'll always be a customer, the second that level of service goes you could easily convert to other brands

[@janzzen9095]

My Guzzi Stelvio ntx has 145000 km on it and the only thing that had to be fixed was the bearing that pivots the front forks (balhoofdlager, don't know the English word) . A buddy has the same bike, the 2nd version with the 34 liter tank, 350000 on it and apart from the same bearing and a clutch plate, still running strong with no hassle. So much for Italian not beeing reliable.

[@podunkman2709]

@@janzzen9095 I tell you another sweet story. I know at least several guys who reported that tank capacity is not 17l but way less (3 liters or so). Aprila did... nothing with it.

[@DonkeyDongDoug]

When I bought my Tuareg.. I had an idea of what I was getting into. The stigma around Italians bikes is not as bad today as it used to be.. with dealers like AF1 here in the U.S., they normally do a good job about keeping some parts in stock, but there are still some things that you may have to wait a few weeks on. So if you do you own maintenance, then you need to be studying the service manual to see what needs to be ordered and plan those things out a few months before you get to them. I think a lot of the people look at Aprilia and think "high cost of maintenance", and if you're taking the bike to the dealership for every maintenance then that's probably true. I'm on the tail end of doing my 12000 mile valve service on my Tuareg, and I thought it was going to be some super complicated process, but it has wound up being decently easy once you know the special tools that you need (you can buy them, or you can make them if you want to save some money). I went into that job completely blind because NO ONE had made a video on how to do it for the 660 motor yet. So, I think current Tuareg owners can help other owners by sharing videos on how to do maintenance items (brakes, forks, valve checks, shock removal) and get some videos out there to show people, who might be interested in buying these bikes, that they're really not that difficult to work on in your own shop... you don't have to take it to the dealer for every little thing that can go wrong

[@MotoGuzziMoto]

You nailed the key reasons, reliability, manufacturer support and availability of spare parts. These are the top issues for an adventure bike, much more so than for a road bike or commuter where you are not too far from home or from getting help. I have heard horror stories from KTM riders too that they can't get replacement parts. There is also some mystique around the CP2, being one of the best mainstream engines with the 270 degree crank, desaxe (offset) cylinders, smooth torquey low revving nature, long service intervals and hilariously reliable. And the comparisons around which bike has the best suspension (the most immediate thing reviewers focus on), longest range or tubeless wheels etc are pretty meaningless when they can be modified to suit the rider.

[@MLeitao]

You're spot on, but I think the look it's also a bit controversial, and it matters for a lot of people. To me since i don't expect to do a world tour, i sold my T7 and bought a 890...

[@notquiteanexpert74]

I've only had mine a couple weeks, but I love it so far!

[@advlife]

Nice one mate! Cheers for the shoutout. The Tuareg is sooo much fun. I can't wait to get on one again and I have been presented no reason to worry about reliability.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Thank you and the shoutout is well deserved - your videos are excellent!

[@kymcopyriot9776]

I think you pretty much nailed it Johannes - a cloud hanging over reliability, and a patchy dealer network. Meanwhile…sending you warm, snow-melting thoughts from Australia, where it’s 40 degrees Celsius. 😊

[@martyn_g]

Well, when PS are the supplier AND the retailer, there’s a problem. Very patchy in terms of the quality of the techs- and you only have one avenue if there’s an issue.

[@alfredstaude3955]

Hi Johannes, Dealership and Part`s is the key - you´re right. Look at the hype about the Honda`s 250/300 L/R`s, before that many YT-Channel`s find the Enfield was the best ADV for Budget... Marketing and Support i guess is the key. In other Country`s are the very old 650 DR`s the way to go (Australia), in Europe the BMW GS. Thank`s for your effort and ... Cheers

[@ThePikoflex]

I`ve been giving this some thought, and there isnt much sense to why you dont see a Tuareg 660 at every corner during the summertime. But, that is only if you take into account what it is and how it performs. Because if you only take those two things into account, there should not really be any other valid competitor on the market. It has a fantastic engine, solid electronic options, it is lightweight, it looks awesome and has some of the best suspension on the "market" taking the cost of the bike into account. It should be the perfect bike. But then you take into account the lack of dealers and somewhat lacking reliability and you have your answer! I want to be able to abuse my bike and still having it run just fine. That statement seems quite odd, but if you think about it a bit you see that adventure-riders really abuse their bikes. You ride them in unforgiving conditions, and sometimes blistering fast. You have to rely on the fact that the bike can take that abuse, and even if it breaks you can just take it to your local dealer or order some parts to have it fixed. With Aprilia, you just cant do that. Of course it will depend on where you live in the world and what type of riding you do. All i know is this: Even the "best" of bikes can be entising, but at the end of the day you have to be safe and trust your bike..... with your life!

[@twowheeledadventuresuk2739]

I went to look at one, dealer sold the 660 and the T7, I thought the 660 was very ugly, rear lights looked a mess as did the front end. I had no intention of buying a T7 but I did, really fell for the looks. I'd say it's more looks and image with the Tuareg, not really a cool guys bike, I've yet to see one at any of the racing I did last year, loads of T7 and 890s. Your right about parts, that is a big thing with the T7, you name it you can get it easy, better wheels, great suspension, dozens of different exhausts, decal kits galore - on paper the 660 is a better bike, but you make a T7 a way better bike very easily. Maybe the Eco race result might help with promoting the bikes capability

[@vladimirilic3593]

I ride couple of bikes from different categories transalp 750 2024, t7, guzzi v100 mandelo, guzzi v850tt, scooters nothing literally nothing drives better than the tuareg it's pure magic... But not fan of the engine heat

[@laurensdedonder24]

@@twowheeledadventuresuk2739 I am afraid you can't improve the top heavyness of the T7. Agree with the looks but the 660 is an overall better value package. Disclamer I own a modified T7.

[@twowheeledadventuresuk2739]

@@laurensdedonder24 I don't think a bike can be better if you just think the thing is ugly. If it was all about better we'd all be on an 890 - but bikes are so much than performance and that is my point. Ive ridden and raced enough bikes to know what I like, I love my T7, got it to where I'm very happy with it, take my CRF450 out and it knocks the socks off it, but I feel good when I ride my T7, it makes me very happy. And that is all that matters, bike should make you feel good.

[@Mid-Life-Adventure]

Just turned over 3000 miles and have only had the “known issues” of water pump seal and fuel sending unit, but dealer warranty repaired. No other issues to date! Love the bike.

[@toddpillow3074]

Are you suggesting that the dealer has resolved these two known issues for the long term?? If so, then why the hell doesn’t the dealer fix this crap before sending a hapless customer out the door. Very bad marketing…

[@allonmor4078]

You nailed it @JohannesDalen Last year I was in the market for a midsize ADV bike here in the Midwest of the USA. Coming from many years riding sport bikes on the track and many years of riding off road/dual sport bikes, I wanted something for the BDRs and a bike I can ride to and back from the easy trails. T7, KTM890 and the Tuareg were the finalist. If the T7 had all the features of the 890 or the 660, I know I would have bought the Yamaha. For the last 30 years I have been riding mostly Japanese bikes, but I had a Tiger 800 and at KTM EXC 350 without major issues. It is the dealership support that made me chose the 890 in the end.

[@jessrumblin]

EXACTLY

[@ozadv]

18,000 kms here - mostly off-road.. zero issues.. Easy airbox access, oil changes too.. Valve checks? Smalve checks.. hardly a regular problem.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Happy to hear and thank you for sharing, continue to enjoy your Italian stallion!

[@iangriffiths9930]

Price from dealer for valve check £750. That’s expensive, in my case that would be every other year.

[@ozadv]

@@iangriffiths9930 Like I stated - hardly a regular problem. Anyway, get some feeler gauges and do it yourself - it ain't rocket science just labour intensive, especially the first time.. compare the desert x where merely doing the much more regular air filter also needs the tank removal.

[@iangriffiths9930]

Unfortunately I’m not able to complete valve checks myself so would have to pay for it, I don’t care how the good the bike is I’m not paying £750 every other year for maintenance

[@ozadv]

@@iangriffiths9930 that price seems excessive and must be for much more than the valve check - unless bike wrenchers over in pommy land are earning £300+ an hour?!? but meh, I'll be doing my own 😁

[@patkennedy1]

This is a question I suspect many of us have wondered about, so well done for investigating it, anecdotally or otherwise. I test rode the Aprilia Tuareg before I bought my Transalp last year, for comparison, and agree that it is a very capable bike. Far more capable off-road than the Honda, with much better suspension - no question. But in Australia the Aprilia is very dear. My Honda was $15,740 total, on road. 12 month's registration, plus a few extras. As the first buyer here I 'got a good deal', and don't regret it, now 10,000 kms in. The Honda is very easy to live with, and is not my only bike. The Aprilia is a great bike, but costs about $22,500 on road here. A lot more. Unfortunately the local Aprilia dealer here in South Australia (a friend) has retired, such that there is no dedicated Aprilia dealership in this state, and very few in Australia. The other issue was the hot legs problem, which was noticeable on the Aprilia, but non-existent on the Honda. Also the seat height of the Aprilia makes anyone under 6' (1.8 metres) feel a bit insecure up there! Long travel suspension has its drawbacks. The seat itself less comfortable than the Japanese alternatives. More for standing up... But after a lifetime of Ducatis many were surprised at my choice of the Honda, but I would say that in this country the price and the engine heat of the Aprilia were the two main factors that discourage buyers, followed by the dealer/parts availability. But there is no doubt the Tuareg is a bike that deserves more support, both from buyers, and the factory. Its engine feels more revvy and 'urgent' than the Honda, which has a relaxed feel that suits this 'older rider'. I suspect that the average age of (new) ADV bike buyers may skew the statistics towards the more 'old person's model', whereas the Aprilia probably suits a younger, taller rider. The older ones more able to afford a new bike in the current circumstances.

[@Michael_Shay]

I agree that it's reliability/dealer and part support. I'm in the US, the only dealer in my state is about 3.5hrs away from me. I have a mechanic in my family who I usually work on my bikes with so that isn't a huge deal for me. But if I can't get parts then that is a problem. I think also you need to have a dealer to clear any service codes on the Tuareg and that's something I'd find extremely frustrating as somebody who likes to do their own maintenance. But I hope their network grows cause I think the Tuareg is a super cool bike,

[@BRUNO5979]

I have a friend that wants to sell his Tuareg so bad. He's had enough with parts availability and customer service. Really bad.

[@mennonitemoto5941]

I love it and mines been great, heavy to pick up in the sand, especially uphill when you dump it!

[@1young-geezer]

Spot on, as a Tuareg owner myself, the miles have not come to aid yet, to answer reliability/services, to ease minds and build reputation. For me, I don't care, I'm the citizen tester/guinea pig, and I'm enjoying this bike, I have no where near the skill to take it to the limit, and so what. Appreciate your interest in putting forward the conversation here, thanks. Enjoy the journey.......... O yes! I do agree w/ you when you brought up the reliability of for instance KTM - o my, hmmm. I've thought that often, and chuckle.

[@toddpillow3074]

It is 2024 and there really is NO EXCUSE for building unreliable bikes. Without reliability first no manufacturer will ever realize sales numbers that warrant a big dealer network and adequate parts availability. Honda and Yamaha got their reputations the hard way by building reliable bikes first and by building performance later. This is especially true of a bike intended to be taken into the hinterland.

[@emilenossin5098]

I traded my R12GSA for a T7 World Raid. I did not go for KTM because of it being too small for me and because of all the reliability issues I read everywhere (also confirmed by my dealer who was a previous KTM dealer). I didn’t go for the Tuareg also because of reliability concerns (I’m still traumatized by Moto Guzzi ownership), because of its tank volume size and because there are so little aftermarket options for it. I’ve modded the hell out of my T7 WR, so much stuff you can get for it to customize it to your liking. Loving it.

[@glenjeffs6182]

I'm from Canada, was looking at one last year, really liked it, but with bags added, I almost bought two cb500x for the price on one 660 tuareg.

[@rorymiskimen5221]

Nice video, and honest assessment of the pluses and minuses of the Tuareg 660. Having discussed this bike on ADV forums with other riders, to me it seems like the biggest limitation to 660 sales in the US is the lack of nearby Aprilia dealers. I happen to have a dealer 20 miles away, but there are States in the US with no dealerships. Yamaha dealerships are everywhere, although actually finding a T7 to look at and sit on may not be so easy. Reliability is a tricky issue to consider, most evidence being antidotal, but I don’t see many serious defects being posted on owners FB pages, far fewer than for the KTM 890s. In this era of computer design, automated machining and welding, robust electronics, and bikes being build by multi-national corporations with resources for engineering and modern assembly technique, most MCs are going to be fairly reliable.

[@benitodeorte2715]

They dont sell more because we all see aprilia as a second class brand. We see ktm as first class. Guzzi seems second class as well. I have a tuareg, one of the first ones, two times motor light on. Just reset in dealer. They say they have to fix something Next time. 8000 km only. Last bike was a kawa 1000. Zero problems in 35000 km, zero zero. But the tuareg is a perfectly conceived bike, that is why I bought it. I refused to think that italians dont learn. Regards

[@ads_rides]

Absolutely love my tuareg 660 only had one issue that required the deal a temp sensor but you are on the money with the lack of dealer network and stories of a couple of bad issues just plague a newly released model the others you mention are well established models that have been around for years so will definitely sell better 👍 just my opinion but i would definitely buy the tuareg again if i had the choice its a great bike and still surprises me what it can do

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Thanks for sharing - happy to hear your Tuareg is serving you well! The fact that you'd buy it again is the ultimate compliment to the bike 🙂

[@BraapTales]

Another great topic Johannes! If not for the Kove 450, it's very likely I would own a Tuareg right now. Two Aprilia dealers within 50 miles of me. I would actually take a PR7 over the Tuareg, but again, too impractical to get a PR7 in the US. The parts issue is the biggest problem IMO. Not gonna say what company, but I work in an industry that involves many machines and parts and one of our biggest partners is an Italian company. The machines are great, but getting parts is a nightmare. Even China gets parts to us faster. I personally wouldn't be too worried about reliability, more about getting parts. Anyway, the Tuareg won the Africa Eco Race this year, that's a great reflection on the reliability.

[@cyclopathic998]

In my experience from RTW POV the whole "reliability" and "dealer network" angle is way overblown. For one, every bike breaks, and when it does it would be the parts similar in quality to all: wheel bearings, head bearing, tires, spokes, fuel filters, clutches, battery, brake pads, etc etc.. which can be procured from local auto parts store or bazaar Second, there may be hundreds of Honda dealerships in Mexico or Kazakhstan, but none of them will have the parts for anything over 250cc bike, and if you need something it would be faster to FedEx it from EU or USA.

[@Talishar]

Many of the observed Aprilia or KTM failures tend to be parts that are not common wear parts. Things like cams, engine blocks, crank shafts and the like. These are parts that are made in very limited quantity over what's needed for production so there's a long wait time to get them. This gets exacerbated when the brand/dealership is question is several hours away from you and can only get it from the single, limited run factory that produces that part. The Big 4 rarely have such failures and when they do, they have that engine across several models and across several different factories producing exponentially more spare parts and production units. It'd take only a few weeks to get that same part and warranty work for your Big 4 bike versus months for it to be done by Aprilia. It isn't just limited to Aprilia too, you don't see many Moto Guzi's being sold nor BMW and KTMs either. When reliability truly matters, the European stuff is barely used. Most of the people I ride with won't trust a BMW or KTM if we're doing a long haul in the desert. If a tow truck can't get there to retrieve the bike, they wont take one there. The European brands have earned their reputation for being overall unreliable and that's where their relative performance comes from. They sacrifice reliability at the altar of performance and people know it.

[@cyclopathic998]

@@Talishar once again it depends on where you are, and what bike. I assure you it's much easier to get Royal Enfield or KTM 390 parts in India, then for any Big4. Same for european bikes in Europe. Just because it is so in your Coloradifonia, it is so everywhere else and it is the universal truth. Good luck trying to get parts for your T7, V-Strom, AT or GS in Mexico or Turkey. Second. Just because one bike 790/890 had issues with cams, all european bikes are bad. You have to look by the model good luck.

[@Talishar]

@@cyclopathic998 I had no problems sourcing basic parts for a Yamaha in Mexico. It's actually easier to get parts for the Big 4 in Mexico than it would be any European brand as Big 4 products are far easier to afford than any European brand. They're extremely common and it's also extremely common not having to try and source parts for my Yamaha that are uncommon like engine components. This guy lives in Europe and admits that parts coverage/availability is extremely difficult on his end. So many other people across several continents have expressed issues getting parts for their Aprilia and Aprilia has a long history of requiring the generally much more difficult parts to get like engine components. Even in India, because you probably haven't really tried, it's easier to get most of the Big 4 parts and the harder parts usually aren't as big of an issue because it's rare to blow a motor from one of the Big 4 than it is for a European bike. KTM is just an example, but it's also more than just the 890. The 390 is known for blowing up motors when pushing them a bit as there are a ton of videos/comments of people with dead RC390s during track days. The 790/890 have a plethora of issues including shearing crank shafts. It goes all the way up to their top end platform with issues. BMW has common issues as well with fragile electronics, oil pumps, fuel pumps, suspension etc. The Italian brands are known as some of the worst, next to KTM, in reliability. Ducati at least has a wide-ranging dealership network and if they can't get a replacement part in a reasonable amount of time, they'll just swap you out with a new bike with a new warranty so at least they are known to take good care of their customers when their bikes have problems which is notoriously high. The European brands have built a reputation of poor reliability. There are a lot of Taureg owners who've had some very serious issues with their motors and a lot of motorcyclists have been burned by the Tuono and stuck in parts wait hell in getting their Tuono fixed under warranty when the engines or gearbox had issues. When a Big 4 bike commonly has issues, it's usually for a universally shared sub-contracted part like a stator or regulator rectifier, suspension or brake components or a battery. I haven't had the need to look for engine components for any of my Japanese bikes so attempting to hunt down engine components isn't an issue as engine components from ANY manufacturer are difficult to get because the factory doesn't do a high amount of overrun for such components. European bikes though DO have a much higher incidence rate of needing engine components and everyone knows it. All of my big box dealerships have all of the European brands. I know the owners/workers of several and the reason why is that they make them the most money. Not from sales, but from service/maintenance. They know that around 40% of the KTMs they sell will be back in within a month for warranty work that they get to charge KTM for. None of the people who are techs own a personal KTM or BMW because they are constantly doing warranty work on them and don't trust them.

[@cyclopathic998]

@@Talishar do you realize that T700 was designed in Italy and shares many components with other Italian bikes? When Brembo master cylinder failed on my Italian stallion, guess who did I get the rebuild kit from? Or when I needed a clutch friction pack in a pinch Honda's worked just fine. Yes there are some parts usually in the engine which are specific to the bike, but most are not. You just need to know your bike. Getting parts for Big4 in India is easier than parts for Himalyan and 390? For bikes which are made and mostly sold there? Give me a break. Maybe in Delulu. In Turkey getting a clutch basket for my friend was 6-8 weeks through the dealer, or 4-5 days DHL from Germany. Cheaper too. And in Mex.. maybe in Mexico city. None of Suzuki dealers in Chihuahua and Durango we went to had any parts for Stroms.. just saying. Okay enough of US/Jap-centric bigotry. Big4 is a misnomer, if you look at stats only Honda can claim that it belongs to Big4.

[@jchaverri]

I loved the Tuareg, almost bought one. I think what you're saying is spot on at least for me.

[@kuhndj67]

Lack of dealer network here in the US is certainly hurting their sales... it's the middleweight I'd recommend.

[@torryc]

Well, that’s exactly it 💯%. The Aprilia is not going to have the same sales numbers due to the dealer network not being as vast as Yamaha or KTM. That has absolutely nothing to do with “reliability”, and I think this video equating sales figures and/or popularity with reliability is a straw man argument. Market exposure and brand familiarity and availability is going to drive sales.

[@thedeathguy2]

I own one and i would never go back on my purchase, the only better mid weight adv bike is the KTM 890r. The big compare-er though is the T7 but the 660 has lower center of gravity, better suspension, lower seat, cruse control, complete customization of traction control, abs, engine braking, throttle mapping. the big downside is dealer network and currently a lack of cheaper aftermarket accessory like crash bars, etc

[@rasmusfagerlund6694]

I think one thing (Hen & Egg thing) that has made the T7 so popular aswell is that it is so customizable, cheap to buy and make your own. Suspension, different fairings, more skidplates to choice from than dishes on a china buffe, crazy grafics etc. You rarely see a "modded" KTM, and almost never a 690 Tuareg. I think people like the idea of buying a cheaper and reliable bike with tons of aftermarket goodies to sink their money into. So what came first... The interest of the T7 bc it is so customizable? Or all of the aftermarket parts bc the T7 have such high of an interest?

[@SupermotoCentral]

A lot of parts are already available for the tuareg and a lot more is in development. Its as easy to mod as the T7

[@Whatreally123]

I think almost every major motorcycle manufacturer has a insane rider using their bikes and posting on social media. Yamaha have Pol Tarres riding and doing crazy stuff on the T7, KTM have Chris Birch, Honda has I forget his name who does stuff on the Africa Twin. The Tuareg has almost no presence on social media.

[@B_188_]

@@Whatreally123 that's another good point. They won the Eco rally, but this bike surely deserves an ambassador.

[@ukjeeper]

One of the reasons i got little sleep, last night, was i was churning through the dilemma of "if i traded in my CB500X, would i go Transalp, or Tuareg?" Head says Transalp (Honda=known reliability, Dealers and parts available EVERYWHERE, a simple move up from the CB500X to what is, essentially, the "CB750X", Familiarity). Heart says Tuareg (better specs, better ride, Tubeless, air filter you can actually get to). It's causing sleepless nights.... :D

[@joeyshmoey8514]

When I made the same decision ... I listened to my heart ... and I'm sleeping like a baby.

[@patrolus1]

As a owner of a KTM Norden 901 ;) I can say that reliability is a BIG thing ...But don't forget accessories availability ! - If I want to venture offroad into the unknown, I need accessories to carry all my gear AND protection for my fancy bike... KTM/HUSKY platform is around for a long time (most aftermarket parts will fit all bikes since the 790 came out) Its a very important factor for bike sales in the adventure segment..

[@ferkuzuel]

Sales here at my local dealer have been very successful , but since the middle weight adv. Market has become wider lately we have more options and maybe more honesty on what bike will serve our needs and our type of riding and experience, plus also a new segment popping up with the smaller displacement bikes, not to mention that bikes are not selling as much as they were selling during the pandemic

[@gammabyte5918]

Hi Johannes, interestingly enough I own a Tuareg 660 since 2022, and back then I watched your videos about your jerky Husqvarna because my Aprilia jerks around too, never ran smooth with me, exact same behavior as you described. Do you observe similarities between the jerkiness of the Husqvarna and the Aprila you tested? Or is yours running smooth? I always wondered if mine is the only one, or all the Tuaregs do that.

[@painsrides]

Funny, I was just having a discussion this morning on Tuareg 660. I might not be an authority but the reasons(and the reasons I don't have one) is Aprilia's reputation for unreliability and boutique motorcycle status. When something happens to this bike its going to be a very long down time and that plain sucks.

[@jpaulie2008]

I think the lack of support for parts and service for the most common things like you said is the issue. I can get parts form my chinese dual sport in a week, two at the most. and cost is cheap. Leaves more money and time for the fun riding.

[@gillesgenete9598]

When I had to replace my crashed Africa Twin CRF1000DCT, that I enjoyed over 45.000km, I tested them all mid-size adv. DesertX came 1st for handling but insanely expensive. T7 came last for weak engine, top heavy. The 1100Africa Twin was too heavy as I'm getting old. Norden901 didn't please me, having some electronic issue on test bike! Tuareg660 was the best for handling, equipement/price ratio. But I didn't like the hard gearbox, the high handle bar, while engine was a joy. I ended buying a 890R . Why ? Engine capacity, and bargain price at Tuareg price. About KTM reliability, I had several, 990adv, 450excf, 701E, 500excf, 890R now with 15.000km: never had an issue. Would the Tuareg be renamed 700 it may sell more, or increasing the capacity : we don't really need it but a usual biker has an ego to satisfy 😂

[@anderskris]

Now I can’t wait to get my Tuareg out of winter hibernation.

[@userHorribleSter]

Great fun to ride in the off road scene of the Yucatan Peninsula! Parts & service need serious strengthening.

[@J0risw]

I see quite a few on the road here in NL. But not nearly as much as T7 or 890s of course… I love mine. And I always prefer a bit of an exclusive bike (or car). btw I do have an Aprilia dealership in the city near me, that does help. Also, even the dealer admits the Aprilia marketing sucks… so that also plays a role I’m afraid.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Interesting point regarding marketing, haven't thought about that. I recall watching a few videos on KZbin about the Tuareg 660 and the effort behind making it, but not nearly as thorough and serious as the bigger brands. Happy to hear you are enjoying yours!

[@SupermotoCentral]

I never see any in NL personally 😅 Aprilia their marketing is a lot better than it used to be, the bike won the africa eco race! But in the benelux indeed there is no more marketing

[@etruscanadv3296]

In my personal experience, I have seen more guys on a Tenere having to be picked up because of a flat tube than KTMs/Aprilias broken down.

[@hanhtoobala7510]

I'm pretty sure it's more popular in comment sections than in reality

[@BasecampNorth]

Great video, Johannes.... and an interesting topic intelligently communicated. Keep it up! 🔥🏍

[@MeerkatADV]

Lack of dealer support and reliability concerns. I've seen one or two out there but all were press bikes.

[@chriscleland7008]

Man on the moon, if you believe… From a 2023 Tuareg 660 owner.

[@henryvaneyk3769]

In South Africa the Aprilia Tuareg 660 was more expensive than both the KTM 890 Adventure R and Triumph 900 Rally Pro. And way more expensive than the Yamaha T7. In fact, I believe the distributer went belly up because they were greedy and there is currently none available new, you can only get one second hand. So in the end, I think Aprilia themselves are to be blamed for not providing proper distribution channels and customer back up for their bikes.

[@JohnSmith-ef8nr]

The valve service intervals are enough to put me off.

[@iangriffiths9930]

100%

[@joeyshmoey8514]

When I bought my Tuareg 660 the dealer told me "it is just an inspection" not a valve "adjustment", because no valves have ever needed adjusting at the 12k mile valve inspection.

[@iangriffiths9930]

That maybe true, for a lot of other bikes too but you still have to get it done if you want to maintain warranty, I’ve been told the cost of valve inspection is £750 here in the UK!

[@MrJLmorten]

This is exactly why I wanted to buy a Tuareg 660 but ended up with a Triumph

[@davidwood974]

I ask the same question about my Norden. Both bikes are great, don’t understand why both aren’t more popular

[@klausmlm]

Great bike,awesome experience,no.problem yet.

[@ianesslemont5876]

Agree i would love to have a test drive but finding a dealer anywhere close with a demonstrator is impossible plus getting it serviced would be a long drive and over night stay every time. There is at least 3 KTM dealers within 100 miles and one a mile away.

[@powertrip1050]

Love my Tuareg - hasn't put one step wrong. Strong, reliable, the very best adventure bike.....could only be improved by utilising a high front fender and losing 20kgs. THEN it would be TRULY AWESOME FOREVER!!

[@gbner9991]

Your channel is quickly becoming on of my favourite moto channels with these latest uploads :) I think people need to worry less about their bike and just ride it. (And ride bikes first before judging them) The whole reliablility thing is turning into some kind of mass psychosis. 😆 Personally I would also prefer a KTM over other European brands. For now I am still happy on my T7 :) The Aprilia I think has some kind of image problem. Looks + lack of the cool character that "we" want. (Like the T7 rally bike image with Paul Tarres etc.)

[@JohannesDalenMC]

That makes me very happy to hear my friend! I agree with you regarding reliability, but I also understand the hysteria. I had that same approach to adventure motorcycling in the beginning - "what if my bike breaks down when I'm riding across Africa?" - How many times have I ridden across Africa since then? Haha 😆 I'm a natural "worryer", but I work on that every day. If something happens, well yes, then it happens and I have to figure it out somehow, just like with every other challenge one faces in life. Happy to hear you're enjoying the T7!

[@ridelifenz]

Currently in NZ you can pick up T7's and Africa Twins for half there brand new price. Not many used Touregs, and all bikes to pricey from new. Alot comes down to what you can actually afford, rather than what you love to own. For most average riders that cant wheelie or do sliding brake turns or just ride gravel roads almost any bike will do. Buy what you can afford and get off ya computer and ride. Then change a year later for the next one on the list. Happy days. Yo from NZ

[@alongshaw125]

T7 rider partly for the lack of modes etc which the 660 has. My nearest dealer , I would not trust with a shopping trolley. 660 won the Africa Eco this year but unless you followed the race you would never know it. Risk & Reward. Why I would never buy the 660 or a KTM. May be brilliant bikes but my money , time and patience are limited so would choose less is more bike that the T7 is. Shame really.

[@bionewsbydoctorplanet5518]

In my country (Romania) there are quite few tuaregs and many teneres. Reason? Tenere has a better look although Tuareg is also italian designed. Tenere runs better on low rews, less electronics which is a problem source in time History also helps - many old Yamahas on the market still running and many Aprilias scrap rusting in garages for many reasons First year of production form tuaregs was a test one - many electric and sealing problems. Now maybe are better but image was created.

[@paultannahill5043]

Yep, that's the primary reason I'm not on a Tuareg right now. I love my new Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition, but if I had even one Aprilia dealer within 50 miles (I have 3 to choose from for my Norden), I probably would have bought a Tuareg.

[@lifesjourneyat50]

Great bike...in the US not enough dealerships....nice job...

[@dcxplant]

Price, parts availability, dealer network.

[@xeeded]

Looks fantastic but my closest dealer is an 8 hour drive, with the next closest being 10 hours. T7 takes the win with Yamaha's dealer network.

[@spencervidal3168]

Interesting that you touch on the T7 reliability. I have read numerous comments on the failure of the frame down tubes on the Yamaha..

[@JohannesDalenMC]

I recall a video made by Eric Lange (ride adv?) about that, and I think it was exaggerated to be honest. The down tubes only hold the skid plate and doesn't have any structural function. I would rather have the cheap down tubes break than the frame.

[@fredrik999z]

There are more factors then reliability, which I see as a minor issue. Looking at Aprilia sales last years it has increased with over 30% most because of Tuareg so it is a sale success for the company. The older RXV and Pegaso models where also good and revolutionary bikes but still KTM, Honda and Yamaha outsold them. The psychological factor that Aprilia is a small brand makes people suspicious. Why is not everyone buying an Alfa Romeo or Lancia car? They are brilliant italian cars probably better than Volkswagen in many ways. Because they are specialized to fit a certain type and not sold for masses. Living in Sweden we had two car brands: SAAB and Volvo. Most owners of SAAB said it was a much better and more modern car than Volvo, still Volvo outsold SAAB by many times. SAAB owners praised the quirky technical solutions and clever features but most people that just want to go from A to B does not care. Same thing with Husaberg and Husqvarna, every owner of Husaberg says it is a much more clever and better Enduro bike then Husqvarna but still Husaberg was sold in few numbers. Conclusion: Aprilia Tuareg does not fit everyone, or not everyone care about all it's technical features. Fully adjustable suspension and complicated rider modes is not always what you want as a beginner. You just want to push start button and ride, like a Honda or Yamaha. If you have problems or need service you send it to your local dealer and they fix it for you. Aprilia Tuareg requires a bit more technical knowledge to maintain and use it's full potential. But if you do it is a brilliant bike!

[@DB-me3jt]

Not only reliability but also the availability of oem and aftermarket parts. And…., looks. It just reminds me of Sid from Ice Age.

[@pal9878]

I tend to think it’s also a matter of general appeal. If the Tuareg more broadly were perceived as a more charismatic bike, I think slightly lower reliability would have been more easily accepted, just like with 790/890. Frankly, I don’t think it’s only about reliability and dealer network. I have never regarded the Tuareg 660 a charming bike (very much unlike the T7), but perhaps that’s just me. 😳

[@Szlejer]

Why? The same reason why KZbin is full of annoyed or disappointed Aprilia 660 owners... Just do a simple search. ;)

[@ssmith954]

I do like the bike. Three issues for me: - Reliability. Too many reports of issues with the engine (including on the RS660). - Dealers. There are none anywhere near me. - Looks. That front light doesn't do it for me. Trivial and picky, I know. Also I didn't like the T7 (too top heavy), the Desert X (too big/top heavy, but lovely for the street), or any KTM (I owned a 690 enduro, which I loved, but quality control is poor and they need a lot of mods, and are NOT "ready to race"). Would like to test the new F900GS, which seems promising. Otherwise, for off road, may just settle with something like a Fantic Cabellero 500 Rally, which would be fine for my off road abilities anyway.

[@DavidKD2050]

I went for the not very adventure, VStrom 650 because, drum 🥁 roll, reliability! Ease of finding and ordering parts. Cost of those parts. Enormous online community that can resolve or diagnose literally anything associated with the bikes and tell you the most intricate differences between the 3 generations. Cost. Fuel economy. Range, it’s 500km if you ask it nicely. Cheap to insure. Too old fudududy and dated looking for any self respecting young criminal to want to steal. Good on-road handling. Good comfortable riding position. Good seat height. Good comfort for a pillion. Good ability to carry luggage. Did I miss something? I’d love a bike that offered all this at 30kg less weight. It could be made, but as yet no one has. I think that within 5 years we will get it. I’m looking forward to that day.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

The V strom is a legendary bike, a motorcycle I've been a fan of for a long time!

[@boomcity4942]

You will go down in history as the Plato motorcycle philosopher.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

I take that as a compliment. I don't know Plato's thinking all that well, but at least it sounds like a compliment!

[@deekox1]

6:03 I did a quick research on polish auction site. There is 20 Tuaregs vs 66 T7s so it is more like 1:3 ratio. PS both new and used ones

[@greyfisher3897]

Wow you are a real statistician, there are more T7's sold, and they have been around longer, hence more for sale. Most beginners, newbies, jumped on the bandwagon with the T7, realized it wasn't a beginner bike and best left to stronger skilled riders with off road experience....that is my feeling. Could be that people are spoiled, not happy with perfectly great machines...always chasing the dragon, never getting familiar with one machine.

[@modzso2]

Hm, here we had new Tuaregs from 2022 in last december... And also it seems that the "what broke" part is an essential chapter in every Tuareg review :) I am curious that if it will change since Jacopo Cerutti won the Africa Eco race...

[@JohannesDalenMC]

That's information I should have included, that's so cool to hear - thanks for sharing! I'm sure it wasn't a stock Tuareg, but still..

[@modzso2]

@@JohannesDalenMC Pol Tarres finished 3rd but that was also not stock Tenere :)

[@ianross225]

Great video, Johannes. I bike I love the look and spec of but went 890 for more grunt and lower centre of gravity. Does your new DJI mic have a bulky receiver on the camera? Thanks, Ian

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Thank you Ian! It does not, and that's why I think it's so amazing - it connects wirelessly to my DJI Action 4 without the receiver. I think you can do that with Gopro as well now, I've seen people use the Apple airpods with the latest Gopro.

[@ianross225]

@@JohannesDalenMC Thanks!!Wow. I’ll check it out. Exactly what I want for my US trip in May. I can talk crap endlessly!

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Haha exactly! As soon as I can ride again I will test it as a motovlog mic inside the helmet. If it can do that as well I'm completely sold. Can put it on my backpack while riding to get exhaust sound, then put it into the helmet for a little talk. The DJI Action 4 is also excellent with its quick release, takes a second to swap from helmet to a tripod and back. It all needs to be simple or else I'll go crazy with all the fiddling.

[@leeshaw5136]

I have one. I love it.

[@adaptableadventurerider]

This is such a timley video Johannes :) my first ever bike was an aprillia rs125 6 month wait for parts 🙃 still own it actually rebuilt it next to my bed lol fun bike! Ktm 390s adv 2 years ago after lotd of big vstroms n gs's x2 rejected full of issues Lots of bikes later an im looking at the Norden 901 an dads looking at.... a 390 again i think its the excitement factor with the ktms and the fact they come with good suspension not exciting when they break though its a tricky thing an lots more thinking requried. Not alot of sub 175kg wet adventure travel bikes out there.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

I think a 901 with the pro suspension like Lyndon Poskitt would have been sweet! Could the new Cfmoto 450 adventure be something? If I recall correctly it's supposed to weigh 175kg wet.

[@adaptableadventurerider]

@@JohannesDalenMC hi Johannes thanks so much for replying 😊 we were watching Lyndons videos along with your 901 vids last night :) i agree it looks like an interesting option especially with the ability to buy a used 901 then upgrade as you go, very interesting an I agree what you said about ktm n Husky reliability comments. I asked about the Husky on my instagram n so far it's a 50/50 split between ok and issues, a friend spent 4 hours in total assembly an disassembly (38 screws on the front unit) to get to the switch gear wire connector on a Norden but apart from that has been loving it. Had a few others mentioning issues, heat, wiring, coolant as you say i always check round my fasteners (ride nortons so that's a constant pre ride job or fings will disappear on a ride 🤣 just good practice to check :) ) Even though we had issues with the ktm 390s for balance to my previous comment :) I had one bmw 1200gsa 2014 that lunched 2 engines a gearbox, a final drive an had multiple esa issues and display issues l under warranty, my other 1200 was fine (but later found out it was the year with soft cam issues) then my 1150gsa needed a load of money spending on her after a with the previous owners lack of Maintenance. Then a Himalayan that only got to 500 miles an had to be refunded in recent times with a seized swing arm, 2x failed brake light switches, bent forks 🙃 and a multitude of other issues an then they couldn't get the parts so it got refunded, from what I've heard that's still an issue over here in the UK a friends been waiting for a catalyst for his meteor for 12 months under warranty. you never tend to hear about those issues with those bikes but mention the ones we had with the ktms 🙃 an the comment sections go mad as you said in your previous video. An then over a 14 year period I've had lots of Japanese bikes from the Iconic suzuki gsx 750 et, Yamaha rd350lc, rd250lc that I used to do 2k Miles in a week on (cost as much in fuel (not inc the 2stroke oil) as a gsxr 750 per mile) always reliable an then 6 modern suzukis all perfect reliability an 2 hondas fireblade and 300 rally again really good reliability no issues apart from Hondas super soft suspension on the Rally fixed that with a Rally Raid Level 1 shock when I had that bike :) It's interesting with the Aprilia as they make really interesting bikes. I know when I had the rs as a main bike the parts wait was a nightmare often the dealer wouldn't know when you may see the bits. At the time of the ktm issues I thought I'll never look at another one again (alot of that was with the ktm dealer as well) We are moving up to Scotland in a few months an will have 2x ktm/Husky dealers to choose from on our new doorstep for ordering parts as the plan is to self service this time round (the other was 4 hours away from our current house) I'm pretty sure I can fix a the issues on a 390 if they were to happen bar the condensation in the displays which is a shame. Really love that Norden display! An can't wait to see what the new 400 is like when it comes out. It suprised me that we ended up looking at buying a Ktm again but they seem to have some interesting excitement about them still along with good suspension out of the box, between the 390, Himalayan n 300 Rally the 390 suspension was really good. Have you seen a channel called motoeuro I hadn't really watched it till Last night he had a Tuareg an sounds like something went wrong an he's bought a used 790. Hope you don't mind the long reply but thought some of the experiences might help :) with the subject of reliability. Keep up the amazing work Johanness when you feel like doing the videos, I've ended up doing mine very random an when I'm in the mood for it really helped, your videos are always very engaging and thought provoking an great work An I feel sorry for you with the snow! Although it does look amazing we don't get snow like that where I live, hopefully it Scotland :)

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Oh man based on your many issues with the orange brand I don't think I'd ever look at one again, especially when your Japanese bikes have been reliable! I have seen Motoeuro and how the Tuareg suddenly disappeared without an explanation. I remember reading in the comments that he will talk about it "when he can", which sounds both dramatic and interesting. Appreciate the kind words and good luck with the move to Scotland!

[@adaptableadventurerider]

@@JohannesDalenMC thanks Johannes really looking forward to the move, im a great believer in giving everything another chance in life :) I found it interesting when the issues happened with the 1200 bmw everyone was like ah its OK they put the new engines in, Himalayan they all do that as though its normal yet that was probably the one I'd class as the worst saftey an parts wise. an with the ktms as you said the reaction was super different most of the issues I would say were dealer caused by a lack of pdi. Been interesting now with the BMW 1150gsa you can really see its the turning point where more tech was just starting to creep into the bikes from generations earlier, although it's still pretty simple to work on. The perception of brands is such an interesting thing :) an yep my friend who bought my 1980s Suzuki GSX750ET just toured all over the Swiss alps oh it, they sure know how to make a good bike.

[@supergnorf]

As so many times when reliability and such surfaces, regardless of brands, the who and the how is often missing. I consider those variables to play a role in the picture as well. I speak as a KTM owner. Those aren't few the reviews and remarks I've read. And as always. the loudest cries are the first you notice. Still, I did in excess of 55.000 kilometers on my 1290 Super Adventure. And only had one issue which was dealt with under factory warranty. It wasn't major. Comparably none of my beemers held up as well. And I did my bit of more challenging riding with it. Superior motorcycle compared to the beemers i've had. Now I have a 2023 890 Adventure (not R). Did >19.000 kilometers with it last season. Have nothing major to report, one software glitch that occurred once, causing the engine to stall (around 10k). That issue never returned since. And as for the rest, well it just works. But the bike does not like high octane/premium fuel. That will cause all sorts of side effects. The bike is tuned for 95 and runs perfectly on it. With exceptional mileage. Then almost obligatory check on front fork bearing (needs tightening, I've found, around every service). On both bikes. What I am getting at here, is that there are plenty of owners. whether Toureg or KTM, lets call them the (too) silent majority. They don't ride to the extremes, they have no need to burn rubber of jump around in the woods like a rabbit. They only want an adventure tool that works for them. In that respect I think the Tuareg is an excellent choice. I've ridden it enough to form my own opinion. Low end grunt is what I miss the most. But you're right about the dealer networks. That I'd say is a showstopper. Regardless of where. If Aprilia wants to conquer the world they need to grow the dealer network. Strangely enough, the Tuareg is thirstier than the 890. Or so it's been when I've been riding it. But that's another story. Cheers from one who stick with KTM :)

[@themosaito]

Johannes, thanks for the video. Yes, Lell Pavey loves the Aprillia, and I want to buy one, but the two things you mentioned are a deal breaker for me. I'm planning a trip to Alaska, and if my bike broke down and I had to wait months for a part I'd be completely stuffed. I couldn't do it. I have a KTM 690 that broke after 20K miles and KTM can't find out what is wrong with it. I might have to sell my beloved bike for scrap. Won't do that again. Thinking of getting the T7. My only fear is that many find it too heavy to pick up. What do you think? Is it impossible to pick up?

[@joeyshmoey8514]

I have seen increasing availability of Tuareg 660 parts online. AF1racing online (in Texas) has most parts available in the United States. I have seen new radiators, headlights, and panels for sale online; so supplies are loosening up. More aftermarket parts are becoming available as well. Unless you can't bear being without a dealership nearby; there is no reason to avoid any Aprilia in the U.S. or Europe. I have a Toureg 660 and will be traveling the entire U.S. on it. If I were crossing Africa or South America I would use a DR650 or some other common and simple Japanese dual sport. Since my Tuareg 660 will never leave North America it is perfect for my purpose. I do like it that the Tuareg 660 is also winning offroad races!

[@Angry-Lynx]

If u have build of 8yo girl then yes it might be impossible to pick up 😂😂 I'm skinny dude who never works out and I can pickup my 240kg AT without too much issue. It's not easy or light, but always managed to pick it up by myself if have to

[@everydaybiker]

You're back!

[@JohannesDalenMC]

I am! I needed some time away from it all which helped a ton. I missed connecting with you guys through my channel, so here I am again. I think the biggest thing I learned being away is how nice it is to be off from all social media (except YT).

[@everydaybiker]

@JohannesDalen I'm happy to see you. You're right, social media, for the most part, is very toxic. YT is all I do too.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Appreciate that Jim, it's good to be here again!

[@whitedrguy6503]

Lovely weather by the way, gonna be 37 here today, I hate the heat. 😂😂 Motorcyclist are a very conservative bunch, I guess that is the reason most will go riding to places they know, bit like the bikes they ride, better the devil you know, the fear of the unknown scares many people. Aprilia is generally an unknown brand to most, Italian exotica, so lots of trepidation about reliability, parts, dealers etc, so how many people will take the chance ? Aprilia has made some amazing motorcycles over the years but if not for their scooters they probably would be out of business, they were the bike to have in 125 and 250 GP road racing back in the 2 stroke days, but that was about it, win on Sunday sell on Monday never worked for them because like many Italian bikes at the time it was the same issues as know. Ducati were the same, dominating world super bike but were sold to mainly collectors or part time riders who knew how good they were but also fragile, a dream bike. Yamaha and Honda still sold thousands of R1s and Fireblades that were not as good as the 916, mainly due to trusting the Japanese brands more, KTM were a bike to stay away from for a long time due to not being trusted. The more things change the more they stay the same. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@christophroither8206]

hi dalen. thx for sharing your great experience with us. i really like your content on youtube and i am glad that u are back. i have a big decision between two bikes next week. i am based in austria and usually i wanted to choose between the AJP PR7 , Husquarna 701, and crf300l. But i decided to not go with the AJP PR7 because we absolutely have no dealer here in Austria. So i am still between the crf 300l and the husky 701. Mostly i wanna go for light enduro stuff and TET. What are your thought?! it would be awesome if u give me a short feedback. thx a lot, all the best christoph

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Thank you for your kind words Christoph! Tough question, I'd love to have more information about your situation, trail availability etc. But if I were in your shoes and had to choose between the two, I'd go with a 300l and upgrade the suspension. On the 701 you pay for tech that I don't fancy - a quickshifter, traction control (it works well though) and ride by wire (but no cruise control stock). The 701 is also plagued by euro5-regulations which results in a very twitchy throttle response. The 300l can do everything the 701 can, albeit a bit slower, but at half the price. If you still want a 701 (it's an exotic bike no doubt), I'd go with a pre 2019 model, with the longer suspension and less tech. I hope this was helpful. My best advice is to test ride both if you can. Let me know which bike you ended up getting and good luck!

[@christophroither8206]

@@JohannesDalenMC thx for your answer! i really appreciate that. my trail availability is not good were i live. i already tested both bikes and i really like the hondas size, but the power for me was not enough. :( maybe with some upgrades?! I would do a ecu upgrade and exhaust, suspension ect. on the other hand i like the husky 701 but here in austria its 13000 plus.. ok i could get one new for maybe 12000 or 12500 euro, but the downside are the running costs for the husky. also in terms of reability i heard a lot of bad things about this bike. :( but hands down - i like the huskys suspension and power. But for my needs (offroad, TET) i dont need 75 horsepower!! haha and yes i prefer Honda much more then ktm... i had a new 790r adventure and i had a lot of oil leaking stuff- on the 660 smc the same shit. Soooo hmmm i dont know. :D

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Based on your response I still think the Honda is the way to go. Some upgrades will help with power, but it will not be significant, and you'll quickly be putting so much money in the bike that it will be close to a 701. Could you get your hands on a crf450l? It will solve the power and suspension (better than 701), but the service maintenance will be a bit more frequent.

[@christophroither8206]

@@JohannesDalenMC there are no crf 450 l in Austria. Yes with a lot of upgrades it will cost nearly the husky 701. oh thats a hard decision...

[@bretthawton]

Best designed bike for sure, but terrible dealer network and parts availability in the US. My bike is eating quite a bit of oil and has pitted cams and Piaggio/Aprilia says that's normal so no warranty work happened.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

I love the design of the tank and airbox, makes for a very well balanced bike! Too bad your having issues with your bike - is it a case of "scorched" cams like I've read about elsewhere too?

[@bretthawton]

@@JohannesDalenMC Dealer told me it was scorched cams, then said no damage, then the tech that worked on my bike said my cams were pitted on a forum. Same dealer said they filed a claim about oil consumption, but they didn't actually file the claim 'till I called Piaggio directly about the issue a month later. Probably won't really know what my cams look like 'till I do the next valve adjustment...

[@maximusmiles8435]

In a perfect world it would be entirely based on performance. But when you look at a map. Where is your nearest Aprilia dealership? If something goes wrong, and sometimes they do. No one wants the hassle.

[@Lhotse510]

Here in the US market, which is likely the biggest ADV bike market in the world, I believe it comes down to simply name brand recognition and nothing more. Buyers in the US are not familiar with the Aprilia brand. Those that are familiar with Aprilia (sport bike owners) are not interested in ADV bikes. I own a 2023 Tuareg with over 5k miles. I previously owned a BMW GS and find the Tuareg superior in every way. It checks all the blocks I wanted in an ADV bike, light, nimble, low center of gravity, extremely capable off road, tubless tires, excellent suspension, all the modern electronics incl. cruise control, and it handles like a dream on pavement even with my knobby Motoz tires. Aprilia made the ADV bike that no other manufacturer could make because they have no other ADV bikes within their own line up to rob sales from (think new Transalp & Africa Twin). They are not going to compete with themselves and loose sales on their flagship models. I have had no problems at all with the Tuareg. Most (if not all) of the issues I have seen on KZbin with the Tuareg are due to the rider and how the bike was used and not a problem with the Tuareg itself. Issues like kick stand spring retainer bolts breaking off on large rocks are easily and cheaply corrected. Upgrading the air filter for dusty roads....no problem. You will find small issues like this with any motorcycle, especially new models.

[@TheTimmy005]

I bought the T7 for the looks mostly. But Tuareg is probably the beter bike as a package!

[@glossblack1098]

Be good to see sales data and see how many T7s sold last year globally, compared to the 660 and others like 890. Cheers

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Before I made this video I thought this was information that was available to everyone. I wasn't able to find any info on sales at all. Would be really cool to compare. All I know is how many GS BMW sold last year and the number is astronomical!

[@iangriffiths9930]

Valve checks at 12 thousand miles when the T7 is at 24 thousand miles!!

[@SupermotoCentral]

So what😂You get a better bike

[@iangriffiths9930]

The Aprilia is the better bike no doubt but I value reliability and longevity over performance so being able to do double the mileage between valve checks is more important to me. Also I don’t think anyone can say the Yamaha is a bad bike.

[@rokyluk]

@@iangriffiths9930 you are just writing down what you read and heard. There is very low problems with the bike if we are honest. Its not all USA market. In Europe you get your parts as fast as yamaha parts. In the end of the day Italy is my neighbour country and I'm just 350km from Noale.

[@iangriffiths9930]

You are correct I am, that’s what people do, they look at owners reviews and then make the call if that want to buy or not. I’m not making these this up, it’s what owners of the bikes have reported. I’ll say it again it is a good bike and if you don’t mind the odd issue then great, but for me the bike has to be mostly problem free 👍

[@joeyshmoey8514]

@@iangriffiths9930 When I bought my Tuareg 660 I asked about the 12k mile valve inspection. The head technician at the dealership said that he has never found the valves out of spec at 12k miles. I don't know why more people don't mention the fact that the Aprilia Tuareg 660 is waranteed for 2 years, but Yamahas (T7) and Hondas (Africa Twin, Transalp) are only waranteed for one year. What does that say about reliability and longevity?

[@thambu19]

More to do with dealer network that straight up reliability. KTM sells also because of the dealer network.

[@markbevans8564]

In the USA the real reason so many overlook it is displacement, if it ain’t at least 750, it’s nowhere. Expansive roads that go on forever very few wanna jump on a mini machine that costs as much as a mid to full sized bike and jump on a much smaller machine

[@ricardobeltran9557]

hola compañero. tengo 3 amigos q la tienen y 2 con problemas, ademas han perdido la garantia por ir por campo , pues entonces las revisiones son a la mitad d Km, las han d arreglar por su mecanico. aqui donde vivo disfrutamos todo el año d las motos y naturaleza pero la sequia esta siendo catastrofica. un abrazo me alegro q estes haciendo contenido, sincero y sencillo. salud y paz desde catalunya .

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Hola ricardo! Muchas gracias por tu comentario, lamento saber que tus amigos tienen problemas. Con comentarios tan bonitos como este, es un placer seguir haciendo vídeos. ¡Te deseo todo lo mejor, amigo mío!

[@marktaylor4277]

Goldilocks bike for me, just what I'm looking for... but 3 dealers quoted me £900 ($1,135 currently) or over for the 12,000 mile service! Not having that, then there's the spares availability. Pass.