QUICK SPIN: Aprilia Tuareg!

WORDS and PHOTOS: Maja Kenney

Last August I had the pleasure of taking out the Aprilia Tuareg. Not just a quick spin but a proper, full-on, adventure-loaded trip all the way to Nordkapp and back to North Wales.

Over 5,000 miles to be done in just under three weeks, I knew I needed a bike that would be comfortable, would carry the luggage with ease and manage any non-Tarmac roads I was planning on riding in Sweden.

I knew the big adventure bikes would be more than suitable for the journey but I do like to do things a little bit differently. I was curious to see if a mid-size engined bike would be up for the job. This was even more interesting given that all the other bikes in the group were GS 1250 adventures, a KTM 1290 Adventure and a Ducati Multistrada V4S.

Riding up to our meeting point in Harwich, I felt very happy to be doing the motorway miles, albeit not very exciting, but the journey was very comfortable. I was getting to know the bike better and we cruised happily, covering some 280 miles. Arriving, feeling fresh, I suddenly thought I’d made a mistake as the big boys rolled in. The Tuareg suddenly looked a bit small, but it was the best-looking one.

Staying with the looks, I had the red one and I think Aprilia really nailed the colour. It’s not orange, it’s not bright red. It’s just a really cool shade of red/orange that I really like. Teamed with the black colour it makes the bike really pop. The front LED light is a recognisable Aprilia design which adds to the Italian flair.

The screen is nicely shaped and looks good, but it does not move and that was a problem. I’m 5’5” and the position of my head meant I was getting quite a lot of wind buffering around my head on the motorway. Ducking down made a huge difference to the wind noise but not so good for the posture.

The engine is a parallel twin 660cc, which was half of all the other bikes. But here’s the thing. Speed limits. And then there’s another thing. Norwegian speed limits. The Tuareg’s engine is super-responsive with plenty of torque. I was reaching speed limits in no time and then happily riding, with the help of the cruise control, at a chosen pace. Despite it being a twin, the bike didn’t shake as much as I expected it to. There were no pins and needles in my legs or arms after weeks of riding it.

Most of the roads were smooth Tarmac with perfect bends. Norway has the most perfect bends at a constant radius. Just lean the bike in and settle in that position until you exit the corner. No need for adjusting the direction. The bike loved the bends and when I pushed it as if it was a sports bike, it responded beautifully.

The TFT screen is big, colourful and easy to read. The rev counter was lighting up the screen and it seemed that Tuareg was grinning happily at higher revs.

I did wish it came with a quick-shifter, although that wasn’t a major problem, but once you are used to it, it’s hard not to have it.

Road riding on the Tuareg was easy and very comfortable, but I was keen to try some of the TET roads, especially in Sweden. I made sure I had appropriate tyres when I left the UK and was assured the Bridgestone AT41 was the one to go for. I didn’t hesitate as I run Bridgestone on my own bike and the AT41 ran brilliantly on the Tarmac and even better on the wet Tarmac. The couple of rainy days we had meant I was riding with confidence and didn’t have to slow down much. And they really delivered on the gravel tracks. I am quite new to going off the paved roads and was always very nervous of any gravel, but the combination of the bike and the tyres made the experience a fun one! I was going at a good pace, enjoying the gravel and didn’t feel nervous. I only want to do more of it now!

You can imagine the absolute delight and excitement at reaching the Globe at Nordkapp. This was our destination, yet only halfway through our journey. The bike started sounding a bit off, rattly and not very healthy. It didn’t take long to figure out it needed oil. I had to top up a lot of oil, which I thought was strange after only 2,500 miles. However, after that, it was keeping its level fine and we arrived back home without having to top up with more oil.

Speaking of checking the oil level, the Italians must have decided to go for style over function because there is no window to see where the oil level is. What the bike has is a dipstick. Which is black and that makes it a bit difficult to see where the oil level is. Somewhat frustrating when on the road with no bright light, and if you need to wear spectacles, like me.

After riding over 5,000 miles on the bike I must confess, I was sad to see it go. It was a brilliant bike, more than capable of a long journey and an epic adventure. It kept up with the bigger bikes with no problem on all of the roads, even the German motorways. It carried me and my luggage effortlessly and it didn’t complain when I rode through puddles, on gravel, and on all the ferry crossings.

I did find it top-heavy though, and a bit high for me. I had to anticipate the stops and ensure I shifted my bum so the correct leg was ready to take the weight when we came to a stop. Nothing major and something I have quickly gotten used to. Because of the design of the tank and the tall stance it has, it does feel like a much bigger bike than a 660cc.

Overall I found it a very able bike, perfectly capable of big adventures as well as fun off-road rides. It’s a good-looking and comfortable motorcycle I would happily add to my dream garage.

Maja Kenney: Maja is an adventurer by heart. From a young age she thrived on the unknown, pushing the boundaries and exploring new frontiers whether in travel or in business. Her zest for life and adventure is contagious and inspiring. She is running a motorcycle tour business sharing her passion for travelling on two wheels and exploring the beautiful roads worldwide. Originally from Slovenia, she has made North Wales her home for the last 20 years. Join Maja on one of her tours at

www.majasmotorcycleadventures.co.uk

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