Aprilia Tuareg 2023 Brutally Honest Review!
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2023
- Aprilia Tuareg vs Yamaha Tenere 700, which is better?
In this video, I will test the new Aprilia Tuareg and will share my opinion.
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I've comprehensively tested both bikes and can tell you that the stock suspension on the Aprilia is fantastic (both front & rear ends). By contrast T7's is crap and short, unlike the WR version which got a superb fork and just decent rear shock. So suspension wise, the Aprilia has got the best combo overall. Even better than 890R and Ducati DesertX, which I've also ridden. The sound... well imo the T7 sounds great and the Aprilia sounds even better. Moreover, the Tuareg is lighter and more powerful, has better fueling, smoother throttle response, comes with great electronic package and for me it doesn't look bad at all... I still prefer the punchier mid range and look of the T7, but for all the rest, the Tuareg is a clear winner 🥇
Fair enough!
Same experience here. I rode a T7 and Tuareg back to back (same day) at dealerships and the Tuareg was hands down the better sprung bike. It's suspension is much better on the pavement and in the rough
Bikes weigh exactly the same
@@cschacker99 weight distribution and center of mass is actually more important than the overall weight when it comes to manoeuvrability especially in the dirt. The Aprilia has a lower center of mass which makes it feel lighter
@@cschacker99 better weight balance , lower center of gravity , not top heavy . come on Yamaha fan boy get real .
Fun fact, explore mode has the throttle response setting to two. If you switched it to individual mode or off-road mode, depending on how it is set up, you can have the throttle response set to one which is the sharpest. I own the bike and I've read through the owner's manual pretty extensively. Explorer mode is a good in between but if you want the most power you have to go to individual or off-road mode because Urban is set to three and explore is set to two and those cannot be changed. Also off-road mode and individual mode can be set up exactly the same if you really wanted to. I usually have my off-road mode set up with the ABS off since traction control doesn't really matter since you can change that with the cruise control switch on the fly and then individual mode will pretty much just be off-road mode but with ABS on. This way I have all three levels of throttle response available at any given time on or off-road
I think you have fallen into the classic trap of believing the suspension spring rate is too soft (on both bikes). The longer the travel requires it must be so. If the spring rate is too high there would be no point in having 240mm of travel in the first place. Use the damping adjustment if you want a firmer front end. Front preload on the Tuareg is to be dropped on the front to retain bike geometry for two up riding. Increasing yours up front was a waste of time. You should always set damping front and rear back to stock testing any bike, the Tuareg suspension can be very easily tuned for a perfectly comfortable & controlled ride. There is no point in complaining about the harshness of the ride if you make zero attempt to adjust the damping. You wasted that road test.
Playing with the settings is pointless before you have the proper spring rate, set exactly for the rider's weight. This will determine the sag and how the compression and rebound will react. Ask your local suspension specialist and then come back here to comment again! Thanks for taking the time anyway!
@@motorcycleadventures I don't need to ask a suspension specialist but I will come back and comment. I rode the Tuareg for 2 weeks and am 117kg. The bike is rated for a max load of 210kg so there is a good bit of leeway in the spring rate on the Tuareg. Getting a bike sprung for your weight is of course ideal but it needn't be the first step on this bike (or any bike) until you have explored the full possibilities of what is on offer. Rear SAG at 5 clicks was 48%, stock 10 clicks was ~ 37%, still a bit too much and got it round the 30% mark at 18 clicks for me and my lardy weight. Those measurements took 10 minutes. No need to change front preload at this stage. With that extra rear preload it was an obvious choice to add extra rebound, from stock 1.5 turns to 1 and 1/8 to stop it rebounding too aggressively. That small rebound adjust makes a significant difference to bike control. Again, an obvious choice to add a little extra fork compression damping given my weight, +3 clicks was a little too much extra harshness but +2 was Goldilocks. Aprilia give adjustable front preload not to achieve a particular SAG rate on the front, it is for bike geometry purposes. Load the bike to the gunwales and they actually want you to drop the front preload to retain the bikes riding geometry in the knowledge the the back end (after maxing the preload) will not fully compensate for two up fully loaded with luggage. I mean no disrespect, I was just surprised at your lack of enthusiasm for the suspension which I found to be superb. I only borrowed the bike as well, it is not mine, I'm not being all brand protective! Good luck..👍
@@motorcycleadventures What about a more viscous fork oil?
I remember you were skeptical about T700 when you compared it with old your Tenere. You also mentioned that old one is more suitable for you than T700. 😉
I have tested the Touareg and I haven't found anything to complain about. I love the sound air box make.
The only thing I was skeptical is how long it will last. I never said that my old Tenere was better.
@@motorcycleadventures OK, I see. My bad.
I believe this is the most biased review I’ve seen. Through most of the riding part of the review the gears were changed before the power band of the engine of the aprilia. Basically short shifting. Italian bikes like to be in higher RPM. The suspension is KYB and comparing that to suspension you’ve dialed in for yourself isn’t a fair comparison. I’ve ridden both for extended periods of time and the T7 has more power down low vs the Tuareg has more power mid to high. The suspension on the Tuareg is better from the factory without ADJUSTING PRELOAD. Tubeless tires are better in most situations like a puncture. T7 is simplistic and more analog. You’re entitled on your opinion however, the truth is you’re extremely biased towards the Tenere.
I really wanted to like it and say that it is better, but I couldn't sorry!
Exactly. 2 tenere in the garage what do you expect. T7 suspension is a hard clunk on landing.
Onlys 5 min in by comparing suspension, i agree :D
My opinion. The t7 is better. I own two t7 :) I agree with Pavlin :)
The Sound of the Aprilla is fantastic, the induction sound coming through the bike almost Turbo like 👍. It tells me the air filter breathes very well and not restricted by engine heat and a clean cool air
Fair enough!
Most important features for an adventure bike are 1- low center of gravity 2- weight 3- suspension… in all points is the Aprilia better! Alone if you drop the tenere and you have to pick it up, you will change your mind!
Great comparism! I also was testriding the Tenere and the Tuareg when I was looking for a new bike (coming from a BMW 1200 GS Adventure) . In my opinion the Tuareg was much easier to ride in every case compared to the Tenere. I immediately felt very confident on the Tuareg. But in the end I bought the Tenere because of its simplicity, the low maintanance costs, the better and clear design and because of the proven reliability. But that was also just a personal thing for me.
Same here. R1200gsa and a Tracer9gt. Upon searching i ended up with a decision of either the ktm 890r adv and the Tenere. Even though the ktm was £1000 cheaper, inwent for the Tenere and i have 0 regrets.
Thanks for sharing!
Just curiosity, why did you switch from the GS? I wonder because it is my grail bike and I see it as the pinnacle of adventure bike and technology, I'll be curious to know what would be the reason not to get the GS
@@armandblake i had my GSA for 3 years and covered around 20000 miles of everyday riding and touring. It’s a great bike for what it’s meant to be, a road focused 2 up tourer. I was never confident enough to take it off road due to it’s weight, and it was getting long in the tooth to be used as a daily, from heavy handling in / out the garage to little faults and niggles - mainly electrical. All the 10a of kgs of hard heavy dead weight attached to it, and of course the stigma behind it.
I looked into the 1250, however there all huge issues, from engine replacements to electrical faults leaving people stranded, and of course the huge price which is ridiculous.
Hence after test riding my world raid, it is very similar to my GSA in ergonomics but 70kg lighter, i found myself much happier and braver off road and i sleep much better at night and on tours knowing that i have the most reliable engine in the last 10 years and little to go wrong with the bike that cant be fixed roadside.
That’s all of course my own experience.
I have the T7 and my son bought a Tuareg he was too short for my T7 but he can almost flat foot the Aprilia. I can't wait to try his bike
We all get biased to the bikes we have customized to work best for our use. And the ones we are used to riding.
I thought your comparison was a bit harsh considering the focus on the suspension when you are comparing a bike you modified to suit
Your weight versus one that hasn’t been. I do agree with you that people calling the Tuareg a T7 killer are overstating some of the advantages it has. But end of the day each bike has its advantages and disadvantages and suits different people and purposes. If you have the body size and off road skills to not be disadvantaged by the T7 weight and lack of rider aides; it offers the advantage of durability and simplicity. If you are smaller in stature and want the easier riding bike with aides and a better carried weight. Than the Aprilia offers real advantages. The Aprilia is generally a better road bike as well and does offer more suspension travel that has adjustability and could probably be very well set up to tackle off road.
As to the induction noise. Well like louder exhaust that is personal taste and you should have earplugs in anyways which will make it less noticeable.
Funny enough, for me the one comment you made which would sway me to the T7 is the mention of the rattle or sounds the plastics and the bike in general makes on rough roads. I like bikes that feel quiet with no shake and rattle to them in the rough stuff. Somehow I think Yamaha pulls that off well even with what appears as lower specification components. My old Wr250R impresses me in the singletrack with how quiet it is with lack of rattle.
As a Tuareg owner going on 8k miles now I can tell you that I haven't experienced rattles or such, that could be a matter of not having bolts/screws tightened up properly especially after taking it off road, just do the usual bolt tightening if they need them and it's all good. I've never had to adjust the suspension only the rear a little to adjust for the bags weight, it's really dialed in from the factory, the KYB suspension is beautiful! Regarding the intake induction noise, maybe I've gotten used to it but I really don't hear it unless I'm really straining to hear it. It's great to.have some healthy competition out there and Yamaha can see where they can tweak their platform to improve it. People can ride whatever floats their boat, as long as you're out riding 🤘
Thanks for taking the time!
@@sethruter funnily the Tenere dash rattles a lot more than anything of the Tuareg. But no mention of that from our expert here lol
Your take on the suspension comparison is not just flawed its downright wrong. You cannot compare a modified suspension that is setup exactly for you with an oem thats setup for a lighter rider and just jack up the preload and not touch anything else. And then bash the shit out of the Tuareg for having crap suspension. The fact is that every other comparison between these two bikes ends up with something like the following: Tuareg has better everything suspension/power/windprotection/clearence/wheels/comfort/electronic and so on and the T7 has the simplicity and reliability and dealer networks. Thats the only question you need to ask yourself, the better performing bike or the most reliable bike. Not saying the Tuareg will be unreliable but compared to the T7 its most likely going to be alittle less reliable.
I usually like your videos for your honesty and experience. But this was just wrong. Check out Big Rock Motos review on the Tuareg for example.
I compared the stock suspension of the Tenere and I said it in the video many times. I had 20,000km before I decided to change the springs. I know very well what it was. I really wanted to like the Tuareg honestly, but I couldn't! Sorry! All the pros that it has power, wind protection, clearance, and electronics, are worth nothing to me and I did not even discuss reliability in the video! "Check out Big Rock Motos review on the Tuareg for example" I see... he is the guy that changes his motorcycle every month and saying that the new is the best? No Thanks!
@@motorcycleadventures , no, he is the guy doing very good reviews.
And many more videos. Professional riders as well s owners every single one is saying Aprilia’s stock suspension is way better than Yamaha’s.
@@richardhretczak536 , yeah, guess there are only very few on his side with his opinion. However, this demonstration of the front suspensions was still interesting to watch. Those upgrades are dear, but really seem to make a difference. I don't like this T7 being so top heavy...and you can't fix that unfortunately.
I have ridden these bikes and i own Tuareg, ive watched every possible review on youtube and he's got the suspension part very wrong. Also the engine needs more revs.
Hi Pavlin, thx for that Video. I respect that You dont fear to have Your own opinion. There must be something wrong with Romans suspension setup, Tuareg suspension is really plush and in my opinion far better then T7s. According to Tuaregs engine, I am 100% sure that You feel that it is underpowered just because of Your habbit of driving T7 from very low RPMs. That CP engine is made for that and it is briliant, but Tuareg shines in higher RPMs and You switched the grears at 5/6k rpm where it just start to show its character. keep up that great job You are doing on channel !
Fair enough!
If that's the case then the Aprilia's engine isn't as suitable for off road. You need to have low down torque for low speed technical stuff and fast tighter gravel roads. Every bike can go fast in dirt straights, even a Hayabusa.
@@C_R_O_M________ I highly disagree. It's all about gearing. Plus more RPM's always creates one positive you can't deny. More centrifugal forces to keep up that 'gyroscope effect' whatever it's actually called in English. I'd agree with you if the power delivery isn't smooth, but haven't heard it's bad on Touareg.
When I bought my first car, it was the best in the world for me. When I bought my second car I was sure that no car was better than mine when comparing. This is how I feel this review was built. Nothing wrong with that, but not fair either. I have a v Strom 650 at the moment, but after riding both for me, the Tuareg is for sure a Ténéré killer. The Ténéré Hype is gone after 2 years as a revolution. My v-strom 650 is just fine for me, but really far from the new bikes level.
Fair enough! It is just not for me.
I've also got a v-sttom650 & it's as powerful & capable a bike for me.
I was bitween those 2 bikes at 4 months before i deside, after i sold my xt660z that i had for 4 years..
Well .... T7 wins for me and im absolute happy that i bought one !
Zero regrets !
Good!
i'm sure that the suspension is poorly configured... because i tested the Aprilia off road and i loved it, the suspension for me was much better than the one on the T7... but was my own feeling... i felt it soft enough but being 240mm long, it can get away with being softer... i think, even being a heavy rider, you should never go full pre-load, because there is no way to adjust the hydraulics to be soft, responsive and confortable with full pre-load... get it back to half everything, and start playing from it.
I tried standard plus pre-load because I knew that many people like you will say it. The difference was almost nothing.
@@motorcycleadventures completely weird Man, i tested it when twintrail (spain) made a testing day, and mine was amazing... probably it was setted by isaac feliu (the guys races in rallys) but even tho, i'm 105kg plus equipment, i'm way above the bike designed weight, and were the T7 would get to the end of the suspension very abruptly, the 660 would just absorb and continue like nothing happened.
the T7 i have tested, i did like 1000km on every type of roads on it, and it was setted for a 103kg rider, with stock suspension, only sag and hydraulics and it was much worse.
the engine on the T7 was better on my opinion, much quiter, smoother, and better low end grunt, but the 660 was very good at almost zero speed on 1st gear and sandy situations...
i would be happy with both, but first thing i would do in the T7 is suspension, thats for sure.
Stock tenere suspension is much inferior compared to stock tuareg suspension. It has a suspension that is close to ktm 890 R. Tuareg travel also higher than others in the segment except 890 R which also have same travel.
LOL 😂😂😂
Okay! I saw what it is and I don't need specs to confirm what I felt.
@@drady8541 bullshit,you are bought by Yamaha..
Any video of tuaregs landing jumps like an 890r?
The only thing I love about T7 over tuareg is Japanese reliability. Recently I read about an off road track test record in which 790 adv R beats T7 by 7 second and tuareg beats T7 by 15.6 seconds. 790/890 adv R has the most capable suspension than any adv bike in current market including ktm 1290 super adv R ( Chris birch says 890 adv R suspension is another level compared to 1290.). My only worry about tuareg is that it is not Japanese
I am sorry but you are in denial. And that's from a happy Tenere 700 owner. I ve ridden back to back my T7 with a friend's tuareg for enough kms. You complained constantly about the awesome intake sound of the Aprilia. I am happy with tenere suspension (i m much lighter than you) but tuareg suspension is way better (maybe you forgot how stock t7 springs are). Brakes on the tuareg are better , weight distribution is way better. The fact that you can switch modes when riding instead of stopping to disable the abs and abs switching on after you restart your motorcycle is a huge plus for aprilia as well. Also seat is a bit better and riding position feels better (form me). Dont care about the electronic aids but cruise control is a nice thing on long day trips. Overall tuareg feels a better bike than tenere but not that big of a difference that would make sell my T7 and have to pay again for a new motorcycle plus all the gear thar i need for travelling.
Ride safe.
Well.. I really wanted to like it and I was ready to say it int he video, but I couldn't!
Great video as usual Pavlin. Testing these great adventure bikes. First time I noticed at start of video how strong you look/are.Having fitness & strength is an essential component of a motorcycle rider.Maybe you could do a vid.on rider health & capability,sometime.
Thanks for taking the time, man!
Hi Pavlin, great video. Who makes the side racks on the Aprilia?
This was an honest concise comparison between the two bikes, I have a 2003 Tuareg and am grateful for the info from an experienced rider like yourself. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Also don't forget that the Tuareg comes standard with a lithium battery and that's about 2kg lighter than the T7's battery. That makes up for the extra 2l of fuel in the Tuareg. So the weight is exactly the same for both
The 2023 Tenere also comes with lithium battery.
2kg difference between lithium battery and normal battery? 😂😂 they're almost the same weight maybe 200gr not 2kg. the slip on tuareg it's heavier than tenere slip-on.
The choking sound is Air Box Induction roar! They put it in on modern bikes because riders like it that way, older bikes don't have it! Cheers DINO.
Terrible
sounds like someone hasnt heard of Ram Air before lol
But you know the guy touched the suspensions, couldn't you out it back as original? Also you forgot one plus, the Tuareg has steal breaded brake lines. That filter makes noise, but who wants to cross a river will not worry if the river is to deep. For sure on the Tuareg the suspensions are not set properly, maybe instead of stiffening the spring, the guy stiffened the hydrolic Compression udjustment.
We tried standard settings as well.
Agree this is a comparison of a bike with sorted out suspension and another one which hasn't been sorted out yet. If you compensate for soft springs with preload good luck trying to fix it with compression/rebound settings. BTW I believe both T700 and Tuareg stock spring rates were increased for North America and it would have been a better match for someone of Pavlin's size.
I test rode the KTM 890, the Aprilia Tuareg and the Tenere….after much deliberation and thought I just bought an almost new Tenere. Only 1000 miles on it with some nice extras with a saving over £2500 from list price. I did my first proper ride on it tonight, a road ride of about 60 miles on small twisty B roads that are very bumpy and poorly surfaced and the Tenere was sublime. Light and flickable it really took the corners well at full lean yet it soaked up the poor roads surface perfectly. I’m a very happy man and as soon as it get crash bars and a few extras fitted I’ll be taking it off road, I’m sure it’ll be great.
Thanks for sharing!
i sold tenere after one season, got it fully modded but is top heavy as fook, akward offroad
How can anyone describe this fantastic and emotional intake sound on the Tuareg as an issue???? 🤔😂
Different people!
Hello Pavlin!. This review remainded me that I have had some years ago, an Aprilia Pegaso. It was a pleasant experience for me. Looking at this hype on the adventure bikes(everyone discussing about them), I’m turning to the naked bikes. Much more fun to ride(for me at least). In my opinion you can go on an adventure with a naked bike. Im sure my next bike will be a Suzuki SV 650. Awesome bike. It put a smile on your face when you ride it. Thanks again for your nice videos and hope we will meet on the road sometime.
Ride whatever is good for you! Thanks for taking the time!
I enjoyed this video. Packed with information.
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Pavlin. I tested both of them, and eventually I decided for Aprilia. I like your honest review, as always. I agree, suspensions are not so good on Aprilia, but on the contrary of you, I like the rumbling coming from the air filter when you go full-throttle. I installed also the quickshifter on Aprilia, wich works well in both directions, but you have to be above 3000 rmp to use it properly. Why I choosed Aprilia? Because in the past I had always foreign motorcycles, specially..Yamaha! (always fully satisfied) and this time I wanted to have an Italian motorcycle, being myself and Italian as you know, to see if the quality, look, performance, endurance can be compared with the others...only time will tell 😉. I always wish you the best... Meanwhile , I prepare myself for a 10 days trip in Austria in July to enjoy a good ride. Bye!✌️
Thanks for sharing your experience, Silvio!
Welcome to Austria! As we Austrians looove your country and people! Viva Italia! T7 rider Guenther, Graz
@@gufra9835 I will be in your wonderful country from July 2, 2023. With 3 other friends, with different bikes. What a delight to discover a beautiful country like yours, testing also other motorcycles!👍✌️
Modded Tenere suspension vs stock Tuareg is a bit unfair
I have ridden my Tenere for more than 20,000km before I change the springs. I know very well what it was before.
Enjoy your video's! Test rode both last year. You must be doing something wrong with the suspension, or you are in denial, or you forgot how truly awful the stock suspension on the Tenere was. T7 owners have a little bit of fanboy tendency, because they kept saying they wanted simpler motorcycles, no electronics, lighter etc. Now they have it, but it is hard to admit that eventhough it has a very reliable engine, the rest of the bike is just not very good. Bad suspension, engine is high and unchanged from the bikes they took it from, add the weight of the gas tank on top and you have a really high center of gravity, which makes it tip over easily in harder offroad situations (deep sand etc.) and when it falls it is a b*tch to pick up. No tubeless tires, so every puncture needs to be fixed the hard way, no possibility to fix small punctures with a plug quickly. Pro for the Tenere: Looks, proven reliability, availability parts. Pro for the Aprilia: Much better suspension, more fun to ride offroad (center of gravity, suspension, balance), rider modes that really work and are well thought out, Cruise control (which is great for some longer parts onroad to rest your wrist a little) and just an overall better package and better thought out motorcycle. I went for the Tuareg and have not regretted it. Would I take it on an RTW trip? No, it has yet to prove it's long term reliability and parts availability. But I wouldn't take the Tenere either, it's just too top heavy and needs a lot of money to improve things, and then it would still be top heavy. But like I said, enjoy your video's, keep 'm coming
I have watched so many CZcams videos comparing the Aprilia Taureg 660 to the Yamaha Tenere 700, and nobody has mentioned how both bikes were designed in Italy, which at least partially explains their similarities, but the Yamaha is mostly produced in Japan largely by robots, and the Touareg is produced in Italy, largely by hand.
The Tenere is designed by Yamaha Italy but made in France, only the engine comes from Japan. I'm pretty sure that the Aprilia facility in Italy is a top notch factory as well of the Yamaha one in France.
I said wow, a 44 minute video, but the video is presented and edited excellently. Well done, excellent review.!!!
Pavlin, obviously Aprilia is better, the problem: It is might be less good to stand out like a peacock.
Two differences. One, a tubeless tire, even though it has spikes, is much stiffer. The second, do you weigh 100 kilos? The all adjustment didn't help with you either at the Tenere, and changing springs did help. There is no doubt that the Aprilia's very low center of gravity helps to control, both when riding on curves on the road, and on dirt roads.
The Aprilia's engine is not choked, you choke it. In your Tenere you are used to getting higher torque at lower rpm. To get lives from the Aprilia engine, you had to work on a range above 5,000 rpm. The Aprilia engine is sporty and likes high RPM.
Thanks for taking the time!
Glad to see rhe bikes side by side (or almost), thanks for your valuable opinion as well as the video 👍
My pleasure 😊!
I seriously considered the Aprilia last year when buying a new bike and it ultimately boiled down to reliability. Hands down the Tenere is most reliable mid size adventure bike on the market whereas the same cannot be said for the Aprilia. Ended up with the Tenere and absolutely love this bike! It is so reassuring to be riding a bike that you are never wondering if it is going to break down in the middle of nowhere…
I did not even discussed reliability in the video.
Should of bought the Aprilia it’s rock solid and a way better bike than the Tenere
@@Al-ie9ob As time goes by more and more issues are brought up with the Tuareg, and its only the beginning. Just Google “Aprilia Tuareg issues” and see for yourself, there is no shortage of threads on the subject! Oil leaks, coolant leaks, lighting problems, transmission and shifting issues, the list goes on and on. Google “ Tenere issues”, all you get is the sound of crickets :) Don’t get me wrong, the Tuareg is a nice bike, similar to the KTM’s which i have owned several. But like the KTM’s, you will always be wondering in the back of your mind when the next failure is going to occur. The Tenere is one of the few bikes that i have riden that i do not get this feeling and it is fantastic! True peaceful riding without the worry.
One of the most beautifull compression I ve ever seen recent times. Also many thnaks for Roman. Waiting the same comp. Between 890r and tenere
Thanks man!
Good review Pavlin 👏 Now I am waiting for a KTM 890 Adventure comparison with Tenere!
When I have the chance I will do it with pleasure!
Yes, but please include the 2023 standard 890, not just the R version. Also, the much more affordable revived, and revised, 2023 KTM 790 adventure.
@@davidmallia628
He's basically got to wait for a subscriber to ride by on these bikes so don't get too picky lol
Man lives in Bulgaria. As far as I know its all mad Kings and child catchers there
What company is the side racks from on the Aprilla?
Seems to be a good value bike for sure. I think the 23 T7 or World Raid is a fairer comparison. Great review.
Thanks for watching!
Funny how the best bike out there is the one you own. 😝
The best for me, yes!
Thanks Paviln. It will be interesting to see what people think of the Aprilia after 100,000km. You should try and do a test of the new Honda Transalp. 😊
Will do!
The Aprilla maybe a plus for luxury but I will still pick Tenere any day. The Aprilla has that induction sound like.. when you shout then cover your mouth with your hand, it is strange sry.
Thanks for watching, man!
For me Aprilia is a better package for the money, more electronics, cruise control, nice display, tubeless tires, more power, feels lighter, you can get an optional quick shifter up and down, lower seat height for shorter riders.
I know that Paviln is big fan of Yamaha and Tenere, but i also know he was trying to be objective in this video. I was surprised about his suspension impression, but it is good to hear different opinion too.
Very good video, i enjoyed it.
At the end, if you can't decide between these two bikes - you must try both. This is what i am planing to do when time comes. But for now - i will stay with my old and trustworthy xt660z :)
Fair enough!
I’ve had the T7 for a couple of years and love it. I just got the Tuareg 660 for my wife and it’s the best bike she has owned, her first being a Royal Enfield Himalayan and the 2nd a used Triumph Tiger xrx low. I rode most of the initial break in miles on the T660 within the first week and a half of owning it as I wanted to have the first service performed and have the dealer remove the rev limiting feature as soon as possible. My wife and I both love how balanced it feels with the weight lower, but it feels a little small for me (I’m 73”-1.85 meters). My thoughts are: I love the mode change on the fly, I wish I could turn the T7’s Offroad mode on without having to come to a stop. I like the cruise control for longer rides, I like the screen and I think it sounds great. I like the off-rode mode with ABS off on back and on in the front. I CAN’T STAND the teeth-chattering suspension off road, and we mostly ride off road. Granted, I upgraded the T7’s suspension with Touratech suspension this past winter, but the stock suspension was never as bad as the T660. However, my wife is only 5’2” (1.575 meters) and 80 lbs (36 kg) lighter than me and only has minor complaints about the suspension. I have lowered the bike 3 1/8” (79 mm) using the Mizu 35 mm spacer, a Kubalink lowering link and the low seat. All in all, I’m really glad we found a capable Offroad bike for her that has great ground clearance. Therefore, I love the T660, but it’s not for me, I’ll stick with my T7.
Thanks for sharing!
That is a final seat height of about 30 3/4 inches! Do you know the ground clearance after lowering the bike? How has it affected the handling, did you raise the forks in the triple clamps by the same amount to compensate for the rear?
Altrider finally received the first shipment of their adjustable lowering link (pivot link), and started selling them this past Monday 11/13/2023. The Altrider lowering link is adjustable. It has 4 settings - 2 settings raise the seat higher, and 2 make the seat lower than stock. The lowest setting would lower the seat height by another 32mm (1.259"), which would be a 29.5" seat height. That is getting really looow ...
You do, in my opinion, the best and more honest review!
Good!
T7 just looks so much better haha. Plus, for the task these bikes are supposed to do...the reliability of the CP2 engine would be my choice if i was in this mid sized adv market.
Good!
Your dead on bro!
I'm Yamaha and been following you since XT600Z days. But this comparison is brutally biased. I've tested both bikes for over a week (7 days on the Tuareg and 11 days on the Tenere) in all conditions, The Tenere.s plus points for me were the low grunt power, the looks, Yamaha's reliably (historically) and dealer network worldwide. Meaning if its purely just the bike itself, it only has two advantages over the Tuareg. The Tuareg trounced the Tenere in handling, weight distribution, middle to top end power, BETTER stock suspension and built quality. Also the new Tenere is a bitch to turn off ABS EVERY TIME you restart the bike.
Coloured TFT, riding modes, cruise control, traction control, etc are all subjective. You dont like them and that's fine. I personally think the traction control is a definite advantage, but you're in denial to think otherwise, so yeah ok.
I really wanted to like the Tuareg, but I couldn't! Sorry!
" personally think the traction control is a definite advantage, but you're in denial to think otherwise, so yeah ok"
>>How is it an advantage to depend on electronic crutches instead of learning how to use the throttle properly? I don't buy that argument and I have owned (and own) quite powerful bikes with no TC (200hp and 160hp). TC is for the lazy rider who isn't aware of the levels of traction he's about to get. I try to be always aware and so far I am.
@@C_R_O_M________how is it not an advantage? You only need to study statistics of how much it saves people ass from accidents & why it is still being offered in vehicles & mandatory in modern cars. Even the best & most experienced riders benefit from it. I’d like to see you navigate on slick diesel laced roads in the monsoon rain without TC. Sure you can do it. At 3km/h with both legs on the ground & see me overtake you without any effort lol. Please don’t be ignorant & say safety technology isn’t advantageous. You don’t like it, fine. Personal preference. But you can’t deny it aids riders. As with ABS. Or you don’t like that too? Lol
Explorer mode could be why it feels choked down or restrained in power. Aprilia nice...I use to have Caponard very nice bike. In US the problem is dealer support and parts on those. Still can't see T 7 in my area of Texas. Thanks for side by side review
Thanks for taking the time!
Thanks once again Pavlin for yet another down to earth,as you see it,no nonsense,no bull excrement review.
If only every reviewer were so honest and straight!
Great Video! Thanks!
You're welcome!
I love to buy a Yamaha Tenere but I have never even seen one in person anywhere, none at any Yamaha dealerships in Florida. I've stopped at least a dozen different Yamah dealerships over the last two years, I did buy a new MT09-SP last fall. love it. My MT09 has Cruise Control, Yamaha needs to put Cruise Control on the Teneres. I would NOT buy a new bike without cruise control.
regarding suspension: I have absolutely no concerns about it - maybe rebound/compression settings had a bit weird adjustment?
Compression and rebound settings are pointless if you don't have the proper springs.
This is interesting! I think on paper the Tenere maybe doesn't look as good as the Aprilia, it's the attention to detail where the Yamaha shines instead. I have only ridden the Tenere out of these two and only on the road, it felt a bit awkward as a road bike but the standing riding position is the best I've felt. With the lower centre of gravity and lower seat height of the Tuareg I can see people sitting on it and thinking it's a more manageable bike if they're coming from a road riding perspective.
Fair enough!
I think this is a honest review, thank you guys!
Thanks for watching!
Great video pavlin
Out of interest
Are you running stock sprockets on your tenere?
Yes I am!
@@motorcycleadventures cheers. I ordered a 16t front sprocket for mine after riding home from the dealer lol
Bike needs a taller 6th gear!
I never ride fast, so I am good.
Anyway, I just purchased Aprilia RS660 last week. Let's see how it goes after it is delivered.
Enjoy it!
It's a shame you didn't spend some time adjusting the Tuareg suspension for your extra weight particularly as the standard bike is set up for a 80kg rider. I have come from a 1250gs and the suspension is far superior and when adjusted for 2 up is still brilliant. Changing the throttle response in the offroad setting makes a big difference. Regarding performance we tested it against a tricked up gs and from 3000 rpm in 4th my Tuareg left the gs to the point where it's rider said back off, I was at 85mph(137kph) and he needed to be at 100mph ( 160kph)to catch me . The bike is great 2 up with a top box happily do 90mph (145kph )around long open sweepers. Oh and I love the induction roar plus it's performedbetter than expected on the dirt roads and trails I've done in the 4000miles (6400km) since I got it. Anyway cheers and I do like your adventure reports.Harry
I also prefer my T7. I love the engine and suspension is good for me.
The engine is just so nice to ride, a lot of power down low, smooth and no loud airbox noise.
Still I think the Aprilia will be a good choice for many riders. Not everybody has to like the same bike.
About the power, maybe you just shifted too early on the Tuareg and it needs higher RPM?
The thing I would really like from this Tuareg are the tubeless wheels...
Thanks for taking the time!
And they are tubeless
How tall is Roman? I’m 5”8’ with 29’ inseam.
Is the seat on the Twigg softer?😊
I would take either bike and then over time customize it to fit my needs just like you guys are doing. I can't help but think that Aprilia needs its stock suspension adjusted. Much less rebound to keep from bouncing etc. Roman just find someone that knows how to get the most out of the stock setup and let them set it up for your weight and adjust the compression and rebound or bring it here to Arizona and I will do it for you LOL.
Compression and rebound does not matter when you don't have the proper springs
What is the compression ratio for the Aprilia for using poor quality petrol. Thanks
Will watch till the end
Good!
Great review/comparison! A fair conclusion would be, that whoever buys either bike should look at having the suspension replaced/reworked. In addition, those buying he Aprilia should read the instruction manual to make the most of the engine modes/power delivery. For those interested in technology and gadgets, the Aprilia would seem to be the one to go for. Otherwise, the Yamaha would be perfectly suitable. That's my take from this video. Thanks!
@RayLombardi. I agree! These new bikes with modes... we need to update our thinking. They require involvement in a different way. Settings for everything is something we need to step up to. Even as an engineer that has done calibration work on cars, I must still make a point of optimizing the bike early in my ownership. Once that is mastered, most people will appreciate the adjustability. If you are coming from dirt bikes, we're used to picking springs and setting shock pressure. The more we use adv bikes off road, the more important this will be. Now we add electronic settings. I am thinking Tuareg currently and intend to do quite a bit off road with it.
can you make a review for the vstrom800?i watch dozens of motovlogger/reviewers,but you are to the point.
When I have the chance, I will.
Merci Romain et Pavlîn
Très intéressant , et de rouler sur une moto assez rare tel que la Touareg doit être un plus. J’en ai croisé une en Espagne, ça m’a pas laissé indifférent !
Thanks for watching!
May be a K&n filter would be better instead of the stock filter???
Thank you for the video. What brand of rear crash protection is that on the Tuareg? That is exactly what I am looking for.
No idea, sorry!
@@motorcycleadventures I found it in case anyone else is interested. It is made by Guareschi Moto (gcorse).
What grab handles tailrack are on your teneree?
rtw-adventures.com/donner-tech-1.html
@mtorcycleadventures This is a very good and helpful review. One of the better ones on this common comparison. I appreciate your thorough back and forth with a lot of data. Concerning suspension, my interpretation is that you are making the point more that suspension tuning for the individual is very important, more so than comparing stock setups, since your T7 is no longer stock. I have done comparison testing for cars inside the industry and I appreciate that it is not easy. You must try to control all variables, but you never quite can do so. So, if the stock springs happen to match your weight and style, that's great, but it won't be for many people. In the end, a spring swap and/or a pressure adjustment is part of the game for a serious motorcycle. The main thing is that the parts have good tunability. I will buy one of these in the spring of '24. I hope!
Thanks for taking the time!
Pavlin, great video, I watched it twice! We are now waiting for reliability comparison :-) Aprilia vs. T7 . Who will win?
We shall see... only the time will show us!
Great concept.
Middleweight is best, but I prefer what is proven, not promised. At the moment an unproven bike.
Definitely an honest review!
Great review
Safe, happy travels 👍
Unproven? Many would disagree
I agree! Only the time will show which is better.
@@CanadianTexaninLiguria Good morning.
Yes, we all have our own opinions.
My point is that the cp2 engine is now nearly 10 yrs old and known as extremely reliable. And the Tenere is now well established.
But to each their own.
Enjoy whatever you ride.
Safe travels
This is a great comparison, thank you for your valuable information. Do you consider to make in the future a comparison between Honda Transalp 750 and Yamaha Tenere?
When I have this chance, yes, with pleasure!
Maybe you’re too heavy for settings on the Aprilia stock suspension. Am 75kg; adjusted the settings for my weight and she rides beautifully for stock suspension. Was on the hard/harsh side of things out of the dealership. As for the sound from the air box, perhaps subjective, however I love it; sound spirited.
I am definitely heavy for it.
Thank you for this honest review. As I future Tuareg owner I really appreciate this review. I suspect that the choking sound you hear is the air going into the air intake. Also the suspension adjustment may be required for your own use. These are both issues that I will investigate before I buy the Aprilia Tuareg.
Glad to help!
The ride by wire is necessary on the Aprilia for the traction control and the cruise control. With the last software update, they made it more responsive.
Ok
What tablet holder is that, I have the same tablet and cannot find a holder.
Но идеа!
I'm glad you say yourself that this is a subjective review at the end, It's nice that you share your opinion. I've not tried the Tenere, I've ridden a KTM Adventure 950 the last few years and it is a great bike. The asphalt riding is A LOT better on the Tuareg, and the smooth power delivery. It's shitloads lighter, just moving it around is a breeze by comparison. It's a lot lower and doesn't drink as much fuel. Better wind protection. I don't think just giving it full gas in 4th is demonstrating the power very well. None of these are going to give you great power there. However I could ride around super slowly in 2nd on my gravel driveway and make it slide and lock up the rear just having fun with the Tuareg. For me, that would be impossible on the big 950. Also, I find the suspension surely good enough on the Tuareg. I don't really know what your friend did to it but it has plenty of setting capabilities. The one I was trying was bone stock and I didn't ride it enough to try different settings but for sure I found it good. It was a bit soft but it also has longer travel than the tenere. It should be able to swallow bumps better if anything. Many others have stated in their reviews that it's a much smoother ride off road than the Tenere so maybe the setup wasn't the best.
Probably suspension not set for your weight. Most tests I have seen people love the suspension. I did take one for a test ride , but not as detailed as yours . My only concern with the Aprilla is parts and dealer support.
Allo an Thankyou for the shows an all the great advice.
I’m 5”8’ an I’m 115-119kgs. I’ve tried a T7 an as you say, way too high.
Do you think this is a bike for shorter riders.
Many thanks again❤
Great shows, keep um commin.
rear susp of T7 was explained on YT by Ryan from FortNine
True!
Hi Pavlin, very good comparison. I always wondered about this comparison. You are as always brutally honest. Thank you for that. But I am not convinced the Tenere is the better or best adventure bike. In my opinion all the big (BMW GS 1200 or above) or midrange bikes (like the Tenere) are over rated. Mostly because, also in my opinion most people aren’t capable of controlling their motorcycle in let’s say off-road conditions. In my opinion it would be more of a comparison to show if one could do the same adventure bike riding with a much lighter bike like for example a Yamaha XT550. Yes, old school, affordable and easy to ride. So what do you think? Keep in mind that you own and used a XTZ660, which in my opinion runs just fine.
But certainly keep up the good work!
I never said that the Tenere is the best adventure bike. It is the one that suit to me.
Honesty and credibility are two different things
Having tested both the Tuareg and the T7 when I wanted to leave my Beemer, I was favourably impressed by the Tuareg. I am 6 foot tall and my T7 Rally is almost too tall for my size. When you think about it, the Tuareg has more suspension travel, a thicker and comfy seat, and still, it's lower. Maybe Yamaha could spend some time looking at the rear end of the T7, and also, like you said, the height of the engine and fuel tank, which counts when you're in a difficult situation. This high weight might overwhelm you. Like you said, the Tuareg's suspension is a little soft but face it, so is the Yamaha's for most riders. Like you said in another video, one of the first things you should look at on the Yamaha is fitting springs adjusted to your weight. That applies to the Aprilia also, I suspect. I can't think that, by some magic, its suspension automatically adapts to a 90 kg rider when it's, like the T7, built for 75 kg riders. These are necessary and not too costly modifications on almost every off-roader on the market, don't you think? With that in mind, the Tuareg, already stable off-road, must be even more efficient. Other than that, when I tested both, I had indeed this sensation of smoothness at the lower end on the Aprilia, very probably due to the ride-by-wire accelerator. It gives you an impression that throttle response is a bit slow but I'm not so sure the engine itself is less torquey than the Yamaha is. What I liked is that from 5500-6000 RPM, the airbox resonance right under your nose is very exciting and makes you want to push even more. And the Aprilia engine seems to love it! The Yamaha's Brembo brakes are not that impressive. Though very similar, I felt more confident in the Aprilia's brakes. The seat is more comfy on the Tuareg, and you are right, because you sit lower, maybe after some time, you would suffer from your legs being a bit more bent than they are on the Yamaha. Wind protection is not what you'll remember about these two bikes. These are two different bikes but there is not this big gap there was in the past, which made you love or hate European vs Japanese bikes. The Tuareg's a motorcycle that'll please most riders. If there's something really negative about it, there's nothing rhedibitory, let's be honest. Now, one might say since you are praising the Aprilia so much, why didn't you buy one? And the answer is because, curiously enough, the dealership, that sold both Yamahas and Aprilias, would not trade my Beemer for the Aprilia, which they did for the Yamaha.
Thanks for sharing!
Enjoyed the review. I’ve ridden both. Was impressed by the Tenere but want more tech (luxuries) for my trips. Tuareg for me 🍻
Fair enough!
I have a 2009 Aprilia '650' it's called, and it uses the Yamaha engine, 660 from the old generation of Tenere. That's why I bought it, I knew the engine would be bullet proof! :)
Fair enough!
It's a Minarelli engine. Very good engines, but they are not made by Yamaha.
Yamaha was also using the Minarelli engine in the previous gen tenere
Soft Aprilia's suspension might be solved by replacing fork fluid with higher viscosity oil. Most of the times it uses 5W oil. Try to change it into 7.5W or 10W, but depends on the riders weight and temperature of the area where the bike is used at most.
Great test like always,dont forget 60 fps, motorcykel going fast choose 60 fps for tv watchers next time 👍
Thanks!
Pavlin, sehr geile Vergleich, Daumen hoch!, ich habe schon Aprilia gehabt, nach 5 Jahren kriegst du keine Ersatzteile in Deutschland mehr, ich schweige schon wie "zuverlässig" das Teil auf der Reise ist
Thanks for sharing!
To understand the effects and advantages of the higher sprocket on the Tenere, I would suggest you watch RyanF9's revue of the Tenere. He explains it very well.
It's a geometry thing...
I already did it.
Just curious..what upgrades did you do to your tenere suspension?
Changed the springs: czcams.com/video/7GhCd0euGGA/video.html
@@motorcycleadventures that's great but what brand and what springs rates? Keep in mind I am in the USA
I said everything in the video.
@@motorcycleadventures ok I will watch it again
Ok thank you..I will have to find a different brand as off the road does not ship to the USA.. love tires I have those my tenere as well
"Just jump like a goat". Best description of any suspension, ever 🙂
Well... this is how I felt it!
👏 BRAVO!!!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks Pavlin! I personally don't like how the front of the Tuareg looks. Does the Tuareg have the same terrible subframe design as the T7? I think that's a big negative to the T7 that would affect how hard to take if offroad... Overall, both very good bikes and will suit most riding types and styles once personalise correctly to suit the individual.
It is what it is!
Hey Brother. Can you try the DE800 and let us know your thoughts? If you have already I, couldn’t find your review.
Lots of great bikes out there. For me however, it comes to parts and shop availability. If you only ride in one or two western areas that have all of the Aprilla shops available, great. But when we both break down in Africa, Asia, South America, etc., we will see how much you prefer your Aprilla/KTM/BMW/Ducati-whatever... over my Honda.
It is what it is!
When travelling in remote areas overseas, riding a Honda or a BMW, Ducati or anything else is irrelevant.
Before you depart, you should prepare a list of parts distributors with good stock that can courier parts internationally within a few days. When you break down in the middle of nowhere, none of the local mechanics will have any parts in stock, regardless if your bike is a Honda or a Bimota. If they can’t fix it with a chisel and a hammer, you still have to order the parts yourself and wait for a courier
yeahh get on a plane
As soon as I saw this Tuareg in the showroom I was thinking for a purchase, considering that neither Transalp or V-strom 800 DE were not launched yet. Never had a proper feedback about this brand from actual owners, just heard that they've recalled a previous Tuono 660 in service and replaced the engine 😂 THE ENGINE! However, seeing your detailed review and trust your experience, this Tuareg seems to be for the casual riders, not to mention that you need to wait at least one month for replacement OEM parts if you're lucky 😅 This bike it's also very short, has an occurred design. I am surprised though about your feedback regarding the suspension, perhaps something it's wrong there, some improper pre-load / rebound adjustment. Thank you once again Pavlin 🙏
I tried with pre load on max and standard. Compression and rebound does not matter when you don't have the proper springs. Thanks for taking the time, Arthur!
Don't trust him.Go test the bike yourself
Yes, absolutely!
Interesting, the first review where someone says Aprilia's suspension is worse than Tenere's. All others praised Aprilia's suspension. Either your friend messed up comp/rebound settings so much that it made it worse than stock settings, or you are biased after the upgraded Tenere suspension you have, since stock Tenere suspension is the real crap. But you being an experienced rider, you could have set it in 15 minutes time if you wanted.
I tried everything and there is no difference. The setting does not matter when you don't have a proper spring rate. I am sorry, but this model has been overrated, without having anything better than the Tenere or the rest of the models on the market. Nothing more to say.
Great comparison! But we know Pavlin you are a men who don't like changes so much! I kner from the beginning you would keep the Teneré as your favorite. I hope you have the chance to compare it with the new Husqvarna 701 (or KTM/Gasgas700) and let's see what you think
Fair enough!
Suspension and chassis set up is super important .another thing that no one seems to know is that tyres are sensitive to suspension set up .that's why some bikes feel sloppy when riding and others are solid to ride .I use to race superbikes and Motorcross , tyres need suspension set up for how those tyres work .different compound and side wall ply need suspension set for how those tyres work .
True!
what are the pannier racks that he uses?
www.donner-tech.de/en/c/shop/luggage/yamaha/tenere-700
@@motorcycleadventures my apologies, I was asking about the Tuareg. But I do like these ones also for the T7. Both are very minimal and conform with the design/silhouette
Nice to shirt...have you done the Les a Les in Portugal 🇵🇹?
No, it was a gift from a friend.
Step one on a bike is to play with the adjustments it got. The Aprilia for sure got more adjustment and even on my Tenere i find stock clickers and rear preload makes a clear difference.
The lighter handling, lower height, smoother throttle and cruise control are better on the Aprilia.
But the Tenere feels more simple and solid, and i prefer the power curve on the Tenere. And they could both loose some weight :)
The Aprilia sounds like an RSV4, a bit silly on an adventure bike really.
11:45 anti-squat?
Hard ride on Aprilia - reduce compression damping, I would go with the softest option, then increase it if it bottoms out.
Jumps like a pig - maybe add some rebound damping?
Also you can rise front fork for T700 it should help with slow speed maneuvering, helped me.
I am aware of all of these and I have done it already.
@@motorcycleadventures Whish is double weird then!