Took the Tuareg for a test ride yesterday.
I wanted to compare it with the T7 which I've ridden a few times.
On paper the Tuareg beats the T7.
- Same weight but lower COG.
- Larger fuel tank.
- More power.
- Better suspension.
- More ground clearance.
- Tubeless tires.
- Better seat (and better ergos for my 183 cm/6ft).
- Full electronic package (incl. CC).
Only in regard to dealer network and expected reliability does the T7 come out on top.
Price wise the Tuareg is only a bit more expensive than the standard T7 and significantly cheaper than the World Raid edition.
Initial impression when I landed at the Aprilla dealer and parked the T12 next to the Tuareg was that it appeared very slim with nice fit and finish.
As I got on the Tuareg and took it off the sidestand it felt very light.
I spend a few minutes to shuffle through the menus on the TFT screen. I had 4 ride modes to choose between including a custom mode where you can set the different characteristics to your liking (throttle response, engine breaking, TC and ABS).
During my test ride I tried the different modes and they make the bike behave significantly different.
The Tuareg was a blast to ride.
Light, agile, responsive and super easy to handle.
I really liked the ergos. The riding position is very relaxed and roomy.
The engine is a gem. A bit more vibrations gets transferred to foot pegs and handlebars compared to the T7, but it never became annoying.
At low revs it's comparable to the CP2 but at higher revs (above 6-7.000 rpm) it becomes noticeably more powerful.
The sound from the intake at higher revs is pure porn.
During my 1 hour test ride I didn't notice anything about the bike that I didn't like.
I'm not in the market for that type of bike right now, but if I were, I would definitely choose the Tuareg over the T7 - even with the knowledge that it probably wouldn't be as trouble free to own.