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Best Value Motorcycle of 2022: Aprilia Tuareg 660
Ryan Adams
It’s been a few years since an adventure-style moto made its way into this category – though with the popularity of the class still truckin’ along, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see another ADV rip its way into the ranks of the Best Value category. For 2022, the Aprilia Tuareg boldly displays its impressive package starting at $11,999. While $12k isn’t an insignificant sum, what you get for your money with the Tuareg transcends from being an excellent value in the ADV world to an excellent value overall.
2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660 Review – First Ride
We’ve seen Aprilia’s new 660 platform stuffed into a sportbike, naked, and now adventure machines. The new Parallel Twin is a versatile mill that has been tuned to fit each of those categories. With the Tuareg, the engine has been tuned to deliver 75% of its available torque from 3,000 rpm, which turns into 85% when you hit 4,500 rpm; it also has 10% lower gearing than the other 660-powered siblings. On the dyno, rear wheel power translated to 68 hp at 9200 rpm and 44.3 lb-ft at 6500 rpm. The Tuareg likes to be spun up a bit more than others, like the Yamaha Ténéré, but it still delivers smooth forward punch throughout the low to mid-range.
JB also made a great observation, “All the other “Middleweight” adventurers we compared last March have more displacement and power – but they’re also bigger, heavier, and more expensive than the Tuareg.”
Showdown: 2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660 Vs. Yamaha Ténéré 700
A major component of the Tuareg’s great value comes from its electronics package. You have four ride modes that are customizable for engine map, engine braking level, traction control and ABS settings, cruise control, and optional Bluetooth connectivity. No other middleweight adventure bike delivers this much technology within a competitive off-road capable chassis. During our Showdown, this machine proved that it was equally adept at pounding out hundreds of miles of asphalt as well as rock crawling on the trail. It really is an excellent all-around package for an impressive value, making it our choice for the Best Value MOBO.
Best Value Motorcycle of 2022 Runner-Up: CFMoto 700 CL-X
John Burns
Like we said in naming the CFMoto 700 CL-X the Best Lightweight/Entry-Level Motorcycle of 2022 a couple days ago, we haven’t seen anything else this year that gives you the performance, features (cruise control!), and quality of this one for $6,499. It’s not really our place here at MO to take a geopolitical stance on whether China is evil or benign (unless you really insist): International trade decisions are made at a pay grade above ours. All we do is ride the stupid motorcycles and give you our opinion.
As it stands right now, China is currently the USA’s largest goods trading partner, with $559.2 billion in total (two way) goods trade during 2020? Goods exports totaled $124.5 billion; goods imports totaled $434.7 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with China was $310.3 billion in 2020. That’s according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s website, which is packed with lots of other interesting facts and figures about our biggest trading partner.
2022 CFMoto 700 CL-X/700 CL-X Sport Review – First Ride
What’s China doing with all those dollars? Prospering, it sounds like, and moving away from ratty little motorcycles into nicer, bigger ones as finances permit. Just like every other motorhead in the world.
Chinamotorworld.com, billing itself as China’s first English language magazine, just published a story that says while sales of small Chinese motorcycles were down 15% for the first half of 2022 compared to 2021, sales of medium and large motorcycles were up by more than 40%. It’s sad that the site won’t let me cut and paste large chunks of the article, but one of many nuggets says that CFMoto’s (among a bunch of other Chinese OEMs) sales of 250cc+ bikes exceeded 3,300 units. In June. That’s a 45.4% increase over 2021. There’s a new generation of consumers, says the article. Commuting on cheap little motorcycles isn’t on the way out necessarily – but riding bigger, more expensive ones for leisure and entertainment are now very much in, and generating most of the profits now and going forward. Along with electrics.
Basically, it would appear that the Chinese could be on the same glidepath the Japanese rode in on in the 20th century, whether we approve or not. However it works out, we’ve never before seen as nice a motorcycle from China as this cute little 700 CL-X. Except for the new KTM-engined Ibex 800 ADV bike CFMoto will be bringing into the US next year.
Isn’t it fun to live in interesting times?
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