A SMOOTH WEEKEND BOLT FROM THE BLUE

GEOFF HILL

The Tuareg are the nomadic people of the Sahara, also known as the Blue Men because of the blue headdresses which dye their skin. I don’t know how many times I’ve told them to use salt as a fixative.

I once walked across the Sahara with a Tuareg guide to raise money for charity. However, you don’t have to do any of that to enjoy the Aprilia Tuareg 660, a mid-range adventure bike that uses the fabulous engine from the RS 660, basically the front half of the one from that ballistic missile the Aprilia RSV4.

Where the RS 660 is compact and muscular, the Tuareg is its lanky brother who plays basketball – tall and slim, with a narrow seat to make standing on the pegs for off-road hooliganism easier.

On board, the seat’s as firm as it looks, more of which later, and the mirrors are brilliant. The TFT screen is small compared with the 10.25in ones on some bigger BMWS these days, but more than adequate, with all the info you need at a glance, including what riding mode you’re in.

Rather weirdly, these are called Urban, Explore, Individual for bespoke tweaking, and Off-road, which turns off the traction control and rear ABS to let your back end go wild. As it were.

Although the engine’s been tuned down from the 100bhp of the RS 660 to 80bhp for more user-friendly off-road use, and the Tuareg is 204kg compared with the RS’S 183kg, acceleration is still brisk in Urban, and gloriously satisfying in Explore.

But the best bit is the brilliant handling. With that light weight, slim profile and high, wide bars, I was carving corners like Valentino Rossi, except older and less Italian.

The clutch is featherlight, the six-speed gearbox firm and precise, and braking, with two big discs up front, as brutally smooth as Sean Connery in Dr No.

Only two minor complaints – after only half an hour, my tender buns were asking politely for a break from that firm, narrow seat, and I kept switching on main beam every time I used the clutch.

So it isn’t for touring on road. It’s for riders who love a blast on the road during the week, and an even bigger blast off-road at weekends. If that’s you, sign here.

PEGGING IT Tuareg is a weapon off road