Aprilia Racing has put their heads together with Gcorse and taken a bike punted out a beauty bike for the Guareschi brothers that is, by all accounts, completely crushing the first few kilometers of testing in anticipation of Africa’s deserts.
This Aprilia Tuareg prototype is the same bike that was premiered as the “Back to Africa” project at the Aprilia All Stars party at the end of May – and boy is this machine eating her veggies.
Handling the desiccated topography of Africa’s scorched earth in style won’t come easily for any two-wheeled machine, least of all this one; coverage from Piaggio’s press release states that the prototype’s rider ergonomics were completely redesigned from that of the 660, and a new modular frame was tossed in to better handle the brunt of such unforgiving terrain.
Test riders were none other than Aprilia Racing factory units Jacopo Cerutti and Francesco Montanari, who got to have a hoon about on a version that sported “Öhlins by Andreani suspension, SC Project all-titanium exhaust and a specific Sprint Filter air filter.”
We even have word that Metzeler has become more interested in the twin-power ADV sector recently and – needing a brand to collab with – chose Aprilia as their main brand “to develop the products for future rally engagement,” providing a partnership that has been invaluable to Aprilia during this time.
With first tests at the Riola Sardo motocross circuit now completed, Aprilia’s that much closer to her goal. Woohoo!
Here’s a list of the prototype’s build phases so far:
Phase 1
A new modular frame
Redesigned geometries” to ensure high-speed stability and increased suspension travel.”
Phase 2
Engine development
A “first supplementary tank”
What do you think of Aprilia’s Tuareg prototype?