On the heels of a strong Dakar Rally showing, Aprilia is rumored to have a full-tilt adventure bike in the works. Based on the Shiver platform, the Aprilia Tuareg will feature a 750cc v-twin motor, steel tube chassis, and a 21″ front wheel for maximum off-road capability. The Aprilia Toureg is expected to tip the scales under 200kg (441lbs), and a road version with a 19″ front wheel and 1200cc motor could also make the 2011 line-up.
Not to be confused with Touareg (the VW flop of an SUV), the Aprilia Tuareg is named after a group of Northern African nomads, who coincidentally inhabit a good portion of land where the old Dakar Rally used ran through (you know back when the Dakar Rally actually ended in Dakar). With only the most basic details available, it would still seem that Aprilia is gearing up to make a serious bid into the adventure bike segment. This can also only be a sign of the Italian company ramping up its efforts in races like the Dakar, as it tries to expand its total market segment involvement.
Early indications peg the Aprilia Tuareg as making an appearance at the 2010 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, it’s unclear if the bike will be a 2011 model or not at this point in time.
Source: Motociclismo.it
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