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Difference between revisions of "Aprilia Tuareg 600 Wind"
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I never seriously expected the Tuareg to be any good on the dirt, but I thought it would be fun to have a go. It wasn't. A combination of high seat, short legs and top-heavy weight distribution made for several uncomfortable moments when I couldn't reach the ground quickly enough to avoid disaster. | I never seriously expected the Tuareg to be any good on the dirt, but I thought it would be fun to have a go. It wasn't. A combination of high seat, short legs and top-heavy weight distribution made for several uncomfortable moments when I couldn't reach the ground quickly enough to avoid disaster. | ||
The lack of any dirt ability was not really a significant black l mark on the Aprilia's character, j but its off-road pretensions i dictate a suspension and tire i choice that has no function ; beyond pure pose-value, and | The lack of any dirt ability was not really a significant black l mark on the Aprilia's character, j but its off-road pretensions i dictate a suspension and tire i choice that has no function ; beyond pure pose-value, and | ||
what it really needs is more road orientated geometry, a smaller, wider front wheel and some proper | what it really needs is more road orientated geometry, a smaller, wider front wheel and some proper tires. In short, it needs to be the Pegaso that the UK isn't going to get. | ||
On the road, the narrow twenty-one inch front tire felt vague and too inclined to wash | On the road, the narrow twenty-one inch front tire felt vague and too inclined to wash | ||
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Sixty laps later I'd changed my mind again, a phenomenon not unconnected with the fact that I had learnt more or less which way the circuit went, | Sixty laps later I'd changed my mind again, a phenomenon not unconnected with the fact that I had learnt more or less which way the circuit went, | ||
For sale, one Aprilia Tuareg, suit pole vaulter or retired mountaineer. Strangulated hernia forces sale. | For sale, one Aprilia Tuareg, suit pole vaulter or retired mountaineer. Strangulated hernia forces sale. | ||
turned the edges of the | turned the edges of the tires blue, scraped the pegs through Charlies and overtaken a GSX-R through the Gooseneck. | ||
I had also fried the new-for-'91 twin disc front brake with repeated four-fingered abuse at the hairpin, and the clutch was a little soggy from the heat, but the motor still ticked over quite happily in between sessions and would almost pull the ton on the back straight. It would have continued to do so, too, had the sight of an MZ racer sliding across Mansfield not served as a timely reminder that it is better to pack up before tiredness and bravado lead you to throw it all away rather than immediately afterwards.It seems that my desperate attempts to modify the steering characteristics actually worked, as there were no problems with the front washing out, even entering bends faster than I would have liked due to the rapidly disappearing front brake. The only disadvantages are a marginally reduced inclination to wheelie and a side-stand that already holds the bike too near the vertical. | I had also fried the new-for-'91 twin disc front brake with repeated four-fingered abuse at the hairpin, and the clutch was a little soggy from the heat, but the motor still ticked over quite happily in between sessions and would almost pull the ton on the back straight. It would have continued to do so, too, had the sight of an MZ racer sliding across Mansfield not served as a timely reminder that it is better to pack up before tiredness and bravado lead you to throw it all away rather than immediately afterwards.It seems that my desperate attempts to modify the steering characteristics actually worked, as there were no problems with the front washing out, even entering bends faster than I would have liked due to the rapidly disappearing front brake. The only disadvantages are a marginally reduced inclination to wheelie and a side-stand that already holds the bike too near the vertical. | ||
Despite my love/hate relationship with the Aprilia, I'm not keen to give it back. If I could keep it, I'd change the front wheel, uprate the brakes, fit some sticky | Despite my love/hate relationship with the Aprilia, I'm not keen to give it back. If I could keep it, I'd change the front wheel, uprate the brakes, fit some sticky tires and enter a few singles races. I'd lose, but it wouldn't half be fun, and that is what this bike is all about | ||
Made from 1988-1998. | Made from 1988-1998. | ||