Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada 2010 — Specifications

When Aprilia decides to transform the Pegaso 650 Strada into a supermotard, one might fear a somewhat forced marketing ploy. But no, the transplant takes immediately. The thin-spoke wheels, directly inspired by the RSV-R 1000 Factory, give this Italian trail bike the look of an urban adventurer that knows where it’s going. The refined headstock, the compact silhouette, the sport tires in 110/70 at the front and 160/60 at the rear: everything here speaks of quickly swallowed sidewalks and roundabouts taken at an angle. It’s a posture, and it is fully embraced.

Under the hybrid aluminum and steel frame lies the real change in this 2010 version: the original Rotax engine block gives way to the Yamaha 659 cm³ single-cylinder engine, the same one found in the XT660 lineage. This injected engine, with its 100 mm bore for 84 mm stroke and four valves per cylinder, develops 50 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and a torque of 61.3 Nm available from 5,200 rpm. It’s not a figure that inspires dreams on paper, but in practice, this robust single-cylinder pushes with a frankness that sticks the rider to the saddle. The five-speed gearbox accompanies without a false note, and the chain transmission suffers from no particular refinement but no defect either. For the Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada road test, it is this generosity in the low end of the rev range that stands out.

The equipment of the Strada justifies its positioning at €6,600. The dashboard combines digital display and analog dial for the tachometer, the electronic coded anti-theft system provides reassurance when parked, and the two integrated storage compartments, one under the saddle, the other on the tank with electromagnetic opening from the handlebar, make it a machine ready for daily use without additional luggage. The front brake receives a 320 mm disc bitten by a four-piston caliper, which not all competitors in this displacement offer. At the rear, the 240 mm with two-piston caliper correctly completes the ensemble. The 45 mm telescopic fork travels 140 mm, the mono-shock 130 mm. Correct travel for a machine weighing 168 kg dry.

The 780 mm saddle caters to a wide range of builds, and the lowered ground clearance suspension facilitates handling for less experienced riders. Yet, the Pegaso 650 Strada is not a beginner's machine in the strict sense. It is perfectly suited to the A2 license, with its 50 horsepower that can be restricted, but its supermotard temperament requires a certain complicity. Faced with a Husqvarna SM630 or a KTM 690 SMC of the time, it loses on raw power but gains on onboard practicality and a more accessible price. The maximum speed announced at 170 km/h is more than sufficient for a machine designed for the city and winding roads rather than the highway. The 16-liter tank ensures adequate range without unnecessarily weighing down the whole.

What emerges from the Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada technical specifications is a coherence of concept. Aprilia did not seek to transform its trail bike into a sporty disguise. It built a versatile tool, well-equipped, with a strong visual identity inherited from its racing catalog. Lovers of the Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada used will find on the secondary market examples often well maintained, the reliability of the Yamaha block having largely contributed to the longevity reputation of these machines. It is an honest motorcycle, without unnecessary fanfare, and that is already a lot.