Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada 2007 — Specifications

When Aprilia decides to redesign the Pegaso, it doesn't do things halfway. The sage, versatile trail of previous generations is a thing of the past: the 2007 Pegaso 650 Strada arrives in supermotard attire, a category that was booming at the time, and it must be admitted that the transformation suits it perfectly. The former Rotax engine gives way to a 659 cc single-cylinder signed by Yamaha, with fuel injection, developing 50 horsepower at 6250 rpm and a torque of 61.3 Nm from 5200 rpm. Modest figures on paper, but on a machine that weighs 168 kg dry, the situation changes radically.

This engine is the soul of the project. With a long stroke of 100 mm bore for 84 mm stroke, it breathes at a compression ratio of 10:1 and distributes its power via a five-speed gearbox. It’s far from the sporty twin, but that’s not the objective. The Pegaso 650 Strada plays the card of accessibility and urban efficiency: 780 mm seat height, reasonable dimensions, a top speed of 170 km/h on the open road. It clearly addresses the versatile rider, the one who seeks an engaging daily ride without breaking the bank on maintenance or struggling with a motorcycle that is too powerful. In this respect, it also ticks the A2 license boxes in the restricted versions, an argument that works well on the used market where the Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada is negotiated around 7000 euros in good condition.

The equipment clearly distinguishes this Strada from previous versions. The mixed dashboard, analog for the tachometer and digital for the rest, contrasts with the austere simplicity of the first Pegasos. The immobilizer, the passenger handle, the compartment under the seat complemented by a second box on the tank with electromagnetic opening from the handlebar, all position the machine as a tool designed for real-world use, not a showroom display. On the braking side, the 320 mm front disc associated with a four-piston caliper gives credibility to the whole, backed up by a 240 mm rear disc with two pistons. The 45 mm telescopic fork with 140 mm of travel and the 130 mm rear monoshock complete a hybrid chassis, two aluminum beams on a steel cradle, a construction concept that seeks to combine rigidity and lightness without exploding the production bill.

Facing a Husqvarna SM610 or a KTM 640 SM from the same era, the Pegaso 650 Strada appears more sensible, less radical. It does not claim the same sensations as a Sunday track rider. However, it compensates with a practicality that its Austrian or Swedish rivals do not offer: integrated luggage, careful Italian finishes, and that way that Aprilia machines have of never seeming ordinary even in parking lot angles. The rims adopt the stylistic codes of the RSV-R Factory, and it shows. The visual identity is consistent, almost flattering for a six hundred sixty cc single.

The Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada remains today a consistent choice for those seeking a versatile and characterful two-wheeled vehicle on the used market. It ages better than its reputation from that era would suggest, notably because the Yamaha engine under its Italian dress proves to be reassuringly reliable over time. Well-maintained units, 2005, 2006, 2007 or 2008 models combined, hold the road without excessive mechanical quirks. An honest bike, resolutely geared towards the pleasure of daily riding, without superfluous pretension.