Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada 2009 — Specifications

When Aprilia decides to transform its Pegaso trail bike into an urban supermotard, the result is striking. The Pegaso 650 Strada abandons its adventurous air to adopt a taut, nervous, almost aggressive silhouette. The wheels borrowed from the RSV-R 1000 Factory leave no doubt about Aprilia's stylistic ambitions: the brand from Noale wants character, and it gets it.

Under the refined fairing, a Yamaha 659 cc single-cylinder engine does the work. The Rotax of yesteryear is gone, replaced by an injected engine developing 50 horsepower at 6250 rpm for a torque of 61.3 Nm available from 5200 rpm. These figures may seem modest compared to a Husqvarna SM 630 or a KTM 690 SMC, but on a machine that weighs only 168 kg dry, they are more than sufficient to make daily commutes lively. The power-to-weight ratio clearly favors the Strada, and the 780 mm high seat reassures riders of average build who are looking for a real connection with the road.

The Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada is distinguished above all by the level of onboard equipment. Digital dashboard with analog tachometer, coded key immobilizer, passenger handle and two storage spaces, one under the seat and a second on the tank controlled electromagnetically from the handlebar. For a motorcycle positioned at €6600, this is a serious endowment. The front brake plays in the league of the greats with a 320 mm disc clamped by a four-piston caliper, while the rear is satisfied with a 240 mm two-piston, sufficient for this use. The 45 mm telescopic fork develops 140 mm of travel, the mono-shock 130 mm: we remain within the standards of the segment, without excessive pretension.

What makes the Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada’s technical specifications interesting for riders in the A2 category is precisely this balance. Fifty bridable horsepower, 168 kg, an accessible ergonomics thanks to the contained seat height and suspensions calibrated for urban riding rather than for rocky trails. The 110/70-17 and 160/60-17 sports profile tires confirm that the Strada has no off-road vocation despite its trail origins. The five-speed gearbox operates with a classic chain transmission, without particular sophistication, which simplifies maintenance and reassures at the time of second-hand purchase.

The most frequent opinion about the Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada is that of an honest and versatile motorcycle. Not a track bike, not a touring bike, not really a trail bike. It occupies this niche of accessible supermotard that German and Austrian brands tend to make too radical for daily use. The Strada offers a more domesticated, more civilized experience, designed for the urban rider who wants style without paying the price in ergonomics or maintenance costs. The Aprilia Pegaso 650 Strada used can still be found at reasonable prices, making it a credible option for those seeking Italian character without a collector's budget.