Aprilia RS 660 Extrema 2023 — Specifications

Thirty years separate two machines that share the same name and an identical philosophy: to cause harm with a smile. In 1992, the two-stroke RS Extrema 125 was the toy of kids who wanted to play at being grown-ups on the track. Today, the Aprilia RS 660 Extrema reclaims this name for a special edition that goes beyond a collector's livery. It's a transformation thought out gram by gram, hair by hair.

Let's start with what immediately catches the eye. The black and white checkered pattern that dresses the bodywork is no accident: it directly references the racing heritage of the brand from Noale. But beyond the aesthetics, the difference between the Aprilia RS 660 and the Aprilia RS 660 Extrema lies in the details that matter on the track. The carbon front mudguard and engine guard, the SC Project exhaust, also in carbon fiber, a passenger footrest removed as an option: all these surgical gestures bring the weight down to 166 kg dry, three kilos less than the standard version. It's not a diet, it's a targeted rejuvenation treatment.

The SC Project exhaust deserves special attention. It weighs 4.4 kg compared to 6.4 kg for the original, a difference of two kilos that is felt as soon as the bike is lifted. The voice also changes: deeper, more sensual, with a revving range that better suits the sporty ambitions of the 659 cc twin. The 100 horsepower at 10,500 rpm and the 67 Nm of torque at 8,500 rpm remain officially the same as the RS 660 classic, but the engine breathes better, and you can hear it. Faced with a Yamaha R7 or a Kawasaki Z650RS, the RS 660 Extrema plays in a different league: it’s not a sporty bike disguised as a neo-retro, it fully embraces its track vocation.

The onboard electronics would make machines twice as expensive blush. Five riding modes, traction control, wheelie management, adjustable engine braking, bidirectional quickshifter, cruise control and cornering ABS, it’s all there. The Aprilia RS 660 Extrema adds a function appreciated by track day enthusiasts: the inversion of gear selection. A screw, a rod, and the gearbox adopts the GP scheme, shifting down to upshift, and up to downshift. Details like this are not invented, they are experienced. The perimeter aluminum frame, the asymmetrical swingarm, the 41 mm Kayaba fork adjustable for preload and rebound, the radial Brembo calipers, all contribute to a consistency that few machines of this size can claim.

At €13,499, the question of the price of an Aprilia RS 660 Extrema 2024 often comes up in discussions. The answer depends on the buyer's profile. For a rider who chains track sessions, this special edition is already a finished work base: no need to order the optional aftermarket exhaust, no need to order the carbon parts one by one. For an urban rider looking for a pleasant daily commute, the standard RS 660 will be more than sufficient and will save €1,500. This Extrema is aimed at a specific audience, those who use their motorcycle as it deserves to be, with a full-face helmet and boots that reach the ankle. The seat height at 820 mm and the 15-liter tank confirm a track-oriented usage rather than grand touring, even if the announced consumption of 4.1 liters per 100 km is reassuring for transfers between two sessions. The maximum speed of 235 km/h is just a number on paper; what matters is how it arrives, tense and precise, with this twin that pulls hard from 6,000 rpm and doesn’t let go until the redline.