Aprilia RS 660 2021 — Specifications

Imagine a sportbike that fully embraces not being a track weapon. That's the bet Aprilia made with the RS 660, at the precise moment when the mid-displacement sportbike niche seemed definitively buried. Honda had shelved the CBR 600 RR, Triumph had retired the 675 Daytona, Suzuki and Ducati had followed suit. Only the Yamaha R6 and the MV Agusta F3 remained to defend a segment that had become almost confidential. Noale then decided not to relaunch a radical sportbike, but to reinvent a more ancient and ultimately more relevant idea: the road sportbike.

The engine that powers the Aprilia RS 660 is no accident. Aprilia literally cut up the V4 from the RSV4 1100 to extract two cylinders, before slightly widening the bore to obtain a 659 cc parallel-twin. The result is clear: 100 horsepower at 10,500 rpm and 67 Nm of torque available at 8,500 rpm. To put these figures into perspective, the MT-07 and its 689 cc peaks at 75 hp, while the 650 parallel-twins from Honda or Kawasaki remain below the 70 hp mark. The 270° phasing provides an unevenness of pulses that recalls a V-twin, giving character without sacrificing smooth operation. An A2 homologated version is available for learners, which further expands the potential audience for this machine.

At 169 kg dry and 183 kg fully fueled, the Aprilia RS 660 is one of the few modern sportbikes that doesn’t weigh on your arms. The double-beam aluminum frame uses the engine as a structural element, which compacts the whole without sacrificing rigidity. The 41 mm inverted Kayaba fork, adjustable for preload and rebound damping, works with a single rear shock absorber anchored directly to the asymmetrical swingarm, without linkages. This choice is surprising in this category, but Aprilia claims a weight saving and direct response. Four-piston radial Brembo calipers bite on 320 mm discs, with a cornering ABS that manages braking phases in corners. The announced top speed of 235 km/h remains reasonable in absolute terms, but that’s precisely what defines this bike: it doesn’t need extravagant performance figures to convince.

The onboard electronics are up to Aprilia’s MotoGP know-how. Six-axis inertial platform, traction control, anti-wheelie, engine braking management, bidirectional quickshifter, cruise control, five engine maps including two oriented for the track. Everything is displayed on a backlit color TFT screen, switching between road and track modes. Multimedia connectivity is available as an option, for those who want to enrich their RS 660 with additional comfort accessories. The semi-flat handlebar positioned above the fork head tube betrays the machine’s real intention: to provide sensations without locking the rider in a jockey position. It’s a detail that says everything about the positioning.

Priced at €11,050 new, the Aprilia RS 660 sits within a pricing zone consistent with its ambition. Less expensive than a Panigale V2 which overflows with horsepower difficult to exploit on the road, more engaging than a Ninja 650 which doesn’t claim the same register. On the used market, examples from 2022 and 2023 are beginning to become democratized at accessible prices. Owners who want to personalize their machine have a wide choice between an Akrapovic exhaust, a competition-inspired kit, or a solo seat cover for a refined single-seater configuration. The question of reliability regularly arises in discussions, and real-world feedback on the first generations is generally positive, without any structural problems identified to date. This RS 660 is aimed at the passionate rider who wants a sport tool usable every day, capable of expressing itself on a winding road without requiring a racing suit and a professional pilot’s license.