Aprilia RS 660 2022 — Specifications

When a sportbike weighs 169 kilograms dry and delivers 100 horsepower for less than 11,000 euros, you start to wonder if Noale has found the formula that no one else was looking for anymore. The Aprilia RS 660 was born from a commercial vacuum that the Italian brand chose to interpret as an opportunity. All the large-displacement sportbikes have become gentrified on the circuit or through exclusive pricing. Mid-displacement sportbikes, for their part, have almost disappeared from catalogs. The result: an entire segment without serious contenders, and Aprilia arriving with a machine designed to fill exactly this gap.

The silhouette speaks for itself before you even turn the key. This multi-layered fairing, the three-element headlights with eyelash-shaped daytime running lights, the short tail and the asymmetrical aluminum swingarm anchored directly to the crankcases: all of this tells a coherent intention. The Aprilia RS 660 specifications reveal a perimeter aluminum frame utilizing the engine as a structural element, with a contained wheelbase of 1370 mm. The motorcycle is compact, almost feline in its proportions. Where the RSV4 imposes its muscular mass, the RS 660 suggests, lightens, invites. The seat height at 820 mm may discourage shorter riders, but the actual weight under the seat quickly reassures.

The heart of the matter is this 659 cc parallel-twin engine, phased at 270 degrees to mimic the temperament of a V-twin. Bore of 81 mm, stroke of 63.9 mm, compression ratio of 13.5:1. This engine delivers 100 horsepower at 10,500 rpm and 67 Nm at 8,500 rpm. To put it in perspective: a MT-07 and its 689 cc peaks at 75 horsepower. A Ninja 650 doesn’t play in the same sporting category. The Panigale V2 crushes the budget and ease of use. The Aprilia RS 660 horsepower available place the machine in a rare balance between accessibility and bite, and the existence of a restricted version compatible with A2 license further broadens the spectrum of potential buyers. At 4.08 liters per hundred, the 15-liter tank offers correct range for weekend outings.

The onboard electronics deserve attention, because Aprilia didn't do things halfway. Ride-by-Wire, six-axis inertial unit, traction control, wheelie control, engine braking management, bidirectional quickshifter, cruise control: five riding modes structure the experience, three for the road and two for the circuit. The color TFT screen displays two distinct interfaces depending on the usage. The 41 mm Kayaba fork is adjustable for preload and rebound. Four-piston radial Brembo calipers bite on 320 mm discs, with cornering ABS to manage the lean angle. An Aprilia RS 660 aftermarket exhaust like the Akrapovic, which many owners quickly add to their list of Aprilia RS 660 accessories, further releases the sound of the twin. The announced top speed is 235 km/h, a theoretical ceiling that the half-handlebars placed above the fork headstock will not encourage you to seek on public roads.

The price positioning at 10,990 euros new places the Aprilia RS 660 price in a strategic zone. Neither low-cost, nor inaccessible premium. The Aprilia RS 660 used market is also active, proof that demand exists and that interest does not diminish over the years. Recurring questions about Aprilia RS 660 reliability and any Aprilia RS 660 problems remain marginal compared to the positive feedback from regular users. It's not a perfect motorcycle: the direct-link rear shock, without progressive linkages, divides the purists, and the high seat can complicate life in urban environments. But it is a road sportbike in the noble sense of the term, designed for riders who want sensations without mutilating their backs over a hundred kilometers. The target jersey is not the Sunday track rider nor the hurried commuter: it is the motorcyclist who seeks a lively, communicative motorcycle, and sufficiently equipped to never tire.