Middleweight Ape

"Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com" (exage03040)
10/10/2020 at 15:53 • Filed to: Motorcycle, 2wheelsgood

Aprilia RS 660

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There seems to be some real confusion on the old internet to what this new Aprilia RS 660 is.

At first glance to the uninitiated this has the hallmarks of the 600cc race replica bikes. Angular eye catching lines from tip to tail on the body work. Noticeable use of aluminum for the frame and swing arm. The tank scription proudly displaying Aprilia Racing.

Powering the bike however is not 4 pistons of fury of your typical Yamaha R6 or Kawasaki ZX-6R contain. No, instead Aprilia have developed a parallel twin, a configuration akin to the engines of the Yamaha MT-07 or Kawasaki Ninja 650.

RS 660 Engine

This new 659cc twin is rated to produce 100bhp [73.5kW] @ 10,500rpm and 49ft-lb [67Nm] @ 8500rpm.

Interestingly, it’s actually significantly more powerful than the Yamaha MT-07 twin at 74bhp @9000rpm by the simple virtue of making it’s power and torque at higher revolutions. It’s actual torque figure is the same at ~50ft-lb, just 2000rpm lower at 6500rpm.

So where exactly does this engine fit in the grand scheme? Realistically, it’s looking closer to what was powering the old Triumph 675 Street Triple (not the Daytona though). If you knock off the more peaky nature of the Triple by about 1000rpm I would think it should give you some idea of what we’re dealing with here for power and nature.

In layman’s terms, this is a hopped up Twin nearing a Triple. Not such a race replica at the very heart but none the less sporty still.

RS 660 Hand Controls and Instrumentation

Another big hint here is the how the clip-ons distinctly rise from the triple clamp. A recent review from Cycle World praised it’s ergonomics for being more than acceptable for longer rides. It appears that it won’t aggravate wrists and backs and force tuck nearly as much a race replica but it appears to be a more leaned in sporty position than what you’d find on a Ninja 650 or CBR650R.

Aprilia RS 660

Now the kicker: Price. Aprilia has not released the MSRP but there’s a certain US dealer that has it estimated the MSRP at $12,500.

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Well we’re subject to our own opinions. For me personally this falls in a strange spot, perhaps to its own benefit.

Yamaha R6

I don’t believe this is quite comparable to the high strung 600 race replicas that are up about 20bhp, I think based on what I’ve read and seen it’s a more usable street bike in terms of engine and ergonomics and not as track focused though presumably competent.

Honda CBR650R

I don’t believe this is comparable to the 650 class. It’s likely to have a significantly higher price to even the CBR650R at $9,700. It seems probable in being more sporty than any bikes in that segment considering the weight, power, and ergo.

Ducati SuperSport S

If I had to kind of nail down this bike, I would almost say it’s getting on what the Ducati SuperSport does. That kind of racy looking bike with decent aggressive ergonomics and a sporty but not psychotic engine. Compared with the $13,100 SuperSport I think it might be a tad more rambunctious with less weight and high revving smaller twin.

That’s my thoughts anyways... I’d have to get my gloves on one to be sure.

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DISCUSSION (10)

Nick Has an Exocet > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
10/10/2020 at 16:17

I’m glad it exists. It’s visually pleasing and 100hp is on par with my Miata. Haha

flatisflat > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
10/10/2020 at 16:35

This is the smallest of gripes, but when a manufacturer integrates the handlebar offset mounts into the end of the triple tree like this bike does, it really throws a wrench in the works for trying to switch to aftermarket clip-ons.

flatisflat > flatisflat
10/10/2020 at 16:36

The high output parallel twin sportbike is otherwise a rather attractive package.

DipodomysDeserti > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
10/10/2020 at 17:18

My experience with parallel twins is limited to fifty year old Hondas. They’re fun and sound like popping popcorn at idle. Highest horsepower parallel twin I ever owned is my ‘73 CL450 at around 50 hp. Not sure I’d want much more out of that particular bike with its cable operated drums and floppy forks.

AestheticsInMotion > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
10/10/2020 at 17:18

I like it, but as you say the competition seems to be more Ducati Supersport than anything else, and for my money.... I couldn't see myself picking the Aprilia between the two

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > flatisflat
10/10/2020 at 19:50

Yes, you also lose that adjustment for ergo too which really sucks .

I was honesty thinking after posting if I should even call them clip-ons. T echnically they’re not when they’re integrated into the top of the triple clamp.

nermal > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
10/10/2020 at 19:55

It’s the same price as an R6 and more expensive than a ZX6. For a lightweight that presumably handles great, with half of a V4 .

The ONLY place where this makes sense is club racing in the lightweight twins class, where it should have a yuuuuuuge speed advantage over $2500 SV650s of questionable worksmanship and reliability . However, by the time you buy one @ $12.5k and add the requisite racing mods you’re not far off the $22.5k for a Kramer. Or, you could just buy a $2500 SV650 like nearly everybody else does.

That’s without even getting into the sheer incompetence of Piaggio USA and their dealer network. You’d be better off buying a small herd of Pet Rocks, arranging them in a circle of chairs support-group style, and then talking to them about your feelings in the hopes that doing so would somehow grant you the ability to personally manufacture parts for and perform service on your motorcycle. The dealer network is that useless.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > AestheticsInMotion
10/10/2020 at 20:04

So I’m not totally off my rocker!

I think this is going to be slightly better for the track and back-roads. Around town the weight would be an advantage but I think the Ducati has the better engine for tootling about and those boring highway jaunts. Then there’s the style. Aprilia very much went #be a racer, the Ducati is a very elegant bike.

We’ll have to see what they say, the outlets are just now getting around to riding them.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > nermal
10/10/2020 at 20:13

Hahaha, I was hoping you’d chime in on this.

That makes sense, perhaps in a few years pick up a street ridden one that hasn’t been completely trashed and phase out the old SV?

I’m hoping to hear some good things from the reviews, lots of people are excited for this bike but they seem off base to what it actually is.

nermal > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
10/10/2020 at 21:42

Look at how the RSV4 and Tuono do in basically every review done on them. The RS660 will most likely end up the same, everybody that rides one will absolutely love it.

You don’t even have to worry about finding a used one, just wait a year or two and buy a leftover new one, just like you can with every other Aprilia . A quick look at CycleTrader shows shows a cornucopia of them available at relatively bargain pricing . New 2017 RSV4 RFs for $16.5k, 2018s for $17k, and 2019s for $20k. Remember that a 2020 is $25.5k MSRP, although it does now have electronic suspension that the older ones don’t .

2018 Shivers are still available for $6.5k, which is a banging deal for what it is.

Somebody in Italy convinced the right people at Piaggio to let them spend Big Scooter money to build sportbikes, and they built really, really good ones . They just neglected to bother doing anything with regards to sales, dealer training, and after-sales support, especially in the US. The problem is that this completely ruins the experience of owning one.