Aprilia RS 660 test: half a portion for a lot of sensations
The new RS 660 is coming to November 2020! How much is the first mid-size Aprilia sports car worth, equipped with the new Twin from the Superbike V4, advanced electronics, an optimized chassis and a modernized look? 11,050 euros. What is it worth? Answer in our MNC test.
RS 660 test page 2 – A very sexy sportswoman
The Red "Lava" color is inspired by the liveries of the official machines entered in the motorcycle Grand Prix. Unfortunate for some – young people – the combination of purple and bright red on the fairings of the RS 660 evokes for others the start of an extremely prosperous period for Aprilia…
A sticker on the tank also reminds us that the Noale brand has won no less than 54 world titles for rider and manufacturer in motorcycle sport: 20 in GP125, 18 in GP250, 5 in WorldSBK, 7 in Supermoto and 2 in trial. The latest? That of our Sylvain Guintoli in World Superbike goes back six years, already !
Two other colors are also in the 2021 catalog: an "Apex" black (rope stitch) and a "Acid" Gold, much more have you seen and put on your glasses. Sun ! Like BMW and its very first S1000RR (whose tangy color tended more towards green), Aprilia is keen to make its RS 660 stand out..
A strong point that will undoubtedly be unanimous concerns the lines of this new bike: the "Centro Stile Aprilia" has perfectly modernized the distinctive features of the RSV4. Mainly its front face, which the entire Aprilia range has been sporting for 10 years…
The RS 660 inaugurates the new signature of the Italian brand with triple headlights – always – with LED and thinner, framed by daytime running lights. These incorporate turn signals that turn off automatically … and are activated simultaneously (warning) during very, very strong decelerations.
Another technological complement that is appearing at Aprilia: the "bending lights" function provided by a "pair of additional headlights, present in the exterior headlights, (which) illuminates the inside of the bend to increase visibility".
The double layer fairing – without any visible screws! – gives a certain presence to the RS 660, without weighing it down. "This foreshadows the future RSV4 and Tuono", tells us Marco Lambri, head of the design department at Piaggio (Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Vespa, etc.).
As often with Aprilia, the aluminum frame is well highlighted … even if on this RS 660, the carrier engine considerably reduces its size! Behind, the swingarm is mounted on the engine block as well, in order to reduce the number of parts and reduce the weight. A featherweight !
With 183 kg fully loaded on the Aprilia scale, the new RS 660 claims the lowest weight in its segment. For lack of competitors, MNC cannot comment on this point. On the other hand, it seems clear that this Aprilia is very light. Much more than the Shiver 900…
A strong capable half portion
This motorcycle is all the more obvious to move with the engine off as it is considerably compact. It also has a good turning radius: for a sports car, it’s a surprise. For a machine intended for road and city use, this is a good point.
The driving position is also pleasant. Drawing in support, Aprilia engineers tell us that their RS 660 is between a blue Supersport motorcycle (R6) and a green Sport-touring motorcycle (Ninja 650). Closer to the Yamaha than to the Kawasaki all the same, the Aprilia and its fairly high half-handlebars do not unnecessarily hurt the wrists.
In terms of the legs, adults do not find themselves squatting excessively. As the footrests are not wide apart (18 mm less than on the RSV4), they are positioned relatively low without affecting the ground clearance in the bends.
The thighs naturally find their place around the minimalist frame and under the deeply indented tank. The saddle benefits from a reasonable height (820 mm) and above all a thin rear loop (16 mm less than the Noale Superbike) to give very good access to the ground.
This feeling of lightness and ease continues while driving: the RS 660 lets itself be guided with the tips of the gloves, dives quickly in curves or roundabouts, can change course without the slightest effort to get away from gravel or avoid a manhole cover.
All this, "thanks to the wheelbase of 1370 mm and the chassis angle of 24.1 °, the RS 660 exhibits exceptional handling qualities, combined with characteristics of precision and feel with a front axle typical of all motorcycles produced at Noale ", the manufacturer can actually boast.
Obvious in the winding, the Aprilia is also reassuring: its stability allows to keep a lot of speed in curves … provided that the grip is there! The Diablo Rosso Corsa II originally shod (120/70 at the front and a wide 180/55 at the rear) should moreover amply satisfy future buyers..
For MNC, who discovered the RS 660 in the Dolomites, the conditions were not always engaging: with 5 ° C displayed on the dashboard and completely frosted fields in the shade, it was sometimes difficult – unreasonable – to abrupt the motorcycle … Brrr.
The motorcycle newspaper of the net, however, had the opportunity to put the suspensions of the RS 660 under stress and to realize that the compromise chosen by Aprilia is relevant for the target: the fork as the shock absorber absorbs obstacles well in city, smooth out most of the roughness on the road, ensuring very good heading.
Future users who will drive mainly on the road and only rarely venture out on the circuit to exploit the full potential of the engine and the brakes will be satisfied by these suspensions well tuned to engine performance. Enough to become "world champion" of the roads behind home, not necessarily well paved and maintained !
In order to limit the mass transfers, the pistards will be able to brake the hydraulics: "expansion on the right tube and compression on the left on the fork", assures us the Italian press manager – despite the two inscriptions "TEN" – and expansion on the ‘shock absorber … Or will they wait for a hypothetical Factory model with Ohlins suspensions, Akrapovic exhaust, polished frame and swingarm, MotoGP deco ?!
Braking will make everyone agree: the "commuters", the "arsouilleurs" or the "trappers" who will ride the RS 660, like their comrades at the controls of Superbikes! The Brembo front calipers (4 pistons 32mm) pinch their 320mm discs hard but too fiercely, effortlessly stopping the bike and its rider.
At the lever – adjustable, unlike the clutch which is located a little far elsewhere – the brake is perfectly adjustable and offers an excellent feeling. The hardware may not be the latest generation, it does not matter: it is devilishly effective.
Bitten by two 34mm pistons, the single 220mm rear disc supports the pair of front 320s very well. It can even replace it on simple decelerations, as the pedal makes it possible to finely regulate the – good – power of the rear caliper. Experts in trajectory retouching or beginners in duo driving will appreciate.
A second A2 version
Beginners, in fact, will be delighted to learn that the RS 660 will be available in two versions: the "100 horsepower" reserved only for holders of the A license and the "70 kilowatts" designed for those who have just obtained the A2 license and must drive two years with a machine limited to 35 kW…
Why Aprilia is worried about homologating two versions of the sports car, a "Full" and an "A2 license" developing only 5 horses less? "Simply because the value" 100 hp "makes a better impression on the technical sheet", considers our contact Cristian Barelli.
Rigorously identical visually, these two RS 660 variants should not be confused on the second-hand market. As a reminder, the standard model cannot be limited to the regulatory 35 kW. And conversely, but it’s less disabling, an "A2" will never be able to release the original 100 hp..
MNC readers – who, as everyone knows, have a little more RAM than others – remember that Aprilia announced the imminent arrival of a third version of this 660: the Tuono which will develop as an original. 95 horses. All copies of the roadster will therefore be accessible to new licenses, which is simpler, no ?
Whether it delivers 95 or 100 horsepower, the RS 660 remains great news for Aprilia fans as it finally bridges the gap between the small RS and the big ones. It must therefore allow Aprilia to keep its customers who love beautiful lines and adepts of beautiful trajectories….
The Italian also puts forward solid counter-arguments to capture bikers among the few competitors who still offer Supersport (R6 and ZX-6R). Machines which, according to the marketing manager of the future 660 range Cristian Barelli, are "extreme, tiring, sharp, reduced to the circuit, without A2 version, expensive and demanding".
It must be recognized that the Aprilia half-portion is more frequent on a daily basis than an R6 or ZX-6R: its saddle, for example, is carefully designed and generously padded for a sports car, even on the road. However, long journeys will take a little courage…
The vibrations at 130 km / h in 6th gear while the Twin grinds at 5,750 rpm, may numb. At this speed, the bubble only shelters the pilot’s abdominals and pecs: the shoulders and head are totally exposed, the neck will undoubtedly be exploded at the end of the day, and relieved to stop refueling.
At the end of our driving at a reasonable pace on small twisty mountain roads and long straight lines in the valley, our on-board computer indicated an average consumption of 4.44 l / 100km. Enough to cover 337.5 km thanks to the 15-liter tank. The Italian offers enough to cut the road quickly and for a long time, which is claimed by two other medium-displacement cars….
Positioned at 2049 euros cheaper, the 2021 CBR650R offers a 4-cylinder engine with 95 hp and 63.5 Nm, but weighs 207 kg. Its mechanical and electronic equipment are less impressive: it has simple traction-control and black and white instrumentation..
The Ninja 650 updated last year (color instrument, guaranteed "wow effect") appears at 7,799 euros (7,299 at the moment) but does not have the same electronic arsenal: it does not include traction control in particular, since it develops "only" 68 hp and 64 Nm for 193 kg…
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