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-displacement 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 1 – Aprilia doesn’t do things by halves
Unveiled at Eicma 2018 as a concept and presented last year – still at home in Milan – in its final version, the RS 660 is a capital model for Aprilia since it inaugurates a new Twin intended to equip a future range of medium displacement: Tuono roadster, Tuareg trail … SRV scooter or even custom Classic ?!
In order to mark the spirits, the Noale brand has logically chosen to relaunch itself in the "mid-size" segment via a sports car, skillfully filling a gaping hole in its range: between the small RS50 and RS125 for kids and "motorists" on the one hand, and the RSV4 1000 and 1100 for experienced pilots and pure trackers on the other…
- MNC special file :
- RSV4 1100 Factory test :
To create their "Supersport", the engine manufacturers decided to cut the V-shaped 4-cylinder of their Superbike in two. Simple and efficient, the Aprilia engineers’ method? Partly only, because they claim to have worked long and hard to develop this Twin, which they therefore consider to be a brand new engine..
Take the pistons for example, whose diameter is the same as on the RSV4 and on the RS-GP ("per favore"!), Ie 81 mm. Their head is specific and their stroke has been increased to 63.93 mm (against 52.3 mm on the "big" RSV4 1100) in order to obtain a displacement of 659 cc, high performance … and undeniable reliability? MNC could not verify this last point! For the second, however…
Stalled at 270 °, the Aprilia Twin obviously does not sound like a V4 but like a V-twin. Its dual outlet pot placed under the engine has the double advantage of lowering the center of gravity and keeping the heat away from the pilot. and its possible passenger (who can also perch on a fairly wide and soft saddle, for the category).
Away from the ears too, the exhaust of the RS 660 is pleasantly discreet or curiously timid, depending on whether it is planned to be used in the city center to show off or in the open countryside to have fun (figuratively, of course. ).
A big half of V4
A few rotations of the right handle, however, are enough to increase the number of decibels and reveal the true personality of the Twin. Considering its displacement, the engine produces a rather serious rumble when accelerating and gives off tasty backfires during sharp deceleration..
Prone to take and return turns very quickly, the RS 660 pleasantly surprises from the first turns of the wheels: its engine is voluntary, accepting to run off in 4th gear trot in fourth gear at 50 km / h, without hiccuping.
At the same pace in 3rd gear, the mill – water – already offers good acceleration: it then turns at 3500 rpm. Aprilia rightly claims that the RS 660 delivers 80% of its maximum torque from 4000 rpm, then 90% when the engine reaches 6250 rpm. Handlebars in hand, MNC confirms this vigor.
At the same time, the Moto newspaper on the Internet has a first small flaw: the electronic accelerator must be carefully managed so as not to suffer a sudden go-around. We expected better from the manufacturer of Noale who was the first to equip a motorcycle with a "Ride-by-wire". For the record, it was the Shiver 750 in 2007.
On higher gears, the raises in the first half of the tachometer cannot be called explosive, however, overtaking a flood of cars at a red light – turning green … – does not require whipping the twin. Ditto for overtaking a truck between two hairpins on a small mountain road (the Dolomites, in this case).
To take a hot start or make a quick overtake, you have to climb higher in the towers: past 7,000 rpm and into the red zone set at 11,500 rpm, the RS 660 raises the tone and the sound, to the delight of its pilot.
The arrival of the hundred horses is gradual … and enjoyable! The more you pull on the gears, the more the bike accelerates, without ever releasing its effort. For a little bit, it feels like the controls of a good old Rotax or Suzuki two-stroke which fitted respectively the RS125 and 250 of the 90s. The smell less, of course….
The vibrations, on the other hand, are very present and constitute according to Site the second weak point of this 4-stroke engine. Crackling appears in the handlebars from mid-range, then transit to the tank and the saddle and stealthily travel through the footrests.
Sensitive and tiresome in an urban or peri-urban environment, these vibrations can nonetheless appeal to adepts of strong and multiple sensations. For some bikers in fact, the impression of – taking – speed is increased tenfold by the sound and vibrations. They will be served !
However, it is very likely that the majority of RS 660 owners do not complain about its vibrations: in normal use – hard on small roads ?! -, we focus on what happens in front of you rather than what happens in yourself! The pilot takes care to anticipate the dangers, while the electronics watch to muzzle the excesses…
Full of technologies
Aprilia wanted its new motorcycle to be both "safe and pleasant". To do this, the very sporty brand of the Piaggio group has installed the latest generation of electronics on its medium-capacity sports car, even more recent than on their Superbike. !
The RS 660 indeed inaugurates a Marelli "11MP" box better provided than the "7SM" which currently operates on other Aprilia motorcycles: "144 pins against 80 to manage more components, a rate of 200 MHz instead of 50 for more simultaneous calculations, a RAM of 4 MB against 1 only for more complex algorithms ", goes so far as to detail the engineer Roberto Calo.
Provided by a 6-axis inertial unit – an IMU for connoisseurs – the APRC (for "Aprilia Power Ride Control") includes six functions: ATC traction control, AWC anti-abrasion, AEB engine brake management and that of AEM engine modes, ACC cruise control and AQS quickshifter that MNC immediately adopted as it is effective whatever the circumstances.
In addition, the Aprilia has an ABS device (mandatory on motorcycles) which takes into account the angle of the machine … and a multitude of other data in order to keep the motorcycle on its two wheels and guarantee the safest possible braking.
All these piloting aids offer different degrees of intervention, which the pilot can modulate by selecting the "Individual" driving mode. The more technophiles will appreciate being able to configure their motorcycle to their handglove, as do RSV4 owners or World Superbike and MotoGP riders !
Less demanding riders will be content, like MNC – to employ one of the four other default riding modes: "Switch for everyday riding, Dynamic for sporty driving on the road, Challenge for performing on-track sessions and Time Attack. to fully customize the electronics setting "…
The more daring will be able to deactivate all of its "electronic crutches", except one: the ABS of the front wheel cannot be disconnected on motorcycles meeting the new Euro5 standard (except for rare trails incorporating an "enduro" function at use off-road only).
Concretely, Site carried out the vast majority of its driving (175 km) in Dynamic mode. Careful on the rare wet sections and generous on the dry roads sometimes badly paved, the motorcycle newspaper of the net was absolutely not hindered by the tiny interventions of the APRC.
With a simple touch on the right stalk switch, switching to Commute mode actually makes it possible to soften the responsiveness of the throttle control but does not eliminate the hiccups on re-acceleration. The traction control cuts off small drifts a little earlier on the white stripes of zebra crossings for example. This will reassure bikers – more and more numerous in Europe – who descend from 300 or 400 cc less powerful.
It is thanks to the arrows on the left stalk that the pilot can customize his "individual" parameters. MNC notes in passing that the control of the speed regulator which overhangs the whole does not inspire especially confidence: the plastic of the commodos does not seem of high quality.
What if the handlebar controls would benefit from being less basic – cables and wires better laid out, too? -, because in comparison the dashboard is certainly magnificent. Smaller than some panels used by the competition, the TFT screen borrowed from the RSV4 makes good use of its colors and offers two displays – very good – suitable for the road or the circuit.
Finally, new generation bikers will no doubt be seduced by the application developed by – the parent company – Piaggio: MIA notably relays on the dashboard the indications of the GPS navigator of the connected smartphone, in addition to managing communication systems ( pilot / passenger), phone calls or music…
Bikers of previous generations will be sensitive to other aspects of the RS 660. The color chosen by Site, for example, may well evoke memories: back in 1994, Loris Reggiani then piloted a 380 cc Aprilia ( !) in GP500. Whether it speaks to you or not, go to the next page for the rest of our essay…
Related articles
-
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…
-
Ninja H2 SX test: sporty road bike, in green and against everything ! Kawasaki has no shortage of air: three years after the launch of its Ninja H2 / R,…
-
Kawasaki Z125 and Ninja 125 test: for generation Z or ZX-R bikers ? Unveiled in September, the Z125 and Ninja 125 land in mid-December in dealerships….
-
2019 Tuono V4 1100 Factory test: electrostimulation for the Aprilia roadster The Tuono V4 1100 is undergoing a new evolution in 2019: its…
-
RSV4 1100 Factory test: high volume operation at Aprilia ! The Italian 4-cylinder V feel decidedly cramped in a single liter: the RSV4 1100 Factory…
-
RSV4 1100 Factory test: high volume operation at Aprilia ! The Italian 4-cylinder V feel decidedly cramped in a single liter: the RSV4 1100 Factory…
-
Z900RS test: the new neo-retro Kawasaki Zed, zen and zealous Kawasaki is back in the neo-retro segment with a brand new motorcycle: the Z900RS! Site was…
-
Z900 test: the new Kawasaki roadster without aids ! True to form, Kawasaki has decided to replace its popular Z800 with a beefier Z900: larger engine,…
-
Yamaha R1 and R1M 2020 test: hell of a blow … and salty extra cost ! Yamaha is taking advantage of the change to the Euro5 standard to perfect its…
-
2017 Suzuki GSX- R1000R review: the beauty of Gex Driven by the most recent hypersport motorcycles for lack of developments in the last ten years or so,…