2021 Aprilia RS 660 First Ride Review | Rider Magazine 

Hey Daniel, Thanks for the kind words and I think a lot of people will agree with you; I certainly do. I enjoy superbike and super-naked levels of performance as the next gearhead, but the truth is, a bike like the RS 660 has all the power that a street rider could ever need. From what I experienced on the street, I'm wagering that it'll be a hoot at the track, too. Take care! - Nic

Hey Leroy, Thanks and I'll do my best 💪 Take care! - Nic

Hey Guambra2001, You're definitely on the right track with your thinking and the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 is a solid sport-touring bike, as the Ninja 1000 blurs the line between sport and sport-touring categories. In fact, I feel that the most recently updated Ninja 1000SX is one of the smartest buys in the segment - as long as you want a bike that emphasizes the "sport" in "sport-touring." The Aprilia RS 660 achieves something similar in that it offers a fairly authentic supersport riding experience, without all of the common supersport pitfalls. Take care! - Nic

@@RiderMagazine thanks, I totally agree. You guys are awesome! Keep at it.

Portly? Its 183kg wet weight, that's class leading light, super fun and punching above it's weight

Hey Gio, Thanks for the kind words! The good news is that a Factory model is on the way. It hasn't been officially announced by Aprilia yet, but the brand is not being shy about its intentions. Maybe it's time to downsize for the street and track-prep the RSV4? 😁 Take care! - Nic

Hey OffCambra, I appreciate the sentiment, although, I have to say that the Tuono tends to make its own argument to all that ride it, haha. Take care! - Nic

@@RiderMagazine one of the few bikes that the reality has met my expectation...brilliant!

Hey G, Thanks for the kind words! I enjoy the Kawasaki ZX-6R quite a bit and it's a great question with a more in-depth answer. If you're a rider that's going to be doing a lot of trackdays, racing, or trackdays exclusively, I'd say that something like the ZX-6R might be more up your alley. The reasoning behind that decision is that a supersport like the ZX-6R can actually be utilized to its fullest potential on the racetrack. The downsides to a supersport like its peaky-powerband and committed riding position simply don't apply if you're focused on track riding. The Aprilia RS 660 appeals to someone that wants to do trackdays and street riding. Perhaps this rider will hit the occasional trackday, but the reality is that they spend most weekends in the canyons and for most of us, riding to the canyons means we need to slog through some boring highway miles first. The useable torque of the RS 660 is perfect in a street setting and the ergonomics are much more comfortable on longer rides or stints in the saddle. That said, I do think there will be a lot of people converting or getting up-spec versions of the RS 660. Parallel-twins and v-twin motorcycles have a rich history in track riding and racing, namely, the SV650 and Ninja 650. Time will tell! Hope this helps! - Nic

@@RiderMagazine Many thanks for the reply Nic. I’d heard that the ZX-6R was for a middleweight surprisingly tractable and still v.good low and mid range, hence my question. From what you’re saying though, sounds like the RS 660 would still make the better bike for non-track use. Thanks again. G.

@@user-hb6ms3mb4t Hi G, I'd agree that the ZX-6R has more low-end and mid-range power on tap than its competitors and is a little more streetable. However, the inline four-cylinder engine doesn't produce nearly the same amount of streetable torque as the RS 660's parallel-twin powerplant. Having superior low and mid-range power will always benefit someone riding on the street. Take care! - Nic

@@RiderMagazine Roger that. Thanks again Nic. Cheers G.

The prices seems slightly high for the price. But I also know the features are where the price mostly comes from. I’m only 155 at 5’7” so I imagine it won’t be far behind my friend. I don’t like how it’s referred to a sport touring bike. I’ll be test riding one this Tuesday and I guess I’ll really decide that day

Hey Luke, You raise some great questions and hopefully you have a good test ride! At any rate, I wanted to address a couple of the points you made. As you know, you always want to "ride your own ride," so worrying about keeping up with your friend's Daytona 675R shouldn't cross your mind. The 675R might have a little more straight-line performance, but when riding on the street that's almost irrelevant, since we're all supposed to be abiding by the posted speed limits. Once you're in the twisty sections of road, things tend to boil down to the skill level of the rider more than the bike. I'd consider the RS 660 more of a sportbike and less of a sport-touring motorcycle, as it's supposed to bridge the gap between those two classes. Classifications help us identify and categorize things, but I'm of the opinion that we need to select motorcycles based on what works for us and our particular needs. If you are looking for something sporty that will be comfortable on the street and is racetrack capable, then I'd say the RS 660 is up your alley. As always, be safe out there! Hope this helps, - Nic

Hey Rage Rider, Likewise! While not officially announced, the Factory version is being heavily implied by Aprilia. Up-spec suspension and brakes are sure to make a difference on the racetrack! Take care! - Nic

The challenge for Aprilia will be proper pricing for a Factory version.

@@rlsedition Absolutely. It's closest real competitor is probably the Ducati Supersport, which is overpriced imo. However because the Aprilia is pretty unique it's essentially up against every other bike so it will definitely be a fine line between hit & miss for Aprilia with the Factory.

Hey Ted, I think you'd be fairly comfortable on a 250-350 mile ride. It also depends on the type of riding that you're doing. If it's an engaging route that focuses on twisty roads, instead of highway hauls, I think you'd be in good shape. We did about 120 during this test and I was no worse for wear. Take care! - Nic

Hey Brook, I'd like to see how much the riding triangle changes between the two. The Tuono and RSV4 are fairly far apart in respect to the upper body and it'll be interested to see how that aspect translates on the middleweights. Take care! - Nic

Since it appears both this RS660 and the upcoming Tuono model have reasonable ergonomics and bodywork, what is the need for the Tuono?

Well if you want more mph you'll need the daddy - RSV4

Hey Istavan, It's tough to capture the engine sound in the onboard footage, which is mostly wind noise. Although, you can hear the engine in some of the action clips of me riding by. I'll be sure to get an isolated clip in the next review. That said, the engine sound is pretty good and as you might have guessed, reminiscent of the RSV4. The 270-degree crank design, which a few different bike makers employ, almost always produces a pleasing exhaust note. Take care! - Nic

Hi Robert, The RS 660 does have lots of low and mid-range power. That's its single biggest strength when compared to inline-four cylinder motorcycles. Take care, - Nic

@@RiderMagazine thanks it may surprise me if I test ride it👍

Hey Alex, It's on the way! Take care! - Nic

Hey Morely, It pains me to admit that I'm terrible at wheeling. Although, several of my colleagues had no issue lofting the front wheel quite high. Take care, - Nic

whats a whoolie??

@@verdeboyo Like a wheelie, but Zack Courts style...

Hey Billy, I'm probably around 190 at the moment. Take care! - Nic

Thanks for the follow up. I only weigh 150lbs, so, suspension should be fine. Also, very good review, thanks for the in-depth info.