Aprilia RS 660
Discussion
You only have to look at the amount of ‘hipsters’ who build the bikes they want that shows what people want.
If someone like Aprilia sold a really good frame, engine and rudimentary bodyward for £6,000 in basic, manky road legal form but then various bodywork, exhaust, electronic, frame, handlebar upgrades that people could do and upgrade themselves (and get approved at the local dealers during a service if needed) they’d soon find people had spent tons without realising, and people would have smaller lower power bikes they’re proud to have built themselves.
If someone like Aprilia sold a really good frame, engine and rudimentary bodyward for £6,000 in basic, manky road legal form but then various bodywork, exhaust, electronic, frame, handlebar upgrades that people could do and upgrade themselves (and get approved at the local dealers during a service if needed) they’d soon find people had spent tons without realising, and people would have smaller lower power bikes they’re proud to have built themselves.
srob said:
You only have to look at the amount of ‘hipsters’ who build the bikes they want that shows what people want.
If someone like Aprilia sold a really good frame, engine and rudimentary bodyward for £6,000 in basic, manky road legal form but then various bodywork, exhaust, electronic, frame, handlebar upgrades that people could do and upgrade themselves (and get approved at the local dealers during a service if needed) they’d soon find people had spent tons without realising, and people would have smaller lower power bikes they’re proud to have built themselves.
RnineT. Bonneville. Both doing very well. If someone like Aprilia sold a really good frame, engine and rudimentary bodyward for £6,000 in basic, manky road legal form but then various bodywork, exhaust, electronic, frame, handlebar upgrades that people could do and upgrade themselves (and get approved at the local dealers during a service if needed) they’d soon find people had spent tons without realising, and people would have smaller lower power bikes they’re proud to have built themselves.
Ho Lee Kau said:
Volant said:
... (and even the Daytona to a degree) ...
... I really really enjoying wringing something out through the gears. How often can you do it with 200bhp?
To a degree?... I really really enjoying wringing something out through the gears. How often can you do it with 200bhp?
Daytona has 123hp. How many gears can you wring out before it is way into illegal territory?
I have D675, it is fackin' fast!
One can keep/reach a bit higher rpms on a bike like D675 compared to a 1L sportsbike, true, and it does not accelerate as fast and as effortless as 1000cc in-gear, but D675 is overkill for the road as well. Let's be honest, ALL 600cc supersports are.
And that Aprilia, if it comes out, will be just as fast (or faster) than D675.
Even though you slightly misquoted, I’ll take the bait.
You can wring it out in the first few without it being ridiculous. Not legal, but not ridiculous either. Certainly ‘to a degree’ compared to my old ZX10R.
But you could say what you did about any modern bike over around 500cc. And you know that...
A 660cc parallel twin? Won’t be as fast as a 675, I guess they’d be looking at 100bhp on a good day.
Edited by Volant on Sunday 13th January 23:00
Edited by Volant on Sunday 13th January 23:09
Krikkit said:
For what it's worth I agree about the speed thing. If only the KTM RC390 sounded better.
Highly tempted to a VFR400.
I’d really like a VFR400. A mate picked one up lasts week and it sounds the nuts. Looks pretty good too!Highly tempted to a VFR400.
KTM RC390 is pig ugly. I also feel it’s not in the same league, the older Japanese 400s were trick, I can’t help but think the KTM is a beginners commuter bike with a fairing?
Volant said:
Krikkit said:
For what it's worth I agree about the speed thing. If only the KTM RC390 sounded better.
Highly tempted to a VFR400.
I’d really like a VFR400. A mate picked one up lasts week and it sounds the nuts. Looks pretty good too!Highly tempted to a VFR400.
KTM RC390 is pig ugly. I also feel it’s not in the same league, the older Japanese 400s were trick, I can’t help but think the KTM is a beginners commuter bike with a fairing?
Volant said:
I don’t enjoy litre sports bikes on the road. People here will scoff, but I don’t care. I have a 15 year old mx5 that’s more fun on the road than the Z4M, M3 etc I had before. It’s dog slow, but it handles fantastically. And critically, I LOVE thrashing it, which I couldn’t in faster cars without feeling guilty or being a bit dangerous. Same with my bigger sports bikes (and even the Daytona to a degree) - I’d get home feeling sick to my stomach with guilt and hoping for no court summons.
It’s not even just about legal/illegal speeds. I really really enjoying wringing something out through the gears. How often can you do it with 200bhp?
I want a bike that handles incredibly and has a purity, an honesty. Which I can thrash. And if the components are good enough, I’m willing to pay.
At the moment I’m considering ZXR400s and NC30s. They won’t lose money, but they’re old tech now. A long way behind something like my Daytona was, despite being lighter.
I could have written these very words myself and find myself in a similar position. It’s not even just about legal/illegal speeds. I really really enjoying wringing something out through the gears. How often can you do it with 200bhp?
I want a bike that handles incredibly and has a purity, an honesty. Which I can thrash. And if the components are good enough, I’m willing to pay.
At the moment I’m considering ZXR400s and NC30s. They won’t lose money, but they’re old tech now. A long way behind something like my Daytona was, despite being lighter.
Having cut my teeth on an NC30 for the first 6 years of my biking life, little has compared since to that 'feeling like a racing hero' when you've wrung the buggers neck down your favourite twisty road, chasing a 14k+ redline and carrying decent corner speed cranked right over (couple of Cadwell trackdays it was fun embarrassing the bigger bikes on the corners, who cares about get blown off in a straight line!!
). That's not a feeling i've ever had on bigger bikes. Then there's the grin and exhilaration you get from cracking open a 1000cc bike, trying to pull your arms off and the blurry warp speed vision that accompanies it that you'll never get on a smaller bike. Both feelings are capable of giving me a hard on but I know which I prefer if i'm being honest. And which is safer for keeping the licence...Started with an NC30, had a couple of 600's, a couple of 1000's, back down to an FZR400 (wasn't as good as the NC), back up to a 1000 - currently riding an SV650S. The SV is a great bike, it can be ridden hard, wrung to death and handles perfectly adequately whilst not travelling everywhere at silly 3 figure speeds. It's a rewarding bike when caned, easy to ride at a steadier pace - but it's uninspiring. I could make it better with mods/tweaks but it's still an SV650 at the end of the day and I only have so much love for it.
I think due to my limited milage, the want for something that is only 'acceptably quick and handles', and the want of a bike I lust after, it's looking like an older 900SS or similar for me, I did post on here about a Laverda 750S but reliability issues and parts availability has put me off! I'd love another NC30 but can't justify the prices for a decent one, and not much cop for the occasional 2 up i'd need to do (don't think anything i'm looking at will be much good - but having done 2 up on a NC
never again...).Edited by Baldy881 on Monday 14th January 13:53
Edited by Baldy881 on Monday 14th January 13:53
srob said:
As for 74bhp not being enough on a bike on a motorway, eh?! There’s still quite a few cars on the road with about that power and people cope on motorways!
Oi! I didn't say that it wasn't up to a motorway, I said that it wouldn't be fun. They're just high speed queues, the only way to make one fun is to shut it and hold an orgy.I thought that I'd be in a small minority in wanting a smaller, less über, sports bike. It's nice to see that there may be a market for something a little more attainable. I was walking around the cotswolds late last summer, occasionally hearing a bike rev up for a second or two. It sounds thrilling, but ultimately unsatisfying.
Thought I would resurrect this thread, really looking forward to the arrival of this bike. After years of 160-200bhp steeds I always seem to be drawn back to lighter more modestly powered bikes, they’re just more fun to ride.
An RS250 was top of my list, but I’m hoping Aprilia get this right as I’ll be keen to pull the trigger.
An RS250 was top of my list, but I’m hoping Aprilia get this right as I’ll be keen to pull the trigger.
I was very interested but when I heard that it wasn’t going to be available until November (at the earliest - dealer wasn’t sure whether Covid would see that pushed back) I bought a Tuono instead. Was still take one for a test ride when they become available although not sure when that will be. Tried to get a test ride on the new Ducati V2 but the dealer said they are selling all the bikes they can get hold of and might not have a demo until next year.
Esceptico said:
I was very interested but when I heard that it wasn’t going to be available until November (at the earliest - dealer wasn’t sure whether Covid would see that pushed back) I bought a Tuono instead. Was still take one for a test ride when they become available although not sure when that will be. Tried to get a test ride on the new Ducati V2 but the dealer said they are selling all the bikes they can get hold of and might not have a demo until next year.
Relax, you already have the right bike 
Esceptico said:
I was very interested but when I heard that it wasn’t going to be available until November (at the earliest - dealer wasn’t sure whether Covid would see that pushed back) I bought a Tuono instead. Was still take one for a test ride when they become available although not sure when that will be. Tried to get a test ride on the new Ducati V2 but the dealer said they are selling all the bikes they can get hold of and might not have a demo until next year.
You can’t really go wrong with a Tuono, loved my 1100, took it over Europe and it never missed a beat. I actually think these bikes would make great stable mates, and was considering another Tuono before I really started paying attention to the 660. Personally I don’t think you missed much with the Ducati V2. It’s a stunner but a little compromised no matter where you ride it - road or track.
I’d never considered myself a fanboy of any brand but this would be my 5th Aprilia!
Edited by James-m5qjf on Thursday 1st October 05:09
Lynx516 said:
I really like the look of this.
Trying to decide on my bike and it’s between this and a Ducati Supersport for fun and commuting duties.
Hope the insurance is sensible.
From what I've read I suspect it'll be a bit more towards the track oriented side of things than anything else.Trying to decide on my bike and it’s between this and a Ducati Supersport for fun and commuting duties.
Hope the insurance is sensible.
Looks cracking though, it's nice to see a mud capacity sports bike coming. If only KTM would do an RC890R to compete with it!
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