PARALLEL TWIN RETURNS WITH RS660
APRILIA is redefining the middleweight sportsbike class. The House of Noale clearly thinks that a new innovative sportster will attract new customers. The last few sportsbikes in the 600cc category have been the Yamaha R6 and Kawasaki ZX636 Ninja, both four-cylinder hypersports cast wholly for the racetrack. Launched by Didi Resources Sdn Bhd, Aprilia’s new RS660 is breaking the mould and bringing the parallel twin from its long exile in retro and naked niches back into the pure sportsbike category.
One look at the fresh new fairing enveloping the parallel twin-engine will evoke images of a fast ride in the twisties or a fast Group B trackday. The stylish fairing is designed by the Aprilia Style Centre and double-walled for aerodynamic efficiency.
The triple headlights are, of course, a Noale trademark and are LED, as are all the other lights. There are also cornering lights built in and, in addition, the self-cancelling turn signals also flash during emergency braking.
The chassis and swingarm is of die-cast aluminium and made up of twin lateral beams bolted to the steering head. The engine is a stressed member and also acts as the mounting for the asymmetrical swingarm.
Front forks are 41mm Kayaba and both the rear shock and forks are fully adjustable for preload and damping (only rebound for the rear shock). Front brakes are 320mm diameter discs gripped by radial Brembo calipers with a 220mm disc and Brembo caliper at the rear.
The cast aluminium wheels are 17 inchers with a 120 on the front and a 180 on the rear shod with Pirelli Rosso Corsa IIs.
The RS660 boasts serious power; 100hp at 10,500rpm with an option to reset the rev-limiter to 11,500rpm. Torque is 67Nm at just 8,500rpm, with 80 per cent of the grunt available from 4,000rpm and 90 per cent at 6,250rpm.
Fed by 48mm throttle bodies, the compact and lightweight power unit shares an 81mm bore with the RSV4 sportsbike and is basically one half of the superb V4 engine.
The counterbalanced powerplant has its own crankshaft, which gives the RS660 an exhaust cadence not unlike a V-twin. The engine management system is also shared with the RSV4, which means ride-by-wire throttle and multi-mapping ability.
The electronics package is comprehensive, with the RS660 being equipped with a six-axis inertial platform. The APRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) package sees traction control, wheelie control, quickshifter, engine braking control, maps and cruise control all built-in.
In addition, multi-map cornering anti-lock braking system and five riding modes (including an interesting Time Attack map) are available to the rider.
Everything is controlled via a four-button control on the left switchgear and transmitted to a full-colour TFT dashboard.
An optional extra is the Aprilia MIA, a multimedia platform that is smartphone-ready via an app.
Various accessories are available for the RS660; from a USB socket, carbon parts to paddock stands and the ubiquitous Akrapovic exhaust system (for race use only and comes with an ECU map that enables the quickshifter in race configuration and pit lane speed limiter function).
The RS660 is available in Lava Red and Apex Black and retails at an introductory price of RM59,900 (without road tax and insurance).
I seriously want one.