Aprilia RS660

We saw the prototype of this at the show last year, and for 2020 we’re getting it in the flesh, at last. It’s Aprilia’s much-needed middleweight engine, which is being launched first in this minisuperbike form, before being extended out into a whole new range of 660 twin machinery over the next few years.

The strategy is simple enough: the firm’s 999 and 1100 V4 motor looks after the ultimate superbike sector, but its smaller V-twin engines are getting on a bit now.

A parallel twin 660 will take on the likes of KTM, BMW and Kawasaki in this upper-middleweight class, giving around 100bhp in a clean, efficient, modern package.

The RS lives up to its name with a super-light 169kg dry mass, high-end sporting chassis kit and a sweet full fairing. The new engine is based on half of the RSV4 1100 engine, taking the front bank of cylinders and building it into a 270-degree parallel twin – so saving a load of time and effort in development of parts like the cylinder head and cam drive. Fuelling is proper ride-by-wire kit, which allows advanced rider aids – the APRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) package. You get traction control, wheelie control, engine brake control, rider power modes, cruise control and up/down quickshifter, plus advanced cornering ABS. It’s a full beans set of rider aids, and rounded off by a full-colour LCD dashboard and easy-to-use switchgear access.

The Aprilia has a proper fabricated aluminium twin-spar frame, matched to a gorgeous angular alloy swingarm. Running gear is high-end, too: Kayaba adjustable fork and shock, all-Brembo brakes with radial calipers and radial master cylinder, plus 320mm front discs.

Aprilia also showed off a naked Tuono version of the 660 as a concept – so expect that for next year. Also, bizarrely, the firm had a prototype adventure bike using the motor, hidden inside a glass cage full of plastic plants, so you couldn’t see very much apart from spoked rims and dirt tyres.