Aprilia RS 660 | Acceleration & Top Speed

Aprilia RS 660 0-60 mph in 3.29 seconds

Aprilia has never been hugely prolific when it comes to introducing new sports motorcycles.

Instead, the company has preferred to revise and perfect its existing models, such as the brilliant RSV4.

Many of us have long hoped for Aprilia to enter the supersport market, but the Italian manufacturer has resisted for quite some time – until now.

We could argue that this is because the highly focused supersport segment has been in decline for many years.

Manufacturers have instead concentrated on offering sporty-looking faired and naked motorcycles that are less extreme yet still deliver strong real-world performance.

Examples include the Kawasaki Ninja 650, Yamaha MT-07, Honda CBR650R, and, more recently, the Aprilia RS 660.

Just recently, Yamaha expanded on the MT-07 platform with the introduction of the YZF-R7.

Based on the MT-07 but wrapped in a more sporting full fairing, the R7 has been very well received.

Aprilia’s new RS 660 is probably the sportiest machine in this loosely defined class, perhaps alongside the Yamaha YZF-R7.

However, it still follows the same ethos: a sporty motorcycle that feels comfortable and capable both on the road and on the track.

Being one of the more focused bikes in the group, the Aprilia RS 660 has its work cut out.

It faces stiff competition not only from the Ducati Supersport 950 and V2, but also from traditional supersport 600s. The knives are truly coming in from all angles.

Aprilia RS 660 Dyno Curve & Engine Performance

The Aprilia RS 660 is powered by a compact 659 cc four-stroke parallel-twin engine with a 270-degree crankshaft.

It produces a claimed 100 horsepower at 10,500 rpm and 49.5 ft-lb of torque at 8,500 rpm.

These are wildly impressive figures for a small parallel-twin.

For comparison, other two-cylinder engines in the class, such as those in the Yamaha MT-07 and Suzuki SV650, are 20–25 horsepower down, while the Kawasaki Ninja 650 is even further behind.

To achieve this output, Aprilia has essentially taken its RSV4 V4 as a base and “cut it in half” to create the parallel-twin.

The bore is identical to that of the RSV4 1100, but the stroke is significantly longer at 63.93 mm instead of the V4’s 52.3 mm.

This extra stroke provides the additional capacity and explains why the RS 660 does not rev as highly as its V4 sibling.

Even so, the RS 660 still manages to produce approximately half the power of the RSV4, despite not having exactly half the capacity.

It is a hugely impressive achievement and hits the desirable 100-horsepower mark perfectly.

On the dyno, the RS 660 delivers 88 horsepower at 10,000 rpm and 46 ft-lb of torque at 8,500 rpm, holding that peak torque right through to 10,000 rpm.

This is particularly noteworthy, as many engines see torque drop off once the peak is reached.

With only a few hundred miles on the clock, the engine is still tight. I expect it will free up with more use and produce closer to 90-plus horsepower at the rear wheel.

A simple flash and exhaust system could easily push the little RS 660 to 100 horsepower at the wheels.

The engine is one of the strongest in the sub-700 cc class, sitting alongside the four-cylinder Honda CBR650R.

Both bikes offer very similar dyno figures and comparable engine and straight-line performance.

The RS 660 produces particularly strong power and torque throughout the rev range, making for easy and enjoyable acceleration on the road.

Below 3,000 rpm, it is surprisingly smooth and willing – unlike many larger-displacement twins,  and will pull higher gears cleanly from as low as 2,000 rpm.

The power delivery is exciting and rewarding, with a noticeable surge between 7,000 and 8,000 rpm.

The engine thrives on revs without sacrificing mid-range or low-rpm usability.

For testing, we always selected the sportiest power mode or a custom setting with rider aids either off or at their minimum level.

The engine sounds excellent, thanks to its 270-degree crankshaft.

Unlike the more common 180-degree parallel-twins from rival manufacturers, it has a character very similar to the RSV4 V4, just revving a few thousand rpm lower due to the longer stroke.

Aprilia RS 660 Acceleration & Top Speed

With a claimed 100 horsepower and a class-leading wet weight of just 183 kg, the Aprilia RS 660 is poised to deliver excellent performance and potentially lead its peers.

It certainly has the edge over one of its main rivals, the Honda CBR650R.

While both bikes produce similar peak horsepower, the lighter RS 660 punches harder from 7,500 to 11,500 rpm.

This gives it a clear advantage in each gear once that rev range is reached.

The RS 660 sprints from 0–60 mph in 3.29 seconds, putting it right up there with dedicated 600 cc supersport machines. It also reaches 0–100 mph in an impressive 6.80 seconds.

The Aprilia continues to charge hard, covering the quarter-mile in 11.23 seconds at a terminal speed of 124 mph – figures that once again place it firmly in supersport 600 territory.

From 110–120 mph onwards, most supersport 600s will start to open a gap, but in the first three or four gears, the RS 660 can give them a very hard time.

This is especially true if the supersport rider is caught out in the wrong gear, as the Aprilia picks up revs and speed extremely quickly and romps away.

Aprilia RS 660 Top Speed: 147 mph

The RS 660 is fully faired and aerodynamically quite slippery, but taller riders may find it cramped when trying to get into an efficient tuck.

Other motorcycles in the class offer better protection from the elements.

Despite this, the Aprilia still achieves an impressive top speed of 147 mph, which is about right for its power output.

If the engine could hold its power closer to the rev limiter, a few extra mph would likely be possible.

With a simple exhaust and ECU flash, I am confident the little RS 660 could reach the low 150s.

The RS 660 delivers almost supersport-level performance in a straight line, yet it remains far more…