Aprilia RS660 Concept: EICMA 2018
Does Aprilia’s stunning looking 660cc, twin-cylinder concept hint at a new supersport bike from the Noale factory
Looking like a cross between an RS250 and an RSV4, the RS660 is half an RSV4 1100 engine, mounted in an aluminium chassis that uses the motor as a stressed member. The bike’s fairing includes winglets and intricate vanes that help to channel the air around the rider and bike, reducing drag and increasing stability. As with the new RSV4 Factory we reported on earlier, the RS660’s body was developed in the wind-tunnel and uses knowledge learned in MotoGP and World Superbike.
With no official estimates or specs provided at the show, we can only assume that the bike would be somewhere around the 150kg mark and producing something like 100-120bhp. What we do know is, if the bike was produced, it’d be a natural fit for the racing classes like the lightweight (Supertwins) class at road racing events such as the TT.
Aprilia stated that the new engine is a development base for a number of projects that will help them progress into new markets in Asia, the USA and Europe. The problem is, it could mean all the excitement around the prospect of a new lightweight supersport bike could fizzle out, and they might drop the engine a new naked bike or one of Piaggio’s maxi-scooters.
And that would be a crying shame!
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
