Between the 90s and 00s, we were treated to a myriad of impressive sports bikes. Each bike that came out was determined to be the best, lightest, and fastest around a track. Naturally, with these bikes competing for top honors in motorsport events across the world, the customer version gradually became more and more track-oriented.
The old supersport class is often looked at through rose-tinted glasses, but the reality of the matter is that these highly strung 600cc inline-fours were hopelessly impractical motorcycles. With almost no midrange power, and a tendency to cook the pilot in slow-moving traffic, they were – and still are – difficult to ride in the real world. These bikes have not gone away entirely, and you can still find them, but they are still mostly just street-legal track bikes. If you are after something more usable, this Italian middleweight has got you covered.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Aprilia. Whereas, the opinions are our own.
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The level of practicality in some of the sports bikes in this list is insane. One is even without a clutch lever for better urban riding.
The Aprilia RS 660 Balances Speed, Control, And Street Comfort
MSRP: $11,749
The RS 660 offers an impressive balance between performance and comfort, but it certainly doesn’t come cheap. Compared to the other comfort-oriented supersports competing in this space, it is expensive. While the Aprilia is able to bring enough to the table to justify the extra expense, there are several other bikes worth considering.
The other 660 is arguably its closest rival. The Triumph Daytona 660 is quite different from the old supersport, which shares its name. Its triple has been thoroughly reworked to offer more midrange grunt, and the razor-sharp aluminum twin-spar chassis has given way to a budget-friendly steel perimeter frame. It is still a smooth operator in the real world, and won’t leave you disappointed once you get to a decent canyon road.
CFMoto keeps adding one competitive model after another, and the 675SS is nothing short of sublime. It is even cheaper than the Daytona and is its match in pretty much every respect. Question marks remain over long-term reliability, and if any of the other CFMoto bikes are anything to go by, the resale value will be next to nothing. If you really want to re-live the supersport era of yore, there are still a couple of genuine inline-four screamers on the market.
The RS 660 Has More Than Enough Power For The Real World
Power: 105 Horsepower
While 200-horsepower motorcycles have been normalized, around 100 horsepower is all you will ever need in the real world. Much like pretty much every other cross-plane parallel-twin, the RS 660 has good midrange grunt and is relatively economical to run. The Aprilia is somehow able to add an element of theater that is lacking in most of the more affordable models that make use of the same engine configuration.
A Parallel-Twin With Genuine Character
When the 660 was first announced, we knew it was always destined to be a multi-platform lump. Aprilia prioritized the RS sports bike, though, and this decision has paid off. All we ever wanted was a baby RSV4, and that is precisely what we got with the RS 660. The engine even shares a passing resemblance to the V4, and once you get on the bike and twist your wrist, that half-a-V4 theory only seems more plausible. Aprilia has done a magnificent job with the tune, because this is one of the few genuinely characterful parallel-twins on the market.
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The RS 660 Offers A Dynamic Ride
While the engine certainly has a lot to offer, it is the chassis that makes all the difference. Its twin-spar aluminum chassis is significantly lighter and offers more mid-corner stability than any of the direct competition. The lightweight chassis works in tandem with fully adjustable KYB suspension to deliver a truly impressive handling package. The Factory model might offer a more famous Swedish brand, but at the end of the day, the base model has more than enough adjustability for most riders. Unless you are planning on doing regular track days, the extra outlay won’t be worth it.
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The most affordable sports bike here is priced under $5,000, yet it looks similar to a middleweight costing $ 10,000 or more.
All The Features A Modern Rider Will Ever Need
The RS 660 is also one of the few middleweight sports bikes to offer a six-axis IMU. Cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control, ride modes, cruise control, and a quickshifter are all standard fare here. In the past, features like this were reserved for high-end models, but it is becoming more common to see these features on middle displacement models. This is only a good thing because it improves the safety of these bikes, something which was not given much thought back when the supersport class first rose to prominence. Although those bikes were a step down from the liter bike class, they were no less dangerous in the wrong hands.
For enthusiasts looking for a traditional supersport, there really are better options that will have more to offer on a track. For others simply looking for a fun street bike, there are also several middleweight sports bikes – as well as some potent naked bikes – that offer better value. But, for those looking for a dynamic middleweight that is able to offer a near-perfect balance between performance, comfort, and features, nothing can hold a candle to the RS 660. It really is in a league of its own in this regard… but so is its pricing. It is not a cheap motorcycle, and will only appeal to those willing to spend more to get more.
Chassis, Suspension, And Weight Specifications
|
Chassis |
Twin-spar aluminum |
|
Front Suspension |
Kayaba 41 mm USD fork, rebound and preload adjustable (4.7-in travel) |
|
Rear Suspension |
Kayaba monoshock, rebound and preload adjustable (5.1-in travel) |
|
Weight |
403 lbs |