2021 APRILIA RS 660
R I D E R E V I E W
P80
90 percent available at the 6250-
rpm mark. This makes the Aprilia
extremely forgiving and easy to ride
hard, simply by surfing that super-
flat torque curve and short shifting
around 8000 rpm when it starts to
top out. You'll want to do that any-
way, since above 6000 rpm there's
an increasing amount of vibration
apparent through the footrests,
which becomes uncomfortable
above eight grand, when the other-
wise excellent rear-view mirrors also
start to shake a little. But using the
sweet-action two-way quick shifter
to hug that midrange torque curve
makes the RS 660 improbably
easy, and satisfying, to ride.
This is a bike which will turn
less experienced riders into pros
because of its confidence inspir-
ing ride qualities, and the ultra-
accessible nature of its engine
performance. And the more
experienced will simply end up
asking themselves if they really
need twice as much horsepower
from almost double the cubes to
get real world satisfaction riding
on public roads. The icing on the
cake is the electronics, which typi-
cally for Aprilia are ultra-accessible
(that word again) as well as very
complete, and never invasive.
They are true rider aids which
fulfil their purpose of helping you
ride fast without imposing their
electronic solutions on you. Com-
mute Mode offers a gentler pickup
from a closed throttle that I really
appreciated on the ultra-slippery
road surfaces we encountered
early on after torrential overnight
rain, which the weak autumnal
sun took ages at altitude to dry
out. But once that happened the
sportier Dynamic mode came into
its own, allowing you to relish the
crisp acceleration and satisfying
midrange roll-on in third and fourth
gears especially.
The Aprilia twin's throttle re-
sponse and engine braking man-
agement allow you to get the best
