The Aprilia Tuono 660 may be small, but it is likely one of the mightiest motorcycles about to hit the market. The anticipation for this latest addition to the Aprilia lineup has been reaching a fever pitch, due mainly to the rave reviews the RS 660 has received since its launch in October of last year. Knowing what the RS already offers, the Tuono 660 promises to be a middleweight not to be reckoned with.
The Tuono 660 Is Ready To Take On The Competition
Aprilia is mimicking a successful strategy they've had with the RSV4 and the Tuono V4, a successful sportbike/naked bike combo that has been the envy of the industry for years. Here, Aprilia is offering a smaller pair of bikes based on a 659 cc twin-cylinder engine, and once again altering the packages slightly to diversify the appeal. The RS will accommodate those looking for a true race rig, while the Tuono will offer a more relaxed ride, but just slightly, as this new model still looks aggressive even while standing still.
Aprilia has cut no corners with the Tuono 660, as it offers features that were previously only available on the V4 models. The electronics, including the dash, are taken straight from the liter bikes. As for the creature comforts on the Tuono, it comes with a handlebar, whereas the RS comes with the obligatory clip-ons. Additionally, The Tuono 660 comes with pegs in a lower position and they are topped with a rubber pad (the RS has all metal pegs).
Twice The Tuono Fun Now In The Aprilia Lineup
The Tuono line is one of the most celebrated naked bikes on the market. Introduced in 2002, the larger (liter class) Tuono offered the performance of a RSV Mille (and later its successors) in a package that was geared toward everyday riding. The sporting pedigree was unmatched in a naked bike and the Tuono elevated the standards across the class. The new 660 follows in the footsteps of its larger predecessor and was designed to once again alter a class completely.
Middleweight naked bikes have become increasingly popular as they are light, nimble, and easy to ride. The Tuono 660 embodies those beliefs but enhances them. This naked bike is lighter (402 lbs), is nimbler (thanks to a wheelbase Aprilia claims is the shortest in the class), and incorporates an upright riding position with aerodynamic accents to improve the ride. Aprilia has clearly taken what they have learned from the initial Tuono line and shrunk it for the 660. If this new model is anything like its larger sibling, riders around the world are in for some serious thrills.