Italian motorcycle brand Aprilia has teased its upcoming middleweight motorcycle RS 660 ahead of its scheduled unveiling at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy. The RS 660, which was showcased at the 2018 EICMA show as a concept motorcycle, will debut in production form at the 2019 iteration of the motoring event.
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While the teaser image does not reveal many details, it does confirm the sleek LED headlight, the double bubble windscreen and a red cover for the rider seat. Regular readers would have seen the leaked patent images of the production-spec Aprilia RS 660 back in May 2019.
As revealed by the leaked sketches, the production-spec Aprilia RS 660 will look nearly identical to the concept motorcycle. Thus, you would see MotoGP style winglets on the fairing that will deliver more downforce and better stability during straight-line acceleration. Revising the exposure levels in the teaser image further hints at the winglet design.
Similar to what we saw in the leaked patent images, the motorcycle does not feature a pillion seat or footrests. The teaser image also reveals the rear number-plate and blinkers – features that were missing on the leaked patent image. The motorcycle will come with conventional blinkers as standard while the optional accessories should include LED units. The teaser photograph also reveals the contrasting highlight on the top front of the fuel tank.
In terms of hardware, the upcoming Aprilia RS 660 will feature a mono-shock at the back and upside-down telescopic forks at the front. The concept motorcycle was equipped with Ohlins- sourced suspension setup, and we expect to see the same hardware on the production-spec model. Similar to its higher displacement siblings, the Tuono and the RSV4, the RS 660 may arrive in two variants. If true, we expect to see Sachs sourced shock absorbers set up on the lower version. The premium variant, which could be called the RS 660 RF (Race Factory), will benefit from Ohlins sourced hardware.
Braking department will include dual discs at the front and a single disc at the back. We expect to see Brembo sourced callipers to grab the rotors. Aprilia may add a comprehensive electronic package along with a Bosch sourced IMU for functions such as cornering ABS and traction control.
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The Aprilia RS 660 will compete with the Yamaha YZF-R6, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R and the next-gen Triumph Daytona 765. The new motorcycle should arrive in the Indian market, although it may not happen any time soon.
