The Aprilia Tuono 660 was first showcased at EICMA 2019, and we’ve been excited about its arrival ever since. Just over a year later, the Italian manufacturer has unveiled the production-ready variant and this is exciting news for us in India, as well, as the bike - along with its faired sibling, the RS660 - will be launching here later this year.
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New 659cc, parallel twin makes 95hp
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Gets a raft of electronic aids and adjustable suspension
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India launch in mid-2021
Aprilia Tuono 660 design
The Tuono 660 is essentially a naked RS and it takes a similar route as the larger Tuono takes with the RSV4. As you’d expect, the Tuono features a smaller front fairing. It features sharp twin LED headlamps and DRLs with integrated turn indicators, that seamlessly merge with the creases on the front fairing. In typical fashion, the aggressive looking sport-naked puts a lot of its mechanical bits on display, but it still sports a flowing design.
The bike will be available in three colour schemes - Concept Black, Iridium Grey, and the brand new, Acid Gold, we’ve already seen on the RS 660.
Aprilia Tuono 660 engine and chassis
Aprilia's new Euro5 compliant, 659cc, parallel-twin engine that powers the Tuono 660 is derived from the Aprilia RSV4's V4 engine. This twin-cylinder engine has a 270-degree firing order and produces 95hp - down from the 100hp on the RS660. In comparison to the RS660, it also gets shorter final drive gearing and a different fork offset. The Kayaba suspension also has different settings than the RS 660.
Aprilia Tuono 660 electronics
The Tuono 660 also features comprehensive electronic rider aids. Called the Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC), the six-axis IMU based system includes three level cornering ABS, adjustable wheelie control, traction control and engine brake control. It also gets an up/down quickshifter and cruise control. The motorcycle has five ride modes - Commute, Dynamic, Individual, Challenge and Time Attack. These modes can be accessed via the TFT dashboard.
Aprilia Tuono 660 pricing and competition
The 2021 Tuono 660 has been priced at $10,499 (Rs 7.69 lakh) - $800 (Rs 58,660) less than the RS 660 on which it’s based. Despite its displacement, the Tuono’s performance and electronics put it up against bikes like the larger-engined Triumph Street Triple R (Rs 8.84 lakh), rather than similarly sized bikes like the Kawasaki Z650.
Azaman Chothia
