Aprilia RS 660 Limited Edition launched; only 1,500 units available
What's the story
Italian automaker Aprilia unveiled a new limited edition of its RS 660 supersport bike. The new variant has a "Stars and Stripes" paint job to commemorate Aprilia's success in the US's AMA National Road Racing Championship. It also comes with an upgraded gearbox, an enlarged fairing for improved airflow, and a rear seat cowl. Only 1,500 units of the two-wheeler will be sold worldwide.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Aprilia won the 2021 Twins Cup, a series for two-cylinder bikes, with Kaleb de Keyrel aboard an RS 660. The company has launched the new limited edition with the Stars and Stripes of the American flag to celebrate that victory on US soil. Although there aren't many mechanical changes, the new gearbox with inverted shift patterns gives the two-wheeler a pure race bike-like feel.
Design
The bike sports golden-colored forks
The Aprilia RS 660 has a semi-faired body, a muscular fuel tank, a rider-only saddle, golden-colored front forks, an under-belly exhaust, and a raised windscreen. The bike houses a digital instrument console, an all-LED lighting setup, and rides on alloy wheels. It is offered in Apex Black, Acid Gold, Lava Red, and Stars and Stripes (limited edition) paint jobs.
Information
It runs on a 100hp, 659cc engine
The Aprilia RS 660 is powered by a 659cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine paired to a 6-speed gearbox. The mill generates 100hp of maximum power at 10,500rpm and 67Nm of peak torque at 8,500rpm.
Safety
It has wheelie control and engine mapping
To ensure rider's safety, the Aprilia RS 660 is equipped with disc brakes on both the front and rear wheels, along with dual-channel ABS, wheelie control, traction control, cruise control, and engine mapping for better handling on the roads. Suspension duties on the two-wheeler are taken care of by 41mm inverted forks on the front side and a mono-shock unit on the rear end.
Information
Aprilia RS 660 Limited Edition: Pricing and availability
The Aprilia RS 660 Stars and Stripes Limited Edition is priced at £10,600 (roughly Rs. 10.64 lakh), while the standard edition carries a price-tag of £10,300 (around Rs. 10.33 lakh). There are only 1,500 units of the bike available with each carrying a unique number.