- Aprilia RS 660 and RS 457 together hold over 21 percent market share in Italy
- 12 percent growth on the US market in the past year
- In 2026, the RS 660 Factory enters the new World Sportbike Championship
What Aprilia started a few years ago with the RS 660 can now be called a genuine success story. The Italian manufacturer from Noale created a category with this model that simply didn’t exist before: lightweight, technically sophisticated sport motorcycles with full fairings that work for both beginners and experienced riders alike. The RS 660 is considered the pioneer of this modern generation of sport machines, often simply referred to as “SportBikes.” The idea behind it was to revive the joy of riding with clip-on handlebars on the road without giving up track-ready performance.
Sales Success Far Beyond Italy
The success extends well beyond the home market. Across Europe, the RS 660 ranks among the best-selling sport motorcycles overall. Business is also booming for Aprilia in the United States, where the brand recorded 12 percent growth in the past year. One factor driving this upward trend, according to Aprilia, is the brand’s success in MotoGP. The racing achievements at the highest level apparently radiate across the entire model range, attracting customers who want to find racing technology in their road-going motorcycles.
The RS 457 completes the picture at the lower end. It bridges the gap between the 125cc entry-level models and the RS 660. This gives Aprilia a complete RS family ranging from the RS 125 through the RS 457 and RS 660 all the way up to the V4 superbikes and ultimately the MotoGP machine, the RS-GP. The RS 457 is particularly aimed at a new generation of riders and is designed to accompany entry and progression on both road and track as a lightweight, well-equipped sport motorcycle.
Racing as Proof: Success in National Championships
The RS 660 proves it works not only on the road but also on the track, as demonstrated by results in various racing series. In MotoAmerica’s Twins Cup class and the SportBike class of the British Superbike Championship, the RS 660 has regularly achieved top results and won the 2024 MotoAmerica Twins Cup title. Miguel Oliveira rode the RS 660 at the Aprilia All Stars Event in Misano, posting a remarkable lap time of 1:45.467 minutes, further underlining the model’s capability.
New Stage in 2026: The World Sportbike Championship
A new chapter opens for 2026. The RS 660 Factory enters the brand-new World Sportbike Championship (WorldSPB), which makes its debut as a standalone class within the WorldSBK paddock. For Aprilia, this marks a return to the paddock after a six-year absence. Four riders will campaign the RS 660 Factory, led by Matteo Vannucci from the Revo-M2 Team, who has already won multiple times in WorldSSP300.
The new WorldSPB grid promises variety. Alongside Aprilia, Triumph enters with the Daytona 660, Suzuki with the GSX-8R, Kawasaki with the ZX-6R 636, Yamaha with the R7, and Kove with the 450RR. Honda could join as the seventh manufacturer with the CBR600RR. Since the power range of the motorcycles spans from roughly 70 hp to 124 hp, a performance balancing system is used that employs rev limits, weight adjustments, and torque curves to ensure competitive racing. This puts chassis setup and rider talent in the spotlight rather than raw engine power. Yamaha fields the largest contingent with twelve riders, Kawasaki brings eight riders to the grid including former Grand Prix racer Xavi Artigas. Suzuki’s lineup includes Jeffrey Buis, the two-time WorldSSP300 champion.
RS 660 Technical Specifications: 105 HP and Comprehensive Electronics Package
The current RS 660 is powered by a 659cc liquid-cooled parallel twin producing 105 hp (77 kW) at 10,400 rpm and 70 Nm at 8,400 rpm. That’s 5 hp more than its predecessor, achieved through larger 52mm throttle bodies replacing the previous 48mm units. The engine meets Euro 5+ emissions standards and serves as a stressed member in the aluminum twin-spar frame, contributing to a wet weight of just 183 kg (403 lbs).
The APRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) electronics package is among the most comprehensive in the class, featuring traction control, wheelie control, engine brake control, cruise control, a bidirectional quickshifter, launch control, cornering ABS with three levels, and five riding modes. All systems work in conjunction with a six-axis IMU. Operation is handled through backlit handlebar switches and a new 5-inch color display.
The Factory variant stands out with a fully adjustable Öhlins suspension featuring a NIX30 fork and STX46 shock absorber, along with exclusive racing graphics. In Germany, the RS 660 is available from 11,799 euros (approximately $12,350), while the RS 660 Factory starts at 13,999 euros (approximately $14,650).
