FIRST RIDE – Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory

November 8, 2024 | By Mike Seate

Power, Precision and Presence

Story by Mike Seate and Jay LaRossa

Photos by Jose Gallina

The first thing that catches your attention about the new Aprilia Tuono 660 is the growl. The sound of the parallel twin engine’s pistons thrashing furiously along the cylinders is about a subtle as a lion stalking an antelope and every bit as menacing. But wait, your brain wonders, this isn’t some over-the-top 200-horsepower hyperbike; this is a middleweight 660, a motorcycle class supposedly known for its easygoing nature and beginner-friendly powerband.

The Tuono isn’t playing that game and for good reason. Packed into the water-cooled jacket is enough firepower to permanently rewrite the rule book on what sub-1000cc streetbikes can achieve. And what this lightweight 412-pounder does achieve is the sort of spine-tingling excitement folks are seeking when they bungee jump from 400-foot bridges or risk their cognitive function with MMA careers.

Unlike those two dodgy disciplines, the Aprilia Tuono is as controlled and manageable as modern motorcycles can possibly be. Festooned with all the latest high-tech gizmos, the 660 benefits from multi-stage traction control, anti-lock brakes, a slipper clutch and other assorted accouterments to help the ham-fisted and overzealous from winding up eating hospital food.

Compact and subtle in its gloss black and red livery, the Tuono is a clear descendant of the original  Tuono that debuted back in 2002. That machine was a rowdy, wheelie-loving reconfiguration of Aprilia’s top-selling RSV Mille V-twin sportbike, a 155 MPH naked blaster so refined, it caused Ducati to answer back with its brutal 1098cc Streetfighter. Over the years, Aprilia (like most manufacturers) abandoned the V-twin format for smoother, more powerful V4 engines, and this smaller Tuono is simply a half-scale version of Aprilia’s V4 Tuono, which is itself hailed as a modern masterpiece.

Instead of feeling like a motorcycle created by slicing a 1100cc engine in half – which is basically what happened – the smaller Tuono feels like an all-new design. The polished aluminum perimeter chassis is both stiff and able to flex a bit in (very high-speed) corners. This has made it a podium perennial on racetracks far and wide, while the spread of usable power begins at around 4,000 RPM and continues to propel the Tuono until either one’s nerve or fear of costly traffic tickets takes over. There’s a hearty 94 horses and 46 foot-pounds of torque on tap, good for a top speed of 140 MPH. If you find yourself in need of more sheer thrust than that, your career in Motoamerica awaits you.

“I can’t believe this is a 600. It pulls like a 1,000 but it’s so light, it feels like a 250cc racebike,” ace tester Jay LaRossa sagely observed after a 30-mile blast. “The pegs are kind of high when you’re at a stoplight, but once you’re moving, there’s just enough wind getting in around the fairing to lift the weight up off your wrists, and the bike’s so skinny, you can’t help but shift your weight entering corners like you’re on a racetrack. The noise coming out of the airbox is…” He was at a loss for words for once and I can’t blame him.

Aprilia’s engineers back in Noale, Italy must have conferred with a Hollywood special effects team to create a motor with a respiratory system that sounds like a Phantom jet on takeoff. I found myself intentionally accelerating, even when it wasn’t safe to do so, just to hear the soundtrack. Yes, it’s silly hooligan behavior, but that’s what fast, naked bikes like this are made for.

Being a bit tall for a 660 machine derived from a similar-sized sportbike (the Aprilia RS660) I fully expected to last about 30 miles before my knees threw in the soaked towel. But somehow I peered down at the digital odometer (part of a color TFT dash screen) and realized that I’d been shooting canyons for nearly 80 miles and was craving even more.

The eight-valve engine is matched by excellent no-expense-spared running gear, comprised of inverted 41mm forks with more clickability than most of us will ever use, a matching KYB rear shock and lightweight aluminum wheels that help facilitate instant direction changes. The tubular handlebars are placed in a wrist-friendly position, reminiscent of Suzuki’s original Bandit.

Jay praised the electronic quick-shifter, which permits riders to pin the flawless ride-by-wire throttle to the max while gently bumping up through the gears with no clutch necessary. “I’d love to get this on a racetrack because it’s comfortable enough that I know I’d ride it well,” he said. “It’s definitely got a different look, kind of funky and futuristic, but I like it.  I had the RSV4 version and that thing was bananas. It wasn’t as buzzy with vibrations at faster speeds, but this bike is just amazing, especially when I put it in Dynamic mode where it’s the sportiest. There’s not wads of torque because it’s a 600, but there’s a definite rush of power up there at the top end.”

Best of all, the Tuono 660 factory (the high-spec version) costs just a tad over $11K, which ain’t much coin for a major-league thrill ride. It’s enough to make full liter-sized motorcycles feel unnecessary.  CR

2025 Aprilia Tuono 

660 Factory

MSRP: $11,099

Engine: 659cc water-cooled parallel twin

Transmission: Six-speed with slip-assist clutch and two-way quickshifter

Brakes: Radial Brembo four-piston front calipers with dual 320mm rotors: single two-piston Brembo caliper w/220mm rotor, rear

Wheels and Tires: Aluminum, 17 x 3.5” front,  17 x 5.5” rear; Pirelli Diablo Rosso radials

Frame: Aluminum perimeter with 24.1 degrees rake, 4.1” trail; 53.9” wheelbase

Fuel Capacity: 4 gallons

Electronics: Five riding modes, selectable traction and wheelie control, six-axis IMU, quickshifter, cruise control, adaptive lighting

Weight: 412 pounds

Colors: Factory editions only come in black

We Dig: Airbox roar, engine characteristics and the 250GP bike feel.

We’d Ditch: Jay wants lower bars, for some reason!