i'll see it when i believe it lol(yes i know thats not the traditional saying) polished this, trick forks, fancy lines in bodywork.. still a no link rear shock with a inline twin.
ok, let's ask this way around: - where is aprilia now (as a company)? - which of their bikes sucked the most in the past 5 years? -what are they trying to achieve with the 660? IMHO - they are up against a fast moving competition, especially with the guys in Bologna kicking out tech as if they were "Mela" , the 660 would be a kickass niche, where duc only has the 959 as entry level sports bike. the japanese? really going up against R6 and co? nope. but a nice rideable, sporty twin, above the fz,sv, ... possible someone found a gap in the benchmarking.
good points all over here but they need to pull a kawasaki and bail on GP to save $. They have v-4 history why not make something that nobody else is doing?(and include fancy price bumping shit as always)
With the 4cyl 600/ 3cyl 675+/- class all but extinct in terms of new, relative machinery, this seems like an amazing alternative. Yes I realize MANY people race SVs and building FZ7s has gotten popular, but starting with a platform initially designed for racing type riding is much more appealing to me. Not stoked on it being a parallel twin, but if that keeps it affordable (or more so at least) then I'm all for it. The chassis is interesting looking. I wonder why they chose to not include the swingarm pivot bracing in the same way they do with the RSV4. This setup has the swingarm fastened to the engine much in the way the Panigale V4 does.
No, it doesn't. The rear shock is bolted on the frame. edit:what was I thinking,the swingarm pivot axle is like the V4 pani,of course you're right
Before long (assuming someone wants a new bike), the choices will be between a 1000-1200cc, 210-220hp fire breathing dragon......or a 80-90hp LW-Twin. I love how the Liter bikes are getting more and more insane all the time, I just wish MW bikes would progress also. There was a time when MW bikes were almost pointless. They cost damn near the same as Liter bikes, and Liter bikes only made 30-40hp more. But now Liter bikes make 70-90hp more, and have gone up in price. That has widened the performance and cost gap to the point where MW bikes are (or could be) relevant again...if companies actually wanted to invest in giving us some new/good ones.
thinking back about the aprilia model names, the fact that they'd call it an RS makes me think that it won't be a slug. RS125, RS250, RSV-4 were all proper "(race-able) bikes". if they'd make it a supersporty bike, they'd not call it RS, rather "superduro" or "Dorsostrada" or something like that. at least that's what i'm hoping for.
you're definitely right when 600s make apprx. 110whp, weigh the same as their 1000cc brothers and are completely devoid of toys like electronic aids, and tft displays. Given that current (mid-upper trim) European liter bikes are in the 20k range, I think a thoroughly modern 600ish machine making 140-150whp, weighing 410lb-ish wet, and having nice displays and modern TC/lean ABS, etc would be a good sell at apprx 14-16k USD. Then you can always tart them up with electronic suspension, lighter wheels, etc etc for more $.
Maybe because for all intents and purposes, it hasn't changed since 2006. If you look at the curb weight, HP, torque, acceleration times, top speed, dimensions, electronics, etc...it is basically the same shit since 2006. No sense in anyone going and buying a 2018 when they can just go buy a 2015, or 2008, and get the same enjoyment, and lap times. I know it is a "chicken or the egg" scenario, but if they put some effort into it, like they did the 1000, then people might buy one...like they have been buying the new 1000.
a new fz-07 is $7k and 400 lbs wet. pretense/snobbery aside, unless the Ape makes a reliable 80 HP and runs about $10K, i don't get it. it's gonna need to be light too. i'm not holding my breath on ANY of that shit that's because people are stupid. 750 is Goldilocks
Unless you're racing (which I realize is the minority) then you're screwed on classes... and for a street bike I would never buy a GSX-R (or any sport bike) and based on the popularity of the naked bikes recently it seems like other people are wising up as well..
With most RS aprilias, what you're paying for is chassis engineering. The FZ07 is going to be nowhere near as well suited to racing as this RS660 would be from a chassis standpoint. The Fz07 isn't bad, but starting off with nearly 25* of rake isn't a good launching point for a race oriented lightweight bike. Assuming the very good weight distribution and wheelbase/swingarm length a parallel twin engine allows, I would imagine aprilia will be in the ball park of 23* with a chassis much stronger around the headstock area than what the Fz07 starts with.
You paying for look All those lw twins with all kind frames and parts still do same lap times for similar power.
