SUPERTWIN!

Aprilia’s way back into the hearts and minds of riders everywhere

- Alan Cathcart

Ever since Aprilia displayed its RS660 concept bike at the November 2018 EICMA Milan Show, the longed-for production version of this sexy-looking SuperTwin has been top of their what-if wishlist for thousands of potential customers all over the world. Last year’s Milan Show saw the production version of this delightful dreambike duly unveiled, seemingly scarcely any different than that tantalising first taste of affordable performance combined with designer looks, whose specification and appearance — coupled with its compact build — heralds this as the modern-day successor to the legendary RS250 ring-ding two-stroke racer-with-lights which was so sadly legislated out of existence back in 2004.

But now, just two years since that first glimpse of the promised land, Aprilia is set to begin deliveries of a model which represents a new direction for street-legal sportsbikes. Retailing in Italy at €11,050 (₹9.72 lakh) incl. 22 per cent local tax, and available in a choice of three distinct colour schemes which Aprilia has christened Apex Black (derived from Marco Melandri’s 2002 RSV250 world champion, one of the 54 world titles won by Aprilia as recorded on the decal behind the ignition lock), Lava Red (inspired by the RSV250 GP racer Loris Reggiani raced on in 1994), and Acid Gold — an ultradistinctive yellow tint which makes any bike wearing it unlikely to be confused with anything else on the road — the RS660 costs less than half the price of the RSV4 1100 it’s derived from.