The Aprilia Tuono 660 motorcycle is a master of playing tricks on your senses and expectations. It’s like a magician that deceives your mind and then astounds you with its performance. This middleweight machine is a blend of contrasts that creates a unique and captivating riding experience.
At first glance, the Aprilia Tuono 660‘s burbling exhaust note fools you into thinking it’s a big-bore V-twin. However, reality strikes as you realize that its 659cc parallel twin configuration is responsible for this sound. The cognitive dissonance continues as the bike’s design appears to be a scaled-down version of a larger model. It’s as if the Tuono 660 went through a resizing machine, resulting in a striking, albeit slightly smaller, version of a full-sized bike.
Aprilia‘s engineers seemed determined to create a middleweight naked bike that’s anything but ordinary. Instead of opting for a straightforward design, they infused the Tuono 660 with vivid acid gold and fluorescent accents, winglets, inlets, and ribbed details. The result is a semi-naked superbike that demands attention. This exuberant styling, however, comes at a cost—a price tag slightly over $10,000, challenging its classification as a starter bike.
The Tuono 660 raises questions: Is it a shrunken Tuono V4 1100 or a stripped-down RS 660? It takes inspiration from both but carves its own unique identity. While it might defy conventional logic, motorcycles are often emotional purchases, and the Tuono 660’s charm lies in its distinctive character.
This pocket-sized Tuono takes after its bigger sibling, the V4-powered Tuono V4 1100, by offering a more upright riding position and less bodywork than the RS 660. It’s not a full-fledged naked bike, but it comes close. Sporting taller handlebars and lower footpegs for enhanced comfort, the Tuono 660 retains the RS 660’s smooth-revving 658.8cc engine, delivering 100 horsepower and 49 pound-feet of torque. Its electronics suite includes five drive modes, customizable engine braking, ABS, and traction control—all accessible via a user-friendly TFT screen.
Jumping on the Tuono 660 reveals its lightweight nature, with its slender form nestled comfortably between your legs. The intuitive controls, responsive TFT screen, and enjoyable ergonomics contribute to a dynamic riding experience. The parallel twin engine, emitting a captivating bass-heavy exhaust note, offers linear power delivery and a rev-happy nature. The quickshift system adds to the thrill, rewarding precise timing with seamless upshifts.
However, this machine doesn’t tolerate rushed downshifts; the quickshift system demands a rhythmic approach. While the Tuono 660 might seem contradictory in its presentation, its ability to merge different elements creates a bike that’s both thrilling and distinctive. The Aprilia Tuono 660 encourages you to embrace the unexpected and relish the exhilarating cognitive dissonance it offers.
