2021 Aprilia Tuono 660

Aprilia’s new naked middleweight offers outstanding performance, engine character, handling, in a clean and crisp form. In other words, it makes its bigger siblings proud.

The 2021 Aprilia Tuono 660 is a more affordable form of the formidable flagship naked bike, the Tuono V4. Instead, it is powered by the 270-degree crank, 659cc parallel twin seen in the RS 660, another new middleweight from Aprilia. What differentiates this Tuono from the RS is primarily the bodywork (or lack of), upright ergonomics, shorter final drive gearing (for better acceleration characteristics), and different fork offset, as we covered in our First Look. It’s a daily rider, whereas the RS660 is more honed in for sport.

No updates, seeing as the Tuono 660 is an all-new middleweight from Aprilia.

The Tuono is available in Concept Black and Iridium Grey for $10,499. Those looking for a pop of Acid Gold colorway are in it for $10,699.

In our First Ride Review, Andrew Cherney wrote that the 649cc parallel-twin engine “responded with ultrasmooth linear delivery from the bottom of its range to very close to its 11,500 rpm redline, flattening out near the top; we also sensed a slight flat spot in around 4,000–6,000 rpm. The initial high-speed leg gave us a solid first impression of the bike’s neutral freeway manners, as throttle response was smooth and willing, fueling was drama-free, and the few vibes in the bars and footrests only became noticeable beyond 6,000 rpm, and then mostly in the lower gears.” What was most impressive, Cherney says, was the torque character. It allows “for a much more accessible powerband that’s tame down low, but willing to get rowdy. Rev it out past that, and the engine gets even more responsive, pulling hard all the way to the 8,500 rpm peak at which point it levels off.”

Giving it a turn on the dyno, the Tuono produced 86.95 hp at 10,630 rpm and 44.95 pound-feet at 8,860 rpm at the rear wheel.

In summary of Cherney’s review, the handling is neutral thanks to the lightweight chassis, and tackles ess-turns with ease. Minimal input is required at the pulled back handlebars for planted tip-ins. The Tuono also portrayed neutral manners on the highway.

Suspension includes a 41mm fork adjustable for preload and rebound damping (adjustment is made on the right fork leg). A linkage-less shock matches the front’s adjustability options and both provided “good damping control and overall stability over everything but the biggest depressions, which could upset the chassis if you hit them at speed,” Cherney writes.

With its Brembo braking package the Tuono comes to complete stops without being abrupt or showing signs of fade. The front in particular is characterized by easy actuation and consistency. Comparatively, Cherney reports, the rear has much less feel and bite. ABS is standard.

Aprilia claims the Tuono has a fuel economy of 4.9 liters/100 kilometers (or 48 mpg).

On the press launch, Cherney commended the ergonomics of the Tuono by writing: “After a full six-hour day we can confirm the Tuono’s upright riding position, relaxed feel, and nicely padded seat added up to a comfortable and extremely rider-friendly cockpit arrangement.”

Seat height is an approachable 32.2 inches and at our test rider’s 5-foot-6 he found he could easily flat-foot it at stops.

This is fit for the daily ride with cruise control, ABS, traction control, wheelie control, and five riding modes. Information is also displayed on a premium TFT display which is trickled down from its bigger V4 siblings. A quickshifter and six-axis inertial measurement unit may be standard on the RS 660, but those are each $200 options for the Tuono.

The Tuono 660 includes a two-year unlimited-mileage warranty.

The crisp styling of the Tuono 660 is easily perceived even by photograph, but positive feedback from our initial test ride shows the middleweight Tuono has it all for a great daily ride.