We published a report on the rumors of Aprilia working on a two-cylinder middleweight model back in August, based on Asphalt & Rubber’s report. Well, it turned out that they’ve got a pretty good intelligence network; because Aprilia has unveiled the Aprilia RS 660 Concept EICMA 2018.
Rumours of Two-Cylinder Aprilia Middleweight Supersport Gaining Momentum
As per the rumours, the engine is based on the long-running RSV4 1100/Tuono 1100 V4 engine minus the two rear cylinders. The exclusion of the rear bank of cylinders turns the RS 660’s engine into a parallel-Twin.
Our market may frown upon the “bad perception” over the parallel-Twin in the previous Kawasaki ER-6 and Versys 650 models. However, the parallel-Twin engine is more compact and less complex than a V-Twin. It is also cheaper to produce.
A V-Twin needs a lot of space front-to-aft in the frame, thus necessitating a shorter swingarm to achieve a correspondingly short wheelbase. But a shorter swingarm begets more tangential forces from the chain which in turn causes the rear end to squat under acceleration and lift the front wheel. This means the rider cannot open the throttle early to avoid pushing the bike wide in corners. Look at how stubby is the Ducati Panigale’s swingarm.
Besides that, if you locate the front cylinder of a V-Twin closer to the front to put more weight on the front wheel, you may not be able to employ a steep steering angle. As you know, a steeper steering angle is necessary for agility. Sure, you can tilt the cylinders upwards. But now you don’t have enough weight on the front wheel. Besides that, the bike becomes taller to clear the top of the cylinder head covers.
A parallel-Twin (or any inline-engine), on the other hand, solves lots of packaging headache. There’s lots of room behind the cylinders to pack in the throttle bodies and shock absorber. You can tilt the cylinders towards the front wheel.
The benefits are:
A parallel-Twin has more efficient cooling as both cylinders face the airflow. That’s why the riders of V-Twins and V-Fours feel as if their inner thighs are being roasted to perfection.
Back to the RS 660, we hope Aprilia uses a different crankshaft spacing than the traditional 180o. The 270ocrank like that on the Triumph Bonneville mimics a 90oV-Twin in both engine vibration and torque characteristics.
Aprilia wanted a middleweight that is compact, light and agile hence a parallel-Twin makes perfect sense. Aprilia designed the RS 660 concept like their 250cc race bike. The (polished) aluminium frame uses the engine as a stressed member. The swingarm is also aluminium and curves over the exhaust on the right side. There is space for the rear shock to mount directly to the swingarm in the central position.
Aprilia also introduced the Aprilia Actice Aerodynamics (A3) concept on the RS 660. As the name suggests, the bike has the ability to change its front aerodynamic profile for the amount of downforce.
Aprilia says that the RS 660 will be produced for Europe, America and Asia.
It looks like manufacturers are upping the horsepower game since the introduction of the Ducati’s Panigale V4. The latest on the list is the 2019 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory.
The new RSV4 1100 Factory’s engine will produce 214 bhp, upstaging the Panigale V4’s by 1 bhp. That makes the Aprilia the most powerful naturally-aspirated sportbike.
Following in the footsteps of their Italian superbike rival, Aprilia will be producing 2 RSV4 variants of different engine capacities. The RSV4 Factory sees its 65o V-Twin capacity increased to 1078cc. On the other hand, the 1000cc RSV4 RR is the homologation model for superbike racing.
It isn’t just about a power increase, however. Torque has also been increased to 122 Nm. Additionally, Aprilia has lowered the weight of the RSV4 1100 Factory to just 199 kg, fully fueled. The Bosch lithium-ion battery and titanium Akrapovic exhaust system contributes to the weight reduction.
By the numbers, the 2019 RSV4 1100 Factory is 5 kg lighter, produces 16 more horsepower and 6.8 Nm more torque than the previous model.
Another obvious change are the winglets that are evolved from the 2018 Aprilia RSV4 RF LE.
Brembo’s latest Stylema front brake calipers perform braking duties for the front. They are lighter yet more rigid than the outgoing Brembo M50 Monobloc. Gripping the discs are more aggressive brake pads. Look closely and you will notice air ducts for the front calipers.
Front forks are Öhlins NIX with 125 mm travel (5 mm more) for better cornering. An Öhlins TTX shock suspends the rear end.
There are new steering bushings that steepen the rake angle. There is a 2 mm reduction of the steering yoke for less trail.
The steering changes results in a 4 mm shorter wheelbase. The swingarm has also been stiffened.
Last but not least, Aprilia have also upgraded the APRC electronics suite.
Multiple World 250cc GP and World Superbike Champion, Max Biaggi, witnessed the grand opening of the new Aprilia 3S Centre in Malaysia by Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd. The new 3S centre is located at The Gasket Alley.
The brand’s owners and fans alike will definitely welcome the launch, as they now have a new place to call home.
“We are honoured to be given the trust and responsibility to manage Aprilia, a renowned brand under the Piaggio Group of Companies. The trust comes one year after we re-introduced Moto Guzzi in Malaysia,” said Mr. Rewi Hamid Bugo, Chairman of Didi Resources.
Mr. Rewi continued, “We will continue to invest in aftersales improvements and value-added services to the ownership experience like trackdays, racing support, rides and gatherings that is niche and unique to the brand’s owners.”
The grand launch also witnessed the signing of MOU’s between three dealers and Didi Resources. They are Welly World Cycle (Sungai Buloh), Sheng Fatt Superbike (Penang) and Soon Hin Co. (Kuantan).
Afterwards, Max Biaggi would then unveil the Aprilia brand box later, before he was given a tour of the facilities. Aprilia and Moto Guzzi Malaysia’s Head of Aftersales, Idon Pang guided Biaggi through the workshop and showroom.
Festivities continued with Biaggi autographing the showroom’s plaque before continuing on to autographing items of interest for fans.
Current Aprilia MotoGP riders Aleix Espargaro and Scott Redding joined the party later and continued the autograph session.
The new Aprilia 3S Centre is located at The Gasket Alley, Lot 15, 13, Jalan 13/6, Seksyen 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan.
The manic Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 and hairy-chested RSV4 will receive a number of mid-life updates in 2019.
The pair of models form the backbone of Aprilia’s model line-up the Noale-based manufacturer needs to update them often to stave off assaults from other manufacturers.
The Tuono is already eight years old but is still a fierce streetfighter thanks to constant updates and Aprilia takes it up another notch for 2019.
2019 will see only cosmetic changes to the line-up.
Para pemilik motosikal Aprilia mulai merasakan hasil pertukaran pengedar rasmi baharu jenama itu.
Para pemilik yang juga ahli kelab Urban Riders telah menganjurkan satu tunggangan hujung minggu ke Melaka bagi beriadah di tepi pantai.
Kumpulan tersebut telah memulakan perjalanan mereka dari Aprilia Malaysia yang berada di The Gasket Alley.
As with other brands under the care of Didi Resources, Aprilia riders are now reaping the benefits with more rides and programs, as promised by the new distributor. As such, the bike club Urban Riders celebrated the organization’s 5th anniversary by riding to Melaka, mostly on Aprilias.
The activity still managed to attract about 30 participants despite being organized in the middle of a long, 3-day weekend (Saturday).
The riders grouped at the new Aprilia Malaysia at The Gasket Alley, for a light breakfast and some catching up.
Two models were heavily represented, the Shiver 750 and Tuono 1000 V4.
Idon Pang, the Aftersales Manager for the Piaggio brands at The Gasket Alley welcomed the riders and thanked them for taking part in the convoy. He also iterated that new Aprilia bike sales will hopefully begin in October 2018.
He also reminded the riders of the inaugural Aprilia Track Day on 9th September 2018.
Didi Resources Organizes Inaugural Aprilia and Modclass Track Day
With that, proceedings were handed to the club’s president, Tok Uban to present the ride briefing. There was no police escort so the participants were told to buddy up and watch out for one another.
The group then departed from The Gasket Alley to head to the Shell petrol station after the Sungai Besi Toll Plaza to hook up with another group, before pushing to Chalet D’ Sayang at Pengkalan Balak, Melaka. They will put up for a night there before heading back to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow (Sunday).
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