
APRILIA TUONO 660 (2021 - on) Review

Highlights
- Naked sibling of Aprilia RS660
- Natural rival to KTM 890 Duke
- Easy and engaging to ride
At a glance
Owners' reliability rating: | |
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Power: | 94 bhp |
Seat height: | Medium (32.3 in / 820 mm) |
Weight: | Medium (404 lbs / 183 kg) |
Prices
Overall rating
Next up: Ride & brakesThe Aprilia Tuono 660 may seem steep at just under £10k when compared to something like the Yamaha MT-07 (£6899), but its attitude and performance make it more of a real rival to KTM’s 890 Duke. And with the Austrian naked costing £9649, the Tuono 660 suddenly makes a little more sense.
It’s not much cheaper than its sporty RS660 brother (just £449), but it does put the emphasis on acceleration and has a slightly comfier riding position. But most of all, it is easy to enjoy and more than capable in almost any scenario. Looks great, too!
The Tuono is instantly intuitive and easy and one of those bikes that you can enjoy from the moment the road opens up. It’s light, responsive and easy to have a lot of fun on. This is a motorcycle that is accessible to everyone: from younger riders, who will enjoy a very light, intuitive and extremely easy-to-ride bike, to the geek who will appreciate the extremely simple yet fine chassis set-up together with the well-calibrated suspension system.
Ride quality & brakes
Next up: EngineYou can really chuck it into corners - there's a natural balance and attitude. This ease of use boosts confidence and the Aprilia Tuono 660 can be ridden hard and fast through winding country roads. This precision and performance reminds me of its sporty sibling, the RS660, which is hardly surprising as the pair share the same chassis. Pick a line and dive at the apex, winding on the throttle as soon as you dare.
But if you do need to change tack quickly, the high and wide bars make steering input almost instant and drama-free. The riding position is a little more spacious and upright than on the RS660 and all day in the saddle causes very few aches and pains.
Although the Tuono uses the same Kayaba suspension as the RS660 (albeit with unique settings), it does have its own dedicated yokes, changing the fork offset to tweak the handling and stability.
Engine
Next up: ReliabilityThe handling may be nimble, but it’s the engine that's the real icing on the cake. The Aprilia Tuono 660 drives cleanly from low revs, although there is a slight dip between 5000 and 6000rpm. And while the Tuono uses the same engine as its sporty sibling, it has been tamed slightly; down to 94bhp instead of the RS' 99bhp.
This allows the Tuono to be restricted to 47bhp and meet A2 licence laws. But it’s barely noticeable and actually feels a little livelier thanks to lower final drive gearing, which puts the emphasis on response and acceleration rather than eking out the last few mph of top speed.
- Related: Exploring Aprilia's new 660 twin
- Related: How to pass your A2 motorcycle licence
There are five riding modes, too and the 'Dynamic' setting is just that. It gives instant throttle response and makes the engine more lively as the revs rise. On the other hand, the 'Commute' option keeps everything smooth and predictable, which is exactly what you want when picking a route through city streets or through rows of cars.
Reliability & build quality
Next up: ValueBeing a brand-new motorcycle, it's difficult to assess long-term reliability. That said, when we tested the Aprilia RS660 at its launch in late 2020, the pre-production models did have a few starting problems and engine warning lights flashing.
Aprilia assured us at the time that they were minor software glitches and, riding the production version on UK roads, there were no obvious problems. Some have criticised the finish in certain areas, though, which could potentially also translate to the Tuono.
Value vs rivals
Next up: EquipmentCosting £9700 at its 2021 launch, the Aprilia Tuono 660 is just £449 cheaper than it's fully-faired RS sibling. It also doesn't get a quickshifter or cornering ABS as standard.
- Related: Best naked motorbikes
This asking price also puts it in direct competition with KTM's parallel-twin 890 Duke, which is £51 cheaper at £9649 and produces a more impressive claimed 114bhp - some 20 more than the Tuono. At almost £10,000 it's also likely to be too expensive for many younger riders considering taking their A2 licence test.
Equipment
To help keep the Tuono in check, you also get traction control, wheelie control, cruise control and engine braking systems. The colour TFT instruments and LED headlights are also taken straight from the RS660. And, while our test bike was fitted with a quickshifter and cornering ABS, these do not come as standard on the middleweight Tuono.
Away from the electronic gizmos, the small windshield also works quite well and deflects windblast as high as the shoulders. That said, some may argue this is not really a naked at all...
Aprilia Tuono 660 accessories
Aprilia have always done things in style and the Tuono 660 is no different. It comes in three striking colour options: black/red, grey/red or 'acid gold' with black. All have red wheels and black fork legs.
There are also loads of bolt-on accessories available, including soft luggage and a carbon Akrapovič exhaust that unusually replaces the well-hidden, belly-mounted standard silencer with a much more prominent pipe in a conventional position on the right hand side.
Specs |
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Engine size | 659cc |
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Engine type | liquid cooled 4v parallel-twin |
Frame type | Aluminium twin spar |
Fuel capacity | 15 litres |
Seat height | 820mm |
Bike weight | 183kg |
Front suspension | 41mm USD Kayaba, adjustable for rebound and pre-load |
Rear suspension | Monoshock, adjustable for rebound and pre-load |
Front brake | 2 x 320mm discs, four-piston radial calipers |
Rear brake | Single 220mm disc, twin-piston calipers |
Front tyre size | 120/70 x 17 |
Rear tyre size | 180/55 x 17 |
Mpg, costs & insurance |
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Average fuel consumption | - |
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Annual road tax | £101 |
Annual service cost | - |
New price | £9,700 |
Used price | £7,500 - £8,400 |
Insurance group |
- How much to insure? |
Warranty term | Two years |
Top speed & performance |
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Max power | 94 bhp |
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Max torque | 49.5 ft-lb |
Top speed | - |
1/4 mile acceleration | - |
Tank range | - |
Model history & versions
Model history
- 2021: Aprilia Tuono 660 launched.
Other versions
In 2022 you can pick between standard Tuono 660 or the Factory. A fully-faired RS660 model shares the same basic engine, frame and more. Then there's the adventure bike version, the Aprilia Tuareg 660.
Owners' reviews for the APRILIA TUONO 660 (2021 - on)
3 owners have reviewed their APRILIA TUONO 660 (2021 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your APRILIA TUONO 660 (2021 - on)
Summary of owners' reviews |
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Overall rating: | |
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Ride quality & brakes: | |
Engine: | |
Reliability & build quality: | |
Value vs rivals: | |
Equipment: |
Version: N/A
Year: 2021
I’ve been without a bike for a a good few years and finally got to scratch the well established itch. Purchased the Tuono new, with a free IMU, for an OTR price of £9300. Put simply, this bike is brilliant. It sounds great, handles oh so well and pulls amazingly. Am I happy with my purchase? Absolutely! This bike gives me a smile every time I ride it.
Brakes are Brembo and they are nothing short of great, really responsive. Ride quality is engaging, comfortable and offers plenty of opportunity to have fun. It’s handling is spot on, so flickable. It makes eating up those twisty roads a breeze.
Power delivery is decent all round. Being a twin, it pulls and is very torquey. No matter what gear you’re in, give the right hand a twist, the Tuono will give you some grunt and get you up the road!
The build quality feels really good, it’s solid up top despite its light weight. The only thing I have found that I’d like Aprilia to change is a bit of scratchy plastic down below the engine. Other than that, it’s spot on. Reliability hard to gauge but no issues so far.
Not sure on the service costs yet, but I’d expect a couple of hundred pounds for the first few. MPG? It’s not bad… However, I didn’t buy it to get a million miles from the tank, I got it to put a smile on my face whilst I whizz across some roads around the North of England.
The TFT display is very bright, easy to read and is well set out. LED headlights are standard with DRL and built in front indicators. Good quality rubber in the form of Pirelli’s Diablo Corsa 2. Genuinely this is a well equipped bike. The IMU gives a few extras, it’s on promo at the moment (to Sept 2021) from Aprilia, meaning you buy a new Tuono, you get it gratis.
Year: 2021
This is a fun bike that can do everything and well. It has excellent brakes, fantastic handling and good enough acceleration for any situation. It's comfortable and sounds great. I can't think of many downsides, other than fiddly to fill up with petrol.
I moved down from a BMW 1250GS so it's very different. The suspension is good enough but you do feel the bumps. Otherwise, very comfortble for 1-2 hours with no breaks. Haven't tried longer rides yet.
Abosolute peach. Sounds beautiful and revs smoothly. In dynamic mode, this bike comes alive, while commute mode is very user friendly.
Haven't had it long enough to say but all perfect for now.
Haven't got to the first service yet.
Full electronics package and ok TFT. Feels a bit basic after the GS but I don't really feel like it's missing anything. I had free IMU included in Paris.
Buying experience: Paid 10,500 euros from a dealer. No problems.
Version: Iridium Grey
Year: 2021
Best: - Handling is so confidence inspiring - Beautifully balanced - Engine is punchy yet smooth, sounds great with lots of chracter - Styled beautifully - Ride modes and customisation - Full Brembo brakes are very sharp and strong Worst: - Flat spot between 5-6k revs - No oil level sight glass - No hazard lights - No quickshifter as standard - Right hand side of swing arm is prone to chafing on boots unless you buy the official cover or other protection. - Windblast on motorways is fairly noticeable - Looks a little budget in places in terms of fasteners etc.
The bike is at its best in pretty much any town/b-road scenario, acceleration is great, plenty of punch and handling is sublime carving down twisty b-roads it just instills so much confidence. Took a pillion yesterday and overall comfort was reported as being good, legs ached a little after though. Brakes are superb, so sharp and strong with plenty of feel.
Absolutely love the engine, there's more than enough power and torque for the road and you never want for a bigger bike. It sounds great, with echoes of its bigger V4 siblings yet still has its own unique twin cylinder cross plane tone. So much grunt but still has nice smooth refinement to it.
Solidly built but I think some fasteners will be prone to corrosion quite easily looking at the quality of them.Early days so far but no glitches as yet.
Not had a service yet, but seems reasonable on fuel so far, I've been enjoying the honeymoon phase and been getting 56mpg so far but I'm sure as run in concludes and do some longer runs that will get even better.
I like the switchable ride maps and ability to tailor one exactly how you want it in terms of throttle response, traction control, engine braking etc. Cruise control was a surprise and works really well. The led headlights work really well with the drls, haven't really seen how good they are at night yet but in a tunnel they worker great. I just wish it came with a quickshifter as standard as it would really compliment hammering up and down the gearbox in twisty spirited riding, but I'll be getting my dealer to fit it as soon as Aprilia release the kit.
Buying experience: I bought from Motorcycles Direct as they were doing an offer with £400 off so was £9300 plus road tax and reg fee, and also part exchanged my old bike. Andy there was great to deal with and made the whole lockdown purchase smooth and efficient.