Order books for the (erstwhile) very exclusive Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo have been thrown open to enable those not in possession of a racing licence to get a go on the ultimate track day-honed weapon.
If you’re a regular to Visordown you’ll know we’re fervent supporters of the Aprilia RS 660, the Italian firm’s take on creating a mid-range sportsbike with all the trickery of a full-fat 1000cc model in a lithe, lightweight and nimble package.
However, while the road-going version is already a hoot to ride on the road or on a (twisting) track - despite its relatively modest 100hp - Aprilia being Aprilia just had to go one step further to prove it can extract the sheer maximum of the package by developing a track-only RS 660 Trofeo version.
Available only to clubman and privateer racers, particularly those competing in Aprilia’s own one-make Aprilia Racing RS 660 Trophy series and various twins competitions around the world, the Trofeo looked set to be just out of reach for those who love a track day without the competition element.
However, Aprilia has reversed this decision and are taking orders of the RS 660 Trofeo from those without racing credentials.
Of course, the Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo remains for the track only, so you’ll need to stick to the ‘standard’ version if your motorcycling escapades also involves commuting.
But if you’re a track day demon with some disposable money to burn then the RS 660 Trofeo is a very tempting prospect.
While the performance figures on paper don’t exactly shout ‘skin peeling’, the Aprilia RS 660 already proves you don’t always need all the power so long as you can flick it into bends confidently. And besides, if it’s pure grunt you’re after then we encourage you to be quick off the mark to secure an order from any future production runs of the even more exclusive Aprilia RSV 4 X
Aprilia has emphasised the RS 660’s track day potential with the Trofeo by removing all of those pesky features required to mute any excessive noise and keep those emissions squeaky clean on the road, allowing it to growl at full volume and raise peak power to 105hp.
Throwing in some clip-on handlebars, front forks from Misano buy Adreani and Ohlins AP958 rear shock absorber, plus a Trofeo SC-Project exhaust, it also comes with a neat party trick in having MotoGP-inspired pre-loaded race maps courtesy of Aprilia Racing
Together with a strict diet that removes all ‘unnecessary’ road-centric kit that reduces the weight by another 152kg from what was already a feather in biking terms, and the RS 660 Trofeo becomes the slick gym-chiselled Instagram influencer of motorcycles… * double taps to like *.
Naturally, opening the order books to you and me for a motorcycle that isn’t allowed on the road means Aprilia is unlikely to face a rush of deposits.
But if you just so happen to be in the market for a motorcycle that will bring you the biggest smiles per racing mile and you don’t mind loading it onto a trailer each time you leave the circuit, then at €14,700 Aprilia is waiting for your call...
