600cc supersport motorcycles were the highest-selling bikes at one time. Sadly, though, everything that goes up must come down, and things have never been worse for this segment than today. Though the fall of the 600s began many years ago, the final nail in the coffin came recently in the form of a sporty full-faired middleweight segment spearheaded by the Aprilia RS 660.
Wondering why the RS 660 is better than your favorite 600cc supersport? Well, that’s exactly what we’re telling you here.
Comfort Is Key
No matter how energetic or adrenaline-filled you are, no rider wants to feel sore after riding, and if done right, comfort doesn’t have to come at the cost of sharp riding dynamics.
The Aprilia RS 660 is a prime example of this as it blends the light, nimble characteristics of a supersport with a comfortable riding triangle. The clip-ons aren’t too low, the pegs not too high, and the seat fairly plush, all of which ensure the best of sporty handling and comfort.
In comparison, 600cc supersports never focused on comfort with their edgy tanks, rear-set pegs, and low clip-ons. All this resulted in a cramped riding triangle, only suitable for track attacks or short and fast Sunday rides.
Low-end Grunt? No Problem!
Another Achilles heel for 600cc supersports was their extra-peaky power. Taking the Yamaha R6 for example, it made almost all of its power at over 14,000rpm while the peak torque came in at nearly 11,000rpm}, which took tractability and threw it out of the equation.
However, the RS 660 once again comes out on top here. Sure, it has a 23 horsepower deficit over the R6, but the peak torque and power come in considerably earlier (8,750rpm and 10,500rpm). This means you don’t have to wring its neck off every time you overtake another vehicle and can ride a gear higher while still having sufficient juice.
Price Comparison
The only pure 600cc supersports on offer here are the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R and the Suzuki GSX-R600, priced at $11,999 and $11,499, respectively, while the RS 660 slots right between them at $11,599. }
So which one makes more sense? Well, from a price to power perspective, the 600s but from a price to features, comfort, and versatility perspective, there’s no beating the Aprilia. Think this isn’t right? Well, jot down your thoughts in the comments and we’ll be happy to converse with you!
