Few circuits reward commitment and front-end mechanical feel quite like Phillip Island, where fifth-gear sweepers overlook Bass Strait and punish nervous chassis setups. To celebrate the Noale factory’s landmark 300th Grand Prix victory at the legendary Australian venue, Aprilia has taken the wraps off the limited-production Aprilia RS 660 Phillip Island Tribute edition.

While showroom superbikes continue their stratospheric climb past 215 horsepower and €25,000 price tags, the RS 660 remains the middleweight benchmark that real riders can wring out on track without an ambulance escort. This special edition preserves the razor-sharp 105-horsepower parallel-twin foundation while dressing it in factory racing livery, individual chassis serialization, and a dedicated aerodynamic tail package.

105 Metric Horsepower and Laser-Etched Pedigree

The mechanical heart of the Tribute edition is Aprilia’s proven 659cc forward-facing parallel twin, which produces 105 hp (77 kW) at 10,400 rpm and 70 Nm of torque at 8,400 rpm. Essentially the front cylinder bank of the RSV4 1100 superbike, the twin features a 270-degree crankshaft that delivers visceral V-twin cadence and linear throttle connection.

Power delivery is managed through a comprehensive six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) governing the Aprilia Performance Ride Control (aPRC) electronics suite:

  • Multi-map Cornering ABS with rear-lift mitigation
  • Five engine management maps (three fixed road modes, two customizable circuit modes)
  • Aprilia Traction Control (ATC) with on-the-fly handlebar toggle adjustability
  • Aprilia Wheelie Control (AWC) and Adjustable Engine Braking (AEB)
  • Bidirectional Aprilia Quick Shift (AQS) with clutchless downshifting auto-blip
“Phillip Island represents our spiritual second home in motorcycle grand prix racing. Achieving 300 victories across all classes required machines that prioritized agile transitions over brute force, and the RS 660 embodies that exact engineering philosophy,” noted Aprilia Racing management during the announcement.

Each Tribute unit features a commemorative shield badge on the 15-litre fuel tank cataloging Aprilia’s 10 premier-class and 250cc wins at the track, complemented by an individually numbered serial plate laser-etched directly into the top CNC-machined triple clamp.

Dedicated Phillip Island Livery and Track-Bred Hardware

Visually, the Tribute edition wears a bespoke tri-color scheme inspired by the Phillip Island circuit’s coastal crest: a crisp gloss white base contrasted with deep Italian racing green flanks and striking crimson red cast-aluminum wheels. The lower fairing incorporates a stylized silhouette outline of the circuit layout leading into a subtle chequered finish-line graphic.

Chassis hardware remains top-shelf for the supersport class. A dual-beam aluminum perimeter frame uses the engine as a fully stressed member to keep wet curb weight pinned at a nimble 183 kg (around 169 kg dry). Suspension consists of an inverted 41mm KYB cartridge fork with rebound and preload adjustability, matched to an asymmetrical aluminum swingarm with an adjustable monoshock. Stopping power is anchored by dual 320mm floating steel rotors clamped by radially mounted four-piston Brembo monobloc calipers fed by braided steel lines.

The Rider’s Trade-Off: Commemorative Styling vs. Factory Öhlins Kit

For track enthusiasts eyeing the showroom floor, the compromise on the Phillip Island Tribute is clear: this is a cosmetic and historical tribute rather than a full-fat RS 660 Extrema or Trofeo track bike. You get the striking visual presence, the numbered collectible triple clamp, and the factory passenger seat cowl, but you retain the standard KYB suspension rather than fully adjustable Öhlins cartridges.

Riders seeking a pure track-day weapon may find the €1,200 premium over the standard RS 660 difficult to justify purely on performance numbers when that cash could buy an aftermarket exhaust or rearsets. However, for Aprilia collectors and riders who want a factory-sanctioned head-turner with verified limited production, the aesthetic execution is flawless.

Supersport Middleweight Spec Comparison

Specification Aprilia RS 660 Phillip Island Tribute Honda CBR600RR (2027) Yamaha R7
Engine Architecture 659cc parallel-twin, DOHC 8V 599cc inline-four, DOHC 16V 689cc parallel-twin CP2, DOHC 8V
Maximum Power 105.0 hp (77.0 kW) @ 10,400 rpm 121.0 hp (89.0 kW) @ 14,250 rpm 73.4 hp (54.0 kW) @ 8,750 rpm
Peak Torque 70.0 Nm @ 8,400 rpm 63.0 Nm @ 11,500 rpm 67.0 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
Brakes Brembo 4-piston radial / 320mm Nissin 4-piston radial / 310mm Advics 4-piston radial / 298mm
Electronics Suite 6-axis IMU, Cornering ABS, Quickshifter 6-axis IMU, Cornering ABS, Quickshifter Basic ABS (no IMU, optional up-only QS)
Wet Curb Weight 183 kg 193 kg 188 kg
European Retail Price €12,999 €11,990 €9,799

Pricing, Deliveries, and the Aprilia Sportbike Paddock

The Aprilia RS 660 Phillip Island Tribute edition is scheduled to arrive at European dealerships in early 2027 with an MSRP of €12,999, positioned neatly between the standard RS 660 (€11,799) and the track-focused RS 660 Extrema (€13,499).

Sitting in the Aprilia stable alongside track hyperbikes like the Aprilia RSV4 Obscure Spe.Ed and dirt-focused parallel-twins like the Aprilia Tuareg 457 Spied, the RS 660 Tribute proves that middleweight sports machines don’t need four screaming cylinders like the Honda Overhauls 2027 CBR600RR or lightweight single-cylinder frames like the KTM 450 RC Unveiled at EICMA to deliver pure racing pedigree.

Media citation: Editorial outlets and forums may quote excerpts with attribution and a link to Throttle Times.

Official source: https://www.aprilia.com

Reporting via: crash.net, livemint.com