If you've just brought home a new bike, picking out the right aprilia rs 660 frame sliders is probably sitting at the very top of your "to-buy" list. Let's be honest: the RS 660 is a stunning piece of Italian machinery, but those sleek fairings aren't exactly cheap to replace if the bike happens to tip over in the driveway or, heaven forbid, slide out on a low-speed turn.
It's one of those modifications that you hope you never actually have to use, but you'll be incredibly glad you have it if things go sideways. The RS 660 is a bit of a unique beast in the middleweight category. It's light, nimble, and packed with electronics, but its frame and engine layout mean you can't just slap any old universal bolt on there and call it a day. You need something specifically engineered for this chassis.
Why You Actually Need Them
Look, we've all been there. You're moving the bike around in the garage, your foot slips on a bit of oil or some loose gravel, and suddenly several thousand dollars of Italian plastic is heading toward the concrete. It's a heart-stopping moment. Frame sliders are designed to be the "sacrificial lamb" in this scenario. Instead of your expensive bodywork taking the hit, the slider puck sticks out just enough to keep the fairings off the ground.
But it's not just about the plastic. A good set of aprilia rs 660 frame sliders can also protect the engine casings and the frame itself. If the frame gets a significant dent or a deep scrape, some insurance companies will just total the bike right then and there. Putting a hundred bucks or so into some pucks is basically just cheap insurance for your investment.
No-Cut vs. Cutting Your Fairings
One of the first things you'll notice when shopping is the "no-cut" vs. "cut" debate. For a bike as pretty as the RS 660, the thought of taking a hole saw to those fairings is enough to make any owner cringe. Luckily, most modern designs for this bike are no-cut.
This means they use an offset bracket that snakes around the bodywork so you can mount the slider to a solid engine bolt without having to modify the plastic. While "cut" sliders are technically stronger because they have a direct line of force to the frame, the no-cut options for the RS 660 are engineered quite well. They use sturdy mounting plates that distribute the load, which is usually more than enough for tip-overs and low-speed slides.
What Material Is Best?
You'll see sliders made of all sorts of things, but Delrin (a type of high-density acetal plastic) is generally considered the gold standard. Why not metal? Well, if you use a metal slider, like aluminum, it doesn't slide very well. When metal hits asphalt at speed, it tends to "bite" or grab the surface. If the slider grabs the ground too hard, it can actually cause the bike to flip over, which turns a minor slide into a total catastrophe.
Delrin, on the other hand, is designed to wear down and slide smoothly across the pavement. It absorbs some of the impact energy and grinds away, acting like a brake for your bike's momentum without catching on imperfections in the road. It's also cheap to replace the pucks if you do end up using them.
Let's Talk About Mounting Points
The RS 660 uses its engine as a "stressed member" of the frame. This means the engine is literally part of the structure that holds the bike together. When you install aprilia rs 660 frame sliders, you're usually swapping out one of the main engine mount bolts for a longer, stronger one that holds the slider bracket in place.
It is super important to pay attention to the torque specs here. You aren't just bolting on a decorative accessory; you're messing with the bolts that keep your engine attached to your frame. If they're too loose, you'll get nasty vibrations; if they're too tight, you could strip the threads in the engine block, which is a nightmare you definitely want to avoid.
Aesthetics and "The Look"
Since you probably bought the RS 660 because it looks like a mini-superbike, you don't want a pair of giant, ugly plastic mushrooms sticking out the sides. Manufacturers have gotten pretty clever with this lately. You can find sliders that are low-profile and even some that match the color accents of the Apex Black or Acid Gold paint schemes.
Some people prefer the "hidden" look where the slider is as tucked in as possible, while others want a longer puck for maximum protection. Just keep in mind that the further a slider sticks out, the more leverage it has on the mounting bolt during a crash. It's a bit of a balancing act between looking good and actually being functional.
Top Brands to Keep an Eye On
There are a handful of companies that have really nailed the fitment for the RS 660. * Evotech Performance is a huge favorite in the Aprilia community. Their stuff is engineered beautifully and looks like it came straight from the factory. * Woodcraft is the go-to if you're planning on taking your bike to the track. Their sliders are rugged and designed with a "puck" that can be swapped out in seconds with a single bolt. * TST Industries also makes some really sleek options that integrate well with the bike's lines. * R&G Racing has been in the game forever and offers a very dependable, "no-nonsense" set of sliders.
Don't be tempted by those super cheap "unbranded" sliders you see on big auction sites. Often, the bolts they provide are made of cheap, brittle metal. The last thing you want is for the bolt to snap off inside your engine block during a low-speed drop because it couldn't handle the shear force.
Installation Tips for the DIY Crowd
Installing aprilia rs 660 frame sliders is a job you can totally do in your own garage with some basic tools. You'll usually need a good socket set, a torque wrench (this is non-negotiable), and maybe some Blue Loctite to make sure things stay put.
The biggest tip I can give you is to do one side at a time. Since these bolts are holding the engine in the frame, if you take the bolts out of both sides at once, the engine might shift or "drop" just a tiny bit. If that happens, getting the holes to line back up is a huge pain in the neck. If you do one side, the other side stays bolted in and keeps everything aligned.
Are They Really Worth the Money?
In a word: yes. If you've looked up the price of an Aprilia side fairing lately, you'll know they can easily run $400 to $600 just for one side, and that doesn't even include the decals or the labor to swap them. A solid set of aprilia rs 660 frame sliders will cost you somewhere between $80 and $180 depending on the brand.
It's the kind of mod that pays for itself the very first time the bike touches the ground. Plus, when it comes time to sell the bike, a set of high-quality sliders shows the next owner that you actually cared about protecting the machine.
Beyond the Frame: Other Protection
While we're on the subject, if you're worried about the frame, you might also want to look into axle sliders and engine case covers. Frame sliders do the heavy lifting, but they can't protect everything. Axle sliders keep your swingarm and forks off the ground, while case covers provide an extra layer of armor for the actual engine guts.
But if you're only going to do one thing today, make it the frame sliders. They are the most bang-for-your-buck protection you can get. The RS 660 is an incredible machine that deserves to stay in pristine condition. Whether you're commuting to work or carving up canyons on the weekend, having that little bit of extra plastic between your bike and the pavement is a huge confidence booster.
At the end of the day, riding is about having fun, and it's a lot easier to have fun when you aren't constantly terrified of a $1,000 tip-over. Grab a set of sliders, bolt them on, and go enjoy that Italian triple-digit horsepower!