Pegaso 650 Trail (MY2006)

The Pegaso 650 Trail is the Aprilia that leaves the race paddock behind and gets on with real life. At its heart is a liquid-cooled 659 cc single making 50 hp and 45 lb-ft, driving a chain through a five-speed box. Aprilia dressed it for the dirt with spoked wheels, a 19-inch front, a high front fender and twin headlights, all hung on a steel backbone frame. There are no rider aids, no ride modes and no ABS. What you get is a simple, honest single that sits at the entry point of the adventure class.

On the road it is friendlier than the looks suggest. The chassis stays calm at highway speed, the steering is light, and it moves through traffic without fuss. The engine is built to last, and routine maintenance stays simple. This bike suits the rider who commutes all week and wants a gravel road on Saturday. The caveat matters, though. At 6.7 in (170 mm) of travel front and rear, it falls short of what serious dirt demands, and there's no ABS. Treat it as a road-biased trail bike, not an expedition tool.