2009 · Supermoto · Buyer's Guide
Sharp Single, Italian Attitude
The Pegaso 650 Factory is the dressed-up, sharper version of Aprilia's single-cylinder street bike, and it earns the name. You get a liquid-cooled 660 cc single making 48 hp and 45 lb-ft, all of it on 17-inch wheels. The Factory adds a radial-mount front caliper on a 12.6 in (320 mm) disc, its own graphics and a multifunction dash, so it feels more special than the plain street version. It will never win a horsepower contest. What it does is flick from one bend to the next with almost no effort, and that is its whole point.
This is a bike for tight, bumpy back roads and city traffic, not long interstate hauls. Handling is light and forgiving, there is plenty of lean clearance, and running costs stay low at around 48 mpg. The limits are real, though. The fork has no adjustment at all, and only the rear shock takes preload. You get no ABS and no traction control. Fueling can be snatchy at low speed, which gets old in stop-and-go traffic. Keep the fuel pump and the exposed wiring connectors under the bike in good shape, because water ingress is its known weak spot. Take care of that and it will keep working for you.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 48 hp (35 kW) @ 6,250 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 45 lb-ft (61 Nm) |
| Displacement | 660 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 110/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 160/60-17 |
| Ground clearance | 9.8 in (250 mm) |
| Front travel | 5.5 in (140 mm) |
| Seat height | 30.7 in (780 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.2 gal (16 L) |
| Top speed | 112 mph (180 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 48 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Over the years I've heard plenty about the Pegaso 650 Factory. It came up in paddock talk, in chats with owners and on club nights, and it keeps coming up in the messages riders send me directly. The pattern is clear. Owners like how it rides and how easy it is to live with every day, and most of their complaints are about the rear shock, the gearbox and long stretches at highway speed.
Riders keep coming back to the stable chassis and the confidence it gives them on twisty roads. The single pulls cleanly from low revs, and owners say it loves being spun to the redline. Many also value the everyday touches: the built-in glove compartment, the generous underseat storage and a dash that speaks several languages. The front brake gets praise too, with riders calling it strong and precise.
Riders often say the rear suspension is too soft for hard riding or carrying a passenger, and many owners end up fitting a heavier spring or an aftermarket shock. At highway speeds, owners say the vibration through the bars and pegs gets intrusive enough to make long days tiring. Some riders also report that the gearbox won't always find neutral cleanly, mostly when the bike is standing still.
Fuel pump failures and electrical connector vulnerability
On fuel-injected Pegaso models, some owners report fuel pump failures and corrosion of exposed wiring connectors underneath the bike due to water ingress. Sealing connectors and replacing the pump is recommended.
Where this Aprilia Pegaso 650 Factory pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Pegaso 650 Factory is actually built for.
It's a blast on the twisty ranch roads west of Austin and easy to live with at the BBQ stop. Don't expect a relaxed long-haul tourer, though. This bike likes short, curvy loops best.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
In the tight canyon sections it's light, flickable and huge fun. With 48 hp, the fast open sweepers and the freeway ride home will leave you wanting more power.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
This is the strongest match. Low weight, easy steering and generous lean clearance suit endless tight bends, so you can work on your lines without fighting the bike.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2005–2009
Single Pot Soul With Brembo Bite
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
