By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Aprilia Tuono 660 (MY2021) vs Suzuki GSX-S950 (MY2021)
Aprilia Tuono 660 vs Suzuki GSX-S950: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
Roll on the Aprilia Tuono 660 and it's the engine's V-twin-style growl that comes up first. The Suzuki GSX-S950's throttle wakes a four-cylinder snarl, and there's pull waiting from low revs. It's shoving you forward before the tach gets busy.
So which one do you buy?
The Tuono 660 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Slight edge: Tuono 660
Through rush hour, the Tuono 660 is a little easier to live with. Only a little.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Inches ahead: Tuono 660
Once the road starts to bend, the Tuono 660 noses ahead. Put it down to stronger brakes and more feel through the bars. Your own skill counts for more than a gap this size.
What makes each one tick
Tuono 660
There's so little weight in the Tuono 660 that a light push on the bar swaps it from one lean to the other. A buzz creeps into the bars in the middle of the rev range, and on long highway stretches it can wear on you. Corners don't need coaxing. The front tucks straight for the apex.
Nils rode the Tuono 660 in 2021, and in Austria in 2023 (NastyNils Testride).
GSX-S950
There's a superbike bark coming out of the GSX-S950's exhaust, yet the power tails off early. At 472 lb (214 kg), it carries a big naked's heft through quick direction changes. It'd rather you work the midrange than wring out each gear. Its midrange punches hard from town speeds.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tuono 660 has the lower wet weight: 403 lb (183 kg) vs 472 lb (214 kg).
- The GSX-S950 makes more peak torque: 68 lb-ft (92 Nm) vs 49 lb-ft (67 Nm).
- The GSX-S950 has the larger engine: 999 cc vs 659 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both miss here
Long days aren't what these two do best. Plan shorter legs and plenty of stops.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Off its turf: GSX-S950
Leave the GSX-S950 for your second or third bike. It's too much to learn on.
These two run dead level on running costs. Sit on both in the showroom and trust what your body says.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Tuono 660
What owners say
Strengths
- Light, agile handling
- Refined 270° parallel-twin character
Trade-offs
- Buzzy vibrations around 5,000–6,000 rpm
- Soft, underdamped stock suspension (Standard model)
- Parts availability and dealer density
GSX-S950
What owners say
Strengths
- Gutsy midrange pull
- Packing a proper superbike bark
Trade-offs
- Feels restricted by law
- Portly super naked feel
- Pricey A2 entry point
Known problems to check before you buy
Tuono 660
- Loose shift lever (early units) and quickshifter false-neutral / "sticky" engagement Two distinct symptoms reported: (a) on early MY2021 units, the shift lever could come loose from the splined shaft within the first ~100 miles and require dealer replacement; (b) the bidirectional quickshifter occasionally produces a false-neutral on upshifts in upper gears at low or partial throttle, or "sticky" cuts during shifts. Rough gear changes at low rpm and partial throttle, smoothing above 5,000 rpm, have also been reported. The loose-lever issue is widely reported on MY2021 and largely resolved on MY2022+ production.
- Snatchy ride-by-wire fueling on throttle transitions Closed-throttle to roll-on transitions exhibit a touchy, jerky character widely reported in launch-year reviews. Cold-weather behavior below approximately 54°F (12 °C) ambient adds occasional hesitation or misfires until the engine warms. The character is most pronounced in the more aggressive ride modes. Reports diminish in MY2022+ coverage relative to MY2021.
- Water-pump mechanical seal weep at low mileage Coolant or engine oil drip from the water-pump weep hole, sometimes presenting as early as 150–250 miles. Recurring early-ownership theme on Aprilia owner forums. The coolant-side variant sometimes self-clears as the seal beds in; the oil-side variant requires teardown of the flywheel cover and seal replacement, normally completed under warranty.
- Aprilia MIA module pairing failures and dashboard firmware quirks When the optional Aprilia MIA Multimedia Platform (PMP 3.0) module is fitted, owners report Bluetooth pairing failures, the phone icon remaining greyed out, inaccessible submenus, and music interruption when paired comms are active. Several owners report a fix only after a dealer-side dashboard firmware update via the Piaggio PADS diagnostic tool.
- Cosmetic finish and fastener corrosion complaints Recurring small complaints across reviews and forums: matte/satin tank paint is thin and scratch-prone; visible fasteners surface-corrode in year-round use; belly-pan plastic feels rough relative to price tier; decals work loose over time; minor rear-brake squeak reported. None are structural problems and all are cosmetic in nature, but they are widely cited as detracting from the bike's premium positioning.
GSX-S950
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 95 hp (70 kW)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Tuono 660 | GSX-S950 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 403 lb (183 kg) | 472 lb (214 kg) |
| Tuono 660 | GSX-S950 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 659 cc | 999 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin | Inline-four |
| Torque | 49 lb-ft (67 Nm) | 68 lb-ft (92 Nm) |
| Tuono 660 | GSX-S950 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 48 mpg (US) / 4.9 L/100 km | 39 mpg (US) / 6.1 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 US gal (15 L) | 5.0 US gal (19 L) |
| Tuono 660 | GSX-S950 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 190/50-17 |
| Wheelbase | 53.9 in (1370 mm) | 57.5 in (1460 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Tuono 660 | GSX-S950 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Option | Not offered |
| TFT Display | Standard | Not offered |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Option | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
