In 1996, the Italian motorcycle maker released the Aprilia Pegaso 650, the largest displacement machine in their Pegaso range. It came with the same package as the previous model without any modifications.
The Aprilia Pegaso was a line of motorcycles produced by Aprilia from 1989 to 2011 as a replacement for the Aprilia Tuareg. It was the first alternative to the classic desert-road enduro motorcycles with characteristics more suited for road use.
The bike debuted in 1992 as the first road enduro motorcycle with a double-spar aluminum frame. In addition, when first released, the bike dropped the old Rotax 560 engine in favor of the Rotax 655 with five valves per cylinder (three intake and two exhaust).
In the visual department, the bike had standard features, such as a half fairing with a trapezoidal headlight, a small windscreen, a one-piece dual seat with passenger grab rails, a luggage rack, an under-seat-mounted exhaust system, an engine plate, and wire-spoke wheels.
In the performance department, the 1996 Aprilia Pegaso 650 had installed a 652cc four-stroke liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that delivered 49 hp at 7,000 rpm and 60 Nm (44 lb-ft) torque at 6,500 rpm.
As for the stopping power, the bike's wheels were fitted with a 300 mm brake disc on the front and a single-piston caliper managing a 220 mm disc on the rear.