Following its debut at the India Bike Week 2023 in December, the highly anticipated Aprilia RS 457 has commenced production at Piaggio's manufacturing plant near Pune, marking a significant milestone and this launch represents the first instance of an Aprilia motorcycle being manufactured in India. Bookings for the RS 457 opened on December 15, 2023, and customers can expect deliveries to commence from March 2024.
Aprilia RS 457 – Design and Features
Designed and developed at Aprilia's headquarters in Noale, Italy, the RS 457 received developmental inputs from the Indian team. A wide range of 28 official accessories, such as a tall windscreen, side panniers, adjustable levers, racing brake pads, and a pillion-seat cowl have also been presented by Aprilia for the RS 457. The accessories list further encompasses crash protectors, anti-theft features, and a bi-directional quick-shifter.
Catering to the preferences of new-gen bikers and enthusiasts, the Aprilia RS 457 boasts a sporty design coupled with top-notch performance. Key features include LED headlamps with integrated turn signals and DRLs, an LED tail lamp, a sculpted fuel tank, a tall windscreen, a low seat, and pulled-back handlebars. Sporty body graphics, a short tail section, rear-placed foot pegs, and an underbelly exhaust are further elements. The motorcycle is equipped with a 5-inch TFT color display unit with optional Bluetooth connectivity, backlit handlebar controls, traction control, and a quick shifter with three riding modes.
Standard safety features include dual-channel ABS with an anti-roll-over system. The RS 457 is available in three color options – Racing Stripes, Prismatic Dark, and Opalescent Light. Constructed on a dual-beam aluminum frame the bike has a dry weight of 159 kg and a wet weight of 175 kg and it features a seat height of 800mm and a fuel tank capacity of 13 liters. The RS 457 rides on 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels fitted with 110/70 front and 150/60 rear tires.
Engine Specs, Braking, and Transmission
The Aprilia RS 457 is powered by a new 457cc parallel-twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine that delivers an impressive 47.58 hp power at 9,400 rpm and 43.5 Nm torque at 6,700 rpm. Mated to a 6-speed gearbox, this engine positions the RS 457 as the most powerful offering in its segment.
Braking is facilitated by 320mm floating ByBre 4-piston radial calipers in the front and a 220mm disc with ByBre 2-piston calipers at the rear, supported by upside-down front forks and a rear mono-shock. The pricing for the Aprilia RS 457 is competitive at Rs. 4.1 lakh (ex-showroom), placing it in direct competition with rivals such as the KTM RC 390 (Rs. 3.81 lakh), Kawasaki Ninja 400 (Rs. 5.24 lakh), and the new Yamaha R3 (Rs. 4.65 lakh), all prices ex-showroom. With its striking aesthetics and powerful performance the Aprilia RS 457 stands out as a strong contender in its segment capturing the essence of Italian craftsmanship and design. Additionally, a naked sibling is in the pipeline as evidenced by recent spy shots adding further excitement to the Aprilia lineup.
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