At EICMA 2023, Aprilia unveiled its smallest performance-oriented mannequin up to now, the RS 457. Following within the footsteps of its larger sibling, the RS 660, the RS 457 caters to sporty riders trying to enter the grassroots of bike racing, or just on the lookout for a sensible and tractable sportbike for each the road and the observe.
That being mentioned, we’re already beginning to see the small-displacement sportbike roll into a number of markets. Interestingly, pricing information within the US was one of many first to be introduced, with the RS 457 beginning at a fairly engaging $6,799 for the Prismatic Dark and Opalescent Light colorways, and $6,899 fo the extra premium, racing-inspired Racing Stripes livery. Now, the sportbike has simply been launched in India on the not too long ago concluded India Bike Week, and its tremendous reasonably priced price ticket may make people from different markets a bit jealous.
In the Indian market, the place the RS 457 is produced, it carries a price ticket of simply Rs 410,000, translating to about $4,918 USD. This makes it an much more reasonably priced possibility than the Kawasaki Ninja 400, a beginner-friendly sportbike which, fairly frankly, is wanting a bit lengthy within the tooth when in comparison with the cutting-edge tech and efficiency options the Aprilia brings to the desk. Could the brand new Aprilia RS 457 elevate the bar in the case of small displacement sportbikes? Only time will inform, however on paper, it positive looks like that is the case.
From a efficiency standpoint, we get a brand new 457cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, parallel-twin engine with a 270-degree crankshaft. Although it boils down to non-public choice, it’s typically agreed upon {that a} 270-crank parallel-twin delivers higher torque – to not point out sound and character – than that of a 180-degree twin. It’s no shock that different producers like CFMoto and even Honda are going for this configuration. In the case of the RS 457, it dishes out a decent 47 horsepower at 9,400 rpm and 43.5 Nm or about 32 pound-feet of torque at 6,700 rpm.
In phrases of know-how is the place the Aprilia RS 457 actually shines. The Noale model has all the time been related to cutting-edge tech, so it’s becoming that its entry-level premium mannequin ought to come out of the manufacturing facility decked out in all types of techie goodies.
Here, we discover a five-inch, full-color TFT show that retains tabs on all pertinent trip stats. A throttle-by-wire system affords three trip modes, in addition to three ranges of traction management. Meanwhile, suspension consists of a 41-millimeter inverted fork and monoshock combo. As for the brakes, it will get a single 320-millimeter disc up entrance and a single 220-millimeter disc on the again.