Aprilia RS 457 road test review: Small price, big thrill!

When you think of Italian motorcycles, you'd definitely imagine a loud, heart-throbbing grunt of the engine, a seductive design language, and a racing DNA-backed promise of an adrenaline-fueled ride, don’t you? Well, to the delight of the growing motorcycling fanbase in India, Aprilia recently brought a promising entry-level supersport motorcycle designed and developed in the heartland of Europe to our shores.Yes, we’re talking about the stunning RS 457, which is being manufactured at Piaggio’s manufacturing facility in Baramati, Maharashtra. We recently had the opportunity to see how it behaves on Indian road conditions and if it lives up to the hype.
The RS 457, put simply, isn’t just a motorcycle; it’s a promise of raw, unadulterated riding pleasure wrapped in a beautiful Italian package. It's a machine that ignites a craving for more kilometres the moment you switch off the ignition at the end of your ride. But how is that possible? Let me explain.
Aprilia RS 457: Love at first sight

One glance at the RS 457, and you’re transported to a motorcycle design fairyland. In India, it is definitely a head-turner, attracting fellow motorists eager to get a closer look at it. The triple LED headlight setup with integrated turn indicators offers a menacing front look. Besides that, it gets a meaty fully-faired body inspired by its larger sibling, the RS 660. Other notable features include air vents on the side panels for enhanced aerodynamics, a split-seat setup, a 2-in-1 underbelly exhaust system, delivering an overall look that made me fall in love. The RS 457 is magnificent, especially in the Prismatic Dark colour that we had with us. The quality of the panel gaps and materials is impressive, with no cheap plastics or creaking sounds. While it's commonly said that design is subjective, we can assure you that here, it isn’t.
Aprilia RS 457: Features? You ask, it has them!
The RS 457 features a 5-inch TFT instrument cluster, which is a well-laid-out unit, offering all necessary information at a glance. It is readable even under direct sunlight and has a sporty appeal to it.

It boasts three ride modes, four stages of traction control (including an "off" setting), and dual-channel ABS, with an option to switch off the rear ABS. Additionally, it offers connectivity features that allow you to manage calls, music, and even navigation on the screen. Personally, I'm not a big fan of connectivity features because I prefer to focus on the road without distractions. However, we found the display to be responsive.

Aprilia RS 457: Performance and handling
Under the sleek bodywork, the RS 457 boasts a liquid-cooled, 457 cc, parallel-twin motor, one of the most powerful in its class, belting out 48 horses and 43.5 Nm of peak torque. With a kerb weight of 175 kgs, it is slightly heavier than some competitors but doesn’t fail to deliver optimum acceleration and offers the best power-to-weight ratio in its class. Reaching triple-digit speeds like 130 km/h happens effortlessly, and even at lower speeds, the torque delivery remains decent.

The engine is impressively refined, having no vibrations even at high and mid-range revs. The power delivery is linear throughout, and starts to inject adrenaline post 5,500 rpm-mark. Watching the speedometer climb in no time is a thrill like no other. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox via a slip & assist clutch. The gear shifts were on point and smooth, making it easier to maneuver through traffic. However, the absence of a quick shifter as standard equipment is something we weren't expecting at its price point but to cover that up, it has so much more to offer. Finally, the exhaust note? Pure music to the ears—thrumming and exhilarating every single time, thanks to the uneven 270-degree firing order.

Moving to the ergonomics, the riding position leans towards the aggressive side with a low clip-on handlebar setup, but the seat height is manageable for most riders as for us, the testing rider being 5 ft 10 inches tall, it was stupendously comfortable. The footpegs are placed slightly on the rear side and with the sculpted fuel tank, the rider can position themselves well for city rides. The suspension setup, featuring a 41mm USD fork up front and a monoshock at the rear, offers preload adjustment on both ends and does an impressive job of ironing out road undulations. For stopping power, the bike gets disc brakes on both ends featuring dual-channel ABS, however, the bite on the front brake leaves a scope for improvement, in our opinion. Otherwise, in ideal conditions, the braking setup worked well in city use.
Aprilia RS 457: Price and verdict

Owning a European with racing DNA to back it (at a price lower than its Japanese counterparts) isn’t a dream anymore. Yes, Aprilia has dropped a bomb with a Rs 4.11 lakh, ex-showroom, price tag for this performance-packed gorgeous machine and if you’re looking for a fun ride with capabilities on track and beyond it, then this bike should definitely be on your list.