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Diego Graffi, CEO & MD Piaggio India, said that pre-bookings will start soon while introducing the bike at the India expo. The new Aprilia RS 457 was unveiled a few weeks ago. It is a middleweight sportbike designed to compete with models like the Kawasaki Ninja 400 and KTM RC 390. The Italian company Aprilia unveiled the new motorcycle before of this weekend’s Indian MotoGP race since it will be produced at its Baramati, Maharashtra, manufacturing facility.
Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro, two MotoGP racers for Aprilia who both contributed to the design and testing of the vehicle, were present. Diego Graffi, CEO & MD at Piaggio India, was also present, however, Aprilia was not particularly open about the specifics and ambitions for the RS 457.
Graffi did note that pre-bookings for the bike will open soon, but no price has yet been disclosed. When asked about availability, he responded that Aprilia plans to introduce the bike in Tier 1 and 2 cities all around the country during the following 12 months.
Regarding the cost, on the one hand, this will be a locally made motorbike with a number of locally obtained parts; for instance, the tyres are TVS Eurogrip. However, Aprilia often positions itself toward the top end of the market, and this is a twin-cylinder motorbike with fairly expensive componentry. As a result, the RS 457 will likely fall between the KTM RC 390 ($3.18 lakh) and the Kawasaki Ninja 400 ($5.19 lakh), edging out the former.
Aprilia RS 457: Powertrain
The 457 cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin, DOHC, four-valve engine used by Aprilia is tuned for 47 horsepower. The 270-degree crank sequence that the manufacturer uses enhances the engine and exhaust note. Currently, a 6-speed gearbox is in use.
Aprilia RS 457: Hardware
Hardware-wise, Aprilia features front up-side-down forks with a wheel travel of 120 mm and a diameter of 41 mm. There is a mono-shock with 130 mm of wheel travel in the back. The preload on both suspension components is adequate. Steel makes up the swingarm, and the 17-inch alloy wheels are fitted with 110/70 front tires and 150/60 rear tires.
Aprilia RS 457: Design
The RS 457’s larger siblings, the RS 660 and the RSV4, are unmistakably the source of inspiration. There features a visor and a split LED headlamp system. Vents on the fairing are likely there to boost aerodynamics. There is a clip-on handlebar, and the fuel tank has a muscular appearance.
Aprilia RS 457: Features
The motorcycle has a 5-inch TFT LCD as standard equipment. The rider can select from three levels of traction control, riding modes, and ride-by-wire using this screen. Additionally, the manufacturer provides a rapid shifter that is optional for clutchless upshifts. There is also Bluetooth connectivity available in addition to this.
Aprilia RS 457: Bookings and price
The cost of the Aprilia RS 457 is still unknown. The pre-ordering of motorcycles is anticipated to begin soon.
