The Veneto region in northern Italy is famous for its wine, seafood, and capital city, Venice. Just 30 minutes west lies the town of Noale, the home of Aprilia Racing. Like football (soccer) teams throughout Europe, the neighborhood is united by the success of Aprilia Racing. The gated gray-and-tempered-glass building stands alongside a busy street and is adored by passersby as if it were Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, curious to understand what is happening behind closed doors. MotoGP secrets? Racing memorabilia? Newly developed production models? All of the above, but our visit was for the latter.

After debuting the RS 457 last year, a bike we named Cycle World’s Best Lightweight Streetbike of 2024, Aprilia announced a Tuono 457 would join the lineup. And as much as we anticipated a naked version of the RS 457, excitement roared through the office once our beliefs were confirmed. This is a bike we expect to rival or even exceed the performance of the KTM 390 Duke, one of our all-time favorite lightweight motorcycles.

As it is with all Tuonos, the 457 is not a new design. Aprilia took the existing RS 457, revised the ergonomics, restyled it, and added a larger rear sprocket. And faster than you can say “espresso” a new model is born. But in all seriousness, that’s all Aprilia needed to do, and that’s all we wanted it to do. The RS 457 is already a great bike and now we get a more comfortable, upright version.

Aprilia’s Tuono 457 utilizes a 457cc parallel-twin engine with a 270-degree crank producing a claimed 47.6 hp at 9400 rpm and 32.1 lb.-ft. of torque at 6700 rpm. Its six-speed transmission is complemented by a slipper/assist clutch and a bidirectional quickshifter is available as an accessory. The engine is used as a stressed member in a cast aluminum frame, with a steel subframe and swingarm. Suspension components are pulled directly from the RS with no alterations. Both models use a 41mm inverted fork offering 4.7 inches of travel with preload adjustability and a monoshock providing 5.1 inches of travel also with preload adjustability.

A 5-inch TFT display and ride-by-wire system give access to an adjustable electronics suite providing three ride modes (Sport, Eco, Rain), three levels of traction control (ATC 1, ATC 2, ATC 3), two levels of ABS (1, active at front wheel; 2, active at both wheels), and smartphone connectivity. Stopping power is provided by a single 320mm disc with a radial-mount four-piston ByBre caliper up front and a 220mm disc with a single-piston ByBre caliper at the rear. Both brakes are equipped with Bosch two-channel ABS.What Is the Aprilia Tuono 457 Like to Ride?In many ways, the 457 platform punches above its class. The parallel twin with a 270 crank provides enough fun factor to rival larger middleweights such as Yamaha’s MT-07. Its aluminum frame not only gives the Tuono a quality look, but it’s also the best chassis in the class along with the RS 457. Despite the Tuono’s compact chassis and engine package, its styling gives it a larger middleweight presence, but maintains a manageable seat height of 31.5 inches.

Aprilia claims the Tuono 457 delivers 82% of maximum torque at 3000 rpm and peak horsepower is achieved at 9400 rpm, making the parallel twin equally sporty and flexible. Riders can easily short-shift through town and have a dollop of torque readily available in gears 2, 3, and 4. But when needing to squirt past traffic, the engine’s quick-revving nature and wide spread of power provides snappy acceleration. On a twisty road, the power characteristics are just as welcomed. Tight corners can be ridden in third gear and the engine has enough power to pull the bike out of the hole and carry the gear to the entrance of the following corner. In most of the tight sections we were able to set it in third gear and forget it. But when needing to work the gearbox, the quickshifter worked seamlessly. Aprilia’s accessory quickshifter on the 457 platform is one of the best we have used in the lightweight category and is absolutely worth the $215.

The Tuono 457′s parallel twin is as impressive as we expected after riding the RS 457 on and off track. But the Tuono’s shorter 44-tooth rear sprocket (versus 43) provided slightly quicker acceleration when exiting a corner, pulling away from a stop, or lifting the front wheel. We will note, the bike we tested is a European model and is not restricted to the same noise requirements as US-bound bikes. We noticed this with the RS we tested last year. The bike we received in California had a noticeable flat spot in second gear, compared to the European model we tested at Autodromo di Modena in Italy last year. In short, second-gear wheelies will likely be more challenging on US bikes.

We spent our time riding the Tuono 457 in Sport mode with the least intrusive traction control setting (ATC 1) and rear ABS disabled (ABS 1). Ride modes and rider aids can be adjusted on the fly with the touch of a button. Traction control can be disabled while riding, but ABS cannot. Riders must come to a stop to turn off rear ABS. Sport mode provides full power and is preset with ATC 1. Throttle response in Sport mode provides instant acceleration and surge of power that pulls strongly all the way through the rev range, relative to the class. By no means is the Tuono 457 a fire-breather, but for the lightweight class, it’s our favorite powerplant. Eco mode provides progressive power delivery and is paired with ATC 2. Rain mode is designed for low traction conditions and provides softened throttle response with the highest traction control intervention, ATC 3. Traction control and ABS can be adjusted independently in each ride mode.

The 457cc parallel twin is a standout in the lightweight class and so is the aluminum chassis. The only two bikes in the lightweight class to feature an aluminum frame are the RS 457 and Tuono 457. The strong motor is complemented with a standout chassis. Aprilia consistently delivers a sporty chassis in every class. The Tuono is no different. With the engine acting as a stressed member, the footpegs, exhaust, and swingarm mount directly to the powerplant, thus reducing weight and contributing to the bike’s slim profile.

Handling is razor sharp and the chassis rigidity is optimized for cornering performance when riding a sporty pace. Pushing the Tuono hard through corners, the bike follows the rider’s intended line and never feels unglued. Stiff suspension settings further increase the Tuono’s sporty capabilities. The entire front end is extremely taut. Loading the front hard entering a corner, the bike provides positive, direct feedback, encouraging and supporting late braking. As we increased our pace on a twisty road, the Tuono did not wallow or become squishy. On the side of the tire, the Tuono 457 is extremely planted. It’s clear the Tuono benefits from RS DNA. Whether you are grabbing a handful of brake, flinging the bike on the side of the tire, or hammering the throttle on corner exit, the Tuono 457 is sharp and responsive. But performance comes at a price. The stiff suspension action proved to be just as uncomfortable as the RS 457 when riding over road imperfections in the city but was even more noticeable in this standard-bike package.

Just like the RS 457, the Tuono provides an extremely sporty braking package. At the squeeze of the lever, initial bite is strong and stopping power is progressive. We never experienced ABS intervention on the front wheel under normal riding conditions. An attempted nose stoppie triggered the system, but that’s to be expected. It was worth a try. Rear ABS intervention is quickly triggered when applying the brake while downshifting into a corner. But once we disabled rear ABS, we were able to achieve maximum braking potential out of the rear and enjoy a few skids for good measure.

The biggest talking point of the Tuono 457 is the revised ergonomics. A one-piece handlebar is located 124mm (4.9 inches) further up and 14mm (0.6 inch) further back than the RS 457. Rubber dampers have been added to the footpegs and handlebar mount to reduce vibration. Despite the RS 457 having a fairly relaxed sportbike rider triangle, the revised ergonomics of the Tuono 457 are happily welcomed. At 5-foot-8, I was comfortable for an all-day ride. The seating position is upright and the reach to the bar is neutral. The Tuono has more than enough cornering clearance. In fact, not once did we drag a footpeg or boot, but it comes at the rider’s expense. The footpegs are mounted high and tight, which is great for sport riding but puts my knees in an aggressive bend. And unlike Aprilia’s other Tuono models, the 457 does not feature a headlight cowl, making wind protection nonexistent.

Other than the revised ergonomics, the second major separator between the RS 457 and Tuono 457 is of course styling. The absence of a fairing adds to the Tuono’s aggressive streetfighter look and the 457 is the only Tuono in Aprilia’s lineup to forgo a headlight fairing. The aluminium frame and engine are deliberately uncovered to highlight the Tuono’s two most important features. Full LED lighting and an iconic triple headlight screams Aprilia design language, and the aerodynamic front spoiler pays homage to the Tuono 1000 R. The tank shape has been redesigned specifically for the Tuono 457 and its 3.35-gallon capacity is 0.8 gallon smaller than the tank on the RS.The Tuono 457 is available for preorder in Piranha Red and Puma Gray for $6599. The bike enters a truly competitive segment with a lot of great lightweight streetbike options. KTM’s 390 Duke offers similar performance with a lower MSRP of $5899. There are offerings from Japanese manufacturers, including Kawaski’s Z500 ($5599) and Honda’s CB500F ($6899).Platform sharing is a popular trend in motorcycling. Most manufacturers utilize a single powerplant across a range of models. Yamaha’s CP2 engine is a great example as it’s featured in the MT-07, YZF-R7, and Ténéré 700. Aprilia has applied the same strategy with its RS 660, Tuono 660, and Tuareg 660. Can a Tuareg 457 be far behind?

Summary of the Tuono 457When developing the Tuono 457, Aprilia didn’t need to reinvent the wheel. The existing RS 457 has been well received and packs performance. So Aprilia simply revised the ergonomics and styling to suit the naked bike class. The 457cc parallel twin delivers a blend of performance and flexibility while having a lot of spirit and strong sense of fun. Its aluminum chassis is capable of slaying lap times, and the braking package is one of the best in class. The Tuono 457 is one of the more expensive bikes in the category, but it represents high value for the performance and comfort it provides through Aprilia’s traditional “standardizing” of one of its sport models.

2026 Aprilia RS Tuono Specs