Aprilia’s RS 457 is a track-focused streetbike designed in Italy and manufactured in India. The RS 457 is currently Aprilia’s smallest-displacement motorcycle in the American market. At the press launch for the bike, Aprilia discussed that the development of this new sportbike began with studying the European A2 license requirements. In the same way the Noale factory develops its racebikes, Aprilia designed the RS 457 to barely meet the A2 license power-to-weight ratio limit of 0.2kW/kg. If the RS 457 were any faster or lighter, it would not be A2 compliant.How Much Power Does the 2024 Aprilia RS 457 Make?.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }What Aprilia ended up with is a lightweight sportbike with class-leading power, an exceptional chassis, and an adjustable electronics suite. After a year of testing the competition, we determined the Aprilia RS 457 is superior to the rest and named it the 2024 Cycle World Ten Best Lightweight Streetbike.The Aprilia RS 457 utilizes a 457cc parallel-twin engine with a 270-degree crank, a six-speed transmission, and a slipper/assist clutch. Dual 36mm throttle bodies feed fuel and air mixture into the 69.0 x 61.1mm bore and stroke measurements. Dual overhead cams actuate the eight-valve cylinder head. Similar to the Aprilia RS 660, a 2022 Cycle World Ten Best winner, the RS 457 utilizes the engine as the main structural component of the motorcycle.The cast aluminum frame, steel swingarm, exhaust, and footpegs mount directly to the engine. Suspension components include a 41mm inverted fork with preload adjustment providing 4.7 inches of travel and a monoshock with preload adjustment offering 5.1 inches of travel. The brake system features a 320mm rotor with a four-piston ByBre caliper upfront and a 220mm disc with a dual-piston caliper at the rear. A 5-inch TFT display gives riders access to three ride modes (Sport, Eco, Rain), three levels of traction control (ATC 1, ATC 2, ATC 3), and two levels of ABS (active at both wheels, active at the front wheel only).The 300–500cc segment is a popular category in motorcycling with great offerings from every manufacturer. Aprilia recognizes that this segment values performance but also comfort and utility. In an effort to make the 457 street-worthy, its fairly relaxed rider triangle is less aggressive than the KTM RC 390 but more aggressive than the Kawasaki Ninja 400. But being an “RS,” a major emphasis is on track performance.

Before hitting our in-house Dynojet 250i dynamometer, the RS 457, shod with aftermarket Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tires, tipped our automotive scales at 387 pounds. On the Cycle World dyno, the 2024 Aprilia RS 457 produced 44.2 hp at 9360 rpm and 28.8 lb.-ft. of torque at 6590 rpm. For reference, the 2022 KTM RC 390 produced 40.2 hp and 24.4 lb.-ft. of torque. Aprilia claims the RS 457 is tuned to deliver 82% of maximum torque at 3000 rpm. After studying the dyno chart, we found that its claim is accurate. With roughly 25 lb.-ft. of torque available at 3000 rpm, riders benefit from the 457s torque-rich character whether they are pulling away from a stoplight or ripping off an apex.

Original Publication: August 29, 2024OverviewFilling an empty spot below the very popular RS 660 in Aprilia’s lineup, the RS 457 takes the 660’s speed blueprint and distills it down to a smaller size that offers great performance while not exceeding the strict power/weight limits of Europe’s A2 tier license (where the majority will be sold). With its liquid-cooled DOHC eight-valve 270-degree parallel-twin engine pumping out 48 hp and 32 lb.-ft. of torque on a motorcycle that weighs just 386 pounds ready to ride, Aprilia obviously did its best to tip-toe on that limit in order to bring you one of the best-performing bikes in the class.That engine comes with a full suite of electronic rider aids, with three levels of traction control, three engine ride modes, and two levels of ABS. One of the two ABS settings allows for the rear ABS to be disengaged, permitting rear end slides entering corners for the more skilled among us.

A quick scan of the chassis components shows that Aprilia wasn’t messing around in that department either. No cheap and easy to manufacture steel tube frames here; the RS 457 sports an aluminum twin-spar frame that uses the compact parallel-twin engine as a stressed member for excellent rigidity and less weight. Instead of some midsize twin front brake discs, Aprilia engineers saw fit to equip the RS 457 with a single large 320mm disc gripped by a four-piston caliper for less gyroscopic effect (meaning easier turn-in) entering corners.Granted, all of this engineering prowess doesn’t come cheap; the RS 457 retails for $6,799 ($200 more for the MotoGP-inspired Racing Stripes livery), which is up to $1,000 more than some of the competition. But rest assured that when it comes to performance, you’re getting what you pay for with Aprilia’s new lightweight sportbike.

Pricing and VariantsThe 2024 Aprilia RS 457 is available in Opalescent White and Prismatic Dark for $6,799 and Racing Stripes livery for $6,999.

CompetitionNews and Reviews2024 Aprilia RS 457 Claimed Specs