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Last Updated: January 06, 2024, 08:50 IST
Aprilia Commences Production Of RS457, Deliveries In March. (Photo: Aprilia)
The Aprilia RS457, India’s first locally-made superbike, debuts at Rs 4 lakh. Manufactured at Piaggio’s Baramati plant, exports to other countries planned.
Aprilia RS457 was tipped to become one of the top-selling superbikes when the Italian manufacturer first introduced it at the Indian MotoGP round last year.
The motorcycle was later officially launched in Maharashtra and got a price tag of roughly Rs 4 lakh (ex-showroom).
The RS457 is the first made-in-India bike offered by Aprilia. Though the two-wheeler has been designed in Italy, the units for the Indian market are being manufactured at Piaggio’s Baramati plant. The company has planned to export some of those units to other countries as well.
At the time of its launch, Aprilia announced that the delivery of the RS457 would begin in March this year. Pre-booking for the bike commenced on December 15, 2023. Customers need to pay a token amount of Rs 10,000 for each reservation. They can also enjoy the test ride from this month at Aprilia’s Motoplex dealerships. Amid ever-growing hype for the superbike, the production of the Aprilia Rs457 has already started at its Baramati facility, according to a report by HT Auto.
The RS457 comes with a top-notch look and the design is quite similar to the previously launched Aprilia RS660. The frontal portion seems a bit bulky owing to a full pairing. But the sleek headlamps and the Daytime Running Lamps give it a classy appearance. Similar to any other premium sports bike, the RS457 is equipped with a set of clip-ons and rare footpegs, enabling a professional riding experience.
A liquid-cooled, 457cc engine will power the superbike. Unlike the other two-wheelers having parallel-twin engines, the Aprilia RS457 will follow a 270-degree firing order. It will not only offer a smooth exhaust note but also maintain high refinement levels. The motorcycle, having on-the-fly adjustable traction control, offers three different riding modes– Eco, Rain and Sport.
The powertrain of the RS457 gets a 6-speed gearbox featuring a slip-and-assist clutch. There is also an option to add a quick-shifter. This is also the first bike to get the TVS Eurogrip Protorq Extreme tyres, which have a size of 110/70-R17 in the front and 150/60-R17 in the rear. A 320mm front disc and a 220mm rear disc perform the braking duties.
After arriving in the Indian market, the Aprilia RS457 is expected to face competition from the Kawasaki Ninja 400, KTM RC 390 and the Yamaha R3. It has a higher price than the KTM RC 390 but seems much more affordable than the Ninja 400.
