Didi Group recently introduced the Aprilia RS457 with a special appearance by MotoGP rider Lorenzo Savadori.
The new RS457’s styling follows the legendary RS range, the supersport bikes that made motorbike history, specifically following the revolutionary trail blazed in 2020 by the RS 660, the first bike to introduce the futuristic double front fairing, which also acts as a built-in aerodynamic appendage.
The result is a bike that expresses light weight and dynamism beginning with the slimmed down front end, characterised by the triple full LED headlight unit, an Aprilia signature stylistic feature, framed by the futuristic perimeter profiles with the built-in turn indicators.
The RS457’s double-wall fairings, characterised by a large air extractor and a particular aerodynamic appendage (nolder) that connects to the frame spars, contributes to increasing rider comfort, protecting against air pressure and deflecting the flow of hot air from the engine and radiator.
The riding position, thanks to the semi-handlebars mounted above the steering yoke and relatively low footpegs, offers the perfect compromise between a sporty setup and comfort in daily use. The shape of the fuel tank has also been designed to accommodate the rider’s chest and helmet, contributing to a feeling of perfect integration with the bike.
The sporty and dynamic line of the RS457 is also determined by the positioning of the 2-in-1 exhaust beneath the engine, with the underbelly silencer integrated with the line of the lug. This solution leaves the entire rear area free and allows for greater flexibility in positioning the passenger footpegs.
The low seat – just 800 mm – is slender along the sides to favour footing on the ground, whereas the sleek tail fairing integrates the LED rear light cluster and is characterised by two lateral winglets. A generous portion of the saddle is dedicated to the passenger, whereas a single seat tail is available as an accessory.
From the twin-cylinder engine, the perfect combination of performance and lightweight Aprilia RS457 is built around a new and ultra-modern twin-cylinder engine, the displacement of which – 457 cc – gives its name to the new Italian sportbike as a testament to its central role in the project.
The new unit is a liquid cooled forward-facing parallel twin-cylinder with double camshaft timing and four valve per cylinder, which reaches maximum power of 35 kW (47.6 HP) at 9,400 rpm and torque of 43.5 Nm at 6,700 rpm, 82% of which is already available at 3,000 rpm.
The braking system includes a 320 mm front disc, with ByBre radial-mounted, 4-piston calliper. The handlebar brake lever is adjustable to always ensure the best ergonomics. At the back, the ByBre calliper grips a 220 mm steel disc. All of this is assisted by a Bosch two-channel ABS system with double-use map on both wheels or on just the front. The sporty 17” wheel rims are shod with 110/70 tyres at the front and 150/60 at the rear.
And then there are the three riding modes – Eco, Sport, and Rain, complemented by the ATC traction control (Aprilia Traction Control) which is always adjustable regardless of the selected Riding Mode. In all Riding Modes, ABS is set to the maximum level, present on both wheels. ABS can be disabled at the rear with the bike stopped by pressing and holding the Riding Mode button.
Last but not least, there is the Aprilia MIA system, the multimedia platform from Aprilia that allows you to connect your smartphone to the bike.
That being said, the Aprilia RS457 is available in three versions. While the Racing Stripes variant’s starting price is RM 35,900, the other two colour schemes (Prismatic Dark and Opalescent Light) are priced at RM 33,900.
