Aprilia Unveils New RS 457 Twin-Cylinder Sportbike

Aprilia Unveils New RS 457 Twin-Cylinder Sportbike

© 2023, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. From a press release issued By Aprilia:

INTRODUCING APRILIA RS 457: A NEW ERA BEGINS IN THE WORLD OF APRILIA

The new RS 457 aims to establish itself as the new benchmark in technology and style for new and experienced motorcyclists worldwide

NEW YORK, N.Y. – September 7, 2023 – THE RS 457 REPRESENTS A HISTORIC LEAP FORWARD FOR APRILIA, NOT ONLY IN TECHNOLOGY BUT ALSO IN ITS APPEAL TO NEW DEMOGRAPHICS AND MARKETS TO MEET THE GROWING WORLDWIDE DEMAND FOR ACCESSIBLE YET THRILLING MOTORCYCLES. WITH THE ADDITION OF THE RS 457, APRILIA NOW TRULY OFFERS A MOTORCYCLE FOR EVERY CUSTOMER.

THE NEW ENGINE IS SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATED WITH A RIGID ALUMINUM FRAME, SETTING THE RS 457 APART IN ITS SEGMENT. DRAWING ON APRILIA’S DECADES OF EXPERTISE ACCUMULATED THROUGH VICTORIES ON RACETRACKS WORLDWIDE, THE CRANKCASE IS POSITIONED AS A LOAD-BEARING ELEMENT, MIRRORING THE APPROACH USED IN THE RS 660. THIS ENSURES LOW WEIGHT, EXCEPTIONAL DYNAMICS, AND THE RIDING PLEASURE FOR WHICH APRILIA IS RENOWNED.

THE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT ON THE APRILIA RS 457 IS UNRIVALED, CATERING TO A DIVERSE RANGE OF RIDERS WHILE REMAINING FAITHFUL TO APRILIA’S HERITAGE. THE RIDE BY WIRE SYSTEM, PIONEERED BY APRILIA ENGINEERS, MANAGES THE ENGINE MAPPING WITH THREE DISTINCT RIDING MODES THAT MODULATE POWER, TORQUE DELIVERY, AND TRACTION CONTROL. THESE FEATURES ARE ADJUSTABLE ACROSS THREE LEVELS.

THE APRILIA RS 457 AIMS TO ESTABLISH ITSELF AS THE NEW BENCHMARK IN TECHNOLOGY AND STYLE FOR NEW AND EXPERIENCED MOTORCYCLISTS WORLDWIDE. IT EMBODIES APRILIA’S DEVOTION TO PERFORMANCE.

Michele Colaninno – Piaggio Group CEO

“In recent years, the Aprilia brand has seen an intense burst of renewal, also supported by continued progress in the racing world. The recent introduction of the 660 family, with RS and Tuono first and Tuareg later, has expanded its target, creating a full and competitive range. We are now ready to take another step towards the future with an astonishing bike developed entirely in Noale, capable of stimulating and thrilling young people and opening up huge potential in new markets, near and far. It is a step closer to the globalization of a brand that has always had the perfect combination of technology, fun, and looking to the future in its DNA.”

The RS range has been a leading player in the racing world, dominating the 2-stroke categories. After reaffirming its technological prowess by winning SBK competitions, it has also risen to prominence in MotoGP. Now, Aprilia returns to its founding mission with a project for a new generation of motorcyclists, pooling the knowledge accumulated on tracks worldwide.

Starting in 2020, the massive success of the Aprilia RS 660 (Europe’s best-selling sport bike) has revolutionized the world of mid-range sport bikes, creating a new segment. The same winning formula is repeated with the Aprilia RS 457, which began as a completely new project, conceived, and developed in Noale, Italy, where all Aprilia’s are created, including MotoGP bikes. The new Aprilia is the ideal link between the first 125 engines and the RS 660. It completes the RS family that includes the powerful V4 superbikes and, at its most technologically advanced, the MotoGP-winning RS-GP.

 

Maverick Vinales at speed on an Aprilia RS 457. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Maverick Vinales at speed on an Aprilia RS 457. Photo courtesy Aprilia.

 

The Aprilia RS 457 speaks to a new generation of riders, exploiting all the company’s expertise to design and build a true sport bike. The strengths of this motorcycle are its lightness, ease of handling, and technological equipment. The RS 457 is designed to accompany motorcyclists as they progress on road and track. The ergonomics feature clip-on handlebars mounted above the upper triple clamp, a practical solution that provides the best compromise between sportiness and riding comfort.

The new RS 457’s styling follows the legendary RS range; the supersport bikes that made motorcycling history. Starting from the aggressive aerodynamic front fairing to the underbelly silencer with a 2-in-1 exhaust, the RS 457 shares the same DNA from its larger siblings. The full LED front headlamp houses the iconic light signature shared across the Aprilia RS range. The dashboard boasts an elegant and practical 5-inch TFT color instrument display, along with all-new backlit handlebar controls.

The Aprilia RS 457 is powered by a state-of-the-art, liquid-cooled parallel twin-cylinder engine, with double overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder, delivering 47 horsepower. Beyond just power, the motorcycle’s weight is equally impressive, with a dry weight of 350 lbs.

The new engine is paired with a stiff frame. The aluminum frame makes the RS 457 unique for bikes in its segment. All of Aprilia’s design expertise, honed over decades of victories on all the world’s racetracks, has gone into its development. The crankcase functions as a load-bearing element, a solution borrowed from the RS 660, which ensures the low weight, dynamic qualities, and riding pleasure that have made Aprilia famous.

The 41 mm front fork provides 120 mm of travel and the rear monoshock, working in tandem with the steel swingarm, provides 130 mm of wheel travel, both offering preload adjustability. The braking system incorporates a 320 mm front disc with a ByBre radial-mount 4-piston caliper. At the rear, a 220 mm steel disc is paired with a ByBre caliper. Both wheels benefit from a two-channel ABS system with dual map settings, available for both wheels or exclusively for the front. The 17-inch sport rims accommodate 110/70 tires at the front and 150/60 at the rear, providing exceptional grip while preserving agility, a defining characteristic in the Aprilia RS family.

The electronic equipment on the Aprilia RS 457 is unrivaled, catering to a diverse range of riders while remaining faithful to Aprilia’s heritage. The Ride by Wire system, pioneered by Aprilia engineers, manages the engine mapping with three distinct riding modes that modulate power, torque delivery, and traction control. These features are adjustable across three levels. Additionally, a quickshifter (up and down) is available as an accessory for enhanced performance.

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