VOLUME ISSUE APRIL , P131
(Top left) Nimble and agile have been
Aprilia chassis characteristics for a
generation. The RS 457 continues
this approach. (Top right) There are
47 Italian horses lurking in there,
which isn't class-leading but not far
off. (Middle) The machine work on
the swingarm is top-notch. (Bottom)
If you didn't know what you were
looking at, you could swear the 457's
cockpit was actually the RS 660's.
external hoses), the crankcase
is divided horizontally to reduce
bulk, and a variety of tricks were
employed to reduce internal
friction, such as a 6.5mm offset
between cylinders and crank
-
shaft, needle bearings instead
of bushings, and DLC piston pin
treatment.
Like Aprilia's V4 engines, the
RS 457 gearbox operates on
roller cages instead of bushings
and uses the same patented
integrated lubrication system in
the gearbox fork axles.
From a more emotional point
of view, the sound and feel of
the parallel twin will put a twinkle
