Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1528224
mance and real-world usability, with some added Italian flair. At Laguna Seca, the RS 457 is a playful dance partner. Its 47 horsepower isn't going to scare too many people, but the rate of turn with the chassis means you can hammer through the corners, using exceptional roll speed to outgun riders too timid to get on the throttle with their 1000cc beast. ByBre produces the single four-piston monobloc front brake caliper and disc setup, which pro - vides plenty braking power for the admittedly very small chas- sis. At 6'1," I'm too big to properly fit on the RS 457—with its seat height of 31.5 inches, it's a bike designed for first-timers and smaller riders, so if you're 5'10" and under, you're in luck. In terms of technology, the RS 457 delivers a ride-by-wire throttle with three riding modes, adjustable traction control, and an optional quickshifter. The RS also features a five-inch TFT dis - play and smartphone connec- tivity via Aprilia's MIA system, enabling riders to integrate their phones for navigation and me- dia control (something I didn't do during my test at Laguna). On the aesthetics side, there's full LED lighting, making it a bit of a step-up in terms of fit and finish from some other smaller capacity sportbikes. The RS draws inspiration from its bigger siblings, the RS 660 and the RSV4. The little brother has a pointy front fairing, integrated winglets (because you apparently need them on a bike with 47 horsepower), and a sleek, minimalist rear design. While the 457 can't and won't hold a candle to Aprilia's great - est-ever road-going sportbikes (in my opinion) in the RS 125 and RS 250, it does provide a gateway into the Aprilia brand for sportbike juniors that were not available for a very, very long time. It's a real shame we probably won't see these bikes in a rac- ing series in America because they are superb little machines designed by one of the few com- panies left that goes racing to sell products. Rennie Scaysbrook QUICKSPIN I Aprilia RS 457 P108 2024 APRILIA RS 457 ($6899) ENGINE: Parallel-twin, 4-stroke VALVETRAIN: 4-valve, DOHC DISPLACEMENT: 457cc BORE X STROKE: 69 x 61.1mm COOLING SYSTEM: Liquid MAX POWER: 47 hp at 9400 rpm MAX TORQUE: 32 ft-lb at 6700 rpm FUEL INJECTION: Electronic fuel injection system, twin 36mm throttle bodies TRANSMISSION: 6-speed ELECTRONICS: Three Riding Modes, ABS, Traction Control CHASSIS: Cast aluminum twin-spar FRONT SUSPENSION: 41mm inverted fork, adjustable spring preload REAR SUSPENSION: Monoshock, adjustable spring preload FRONT BRAKE: Single 320mm disc, ByBre 4-piston radial monobloc calipers REAR BRAKE: Single 220mm disc, ByBre single-piston caliper WHEELBASE: 53.1 in. SEAT HEIGHT: 31.5 in. FUEL CAPACITY: 3.4 gal. WEIGHT (CURB): 385 lbs. The RS 457's engine is a solid performer, but the chassis is the star of the show. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S