It seems like India is witnessing a golden age of motorcycling lately, with a host of global-first products making their way to Indian production lines. The new addition to this list is the Italian marque Aprilia, with its RS457.

Enthusiasts might remember Aprilia showcasing two 150cc motorcycles based on the RSV4 and the Tuono during the 2018 Auto Expo. While there’s no official confirmation, the RS457 appears to be an evolved offering based on the two models. And yes, Aprilia has confirmed that the twin-cylinder sport bike will be made in India at its plant in Baramati, Maharashtra.

Without beating around the bush, let’s get to the heart of the matter first. The Aprilia RS457 will pack a dual-cylinder four-valve per cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled motor, churning out 48PS of power. This would make it the most powerful sub-500cc motorcycle in India. Additionally, the mini-Aprilia might likely get a 6-speed gearbox with a slip-assist clutch and a quick-shifter.

Built on top of an aluminium perimeter frame, the Aprilia RS457 gets 41mm USD forks at the front and a monoshock unit at the rear, with preload adjustability. Additionally, the motorcycle will tip the scales at 175kg (kerb), just 3kgs more than the KTM RC 390! Braking hardware here will mostly consist of a single 320mm front disc and a 220mm rear disc, with 110/60 R17 at the front and 150/60 R17 rubber at the rear.

The feature list here consists of a massive 5.0-inch TFT display, backlit switchgear, multi-level traction control, ride-by-wire, and more. The design, on the other hand, is typical Aprilia with beautiful flowing lines, detailed elements, a sporty riding stance, and more.

While no details on the launch have been shared so far, we expect the Aprilia RS457 to make its debut during the inaugural Indian MotoGP. Post-launch, it will primarily compete against the KTM RC 390 and the Kawasaki Ninja 400.

Image Credits – Aprilia