Aprilia Tuono 457 Road Test Review: More Than A Budget Italian?

The Aprilia Tuono 457 is the streetfighter sibling of the Aprilia RS 457. It is also the most affordable Aprilia motorcycle in India, priced at Rs 3.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Maharashtra). We have been riding it for the past couple of weeks, and now have a good idea of the bike’s real-world performance. So, is it just a budget Italian bike or more? Here’s what we think.

Design

The Aprilia Tuono 457 manages to stand out quite a bit when compared to the other models in the Tuono lineup. It gets a sharp looking headlight setup, and muscular tank extensions instead of a quarter-fairing setup like we have seen on the Aprilia Tuono 660 and the Tuono V4 1100.

When Aprilia launched the RS 457, one of the things which I loved about it was how it looked similar to the Aprilia RS 660, making it feel more premium. The Tuono 457 just isn’t able to recreate that same magic because it misses out on the quarter-fairing.

When it comes to the fit and finish, the Aprilia Tuono 457 is decent. But there are some bits and pieces here and there which take away from the premium experience, the rather simple-looking key and basic Aprilia stickering on the tank are two examples. It is not that the fit and finish levels are not good; Aprilia has done a decent job here. But when compared to the Aprilia Tuono 660, the Tuono 457 just doesn’t feel as premium. 

Ergonomics

The Tuono 457 offers a relatively upright and relaxed riding posture compared to the Aprilia RS 457, thanks to its slightly raised, wide handlebars. The rider seat is also quite roomy and offers enough space for the rider to move forward for a more upright riding posture, or back for a more committed and sporty riding posture.

Even with the sporty nature of the bike, slightly longer rides on the bike are not uncomfortable, as the seat padding has been done well. While riding the bike to the twisties on the weekends, there was never a point where I found my butt sinking into the seat after long saddle times. Comfort-wise, the bike has managed to tick most of the right boxes. Taller riders might feel cramped after long hours in the saddle because this is a compact motorcycle with rear-set footpegs.

Engine And Performance

Powering the Tuono 457 is the same engine as the Aprilia RS 457, which is a 457cc, liquid-cooled, 270-degree parallel-twin motor that outputs 47.6PS at 9,400rpm and 43.5Nm at 6700rpm. In the real world, the performance is quite exciting with the motor having good bottom-end grunt and exciting mid-range punch. 

The engine truly comes alive when revved past 5k rpm, and has an insane pull which is quite thrilling as much as it is addictive. The sheer excitement this motor is able to offer makes it truly memorable in my opinion. But what really seals the deal for me is how comfortable the motor is when riding at both slow and fast speeds. 

In the real world, handling stop and go city traffic is not a big headache and the excellent heat management makes sure the bike motor heating up does not cause much discomfort. When it comes to highway performance, the engine is easily able to cruise at highway speeds without feeling stressed. For perspective, the bike sits at speeds of 100kmph to 110kmph at around 5k rpm in the 6th gear.

Another thing that has to be noted is that the refinement levels are quite good. There are some vibrations present, but they add character to the bike and are not a deal breaker. The vibrations can only be felt once the motor is pushed past 6,000rpm. Overall, the performance this bike has to offer is just amazing and I found it very addictive.

Handling And Ride Quality

The Tuono 457 is a very agile bike, and riding it on the twisties was quite a memorable experience. There are a few things which makes the bike so fun, first of course is the sporty suspension tuning which keeps the bike very stable when leaned over. Second is the wide handlebars which gives good leverage when muscling the bike from one corner to another. Last but not the least are the amazing tires. 

The Tuono 457 gets TVS Eurogrip Protorq Extreme tyres at both ends, and they give ample amount of grip. During my rides, the tyres inspired a lot of confidence when leaning over and for a bike this powerful, these tyres are an excellent addition.

Although the sporty suspension helps in keeping the bike stable when leaned over, it makes riding over bad patches of road quite difficult. The suspension is so stiff that even minor undulations will be felt while riding. 

The monoshock has been set to the stiffest setting, and this was felt when riding on concrete roads; the bike kept tossing me over with each undulation. But overall, for the sporty handling, this is a tradeoff that I personally am willing to make.

Braking performance is one area where the bike could have performed better. One of the main issues is brake fade, which happens when riding hard. This reduces the bike’s overall braking performance and can be dangerous in some cases.

Changing to double-sintered brake pads is something that I would recommend doing after buying this bike. Overall, for a bike that is this powerful, the braking performance should have been a lot better.

Features

The instrument console is a 5-inch TFT unit, and feels quite premium. The console has the same Aprilia layout which we have seen on the RS 457. It offers all essential readouts like speed, tachometer readouts, odometer and trip meter readouts at a glance. The console’s brightness is decent, and offers relatively good visibility under most lighting conditions. But under direct sunlight it is unreadable. 

The bike gets 3 riding modes, each with 3 levels of traction control. In Sport mode, the traction control system can be disengaged. Although I rode the bike in Sport Mode with the traction control system off, I found having electronic riding aids on offer quite good. For riders who are just starting out on big bikes these features will add a layer of additional safety.

Should You Buy The Aprilia Tuono 457?

If I were to describe this motorcycle with one word, then it would be thrilling. The exciting performance and the amazing handling are two things which I really loved about the bike. The motor has that proper Italian character, which makes it feel like you are riding a big bike. It is definitely more than just a budget Italian.

The Tuono 457 does feel like a step up for a rider like me who personally owns a 155cc Yamaha MT-15. But as an Aprilia fan, I am a bit disappointed with the design, which makes the bike feel disconnected from the Tuono lineup. 

That said, If you are someone who is looking for a bike which can serve as a stepping stone in the journey to getting a big bike, then the Tuono 457 is an excellent choice. That said, Aprilia’s service network is not widespread right now. But if you’re willing to take that leap of faith for a bike that is more than just a budget Italian, then the Tuono 457 is a choice you won’t regret.