Aprilia RS 457 is expected to launch in India in December 2023 in the expected price range of ₹ 3,30,000 to ₹ 3,60,000. Currently available bikes which are similar to RS 457 are Kawasaki Ninja 400, KTM RC 390 & Kawasaki Ninja 300. Another bike similar to RS 457 is Yamaha YZF-R3 which is launching in December 2023 in India.
Piaggio India has confirmed the Aprilia RS440 for our market and this motorcycle should arrive in the second half of 2023. That said, the company has remained tightlipped about the finer details of this motorcycle. However, this KTM RC 390 and the TVS Apache RR310-rival was recently seen through spy pictures that give a glimpse at the styling of the motorcycle.
In terms of design, the new Aprilia RS440 will draw styling cues from its bigger siblings, the RS660 and the RSV4. Thus, it will feature a twin-pod headlight, full-fairing design, fairing-mounted rear-view mirrors, muscular fuel tank, split-style seat, and side-slung exhaust. We expect the colour options to be similar to the bigger RS series models.
In terms of performance, the Aprilia RS440 is expected to be powered by a 450cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine. This motor will be linked to a six-speed gearbox and produce an approximate output of 48bhp and boast an expected top speed of 180kmph. Meanwhile, the hardware, as seen on the test mule of this motorcycle, will include upside-down front forks and a rear mono-shock to handle the suspension duties. The braking setup will comprise single discs on both wheels while the safety net should include dual-channel ABS.
We also expect the feature list to be at par with its rivals and thus the RS440 could come equipped with full-LED lighting, a TFT console, and Bluetooth connectivity. It will be interesting to see if Aprilia gives this product features such as traction control system and a quickshifter to match the KTM RC390.
As mentioned earlier, Piaggio India is likely to launch the new Aprilia RS440 around the festive season this year. While there’s no confirmation on the pricing of the bike, we expect it to be on the premium side and this motorcycle could arrive in the Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 5.5 lakh (ex-showroom) price range.